ABSTRACT
The Queen of Britain is the wife of King Cymbeline and mother (by a former marriage) of the oafish Cloten. It is her aim that Cloten should succeed to the throne – by fair means or foul. At this point Lucius, an ambassador from the Roman Emperor, has just politely asked for the tribute money that is owing to Rome. Cloten insists that the money should not be paid (‘Britain’s a world by itself, and we will nothing pay’). His mother then backs him up with this speech to her husband.
