Two gentlemen of Cymbeline's royal court lament the sad state of current affairs. Though most act as if the King's anger is justified by frowning themselves, most are in agreement that the King's daughter, Imogen, did right to oppose the King by choosing Posthumus over Cloten. Their talk informs us that Posthumus is the son of a great warrior whose service to Britain warranted the King adopting the parentless Posthumus as a in-house servant. As for Cloten, he is the son of the Queen by a previous marriage and is accounted unworthy--so unworthy that the Queen herself advocates Imogen's choice of Posthumus at the expense of her own son (or so she gives the impression). Presently, the two gentlemen give way as the scene is taken over by the Queen who promises Imogen and Posthumus that she wil
