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The worth that learned charity aye wears:

For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame

Had spread their cursed deed, and honour'd name

Of Pericles, to rage the city turn,

That him and his they in his palace burn;

The gods for murder seemed so content

To punish them although not done but meant.

So, on your patence evermore attending,

New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending.

[Exit.]

CYMBELINE

This late play is based on legends concerning the early Celtic British King Cunobelinus. Although listed as a tragedy in the First Folio, modern critics classify Cymbeline as a romance and the precise date of composition remains unknown.

The plot of Cymbeline is loosely based on a tale by Geoffrey of Monmouth about the real-life British monarch Cunobelinus. Shakespeare, however, freely adapts the legend to a large extent, adding his own sub-plots. Imogen, daughter of the British king Cymbeline, is in love with Posthumus Leonatus, a man raised in her father's court who, though an orphan of low birth, is described as possessing exceeding personal merit and martial skill. The two have secretly married, exchanging jewellery as tokens: a ring from Imogen, a bracelet from Posthumus. Cymbeline has discovered the affair and banishes Posthumus for his presumption, for Imogen is currently Cymbeline's only child and so her husband is heir to the British throne.

Shakespeare's main source text for this play is available via this link.

‘Imogen Discovered in the Cave of Belarius’ by George Dawe

‘Imogen’ by Herbert Gustave Schmalz

CONTENTS

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACT I. SCENE I. Britain. The garden of CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE II. Britain. A public place

SCENE III. Britain. CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE IV. Rome. PHILARIO'S house

SCENE V. Britain. CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE VI. Britain. The palace

ACT II. SCENE I. Britain. Before CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE II. Britain. IMOGEN'S bedchamber in CYMBELINE'S palace; a trunk in one corner

SCENE III. CYMBELINE'S palace. An ante-chamber adjoining IMOGEN'S apartments

SCENE IV. Rome. PHILARIO'S house

SCENE V. Rome. Another room in PHILARIO'S house

ACT III. SCENE I. Britain. A hall in CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE II. Britain. Another room in CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE III. Wales. A mountainous country with a cave

SCENE IV. Wales, near Milford Haven

SCENE V. Britain. CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE VI. Wales. Before the cave of BELARIUS

SCENE VII. Rome. A public place

ACT IV. SCENE I. Wales. Near the cave of BELARIUS

SCENE II. Wales. Before the cave of BELARIUS

SCENE III. Britain. CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE IV. Wales. Before the cave of BELARIUS

ACT V. SCENE I. Britain. The Roman camp

SCENE II. Britain. A field of battle between the British and Roman camps

SCENE III. Another part of the field

SCENE IV. Britain. A prison

SCENE V. Britain. CYMBELINE'S tent

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

CYMBELINE, King of Britain

CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a former husband

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, a gentleman, husband to Imogen

BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan

GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the

names of POLYDORE and CADWAL, supposed sons to Belarius

PHILARIO, Italian, friend to Posthumus

IACHIMO, Italian, friend to Philario

A FRENCH GENTLEMAN, friend to Philario

CAIUS LUCIUS, General of the Roman Forces

A ROMAN CAPTAIN

TWO BRITISH CAPTAINS

PISANIO, servant to Posthumus

CORNELIUS, a physician

TWO LORDS of Cymbeline's court

TWO GENTLEMEN of the same

TWO GAOLERS

QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline

IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen

HELEN, a lady attending on Imogen

APPARITIONS

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Soothsayer, a

Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers,

Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants

SCENE: Britain; Italy

ACT I. SCENE I. Britain. The garden of CYMBELINE'S palace

FIRST GENTLEMAN. You do not meet a man but frowns; our bloods

No more obey the heavens than our courtiers

Still seem as does the King's.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

But what's the