50 CYMBELINE.

taken Cymbeline prisoner, and old Bellarius, with his sons and Leonatus,
bravely rescued the Kine. Then the Britons won the battle, and among
the prisoners brought before the King were Lucius, with Imogen, Iachimo,
and Leonatus, who had put on the uniform of a Roman soldier. He was
tired of his life since he had cruelly ordered his wife to be killed, and he
hoped that, as a Roman soldier, he would be put to death.

When they were brought before the King, Lucius spoke out—

“A Roman with a Rowen s heart can ae he said. “If I must
die, so be it. This one thing only will I entreat. My boy, a Briton
born, let him be ransomed. Never master had a page so kind, so
duteous, diligent, true. He has done no Briton harm, though he has
served a Roman. Save him, sir.”

Then Cymbeline looked on the page, who was his own daughter,
Imogen, in disguise, and though he did not recognise her, he felt such
a kindness that he not only spared the boy’s life, but he said—

“He shall have any boon he likes to ask of me, even though he ask
a prisoner, the noblest taken.”

Then Imogen said, “The boon I ask is that this gentleman shall
say from whom he got the ring he has on his finger,’ and she pointed
to Iachimo.

“Speak,” said Cymbeline, “how did you get that diamond ?”

Then Iachimo told the whole truth of his villainy. At this, Leonatus
was unable to contain himself, and casting aside all thought of disguise,
he came forward, cursing himself for his folly in having believed Iachimo’s
lying story, and calling again and again on his wife whom he believed
dead.