Act 4, Scene 4

Wales: before the cave of Belarius.
Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.
Guiderius  The noise is round about us.

 
Belarius 
Let us from it.

 
Arviragus  What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it 
From action and adventure?

 
Guiderius 
Nay, what hope 
Have we in hiding us? This way, the Romans 
Must or for Britons slay us, or receive us  5
For barbarous and unnatural revolts 
During their use, and slay us after.

 
Belarius  Sons, We'll higher to the mountains; there secure us. 
To the king's party there's no going: newness 
Of Cloten's death--we being not known, not muster'd  10
Among the bands--may drive us to a render 
Where we have lived, and so extort from's that 
Which we have done, whose answer would be death 
Drawn on with torture.

 
Guiderius 
This is, sir, a doubt 
In such a time nothing becoming you,  15
Nor satisfying us.

 
Arviragus 
It is not likely 
That when they hear the Roman horses neigh, 
Behold their quarter'd fires, have both their eyes 
And ears so cloy'd importantly as now, 
That they will waste their time upon our note, 20
To know from whence we are.

 
Belarius 
O, I am known 
Of many in the army: many years, 
Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore him 
From my remembrance. And, besides, the king 
Hath not deserved my service nor your loves;  25
Who find in my exile the want of breeding, 
The certainty of this hard life; aye hopeless 
To have the courtesy your cradle promised, 
But to be still hot summer's tamings and 
The shrinking slaves of winter. 30

 
Guiderius
Than be so 
Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to the army: 
I and my brother are not known; yourself 
So out of thought, and thereto so o'ergrown, 
Cannot be question'd.
 
 
Arviragus 
By this sun that shines, 
I'll thither: what thing is it that I never  35
Did see man die! scarce ever look'd on blood, 
But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison! 
Never bestrid a horse, save one that had 
A rider like myself, who ne'er wore rowel 
Nor iron on his heel! I am ashamed  40
To look upon the holy sun, to have 
The benefit of his blest beams, remaining 
So long a poor unknown.

 
 
 
Guiderius
 By heavens, I'll go: 
If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave, 
I'll take the better care, but if you will not,  45
The hazard therefore due fall on me by 
The hands of Romans!

 
Arviragus 
So say I amen.

 
Belarius  No reason I, since of your lives you set 
So slight a valuation, should reserve 
My crack'd one to more care. Have with you, boys!  50
If in your country wars you chance to die, 
That is my bed too, lads, an there I'll lie: 
Lead, lead. [Aside] The time seems long; their blood thinks scorn,
Till it fly out and show them princes born.
Exeunt