Cymbeline /
[William Shakespeare] ; edited by J.M. Nosworthy.
Description
- Language(s)
-
English
- Published
-
London ; Methuen, 1955.
- Summary
-
The two sons of King Cymbeline of Britain, Guiderius and Arviragus, have been stolen by the banished nobleman Belarius twenty years before the start of the play. Cymbeline's daughter from his first marriage, Innogen, secretly marries Posthumus, although he is considered unworthy of her, before he is banished. Cymbeline's new wife wants her son Cloten to inherit and is keen to remove Innogen but the doctor substitutes a potion that produces a harmless death-like state for the poison requested of him. Through trickery Iachimo convinces the now exiled Posthumus that Innogen has been unfaithful. To provide his servant Pisanio with an opportunity to kill her for this "betrayal", Posthumus sends for Innogen to meet him in Wales. Becoming lost and feeling unwell, Innogen drinks her stepmother's potion (which she thinks is a tonic) and falls into a coma in the cave of her true brothers Guiderius and Arviragus. Cloten, disguised as Posthumus, comes looking for Innogen but is killed in a quarrel with Guiderius. When Innogen awakes she believes Posthumus to be dead and is taken on as a page (Fidele) to Lucius, a Roman envoy. Meanwhile the Roman army is advancing and captures Cymbeline. Fortunately he is rescued by Belarius, his sons (as yet not known to him) and Posthumus, and the British eventually emerge as victors. Ultimately the identities of all are revealed and Britain and Rome are reconciled.
- Note
-
Includes a setting for voice and unfigured bass of Hark, hark, the lark, variously attributed to John Wilson and Robert Johnson.
Also issued online.
- Physical Description
-
lxxxiv, 224 pages ;
23 cm.
Viewability