Cymbeline
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter in State, Cymbeline, Queene, Clotten, and Lords atEnter in state, Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten, and Lords at Cym III.i.1.1
one doore, and at another, Caius, Lucius; and Attendants.one door, and at another, Caius Lucius and Attendants Cym III.i.1.2
Cym. CYMBELINE 
Now say, what would Augustus Casar with vs?Now say, what would Augustus Caesar with us? Cym III.i.1
Luc. LUCIUS 
When Iulius Casar (whose remembrance yetWhen Julius Caesar – whose remembrance yetremembrance (n.)
memory, bringing to mind, recollection		Cym III.i.2
Julius Caesar
[pron: 'seezer] Roman politician and general, 1st-c BC
Liues in mens eyes, and will to Eares and TonguesLives in men's eyes, and will to ears and tongues Cym III.i.3
Be Theame, and hearing euer) was in this Britain,Be theme and hearing ever – was in this Britainhearing (n.)
news, report, spectacle		Cym III.i.4
And Conquer'd it, Cassibulan thine VnkleAnd conquered it, Cassibelan, thine uncle – Cassibelan (n.)
[pron: ka'sibelan, ka'sibjulan] British king in 1st-c		Cym III.i.5
(Famous in Casars prayses, no whit lesseFamous in Caesar's praises, no whit less Cym III.i.6
Then in his Feats deseruing it) for him,Than in his feats deserving it – for him, Cym III.i.7
And his Succession, granted Rome a Tribute,And his succession, granted Rome a tribute,succession (n.)
successors, heirs		Cym III.i.8
Yeerely three thousand pounds; which (by thee) latelyYearly three thousand pounds; which – by thee – lately Cym III.i.9
Is left vntender'd.Is left untendered.untendered (adj.)

old form: vntender'd
unpaid, not offered, outstanding		Cym III.i.10.1
Qu. QUEEN 
And to kill the meruaile,And, to kill the marvel,marvel (n.)

old form: meruaile
astonishment, amazement, surprise		Cym III.i.10.2
Shall be so euer.Shall be so ever. Cym III.i.11
Clot. CLOTEN 
There be many Casars, / Ere such another Iulius:There be many Caesars ere such another Julius: Cym III.i.12
Britaine's a world / By it selfe, and we will nothing payBritain's a world by itself, and we will nothing pay Cym III.i.13
For wearing our owne Noses.for wearing our own noses. Cym III.i.14
Qu. QUEEN 
That opportunityThat opportunity, Cym III.i.15
Which then they had to take from's, to resumeWhich then they had to take from's, to resume Cym III.i.16
We haue againe. Remember Sir, my Liege,We have again. Remember, sir, my liege,liege (n.)
lord, sovereign		Cym III.i.17
The Kings your Ancestors, together withThe kings your ancestors, together with Cym III.i.18
The naturall brauery of your Isle, which standsThe natural bravery of your isle, which standsbravery (n.)

old form: brauery
defiant character, threatening appearance		Cym III.i.19
As Neptunes Parke, ribb'd, and pal'd inAs Neptune's park, ribbed and paled inpale in (v.)

old form: pal'd
fence in, hem in, enclose		Cym III.i.20
rib (v.)

old form: ribb'd
enclose [as if with ribs]
Neptune
Roman water-god, chiefly associated with the sea and sea-weather
With Oakes vnskaleable, and roaring Waters,With rocks unscaleable and roaring waters, Cym III.i.21
With Sands that will not beare your Enemies Boates,With sands that will not bear your enemies' boats, Cym III.i.22
But sucke them vp to'th'Top-mast. A kinde of ConquestBut suck them up to th' topmast. A kind of conquest Cym III.i.23
Casar made heere, but made not heere his braggeCaesar made here, but made not here his brag Cym III.i.24
Of Came, and Saw, and Ouer-came: with shameOf ‘ Came, and saw, and, overcame:’ with shame –  Cym III.i.25
(The first that euer touch'd him) he was carriedThe first that ever touched him – he was carried Cym III.i.26
From off our Coast, twice beaten: and his ShippingFrom off our coast, twice beaten: and his shipping –  Cym III.i.27
(Poore ignorant Baubles) on our terrible SeasPoor ignorant baubles! – on our terrible seas,bauble (n.)
toy, plaything		Cym III.i.28
Like Egge-shels mou'd vpon their Surges, crack'dLike eggshells moved upon their surges, cracked Cym III.i.29
As easily 'gainst our Rockes. For ioy whereof,As easily 'gainst our rocks. For joy whereof Cym III.i.30
The fam'd Cassibulan, who was once at pointThe famed Cassibelan, who was once at point – point, at / at a
in readiness, prepared, armed		Cym III.i.31
(Oh giglet Fortune) to master Casars Sword,O giglot fortune! – to master Caesar's sword,giglot (adj.)

old form: giglet
whore-like, fickle, giddy		Cym III.i.32
Made Luds-Towne with reioycing-Fires bright,Made Lud's town with rejoicing-fires bright,Lud's town
old name for London		Cym III.i.33
And Britaines strut with Courage.And Britons strut with courage. Cym III.i.34
Clot. CLOTEN 
Come, there's no more Tribute to be paid: our KingdomeCome, there's no more tribute to be paid: our kingdom Cym III.i.35
is stronger then it was at that time: and (as Iis stronger than it was at that time: and – as I Cym III.i.36
said) there is no mo such Casars, other of them maysaid – there is no moe such Caesars, other of them maymo, moe (adj.)
more [in number]		Cym III.i.37
haue crook'd Noses, but to owe such straite Armes,have crooked noses, but to owe such straight arms,owe (v.)
own, possess, have		Cym III.i.38
straight (adj.)

old form: straite
strong, muscular, strapping
none.none. Cym III.i.39
Cym. CYMBELINE 
Son, let your Mother end.Son, let your mother end. Cym III.i.40
Clot. CLOTEN 
We haue yet many among vs, can gripe as hard as We have yet many among us can gripe as hard asgripe (n.)
grip, hold, grasp		Cym III.i.41
Cassibulan, I doe not say I am one: but I haue a hand.Cassibelan: I do not say I am one: but I have a hand. Cym III.i.42
Why Tribute? Why should we pay Tribute? If CasarWhy tribute? Why should we pay tribute? If Caesar Cym III.i.43
can hide the Sun from vs with a Blanket, or put thecan hide the sun from us with a blanket, or put the Cym III.i.44
Moon in his pocket, we will pay him Tribute for light:moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light: Cym III.i.45
else Sir, no more Tribute, pray you now.else, sir, no more tribute, pray you now. Cym III.i.46
Cym. CYMBELINE 
You must know,You must know, Cym III.i.47
Till the iniurious Romans, did extortTill the injurious Romans did extortinjurious (adj.)

old form: iniurious
causing injury, harmful, offending, unjust		Cym III.i.48
This Tribute from vs, we were free. Casars Ambition,This tribute from us, we were free. Caesar's ambition, Cym III.i.49
Which swell'd so much, that it did almost stretchWhich swelled so much that it did almost stretch Cym III.i.50
The sides o'th'World, against all colour heere,The sides o'th' world, against all colour hereside (n.)
frame, compass, limit		Cym III.i.51
colour (n.)
pretext, pretence
colour (n.)
good ground, convincing reason, excuse
Did put the yoake vpon's; which to shake offDid put the yoke upon's; which to shake off Cym III.i.52
Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckonBecomes a warlike people, whom we reckonbecome (v.)
be fitting, befit, be appropriate to		Cym III.i.53
Our selues to be,Ourselves to be. Cym III.i.54.1
CLOTEN and LORDS 
we do.We do. Cym III.i.54.2
CYMBELINE 
Say then to Casar,Say then to Caesar, Cym III.i.4.3
Our Ancestor was that Mulmutius, whichOur ancestor was that Mulmutius whichMulmutius (n.)
[pron: mul'mootius] early king of the Britons		Cym III.i.55
Ordain'd our Lawes, whose vse the Sword of CasarOrdained our laws, whose use the sword of Caesar Cym III.i.56
Hath too much mangled; whose repayre, and franchise,Hath too much mangled; whose repair, and franchise,repair (n.)

old form: repayre
restoration, renewal, recovery		Cym III.i.57
franchise (n.)
free exercise, freedom to implement
Shall (by the power we hold) be our good deed,Shall – by the power we hold – be our good deed,power (n.)
force, strength, might		Cym III.i.58
Tho Rome be therfore angry. Mulmutius made our lawesThough Rome be therefore angry. Mulmutius made our laws, Cym III.i.59
Who was the first of Britaine, which did putWho was the first of Britain which did put Cym III.i.60
His browes within a golden Crowne, and call'dHis brows within a golden crown, and calledbrow (n.)

old form: browes
forehead [often plural, referring to the two prominences of the forehead]		Cym III.i.61
Himselfe a King.Himself a king. Cym III.i.62.1
Luc. LUCIUS 
I am sorry Cymbeline,I am sorry, Cymbeline, Cym III.i.62.2
That I am to pronounce Augustus CasarThat I am to pronounce Augustus Caesar –  Cym III.i.63
(Casar, that hath moe Kings his Seruants, thenCaesar, that hath moe kings his servants than Cym III.i.64
Thy selfe Domesticke Officers) thine Enemy:Thyself domestic officers – thine enemy: Cym III.i.65
Receyue it from me then. Warre, and ConfusionReceive it from me, then. War and confusionconfusion (n.)
destruction, overthrow, ruin		Cym III.i.66
In Casars name pronounce I 'gainst thee: LookeIn Caesar's name pronounce I 'gainst thee: look Cym III.i.67
For fury, not to be resisted. Thus defide,For fury, not to be resisted. Thus defied, Cym III.i.68
I thanke thee for my selfe.I thank thee for myself. Cym III.i.69.1
Cym. CYMBELINE 
Thou art welcome Caius,Thou art welcome, Caius. Cym III.i.69.2
Thy Casar Knighted me; my youth I spentThy Caesar knighted me; my youth I spent Cym III.i.70
Much vnder him; of him, I gather'd Honour,Much under him; of him I gathered honour, Cym III.i.71
Which he, to seeke of me againe, perforce,Which he to seek of me again, perforce,perforce (adv.)
of necessity, with no choice in the matter		Cym III.i.72
Behooues me keepe at vtterance. I am perfect,Behoves me keep at utterance. I am perfectperfect (adj.)
certain, definite, positive		Cym III.i.73
utterance, at

old form: vtterance
to the uttermost, to the very last, at any cost
That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, forThat the Pannonians and Dalmatians forDalmatians (n.)
people from ancient Dalmatia, bordering the Adriatic Sea, modern SW Croatia		Cym III.i.74
Pannonians (n.)
people from ancient Pannonia (in and around modern Hungary)
Their Liberties are now in Armes: a PresidentTheir liberties are now in arms: a precedent Cym III.i.75
Which not to reade, would shew the Britaines cold:Which not to read would show the Britons cold:read (v.)

old form: reade
interpret, discern, make something of		Cym III.i.76
cold (adj.)
hopeless, apathetic, miserable
So Casar shall not finde them.So Caesar shall not find them. Cym III.i.77.1
Luc. LUCIUS 
Let proofe speake.Let proof speak.proof (n.)

old form: proofe
result, outcome, upshot		Cym III.i.77.2
Clot. CLOTEN 
His Maiesty biddes you welcome. Make pastime withHis majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime with Cym III.i.78
vs, a day, or two, or longer: if you seek vs afterwardsus a day or two, or longer: if you seek us afterwards Cym III.i.79
in other tearmes, you shall finde vs in our Salt-water-in other terms, you shall find us in our salt-water Cym III.i.80
Girdle: if you beate vs out of it, it is yours: if you fall ingirdle: if you beat us out of it, it is yours: if you fall in Cym III.i.81
the aduenture, our Crowes shall fare the better for you:the adventure, our crows shall fare the better for you:fare (v.)
get on, manage, do, cope		Cym III.i.82
adventure (n.)

old form: aduenture
venture, enterprise, issue, hazard
and there's an end. and there's an end. Cym III.i.83
Luc. LUCIUS 
So sir.So, sir. Cym III.i.84
Cym. CYMBELINE 
I know your Masters pleasure, and he mine:I know your master's pleasure, and he mine: Cym III.i.85
All the Remaine, is welcome. All the remain is ‘ Welcome.’remain (n.)

old form: Remaine
remainder, rest		Cym III.i.86
Exeunt.Exeunt Cym III.i.86
 Previous Act III, Scene I Next  
x

Jump directly to