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Cymbeline

Chapter 2: Dramatis Personæ
By William Shakespeare
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A king’s only daughter secretly marries a favored courtier who is then banished, setting off courtly plots and jealousies. A boastful visitor tricks the husband into believing his wife has been unfaithful, prompting an order to kill her; she survives, adopts a male disguise, and finds refuge with an exiled noble and two young men. Political pressure from Rome and private rivalries produce battles and captures, while deceptions are exposed, true identities revealed, and lost family ties recovered. The play concludes with confessions, reconciliations, and the restoration of marital and familial harmony.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Cymbeline

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Title: Cymbeline

Author: William Shakespeare

Release date: November 1, 1998 [eBook #1538]
Most recently updated: September 19, 2025

Language: English

Credits: the PG Shakespeare Team, a team of about twenty Project Gutenberg volunteers

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CYMBELINE ***

CYMBELINE

by William Shakespeare

Contents

ACT I
Scene I. Britain. The garden of Cymbeline’s palace
Scene II. The same
Scene III. Britain. A public place
Scene IV. Britain. Cymbeline’s palace
Scene V. Rome. Philario’s house
Scene VI. Britain. Cymbeline’s palace
Scene VII. Britain. The palace
ACT II
Scene I. Britain. Before Cymbeline’s palace
Scene II. Britain. Imogen’s bedchamber in Cymbeline’s palace; a trunk in one corner
Scene III. Cymbeline’s palace. An ante-chamber adjoining Imogen’s apartments
Scene IV. Rome. Philario’s house
Scene V. Rome. Another room in Philario’s house
ACT III
Scene I. Britain. A hall in Cymbeline’s palace
Scene II. Britain. Another room in Cymbeline’s palace
Scene III. Wales. A mountainous country with a cave
Scene IV. Wales, near Milford Haven
Scene V. Britain. Cymbeline’s palace
Scene VI. Wales. Before the cave of Belarius
Scene VII. The same
Scene VIII. Rome. A public place
ACT IV
Scene I. Wales. Near the cave of Belarius
Scene II. Wales. Before the cave of Belarius
Scene III. Britain. Cymbeline’s palace
Scene IV. Wales. Before the cave of Belarius
ACT V
Scene I. Britain. The Roman camp
Scene II. Britain. A field of battle between the British and Roman camps
Scene III. Another part of the field
Scene IV. Britain. A prison
Scene V. 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
GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of POLYDORE and CADWAL, supposed sons to Belarius
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 LORDS of Cymbeline’s court
TWO GENTLEMEN of the same
TWO GAOLERS

QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline
IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen
HELEN, a lady attending on Imogen

APPARITIONS

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants

SCENE: Britain; Italy.