 First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
|
| Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Aruiragus. | Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus | | Cym III.iii.1 |
| Bel. | BELARIUS | | |
| A goodly day, not to keepe house with such, | A goodly day not to keep house with such | | Cym III.iii.1 |
| Whose Roofe's as lowe as ours: Sleepe Boyes, this gate | Whose roof's as low as ours! Stoop, boys: this gate | gate (n.)entrance, doorway, portal | Cym III.iii.2 |
| Instructs you how t'adore the Heauens; and bowes you | Instructs you how t' adore the heavens; and bows you | | Cym III.iii.3 |
| To a mornings holy office. The Gates of Monarches | To a morning's holy office. The gates of monarchs | office (n.)task, service, duty, responsibility | Cym III.iii.4 |
| Are Arch'd so high, that Giants may iet through | Are arched so high that giants may jet through | jet (v.)
old form: iet strut, swagger, parade | Cym III.iii.5 |
| And keepe their impious Turbonds on, without | And keep their impious turbans on, without | impious (adj.)lacking reverence towards God, wicked, irreligious | Cym III.iii.6 |
| Good morrow to the Sun. Haile thou faire Heauen, | Good morrow to the sun. Hail, thou fair heaven! | morrow (n.)morning | Cym III.iii.7 |
| We house i'th'Rocke, yet vse thee not so hardly | We house i'th' rock, yet use thee not so hardly | hardly (adv.)severely, harshly, badly | Cym III.iii.8 |
| | use (v.)
old form: vse treat, deal with, manage | |
| As prouder liuers do. | As prouder livers do. | | Cym III.iii.9.1 |
| Guid. | GUIDERIUS | | |
| Haile Heauen. | Hail, heaven! | | Cym III.iii.9.2 |
| Aruir. | ARVIRAGUS | | |
| Haile Heauen. | Hail, heaven! | | Cym III.iii.9.3 |
| Bela. | BELARIUS | | |
| Now for our Mountaine sport, vp to yond hill | Now for our mountain sport, up to yond hill! | sport (n.)exercise, athletic pastime | Cym III.iii.10 |
| Your legges are yong: Ile tread these Flats. Consider, | Your legs are young: I'll tread these flats. Consider, | flat (n.)low-lying land, plain, swampy ground | Cym III.iii.11 |
| When you aboue perceiue me like a Crow, | When you above perceive me like a crow, | | Cym III.iii.12 |
| That it is Place, which lessen's, and sets off, | That it is place which lessens and sets off, | place (n.)position, post, office, rank | Cym III.iii.13 |
| | set off (v.)enhance, show to advantage, display by contrast | |
| And you may then reuolue what Tales, I haue told you, | And you may then revolve what tales I have told you | revolve (v.)
old form: reuolue consider, ponder, meditate | Cym III.iii.14 |
| Of Courts, of Princes; of the Tricks in Warre. | Of courts, of princes; of the tricks in war. | trick (n.)practice, custom, current fashion | Cym III.iii.15 |
| This Seruice, is not Seruice; so being done, | This service is not service, so being done, | | Cym III.iii.16 |
| But being so allowed. To apprehend thus, | But being so allowed. To apprehend thus, | apprehend (v.)view, see, look | Cym III.iii.17 |
| | allow (v.)acknowledge, grant, admit | |
| Drawes vs a profit from all things we see: | Draws us a profit from all things we see: | | Cym III.iii.18 |
| And often to our comfort, shall we finde | And often, to our comfort, shall we find | | Cym III.iii.19 |
| The sharded-Beetle, in a safer hold | The sharded beetle in a safer hold | hold (n.)shelter, refuge, sanctuary | Cym III.iii.20 |
| | sharded (adj.)living in dung; or: with scales | |
| Then is the full-wing'd Eagle. Oh this life, | Than is the full-winged eagle. O, this life | | Cym III.iii.21 |
| Is Nobler, then attending for a checke: | Is nobler than attending for a check: | check (n.)
old form: checkereprimand, reproof, rebuke | Cym III.iii.22 |
| | attend (v.)serve at court, wait on royalty | |
| Richer, then doing nothing for a Babe: | Richer than doing nothing for a robe, | | Cym III.iii.23 |
| Prouder, then rustling in vnpayd-for Silke: | Prouder than rustling in unpaid-for silk: | | Cym III.iii.24 |
| Such gaine the Cap of him, that makes him fine, | Such gain the cap of him that makes him fine, | cap (n.)[raising of a cap] salute, respect, approval | Cym III.iii.25 |
| Yet keepes his Booke vncros'd: no life to ours. | Yet keeps his book uncrossed: no life to ours. | uncrossed (adj.)
old form: vncros'duncancelled, undeleted, not obliterated | Cym III.iii.26 |
| Gui. | GUIDERIUS | | |
| Out of your proofe you speak: we poore vnfledg'd | Out of your proof you speak: we poor unfledged, | proof (n.)
old form: proofe experience, actual practice, tried knowledge | Cym III.iii.27 |
| Haue neuer wing'd from view o'th'nest; nor knowes not | Have never winged from view o'th' nest; nor know not | | Cym III.iii.28 |
| What Ayre's from home. Hap'ly this life is best, | What air's from home. Haply this life is best – | haply (adv.)
old form: Hap'ly perhaps, maybe, by chance, with luck | Cym III.iii.29 |
| (If quiet life be best) sweeter to you | If quiet life be best – sweeter to you | | Cym III.iii.30 |
| That haue a sharper knowne. Well corresponding | That have a sharper known, well corresponding | | Cym III.iii.31 |
| With your stiffe Age; but vnto vs, it is | With your stiff age; but unto us it is | stiff (adj.)
old form: stiffe unsupple, unathletic; or: lethargic, sluggish | Cym III.iii.32 |
| A Cell of Ignorance: trauailing a bed, | A cell of ignorance, travelling a-bed, | | Cym III.iii.33 |
| A Prison, or a Debtor, that not dares | A prison, or a debtor that not dares | | Cym III.iii.34 |
| To stride a limit. | To stride a limit. | stride (v.)go beyond, step over | Cym III.iii.35.1 |
| Arui. | ARVIRAGUS | | |
| What should we speake of | What should we speak of | | Cym III.iii.35.2 |
| When we are old as you? When we shall heare | When we are old as you? When we shall hear | | Cym III.iii.36 |
| The Raine and winde beate darke December? How | The rain and wind beat dark December? How | | Cym III.iii.37 |
| In this our pinching Caue, shall we discourse | In this our pinching cave shall we discourse | pinching (adj.)bitingly cold; or: narrowly restricting | Cym III.iii.38 |
| | discourse (v.)talk, chat, converse | |
| The freezing houres away? We haue seene nothing: | The freezing hours away? We have seen nothing: | | Cym III.iii.39 |
| We are beastly; subtle as the Fox for prey, | We are beastly: subtle as the fox for prey, | beastly (adj.)beast-like, brutish, abominable | Cym III.iii.40 |
| Like warlike as the Wolfe, for what we eate: | Like warlike as the wolf for what we eat: | like (adv.)equally, similarly, also | Cym III.iii.41 |
| Our Valour is to chace what flyes: Our Cage | Our valour is to chase what flies: our cage | | Cym III.iii.42 |
| We make a Quire, as doth the prison'd Bird, | We make a quire, as doth the prisoned bird, | choir, quire (n.)part of a church where the choir sings | Cym III.iii.43 |
| And sing our Bondage freely. | And sing our bondage freely. | | Cym III.iii.44.1 |
| Bel. | BELARIUS | | |
| How you speake. | How you speak! | | Cym III.iii.44.2 |
| Did you but know the Citties Vsuries, | Did you but know the city's usuries, | usury (n.)
old form: Vsuriesway of dealing with money, financial practice | Cym III.iii.45 |
| And felt them knowingly: the Art o'th'Court, | And felt them knowingly: the art o'th' court, | knowingly (adv.)with knowledge, with worldly experience | Cym III.iii.46 |
| | feel (v.)experience, live through [something] | |
| | art (n.)artifice, artificial conduct; or: wile, trick | |
| As hard to leaue, as keepe: whose top to climbe | As hard to leave as keep: whose top to climb | keep (v.)
old form: keepestay within, remain inside | Cym III.iii.47 |
| Is certaine falling: or so slipp'ry, that | Is certain falling: or so slipp'ry that | | Cym III.iii.48 |
| The feare's as bad as falling. The toyle o'th'Warre, | The fear's as bad as falling: the toil o'th' war, | | Cym III.iii.49 |
| A paine that onely seemes to seeke out danger | A pain that only seems to seek out danger | pain (n.)
old form: paine effort, endeavour, exertion, labour | Cym III.iii.50 |
| I'th'name of Fame, and Honor, which dyes i'th'search, | I'th' name of fame and honour, which dies i'th' search, | | Cym III.iii.51 |
| And hath as oft a sland'rous Epitaph, | And hath as oft a sland'rous epitaph | oft (adv.)often | Cym III.iii.52 |
| As Record of faire Act. Nay, many times | As record of fair act. Nay, many times, | act (n.)activity, action, performance | Cym III.iii.53 |
| Doth ill deserue, by doing well: what's worse | Doth ill deserve by doing well: what's worse, | ill (n.)trouble, affliction, misfortune | Cym III.iii.54 |
| | deserve (v.)
old form: deserueearn, win, receive | |
| Must curt'sie at the Censure. Oh Boyes, this Storie | Must court'sy at the censure. O boys, this story | censure (n.)condemnation, blame, stricture | Cym III.iii.55 |
| The World may reade in me: My bodie's mark'd | The world may read in me: my body's marked | | Cym III.iii.56 |
| With Roman Swords; and my report, was once | With Roman swords; and my report was once | report (n.)reputation, fame, renown | Cym III.iii.57 |
| First, with the best of Note. Cymbeline lou'd me, | First, with the best of note. Cymbeline loved me, | note (n.)reputation, distinction, standing | Cym III.iii.58 |
| And when a Souldier was the Theame, my name | And when a soldier was the theme, my name | | Cym III.iii.59 |
| Was not farre off: then was I as a Tree | Was not far off: then was I as a tree | | Cym III.iii.60 |
| Whose boughes did bend with fruit. But in one night, | Whose boughs did bend with fruit. But in one night, | | Cym III.iii.61 |
| A Storme, or Robbery (call it what you will) | A storm, or robbery – call it what you will – | | Cym III.iii.62 |
| Shooke downe my mellow hangings: nay my Leaues, | Shook down my mellow hangings, nay, my leaves, | | Cym III.iii.63 |
| And left me bare to weather. | And left me bare to weather. | | Cym III.iii.64.1 |
| Gui. | GUIDERIUS | | |
| Vncertaine fauour. | Uncertain favour! | | Cym III.iii.64.2 |
| Bel. | BELARIUS | | |
| My fault being nothing (as I haue told you oft) | My fault being nothing – as I have told you oft – | oft (adv.)often | Cym III.iii.65 |
| But that two Villaines, whose false Oathes preuayl'd | But that two villains, whose false oaths prevailed | false (adj.)treacherous, traitorous, perfidious | Cym III.iii.66 |
| Before my perfect Honor, swore to Cymbeline, | Before my perfect honour, swore to Cymbeline | | Cym III.iii.67 |
| I was Confederate with the Romanes: so | I was confederate with the Romans: so | | Cym III.iii.68 |
| Followed my Banishment, and this twenty yeeres, | Followed my banishment, and this twenty years | | Cym III.iii.69 |
| This Rocke, and these Demesnes, haue bene my World, | This rock, and these demesnes, have been my world, | demesne (n.)(plural) territories, lands, dominions | Cym III.iii.70 |
| Where I haue liu'd at honest freedome, payed | Where I have lived at honest freedom, paid | | Cym III.iii.71 |
| More pious debts to Heauen, then in all | More pious debts to heaven than in all | | Cym III.iii.72 |
| The fore-end of my time. But, vp to'th'Mountaines, | The fore-end of my time. But up to th' mountains! | time (n.)lifetime, life | Cym III.iii.73 |
| | fore-end (n.)early part, initial period | |
| This is not Hunters Language; he that strikes | This is not hunter's language; he that strikes | | Cym III.iii.74 |
| The Venison first, shall be the Lord o'th'Feast, | The venison first shall be the lord o'th' feast, | | Cym III.iii.75 |
| To him the other two shall minister, | To him the other two shall minister, | | Cym III.iii.76 |
| And we will feare no poyson, which attends | And we will fear no poison, which attends | attend (v.)be present [at], be found [at] | Cym III.iii.77 |
| | attend (v.)accompany, follow closely, go with | |
| In place of greater State: / Ile meete you in the Valleyes. | In place of greater state. I'll meet you in the valleys. | state (n.)splendour, magnificence, stateliness, dignity | Cym III.iii.78 |
| Exeunt. | Exeunt Guiderius and Arviragus | | Cym III.iii.78 |
| How hard it is to hide the sparkes of Nature? | How hard it is to hide the sparks of Nature! | | Cym III.iii.79 |
| These Boyes know little they are Sonnes to'th'King, | These boys know little they are sons to th' king, | | Cym III.iii.80 |
| Nor Cymbeline dreames that they are aliue. | Nor Cymbeline dreams that they are alive. | | Cym III.iii.81 |
| They thinke they are mine, / And though train'd vp thus meanely | They think they are mine, and though trained up thus meanly, | meanly (adv.)
old form: meanelyhumbly, in a lowly manner | Cym III.iii.82 |
| | train up (v.)
old form: train'd vp bring up, rear, educate | |
| I'th' Caue, whereon the Bowe their thoughts do hit, | I'th' cave wherein they bow, their thoughts do hit | | Cym III.iii.83 |
| The Roofes of Palaces, and Nature prompts them | The roofs of palaces, and Nature prompts them | | Cym III.iii.84 |
| In simple and lowe things, to Prince it, much | In simple and low things to prince it, much | prince (v.)behave like a prince, act royally | Cym III.iii.85 |
| Beyond the tricke of others. This Paladour, | Beyond the trick of others. This Polydore, | trick (n.)
old form: tricke way, knack, skill | Cym III.iii.86 |
| The heyre of Cymbeline and Britaine, who | The heir of Cymbeline and Britain, who | | Cym III.iii.87 |
| The King his Father call'd Guiderius. Ioue, | The king his father called Guiderius – Jove! | Jove (n.)[pron: johv] alternative name for Jupiter, the Roman supreme god | Cym III.iii.88 |
| When on my three-foot stoole I sit, and tell | When on my three-foot stool I sit, and tell | three-foot (adj.)three-legged | Cym III.iii.89 |
| The warlike feats I haue done, his spirits flye out | The warlike feats I have done, his spirits fly out | | Cym III.iii.90 |
| Into my Story: say thus mine Enemy fell, | Into my story: say ‘ Thus mine enemy fell, | | Cym III.iii.91 |
| And thus I set my foote on's necke, euen then | And thus I set my foot on's neck,’ even then | | Cym III.iii.92 |
| The Princely blood flowes in his Cheeke, he sweats, | The princely blood flows in his cheek, he sweats, | | Cym III.iii.93 |
| Straines his yong Nerues, and puts himselfe in posture | Strains his young nerves, and puts himself in posture | nerve (n.)
old form: Neruessinew, ligament, muscle | Cym III.iii.94 |
| That acts my words. The yonger Brother Cadwall, | That acts my words. The younger brother, Cadwal, | | Cym III.iii.95 |
| Once Aruiragus, in as like a figure | Once Arviragus, in as like a figure | figure (n.)role, part, character | Cym III.iii.96 |
| Strikes life into my speech, and shewes much more | Strikes life into my speech, and shows much more | | Cym III.iii.97 |
| His owne conceyuing. Hearke, the Game is rows'd, | His own conceiving. Hark, the game is roused! | rouse (v.)
old form: rows'd[hunting] startle from a lair, draw out | Cym III.iii.98 |
| | game (n.)quarry, object of the chase | |
| | conceiving (n.)
old form: conceyuingimagination, insight, mental creativity | |
| Oh Cymbeline, Heauen and my Conscience knowes | O Cymbeline, heaven and my conscience knows | | Cym III.iii.99 |
| Thou didd'st vniustly banish me: whereon | Thou didst unjustly banish me: whereon, | | Cym III.iii.100 |
| At three, and two yeeres old, I stole these Babes, | At three and two years old, I stole these babes, | | Cym III.iii.101 |
| Thinking to barre thee of Succession, as | Thinking to bar thee of succession as | succession (n.)successors, heirs | Cym III.iii.102 |
| Thou refts me of my Lands. Euriphile, | Thou refts me of my lands. Euriphile, | reave (v.), past form reftrob, deprive | Cym III.iii.103 |
| Thou was't their Nurse, they took thee for their mother, | Thou wast their nurse, they took thee for their mother, | | Cym III.iii.104 |
| And euery day do honor to her graue: | And every day do honour to her grave: | | Cym III.iii.105 |
| My selfe Belarius, that am Mergan call'd | Myself, Belarius, that am Morgan called, | | Cym III.iii.106 |
| They take for Naturall Father. The Game is vp. | They take for natural father. The game is up. | | Cym III.iii.107 |
| Exit. | Exit | | Cym III.iii.107 |