Act IV, Scene 4

Wales: before the cave of Belarius.

[Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS.

• Guiderius. The noise is round about us.

• Belarius. Let us from it.

• Arviragus. What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it 2885
  From action and adventure?

• Guiderius. Nay, what hope
  Have we in hiding us? This way, the Romans
  Must or for Britons slay us, or receive us
  For barbarous and unnatural revolts 2890
  During their use, and slay us after.

• Belarius. Sons,
  We'll higher to the mountains; there secure us.
  To the king's party there's no going: newness
  Of Cloten's death—we being not known, not muster'd 2895
  Among the bands—may drive us to a render
  Where we have lived, and so extort from's that
  Which we have done, whose answer would be death
  Drawn on with torture.

• Guiderius. This is, sir, a doubt 2900
  In such a time nothing becoming you,
  Nor satisfying us.

• Arviragus. It is not likely
  That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,
  Behold their quarter'd fires, have both their eyes 2905
  And ears so cloy'd importantly as now,
  That they will waste their time upon our note,
  To know from whence we are.

• Belarius. O, I am known
  Of many in the army: many years, 2910
  Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore him
  From my remembrance. And, besides, the king
  Hath not deserved my service nor your loves;
  Who find in my exile the want of breeding,
  The certainty of this hard life; aye hopeless 2915
  To have the courtesy your cradle promised,
  But to be still hot summer's tamings and
  The shrinking slaves of winter.

• Guiderius. Than be so
  Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to the army: 2920
  I and my brother are not known; yourself
  So out of thought, and thereto so o'ergrown,
  Cannot be question'd.

• Arviragus. By this sun that shines,
  I'll thither: what thing is it that I never 2925
  Did see man die! scarce ever look'd on blood,
  But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison!
  Never bestrid a horse, save one that had
  A rider like myself, who ne'er wore rowel
  Nor iron on his heel! I am ashamed 2930
  To look upon the holy sun, to have
  The benefit of his blest beams, remaining
  So long a poor unknown.

• Guiderius. By heavens, I'll go:
  If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave, 2935
  I'll take the better care, but if you will not,
  The hazard therefore due fall on me by
  The hands of Romans!

• Arviragus. So say I. amen.

• Belarius. No reason I, since of your lives you set 2940
  So slight a valuation, should reserve
  My crack'd one to more care. Have with you, boys!
  If in your country wars you chance to die,
  That is my bed too, lads, an there I'll lie:
  Lead, lead. 2945
  [Aside]
  The time seems long; their blood
  thinks scorn,
  Till it fly out and show them princes born.

[Exeunt]