Act V, Scene 3

Another part of the field.

[Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS and a British Lord]

• Lord. Camest thou from where they made the stand?

• Posthumus Leonatus. I did.
  Though you, it seems, come from the fliers.

• Lord. I did. 3025

• Posthumus Leonatus. No blame be to you, sir; for all was lost,
  But that the heavens fought: the king himself
  Of his wings destitute, the army broken,
  And but the backs of Britons seen, all flying
  Through a straight lane; the enemy full-hearted, 3030
  Lolling the tongue with slaughtering, having work
  More plentiful than tools to do't, struck down
  Some mortally, some slightly touch'd, some falling
  Merely through fear; that the straight pass was damm'd
  With dead men hurt behind, and cowards living 3035
  To die with lengthen'd shame.

• Lord. Where was this lane?

• Posthumus Leonatus. Close by the battle, ditch'd, and wall'd with turf;
  Which gave advantage to an ancient soldier,
  An honest one, I warrant; who deserved 3040
  So long a breeding as his white beard came to,
  In doing this for's country: athwart the lane,
  He, with two striplings-lads more like to run
  The country base than to commit such slaughter
  With faces fit for masks, or rather fairer 3045
  Than those for preservation cased, or shame—
  Made good the passage; cried to those that fled,
  'Our Britain s harts die flying, not our men:
  To darkness fleet souls that fly backwards. Stand;
  Or we are Romans and will give you that 3050
  Like beasts which you shun beastly, and may save,
  But to look back in frown: stand, stand.'
  These three,
  Three thousand confident, in act as many—
  For three performers are the file when all 3055
  The rest do nothing—with this word 'Stand, stand,'
  Accommodated by the place, more charming
  With their own nobleness, which could have turn'd
  A distaff to a lance, gilded pale looks,
  Part shame, part spirit renew'd; that some, 3060
  turn'd coward
  But by example—O, a sin in war,
  Damn'd in the first beginners!—gan to look
  The way that they did, and to grin like lions
  Upon the pikes o' the hunters. Then began 3065
  A stop i' the chaser, a retire, anon
  A rout, confusion thick; forthwith they fly
  Chickens, the way which they stoop'd eagles; slaves,
  The strides they victors made: and now our cowards,
  Like fragments in hard voyages, became 3070
  The life o' the need: having found the backdoor open
  Of the unguarded hearts, heavens, how they wound!
  Some slain before; some dying; some their friends
  O'er borne i' the former wave: ten, chased by one,
  Are now each one the slaughter-man of twenty: 3075
  Those that would die or ere resist are grown
  The mortal bugs o' the field.

• Lord. This was strange chance
  A narrow lane, an old man, and two boys.

• Posthumus Leonatus. Nay, do not wonder at it: you are made 3080
  Rather to wonder at the things you hear
  Than to work any. Will you rhyme upon't,
  And vent it for a mockery? Here is one:
  'Two boys, an old man twice a boy, a lane,
  Preserved the Britons, was the Romans' bane.' 3085

• Lord. Nay, be not angry, sir.

• Posthumus Leonatus. 'Lack, to what end?
  Who dares not stand his foe, I'll be his friend;
  For if he'll do as he is made to do,
  I know he'll quickly fly my friendship too. 3090
  You have put me into rhyme.

• Lord. Farewell; you're angry.

• Posthumus Leonatus. Still going?
  [Exit Lord]
  This is a lord! O noble misery, 3095
  To be i' the field, and ask 'what news?' of me!
  To-day how many would have given their honours
  To have saved their carcasses! took heel to do't,
  And yet died too! I, in mine own woe charm'd,
  Could not find death where I did hear him groan, 3100
  Nor feel him where he struck: being an ugly monster,
  'Tis strange he hides him in fresh cups, soft beds,
  Sweet words; or hath more ministers than we
  That draw his knives i' the war. Well, I will find him
  For being now a favourer to the Briton, 3105
  No more a Briton, I have resumed again
  The part I came in: fight I will no more,
  But yield me to the veriest hind that shall
  Once touch my shoulder. Great the slaughter is
  Here made by the Roman; great the answer be 3110
  Britons must take. For me, my ransom's death;
  On either side I come to spend my breath;
  Which neither here I'll keep nor bear again,
  But end it by some means for Imogen.

[Enter two British Captains and Soldiers]

• First British Captain. Great Jupiter be praised! Lucius is taken.
  'Tis thought the old man and his sons were angels.

• Second British Captain. There was a fourth man, in a silly habit,
  That gave the affront with them.

• First British Captain. So 'tis reported: 3120
  But none of 'em can be found. Stand! who's there?

• Posthumus Leonatus. A Roman,
  Who had not now been drooping here, if seconds
  Had answer'd him.

• Second British Captain. Lay hands on him; a dog! 3125
  A leg of Rome shall not return to tell
  What crows have peck'd them here. He brags
  his service
  As if he were of note: bring him to the king.
  [Enter CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS,] 3130
  PISANIO, Soldiers, Attendants, and Roman Captives.
  The Captains present POSTHUMUS LEONATUS to
  CYMBELINE, who delivers him over to a Gaoler:
  then exeunt omnes]