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Cymbeline

Please see the bottom of the page for explanatory notes.

ACT V SCENE II  A Field of battle between the British and Roman camps. 
 Enter, from one side, LUCIUS, IACHIMO, and the Roman Army: from the other side, the British Army; POSTHUMUS LEONATUS following, like a poor soldier. They march over and go out. Then enter again, in skirmish, IACHIMO and POSTHUMUS LEONATUS he vanquisheth and disarmeth IACHIMO and then leaves him. 
IACHIMO The heaviness and guilt within my bosom 
 Takes off my manhood: I have belied a lady, 
 The princess of this country, and the air on't 
 Revengingly enfeebles me; or could this carl,
 A very drudge of nature's, have subdued me 
 In my profession? Knighthoods and honours, borne 
 As I wear mine, are titles but of scorn. 
 If that thy gentry, Britain, go before 
 This lout as he exceeds our lords, the odds
 Is that we scarce are men and you are gods. 10
 [ Exit.  
  The battle continues; the Britons fly ; CYMBELINE is taken: then enter, to his rescue, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS. 
BELARIUS Stand, stand! We have the advantage of the ground; 
 The lane is guarded: nothing routs us but 
 The villany of our fears. 
GUIDERIUS |
 | Stand, stand, and fight! 
ARVIRAGUS | 
 Re-enter POSTHUMUS, and seconds the Britons: they rescue CYMBELINE, and exeunt. Then re-enter LUCIUS, and IACHIMO, with IMOGEN. 
CAIUS LUCIUS Away, boy, from the troops, and save thyself; 
 For friends kill friends, and the disorder's such 
 As war were hoodwink'd. 20
IACHIMO 'Tis their fresh supplies. 
CAIUS LUCIUS It is a day turn'd strangely: or betimes 
 Let's reinforce, or fly. 
 [ Exeunt.  


Cymbeline, Act 5, Scene 3



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Explanatory Notes for Act 5, Scene 2
From Cymbeline. A.W. Verity. Cambridge, University Press.

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4. carl, churl, peasant.

16. hoodwink'd, blind-folded.

18. re-inforce; perhaps 'renew the attack.'





How to cite the explanatory notes:
Shakespeare, William. Cymbeline. Ed. A.W. Verity. Cambridge, University Press, 1899. Shakespeare Online. 10 Dec. 2013. < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/cymbel_5_2.html >.

How to cite the sidebar:
Mabillard, Amanda. Notes on Shakespeare. Shakespeare Online. 10 Dec. 2013. < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/cymbel_5_2.html >.
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More to Explore

 Cymbeline: The Play with Commentary
 Cymbeline Plot Summary
 Famous Quotations from Cymbeline
 How to pronounce the names in Cymbeline
 Sources for Cymbeline

 Introduction to Imogen
 Introduction to Guiderius and Arviragus
 Introduction to Cloten
 Introduction to Cymbeline
 Introduction to Posthumus
 Introduction to Iachimo
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