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[CYMBELINE, or Cunobelinus, was a grandson of Cassivellaunus. So much of a foundation has Shakespeare for his "Cymbeline"; the rest of the play is purely imaginative.
Whenever Cæsar overcame a tribe, it was his custom to demand that tribute be paid to him. In the following scene, Caius Lucius, a messenger from the Roman Emperor, has come to the court of Cymbeline in 43 A.D. to demand that the tribute, which the king had of late "left untender'd," shall be paid.
The Editor. ] |
SCENE I. BRITAIN. A Room of State in Cymbeline's Palace. (Enter, at one side, CYMBELINE, QUEEN, CLOTEN, and LORDS; at the other, CAIUS LUCIUS and Attendants.) |
Cym. Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us? Luc. When Julius Cæsar,—whose remembrance yet Lives in men's eyes, and will to ears and tongues Be theme and hearing ever,—was in this Britain, And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle,— Famous in Cæsar's praises no whit less Than in his feats deserving it,—for him And his succession granted Rome a tribute Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee lately Is left untender'd. Queen. And, to kill the marvel, Shall be so ever. Clo. There be many Cæsars Ere such another Julius. Britain is A world by itself; and we will nothing pay For wearing our own noses. Queen. That opportunity Which then they had to take from's, to resume We have again.—Remember, sir, my liege, The kings your ancestors; together with The natural bravery of your isle, which stands As Neptune's park, ribbéd and paléd in With rocks unscalable and roaring waters, With sands that will not bear your enemies' boats, But suck them up to the top-mast. A kind of conquest Cæsar made here; but made not here his brag Of came and saw and overcame: with shame,— The first that ever touch'd him,—he was carried From off our coast, twice beaten; and his shipping— Poor ignorant baubles!—on our terrible seas, Like egg-shells mov'd upon their surges, crack'd As easily 'gainst our rocks: for joy whereof The fam'd Cassibelan, who was once at point,— O, giglot fortune!—to master Cæsar's sword, Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright And Britons strut with courage.
Clo. Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: our Cym. Son, let your mother end.
Clo. We have yet among us can gripe as hard as Cym. You must know Till the injurious Romans did extort This tribute from us, we were free: Cæsar's ambition,— Which swell'd so much that it did almost stretch The sides o' the world,—against all color here Did put the yoke upon's; which to shake off Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon Ourselves to be. Clo. We do. Cym. Say then to Cæsar, Our ancestor was that Mulmutius which Ordain'd our laws,—whose use the sword of Cæsar Hath too much mangled; whose repair and franchise Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed, Though Rome be therefore angry:—Mulmutius made our laws, Who was the first of Britain which did put His brows within a golden crown, and call'd Himself a king. Luc. I am sorry, Cymbeline, That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar,— Cæsar, that bath more kings his servants than Thyself domestic officers,—thine enemy: Receive it from me then: War and confusion In Cæsar's name pronounce I 'gainst thee: look For fury not to be resisted.
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