# Scene I explained — Cymbeline

> Chapter companion for Cymbeline by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Cymbeline, the Queen, Cloten, and lords receive Caius Lucius, the Roman ambassador, who demands tribute owed to Augustus Caesar. Cymbeline and his court refuse, asserting Britain's independence and strength, leading Lucius to declare war. Cloten mocks the Romans, and Cymbeline recalls his past service under Caesar while standing firm.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Political Conflict

The central conflict of the scene is the political standoff between Britain and Rome over tribute and sovereignty.

### Nature vs. Court

The Queen and Cloten emphasize Britain's natural defenses—rocks, seas, and sands—as superior to Roman military might.

## Character check-ins

### Cymbeline

King of Britain, refuses Roman tribute and prepares for war.

### Queen

Supports defiance against Rome, invoking Britain's natural defenses.

### Cloten

Boastfully rejects tribute and taunts the Roman ambassador.

### Caius Lucius

Roman ambassador who delivers Caesar's demand and declares war.

## Key lines

> Britain is A world by itself; and we will nothing pay For wearing our own noses.

Britain is a self-contained world, and we won't pay tribute just for the privilege of being ourselves.

_Cloten's defiant assertion of British independence and identity._

> A kind of conquest Caesar made here; but made not here his brag Of 'Came' and 'saw' and 'overcame:' with shame— The first that ever touch'd him—he was carried From off our coast, twice beaten;

Caesar's conquest here was incomplete; he couldn't boast 'I came, I saw, I conquered,' and was shamefully driven from our shores twice.

_The Queen revises history to portray Caesar's invasion as a failure, bolstering British pride._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cymbeline_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters