# Scene III explained — Cymbeline

> Chapter companion for Cymbeline by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Posthumus, reflecting on the battle, describes to a British Lord how an old man and two boys turned the tide against the Romans. He then resolves to seek death, feeling cursed to survive. He is captured by British soldiers and presented to Cymbeline, who orders him to prison.

## Themes in this chapter

### Providence and Fate

Posthumus attributes the British victory to divine intervention ('the heavens fought') and feels cursed by fate, unable to find death.

### Identity and Disguise

Posthumus resumes his Roman identity ('No more a Briton'), and the old man and boys are later thought to be angels, hinting at hidden identities.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Posthumus criticizes the fleeing cowards and contrasts their betrayal with the steadfastness of the old man and boys.

## Character check-ins

### Posthumus Leonatus

Describes the heroic stand of an old man and two boys, then resolves to die for Imogen and is captured.

### Cymbeline

Appears with his retinue and orders Posthumus taken to prison.

### Belarius

Mentioned as the 'old man' who led the defense; present with Cymbeline.

### Guiderius

One of the 'two striplings' who fought alongside Belarius; present with Cymbeline.

### Arviragus

The other 'stripling' in the heroic stand; present with Cymbeline.

### Pisanio

Present in the retinue of Cymbeline.

### Caius Lucius

Reported captured by the British.

## Key lines

> I, in mine own woe charm’d, Could not find death where I did hear him groan, Nor feel him where he struck

I am so bewitched by my own misery that I cannot die even when surrounded by death.

_Posthumus expresses his despair and inability to die in battle._

> 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 Imogen.

My only ransom is death; I will give up my life on either side, and I will end it somehow for Imogen's sake.

_Posthumus resolves to die as a form of atonement for Imogen._

## Links

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