Play description

ACT I

Scene 1. Imogen, daughter of King Cymbeline of Britain, has angered her father by marrying

Posthumus. Cymbeline himself reared the orphaned Posthumus, his own two sons having been

abducted in infancy. The wicked Queen (whose son Cloten was Cymbeline's preferred match for

Imogen) pretends kindness to the young couple. Before Posthumus leaves for exile in Rome, Imogen

gives him a ring, receiving in return a bracelet.

Scene 2. Cloten's attendants ridicule him.

Scene 3. Pisanio, Posthumus's servant, tells Imogen of his master's departure.

Scene 4. Posthumus meets Iachimo in Rome. When Posthumus extols Imogen's virtue, Iachimo

wagers him ten thousand ducats to his diamond ring that he can persuade her to commit adultery.

Posthumus accepts the wager.

Scene 5. The doctor Cornelius is suspicious when the Queen gathers poisonous plants. He reveals

privately that what she believes to be fatal poison is in fact a sleeping draught. The Queen tries

unsuccessfully to turn Pisanio against Posthumus and gives him the poison, claiming that it is a life

saving remedy.