The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (845 page)

CYMBELINE.

Now for the counsel of my son and queen!

I am amaz'd with matter.

Now is the time I would need the advice of my son and Queen!

I am overwhelmed by all this business.

LORD.

Good my liege,

Your preparation can affront no less

Than what you hear of. Come more, for more you're ready.

The want is but to put those pow'rs in motion

That long to move.

My good lord,

you have forces ready

which can match them. If more come, you're ready for more.

All that's needed is to unleash the army,

who are longing to fight.

CYMBELINE.

I thank you. Let's withdraw,

And meet the time as it seeks us. We fear not

What can from Italy annoy us; but

We grieve at chances here. Away!

Exeunt all but PISANIO

I thank you. Let's go,

and take whatever comes. I'm not afraid

of anything that comes from Italy; but

I sorrow at what is happening here. Let's go!

PISANIO.

I heard no letter from my master since

I wrote him Imogen was slain. 'Tis strange.

Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise

To yield me often tidings. Neither know

What is betid to Cloten, but remain

Perplex'd in all. The heavens still must work.

Wherein I am false I am honest; not true, to be true.

These present wars shall find I love my country,

Even to the note o' th' King, or I'll fall in them.

All other doubts, by time let them be clear'd:

Fortune brings in some boats that are not steer'd.

Exit

I've had no letter from my master since

I wrote to him that Imogen was killed. That's strange.

Nor have I heard from my mistress, who promised

to write to me often. Nor do I know

what has happened to Cloten, everything is

a mystery to me. The gods must still be working.

Where I am false I am honest; I am disloyal to be loyal.

The current wars shall prove I love my country,

even the King shall see it, or I'll die in the attempt.

Let all of the questions be cleared up in time,

Fortune can make strange things happen.

Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS

GUIDERIUS.

The noise is round about us.

The noise is all around us.

BELARIUS.

Let us from it.

Let's get away from it.

ARVIRAGUS.

What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it

From action and adventure?

What pleasure, sir, will we get from life, if we

avoid all 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

During their use, and slay us after.

And what hope have we

of remaining hidden? Your way the Romans

will either kill us as Britons, or use us

as savage and unnatural rebels

for their purposes, then kill us afterwards.

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

Among the bands-may drive us to a render

Where we have liv'd, and so extort from's that

Which we have done, whose answer would be death,

Drawn on with torture.

Sons,

we'll go higher in the mountains; there we'll hide.

We can't join the King's party. The recent

death of Cloten–as we are unknowns, not listed

amongst the tribes–may lead to an interrogation

as to where we have been living, and so get from us

details of what we have done, which would result in death,

brought on by torture.

GUIDERIUS.

This is, sir, a doubt

In such a time nothing becoming you

Nor satisfying us.

This faintheartedness, sir,

does not suit you at such a time,

and it does not please us.

ARVIRAGUS.

It is not likely

That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,

Behold their quarter'd fires, have both their eyes

And ears so cloy'd importantly as now,

That they will waste their time upon our note,

To know from whence we are.

It isn't likely

that when they hear the Roman horses neighing,

see the fires of their camps, have both their eyes

and ears filled with such important matters,

that they will waste their time on looking at us,

asking where we're from.

BELARIUS.

O, I am known

Of many in the army. Many years,

Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore him

From my remembrance. And, besides, the King

Hath not deserv'd my service nor your loves,

Who find in my exile the want of breeding,

The certainty of this hard life; aye hopeless

To have the courtesy your cradle promis'd,

But to be still hot summer's tanlings and

The shrinking slaves of winter.

Oh, I am known

to many in the Army. Although Cloten

was only young when I last saw him, you saw

that I still recognised him. And, besides, the King

hasn't earned my service nor your love,

who have had such a hard upbringing due to my exile,

with nothing but a hard life ahead; you will not

have a chance of fulfilling your childhood promise,

but will stay as sunburnt children and

shivering slaves in the winter.

GUIDERIUS.

Than be so,

Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to th' army.

I and my brother are not known; yourself

So out of thought, and thereto so o'ergrown,

Cannot be questioned.

It would be better

to be dead than that. Please, Sir, let's go to the army.

My brother and I are unknown; you yourself

have been gone so long that you've been quite forgotten,

you won't be questioned.

ARVIRAGUS.

By this sun that shines,

I'll thither. What thing is't that I never

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 asham'd

To look upon the holy sun, to have

The benefit of his blest beams, remaining

So long a poor unknown.

I swear by this sun,

I'll go there. Imagine, I have never

seen a man die! I hardly ever seen blood

except for that of running hares, lusty goats, and deer!

I've never sat on a horse, apart from one that had

a rider like myself, who never wore spurs

or armour! I am ashamed

to look at the holy sun, to have

the benefit of his blessed beams, having been

so insignificant for so long.

GUIDERIUS.

By heavens, I'll go!

If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave,

I'll take the better care; but if you will not,

The hazard therefore due fall on me by

The hands of Romans!

By God, I'll go!

If you will bless me, sir, and give me permission,

I'll be happier; but if you will not,

may the risks that will bring fall on me

at the hands of the Romans!

ARVIRAGUS.

So say I, amen.

I completely agree.

BELARIUS.

No reason I, since of your lives you set

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, and there I'll lie.

Lead, lead. [Aside] The time seems long; their blood thinks

scorn

Till it fly out and show them princes born.

Exeunt

There's no reason for me, since you value your lives

so little, to set a higher price

on my old one. Come on then, boys!

If you happen to die in your country's wars,

then I will choose the same fate.

Lead on.[Aside] The time has come; they won't settle

until they have fought in battle and prove themselves to be princes.