Читать книгу Cymbeline (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare - William Shakespeare - Страница 18

Enter in State, Cymbeline, Queene, Clotten, and Lords at one doore, and at another, Caius, Lucius; and Attendants.

Cym. Now say, what would Augustus Caesar with vs?

Luc. When Iulius Caesar (whose remembrance yet

Liues in mens eyes, and will to Eares and Tongues

Be Theame, and hearing euer) was in this Britain,

And Conquer’d it, Cassibulan thine Vnkle

(Famous in Caesars prayses, no whit lesse

Then in his Feats deseruing it) for him,

And his Succession, granted Rome a Tribute,

Yeerely three thousand pounds; which (by thee) lately

Is left vntender’d

Qu. And to kill the meruaile,

Shall be so euer

Clot. There be many Caesars,

Ere such another Iulius: Britaine’s a world

By it selfe, and we will nothing pay

For wearing our owne Noses

Qu. That opportunity

Which then they had to take from’s, to resume

We haue againe. Remember Sir, my Liege,

The Kings your Ancestors, together with

The naturall brauery of your Isle, which stands

As Neptunes Parke, ribb’d, and pal’d in

With Oakes vnskaleable, and roaring Waters,

With Sands that will not beare your Enemies Boates,

But sucke them vp to’th’ Topmast. A kinde of Conquest

Caesar made heere, but made not heere his bragge

Of Came, and Saw, and Ouer-came: with shame

(The first that euer touch’d him) he was carried

From off our Coast, twice beaten: and his Shipping

(Poore ignorant Baubles) on our terrible Seas

Like Egge-shels mou’d vpon their Surges, crack’d

As easily ‘gainst our Rockes. For ioy whereof,

The fam’d Cassibulan, who was once at point

(Oh giglet Fortune) to master Caesars Sword,

Made Luds-Towne with reioycing-Fires bright,

And Britaines strut with Courage

Clot. Come, there’s no more Tribute to be paid: our Kingdome is stronger then it was at that time: and (as I said) there is no mo such Caesars, other of them may haue crook’d Noses, but to owe such straite Armes, none Cym. Son, let your Mother end

Clot. We haue yet many among vs, can gripe as hard as Cassibulan, I doe not say I am one: but I haue a hand. Why Tribute? Why should we pay Tribute? If Caesar can hide the Sun from vs with a Blanket, or put the Moon in his pocket, we will pay him Tribute for light: else Sir, no more Tribute, pray you now

Cym. You must know,

Till the iniurious Romans, did extort

This Tribute from vs, we were free. Caesars Ambition,

Which swell’d so much, that it did almost stretch

The sides o’th’ World, against all colour heere,

Did put the yoake vpon’s; which to shake off

Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon

Our selues to be, we do. Say then to Caesar,

Our Ancestor was that Mulmutius, which

Ordain’d our Lawes, whose vse the Sword of Caesar

Hath too much mangled; whose repayre, and franchise,

Shall (by the power we hold) be our good deed,

Tho Rome be therfore angry. Mulmutius made our lawes

Who was the first of Britaine, which did put

His browes within a golden Crowne, and call’d

Himselfe a King

Luc. I am sorry Cymbeline,

That I am to pronounce Augustus Caesar

(Caesar, that hath moe Kings his Seruants, then

Thy selfe Domesticke Officers) thine Enemy:

Receyue it from me then. Warre, and Confusion

In Caesars name pronounce I ‘gainst thee: Looke

For fury, not to be resisted. Thus defide,

I thanke thee for my selfe

Cym. Thou art welcome Caius,

Thy Caesar Knighted me; my youth I spent

Much vnder him; of him, I gather’d Honour,

Which he, to seeke of me againe, perforce,

Behooues me keepe at vtterance. I am perfect,

That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, for

Their Liberties are now in Armes: a President

Which not to reade, would shew the Britaines cold:

So Caesar shall not finde them

Luc. Let proofe speake Clot. His Maiesty biddes you welcome. Make pastime with vs, a day, or two, or longer: if you seek vs afterwards in other tearmes, you shall finde vs in our Saltwater-Girdle: if you beate vs out of it, it is yours: if you fall in the aduenture, our Crowes shall fare the better for you: and there’s an end

Luc. So sir

Cym. I know your Masters pleasure, and he mine:

All the Remaine, is welcome.

Exeunt.