1    Now say, what would Augustus Caesar with us?

2    When Julius Caesar, whose remembrance yet
3    Lives in men's eyes and will to ears and tongues
4    Be theme and hearing ever, was in this Britain
5    And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle,--
6    Famous in Caesar's praises, no whit less
7    Than in his feats deserving it--for him
8    And his succession granted Rome a tribute,
9    Yearly three thousand pounds, which by thee lately
10   Is left untender'd.

11   And, to kill the marvel,
12   Shall be so ever.

13   There be many Caesars,
14   Ere such another Julius. Britain is
15   A world by itself; and we will nothing pay
16   For wearing our own noses.

17   That opportunity
18   Which then they had to take from 's, to resume
19   We have again. Remember, sir, my liege,
20   The kings your ancestors, together with
21   The natural bravery of your isle, which stands
22   As Neptune's park, ribbed and paled in
23   With rocks unscalable and roaring waters,
24   With sands that will not bear your enemies' boats,
25   But suck them up to the topmast. A kind of conquest
26   Caesar made here; but made not here his brag
27   Of 'Came' and 'saw' and 'overcame: ' with shame--
28   That first that ever touch'd him--he was carried
29   From off our coast, twice beaten; and his shipping--
30   Poor ignorant baubles!-- upon our terrible seas,
31   Like egg-shells moved upon their surges, crack'd
32   As easily 'gainst our rocks: for joy whereof
33   The famed Cassibelan, who was once at point--
34   O giglot fortune!--to master Caesar's sword,
35   Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright
36   And Britons strut with courage.

37   Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: our
38   kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and,
39   as I said, there is no moe such Caesars: other of
40   them may have crook'd noses, but to owe such
41   straight arms, none.

42   Son, let your mother end.

43   We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as
44   Cassibelan: I do not say I am one; but I have a
45   hand. Why tribute? why should we pay tribute? If
46   Caesar can hide the sun from us with a blanket, or
47   put the moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute
48   for light; else, sir, no more tribute, pray you now.

49   You must know,
50   Till the injurious Romans did extort
51   This tribute from us, we were free:
52   Caesar's ambition,
53   Which swell'd so much that it did almost stretch
54   The sides o' the world, against all colour here
55   Did put the yoke upon 's; which to shake off
56   Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon
57   Ourselves to be.

58   We do.

59   Say, then, to Caesar,
60   Our ancestor was that Mulmutius which
61   Ordain'd our laws, whose use the sword of Caesar
62   Hath too much mangled; whose repair and franchise
63   Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed,
64   Though Rome be therefore angry: Mulmutius made our laws,
65   Who was the first of Britain which did put
66   His brows within a golden crown and call'd
67   Himself a king.

68   I am sorry, Cymbeline,
69   That I am to pronounce Augustus Caesar--
70   Caesar, that hath more kings his servants than
71   Thyself domestic officers--thine enemy:
72   Receive it from me, then: war and confusion
73   In Caesar's name pronounce I 'gainst thee: look
74   For fury not to be resisted. Thus defied,
75   I thank thee for myself.

76   Thou art welcome, Caius.
77   Thy Caesar knighted me; my youth I spent
78   Much under him; of him I gather'd honour;
79   Which he to seek of me again, perforce,
80   Behoves me keep at utterance. I am perfect
81   That the Pannonians and Dalmatians for
82   Their liberties are now in arms; a precedent
83   Which not to read would show the Britons cold:
84   So Caesar shall not find them.

85   Let proof speak.

86   His majesty bids you welcome. Make
87   pastime with us a day or two, or longer: if
88   you seek us afterwards in other terms, you
89   shall find us in our salt-water girdle: if you
90   beat us out of it, it is yours; if you fall in
91   the adventure, our crows shall fare the better
92   for you; and there's an end.

93   So, sir.

94   I know your master's pleasure and he mine:
95   All the remain is 'Welcome!'