Cymbeline
Act 5, Scene 2
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.
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.
The battle continues; the Britons fly; Cymbeline is taken:
then enter, to his rescue,
Belarius,
Guiderius,
and Arviragus