Another Part of the Field.
 Enter POSTHUMUS and a BRITON LORD.

Lord	Cam'st thou from where they made the stand?

Posthumus												I did,
	Though you, it seems, come from the fliers.

Lord												I did.

Posthumus	No blame be to you, sir, for all was lost,
	But that the heavens fought. The king himself
	Of his wings destitute, the army broken,
	And but the backs of Britons seen, all flying
	Through a strait lane; the enemy full-hearted,
	Lolling the tongue with slaught'ring, having work
	More plentiful than tools to do't, struck down
	Some mortally, some slightly touched, some falling
	Merely through fear, that the strait pass was damned
	With dead men hurt behind, and cowards living
	To die with lengthened shame.

Lord										Where was this lane?

Posthumus	Close by the battle, ditched, and walled with turf,
	Which gave advantage to an ancient soldier,
	An honest one I warrant, who deserved
	So long a breeding as his white beard came to,
	In doing this for's country. Athwart the lane,
	He, with two striplings - lads more like to run
	The country base than to commit such slaughter,
	With faces fit for masks, or rather fairer
	Than those for preservation cased, or shame-
	Made good the passage, cried to those that fled
	"Our Britain's harts die flying, not our men.
	To darkness fleet souls that fly backwards. Stand,
	Or we are Romans, and will give you that
	Like beasts which you shun beastly, and may save
	But to look back in frown. Stand, stand!" These three,
	Three thousand confident, in act as many-
	For three performers are the file when all
	The rest do nothing - with this word 'Stand, stand',
	Accommodated by the place, more charming
	With their own nobleness, which could have turned
	A distaff to a lance, gilded pale looks;
	Part shame, part spirit renewed, that some turned coward
	But by example - O, a sin in war
	Damned in the first beginners! - 'gan to look
	The way that they did, and to grin like lions
	Upon the pikes o'th' hunters. Then began
	A stop i'th' chaser, a retire; anon
	A rout, confusion thick. Forthwith they fly
	Chickens, the way which they stooped eagles; slaves,
	The strides they victors made. And now our cowards,
	Like fragments in hard voyages, became
	The life o'th' need; having found the back-door open
	Of the unguarded hearts, heavens, how they wound!
	Some slain before, some dying, some their friends
	O'erborne i'th' former wave, ten chased by one,
	Are now each one the slaughterman of twenty.
	Those that would die or ere resist are grown
	The mortal bugs o'th' field.

Lord										This was strange chance:
	A narrow lane, an old man, and two boys.

Posthumus	Nay, do not wonder at it; you are made
	Rather to wonder at the things you hear
	Than to work any. Will you rhyme upon't,
	And vent it for a mock'ry? Here is one:

		Two boys, an old man twice a boy, a lane,
		Preserved the Britons, was the Romans' bane.

Lord	Nay, be not angry, sir.

Posthumus									'Lack, to what end?
	Who dares not stand his foe, I'll be his friend;
	For if he'll do as he is made to do,
	I know he'll quickly fly my friendship too.
	You have put me into rhyme.

Lord											Farewell; you're angry.
													[Exit.
Posthumus	Still going? This is a lord! O noble misery,
	To be i'th' field and ask 'What news?' of me!
	Today how many would have given their honours
	To have saved their carcasses took heel to do't,
	And yet died too! I, in mine own woe charmed,
	Could not find death where I did hear him groan,
	Nor feel him where he struck. Being an ugly monster,
	'Tis strange he hides him in fresh cups, soft beds,
	Sweet words; or hath more ministers than we
	That draw his knives i'th' war. Well, I will find him;
	For being now a favourer to the Briton,
	No more a Briton, I have resumed again
	The part I came in. Fight I will no more,
	But yield me to the veriest hind that shall
	Once touch my shoulder. Great the slaughter is
	Here made by th' Roman; great the answer be
	Britons must take. For me, my ransom's death;
	On either side I come to spend my breath,
	Which neither here I'll keep nor bear again,
	But end it by some means for Innogen.

            Enter 1st and 2nd BRITISH CAPTAINS, with SOLDIERS.

1st Captain	Great Jupiter be praised, Lucius is taken.
	'Tis thought the old man and his sons were angels.

2nd Captain	There was a fourth man, in a silly habit,
	That gave th' affront with them.

1st Captain											So 'tis reported,
	But none of 'em can be found. Stand! Who's there?

Posthumus	A Roman,
	Who had not now been drooping here if seconds
	Had answered him.

2nd Captain							Lay hands on him. A dog,
	A leg of Rome, shall not return to tell
	What crows have pecked them here. He brags his service
	As if he were of note. Bring him to the king.

        Enter CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO,
                           and ROMAN CAPTIVES.
               The CAPTAINS present POSTHUMUS to CYMBELINE,
                    who delivers him over to a GAOLER.
													[Exeunt.
