SHAKESPEARE ON DISK. CYMBELINE. Copyright (c) 1990 Interconnection Publications Inc. DRAMATIS PERSONAE. CYMBELINE. King of Britain. IMOGEN. Daughter of Cymbeline by a former Queen. POSTHUMUS LEONATUS. A gentleman, husband of Imogen. PISANIO. Servant of Posthumus. QUEEN. Wife of Cymbeline. CLOTEN. Son of the Queen by a former husband. BELARIUS. A banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan. GUIDERIUS. Son of Cymbeline, disguised under the name of Polydore, supposed son of Belarius. ARVIRAGUS. Son of Cymbeline, disguised under the name of Cadwal, supposed son of Belarius. IACHIMO. An Italian. CAIUS LUCIUS. General of the Roman forces. CORNELIUS. A physician. PHILARIO. An Italian, friend of Posthumus and Iachimo. A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. Friend of Philario. A ROMAN CAPTAIN. TWO BRITISH CAPTAINS. TWO LORDS OF CYMBELINE'S COURT. TWO GENTLEMEN OF CYMBELINE'S COURT. A SOOTHSAYER. TWO GAOLERS. APPARITIONS. LORDS, LADIES, ROMAN SENATORS, TRIBUNES, A DUTCH GENTLEMAN, A SPANISH GENTLEMAN, MUSICIANS, OFFICERS, CAPTAINS, SOLDIERS, MESSENGERS, and ATTENDANTS. SYNOPSIS. 1/1 Britain. The garden of Cymbeline's palace. One GENTLEMAN brings another GENTLEMAN up to date on the royal family -- POSTHUMUS LEONATUS' banishment and the abduction, 20 years earlier, of Cymbeline's sons; they exit. IMOGEN and POSTHUMUS enter with the QUEEN, who exits so they can say farewell; the QUEEN re-enters, hurrying them, then exits; IMOGEN and POSTHUMUS exchange tokens; CYMBELINE and LORDS enter; POSTHUMUS exits, sent away by CYMBELINE; CYMBELINE upbraids IMOGEN, who defies him; the QUEEN enters; CYMBELINE entrusts IMOGEN to her, and exits with the LORDS. PISANIO enters and reports on a fight between Posthumus and Cloten. 1/2 Britain. A public place. CLOTEN boasts to TWO LORDS. 1/3 A room in Cymbeline's palace. PISANIO describes Posthumus' leave-taking to IMOGEN; a LADY enters to fetch IMOGEN, and PISANIO exits. 1/4 Rome. Philario's house. PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a FRENCHMAN, a DUTCHMAN, and a SPANIARD speak of Posthumus. POSTHUMUS enters; a discussion of women's virtue develops into a bet, in which POSTHUMUS wagers his ring that IACHIMO cannot seduce Imogen. 1/5 Britain. A room in Cymbeline's palace. After the QUEEN sends her LADIES to gather flowers, CORNELIUS hands the QUEEN a box containing a drug she thinks is a poison. PISANIO enters; the QUEEN dismisses CORNELIUS, who lingers to reveal, aside, that the drug is only a soporific; when CORNELIUS exits, the QUEEN asks PISANIO to influence Imogen toward Cloten, and presents him with the box, which she describes as medicine; PISANIO exits; the QUEEN exults. PISANIO re-enters with the LADIES, who exit with the QUEEN; PISANIO vows loyalty to Posthumus. 1/6 Another room in the palace. IMOGEN sorrows. PISANIO and IACHIMO enter; IACHIMO, dazzled by IMOGEN, delivers a letter from Posthumus; PISANIO exits, sent out by IACHIMO; IMOGEN angrily reacts to IACHIMO's crude advances, but is reconciled to him when he praises Posthumus; IACHIMO, realizing that IMOGEN is unassailable, asks her to store a trunk of his in her rooms; she agrees. 2/1 Britain. Before Cymbeline's palace. CLOTEN and TWO LORDS discuss brawling, swearing and gambling; after CLOTEN and the FIRST LORD exit, the SECOND LORD assails Cloten's stupidity. 2/2 Imogen's bedchamber: a trunk in one corner of it. IMOGEN sends her LADY to bed, then sleeps. IACHIMO emerges from the trunk, takes note of IMOGEN's room and of IMOGEN herself; he steals her bracelet and returns to the trunk. 2/3 An ante-chamber adjoining Imogen's apartments. CLOTEN, with some LORDS, prepares to woo Imogen; musicians enter and sing; CLOTEN dismisses them. CYMBELINE and the QUEEN enter; they encourage CLOTEN's fruitless courtship. A MESSENGER enters with news of Caius Lucius' arrival; all exit but CLOTEN, who knocks on Imogen's door; a LADY enters and parleys with him; IMOGEN enters, the LADY exits; IMOGEN heartily rebuffs CLOTEN's suit; CLOTEN, angered, maligns Posthumus, to a sharp rebuke from IMOGEN. PISANIO enters; IMOGEN asks him to conduct a search for her bracelet; PISANIO exits. After more words with CLOTEN, IMOGEN exits; CLOTEN vows revenge. 2/4 Rome. Philario's house. POSTHUMUS LEONATUS and PHILARIO discuss the Roman- British dispute; IACHIMO enters and convinces POSTHUMUS that he indeed seduced Imogen; beside himself, POSTHUMUS exits, followed by IACHIMO and PHILARIO. 2/5 Another room in Philario's house. POSTHUMUS rails against womankind. 3/1 Britain. A room of state in Cymbeline's palace. CYMBELINE, the QUEEN, and CLOTEN, with the British LORDS, meet with CAIUS LUCIUS and ATTENDANTS; CYMBELINE, led by the QUEEN and CLOTEN, refuses to pay tribute, making war inevitable; CYMBELINE orders that LUCIUS be treated hospitably. 3/2 Another room in the palace. PISANIO reads a letter from Posthumus ordering him to kill Imogen. IMOGEN enters; PISANIO shows her a second letter from Posthumus, disclosing his intention to go to Wales; IMOGEN convinces a reluctant PISANIO to accompany her there. 3/3 Wales. A mountainous country with a cave. BELARIUS extols the simple life; GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS argue for more experience; after the boys exit, BELARIUS reveals their true identities. 3/4 Near Milford-Haven. On their journey, PISANIO lets IMOGEN read Posthumus' murderous letter; IMOGEN despairs; PISANIO, with difficulty, convinces IMOGEN to disguise herself as a boy and seek service with Caius Lucius, thus gaining proximity to Posthumus; before hastening back to the court, PISANIO presents IMOGEN with the box. 3/5 A room in Cymbeline's palace. CYMBELINE, CLOTEN, and the QUEEN take leave of CAIUS LUCIUS, who exits, escorted by LORDS; the royal family prepares for war. CYMBELINE sends an ATTENDANT for Imogen; the ATTENDANT re-enters and reports her missing; after some words with the QUEEN, CYMBELINE exits, agitated; CLOTEN exits, sent by the QUEEN; CLOTEN re-enters and confirms Imogen's absence; the QUEEN, secretly pleased, exits. CLOTEN fumes over Imogen; PISANIO enters; pressed by CLOTEN, PISANIO shows him Posthumus' letter to Imogen. PISANIO agrees, when asked to join CLOTEN's service; he exits to bring CLOTEN clothing of Posthumus'; CLOTEN plans to kill Posthumus and ravage Imogen; PISANIO re-enters with a suit of Posthumus'; CLOTEN orders the suit brought to his room, then exits; PISANIO affirms his loyalty to Posthumus. 3/6 Wales. Before the cave of Belarius. IMOGEN, as a boy, lost and hungry, approaches the cave; she ventures in. BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS enter from hunting; BELARIUS catches sight of IMOGEN, who enters from the cave and begs their pardon. BELARIUS extends hospitality to IMOGEN; the boys express their attraction to the her. 3/7 Rome. A public place. TWO SENATORS and a TRIBUNE discuss the coming war. 4/1 Wales. The forest near the cave of Belarius. CLOTEN plots his revenge. 4/2 Before the cave of Belarius. BELARIUS, IMOGEN, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS emerge from the cave for a hunting expedition; the men decide to leave IMOGEN home; she exits into the cave. CLOTEN enters; BELARIUS recognizes him and exits with ARVIRAGUS to scout for any attendants, leaving GUIDERIUS to confront him. CLOTEN and GUIDERIUS argue and exit, fighting. BELARIUS and ARVIRAGUS re-enter and speak; GUIDERIUS re-enters carrying Cloten's head; he describes the fight, then exits to dispose of the head; BELARIUS foresees dire consequences; ARVIRAGUS exits, sent to help Imogen cook. BELARIUS muses on noble blood. GUIDERIUS enters; he and BELARIUS hear, inside the cave, ARVIRAGUS playing their solemn harp; ARVIRAGUS enters carrying IMOGEN, who seems dead; they mourn "Fidele" and decide to expose IMOGEN and Cloten's corpse together; BELARIUS exits to fetch Cloten and the brothers sing a dirge for IMOGEN; BELARIUS re-enters with the corpse; the three strew flowers and exit. IMOGEN awakens and thinks Cloten's corpse is Posthumus'; CAIUS LUCIUS, with CAPTAINS and a SOOTHSAYER, enter and after discussing the war, discover IMOGEN, sprawled on the headless body; LUCIUS, pitying her, takes her into his service, still as the boy, Fidele. 4/3 A room in Cymbeline's palace. CYMBELINE, accompanied by LORDS, sends one of his ATTENDANTS to ask after the Queen, then questions PISANIO; PISANIO denies knowing Imogen's whereabouts; CYMBELINE discusses the war with a LORD; all exit, except PISANIO, who again affirms his loyalty. 4/4 Wales. Before the cave of Belarius. GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS convince BELARIUS to join the battle to defend Britain. 5/1 Britain. The Roman camp. POSTHUMUS LEONATUS anguishes over his order to have Imogen murdered. 5/2 A field between the British and Roman camps. The ROMAN ARMY, including CAIUS LUCIUS, IMOGEN, IACHIMO, and POSTHUMUS, as a foot soldier, and the BRITISH ARMY, appear, then exit; POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO enter, fighting; POSTHUMUS disarms IACHIMO, then exits; IACHIMO wonders at Posthumus' prowess, then exits. The battle continues; as the BRITONS flee, CYMBELINE is captured, then rescued by BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS; POSTHUMUS enters to aid them; all exit. CAIUS LUCIUS, with IMOGEN and IACHIMO, says the British have gained the upper hand. 5/3 Another part of the field. POSTHUMUS describes to a British LORD how Belarius and the two boys rallied the Britons; when the LORD exits, POSTHUMUS decides to let himself be taken as a Roman; two British CAPTAINS, and SOLDIERS, enter and capture POSTHUMUS. CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, and Roman CAPTIVES enter; the CAPTAINS present POSTHUMUS to CYMBELINE, who entrusts him to a GAOLER. 5/4 A prison. TWO GAOLERS lock up POSTHUMUS, then exit; POSTHUMUS welcomes his fate, then sleeps. The ghosts of POSTHUMUS' father, SICILIUS LEONATUS, his MOTHER, and two BROTHERS appear; they circle him and speak; JUPITER enters, predicts POSTHUMUS' happy future, and dismisses the ghosts; after placing a tablet on the sleeping POSTHUMUS, he exits, followed, after some pious remarks by SICILIUS LEONATUS, by the ghosts. POSTHUMUS awakes, finds the tablet, and reads it. The FIRST GAOLER enters and with rough humor prepares POSTHUMUS for execution; a MESSENGER enters, summoning POSTHUMUS to Cymbeline; they exit, and the FIRST GAOLER philosophizes quaintly. 5/5 Cymbeline's tent. CYMBELINE, with BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, LORDS, OFFICERS, and ATTENDANTS, seeks the brave soldier who aided them; he knights BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS. CORNELIUS, with LADIES, enters; he tells CYMBELINE the Queen is dead, and recounts her confession of her evil deeds. The Roman PRISONERS, including CAIUS LUCIUS, IACHIMO, the SOOTHSAYER, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN, enter; LUCIUS seeks mercy for IMOGEN; CYMBELINE grants it, and grants her a boon; IMOGEN draws CYMBELINE aside; BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS wonder at IMOGEN's reappearance. IMOGEN, coming forward with CYMBELINE, asks IACHIMO about his ring; IACHIMO confesses; POSTHUMUS rages, and when IMOGEN, still as Fidele, intercedes, he strikes her; PISANIO reveals IMOGEN's identity. IMOGEN, recovering, accuses PISANIO of poisoning her; PISANIO protests innocence, and CORNELIUS supports his story; POSTHUMUS and IMOGEN embrace. PISANIO tells of Cloten's expedition; GUIDERIUS admits killing Cloten; CYMBELINE sadly condemns GUIDERIUS to death; BELARIUS reveals his identity, and the two youths'; joyfully the story's last strands are pieced together; POSTHUMUS pardons IACHIMO. The SOOTHSAYER interprets Jupiter's tablet. CYMBELINE declares peace with Rome, agreeing to pay the tribute.