ENGLISH HISTORY AS TOLD BY ENGLISH POETS CYMBELINE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE CUNOBELINUS, king of the Trinovantes, was the most powerful of the British chiefs known to Roman historians. He was grandson to the Cassivelaunus who had fought successfully against Julius Cæsar. One of his sons, Caractacus, for nine years defied the Roman army that, under Aulus Plautius, finally conquered the Britons. There is no further historical basis for Shakespeare's play. The scene represents the reception (43 A.D.) of Caius Lucius, the emissary of the emperor, at the court of Cymbeline. Lucius demands a renewal of the tribute paid to Julius Cæsar, and regards Cymbeline's refusal as amounting to a declaration of war. ACT III SCENE I. BRITAIN. A Room of State in Cymbeline's Palace. (Enter, at one side, Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten, and Lords; at the other, Caius Lucius and Attendants.) Cym. Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us? Luc. When Julius Cæsar-whose remembrance yet Lives in men's eyes, and will to ears and tongues Than in his feats deserving it, for him And his succession granted Rome a tribute Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee lately Is left untender'd. Queen. Shall be so ever. Clo. And, to kill the marvel, There be many Cæsars Britain is Ere such another Julius. A world by itself; and we will nothing pay For wearing our own noses. Queen. That opportunity Which then they had to take from 's, to resume We have again. — Remember, sir, my liege, The kings your ancestors; together with The natural bravery of your isle, which stands With rocks unscalable and roaring waters, With sands that will not bear your enemies' boats, But suck them up to the top-mast. A kind of con quest Cæsar made here; but made not here his brag From off our coast, twice beaten; and his shipping — 1 fickle. Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright Clo. Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and, as I said, there is no more such Cæsars: other of them may have crooked noses; but to owe1 such straight arms, none. Cym. Son, let your mother end. Clo. We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan: I do not say I am one; but I have a hand. Why tribute? Why should we pay tribute? If Cæsar can hide the sun from us with a blanket, or put the moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light; else, sir, no more tribute, pray you now. Cym. You must know Till the injurious Romans did extort This tribute from us, we were free: Cæsar's ambition, Which swell'd so much that it did almost stretch The sides o' the world, — against all color here Clo. Cym. We do. Say then to Cæsar, Our ancestor was that Mulmutius which Ordain'd our laws, — whose use the sword of Cæsar Hath too much mangled; whose repair and franchise Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed, Though Rome be therefore angry: Mulmutius made our laws, Who was the first of Britain which did put Luc. I am sorry, Cymbeline, That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar, - Receive it from me then: War and confusion BOADICEA WILLIAM COWPER THE Romans proved cruel masters. Under Suetonius (63 A.D.) they took possession of Mona, the sacred island of the Druids, destroyed their temples and massacred the priests. The sacrilege was resented by all the British tribes. The Iceni, led by their warrior queen Boudicca, who, with her daughters, had suffered gross cruelty at the hands of the Roman soldiers, rose in revolt. They were joined by the Trinovantes and other neighboring tribes. Camulodunum, the strong Roman colony in the east, was sacked and the inhabitants put to the sword. Before Suetonius could rally his troops, London and Verulamium were reduced to ashes. Finally an army of ten thousand Roman soldiers was brought against the Britons, and the natives were overwhelmed. The heroic queen took her own life. When the British warrior queen, Bleeding from the Roman rods, |