romance

Cymbeline

c. 1609–1610

A British princess, a Roman invasion, and a bet that destroys a marriage before truth restores it.

Start reading — Act 1, Scene 1 →

Scenes

Act 1

1.1 Britain. The garden of Cymbeline’s palace. 1.2 The same. 1.3 Britain. A public place. 1.4 Britain. Cymbeline’s palace. 1.5 Rome. Philario’s house. 1.6 Britain. Cymbeline’s palace. 1.7 Britain. The palace.

Act 2

2.1 Britain. Before Cymbeline’s palace. 2.2 Britain. Imogen’s bedchamber in Cymbeline’s palace; a trunk 2.3 Cymbeline’s palace. An ante-chamber adjoining Imogen’s 2.4 Rome. Philario’s house. 2.5 Rome. Another room in Philario’s house.

Act 3

3.1 Britain. A hall in Cymbeline’s palace. 3.2 Britain. Another room in Cymbeline’s palace. 3.3 Wales. A mountainous country with a cave. 3.4 Wales, near Milford Haven. 3.5 Britain. Cymbeline’s palace. 3.6 Wales. Before the cave of Belarius. 3.7 The same. 3.8 Rome. A public place.

Act 4

4.1 Wales. Near the cave of Belarius. 4.2 Wales. Before the cave of Belarius. 4.3 Britain. Cymbeline’s palace. 4.4 Wales. Before the cave of Belarius.

Act 5

5.1 Britain. The Roman camp. 5.2 Britain. A field of battle between the British and Roman 5.3 Another part of the field. 5.4 Britain. A prison. 5.5 Britain. Cymbeline’s tent.

Dramatis personæ

CYMBELINE King of Britain
CLOTEN son to the Queen by a former husband
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS a gentleman, husband to Imogen
BELARIUS a banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan
PHILARIO Italian, friend to Posthumus
IACHIMO Italian, friend to Philario
CAIUS LUCIUS General of the Roman forces
PISANIO servant to Posthumus
CORNELIUS a physician
A SOOTHSAYER
A ROMAN CAPTAIN
TWO BRITISH CAPTAINS
A FRENCH GENTLEMAN friend to Philario
TWO GAOLERS
QUEEN wife to Cymbeline
IMOGEN daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen
HELEN a lady attending on Imogen
APPARITIONS