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Present our services to a fine néw prince,

One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us,
If we would have you.

I LADY. She is spread of late

Into a goodly bulk: Good time encounter her!

HER. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, fir, now I am for you again: Pray you, fit by us,

And tell 's a tale.

MAM. Merry, or fad, fhall't be?

HER. As merry as you will.

MAM. A fad tale's best for winter:

I have one of sprites and goblins.
HER. Let's have that, fir.

Come on, fit down :-Come on, and do

your best

To fright me with your fprites; you're powerful at it.
MAM. There was a man,

HER. Nay, come, fit down; then on.

MAM. Dwelt by a church-yard;—I will tell it softly; Yon crickets fhall not hear it.

HER. Come on then,

And give't me in mine ear.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and Others. LEON. Was he met there? his train?, Camillo with him? I LORD. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men fcour fo on their way: I ey'd them Even to their fhips.

LEON. How blefs'd am I

In my just cenfure? in my true opinion?-
Alack, for leffer knowledge!_How accurs'd,
In being fo bleft!-There may be in the cup
A spider steep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present

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The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drank, he cracks his gorge, his fides,
With violent hefts :-I have drank and feen the fpider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander :—
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true, that is mistrusted :—that falfe villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him :
He has difcover'd my defign, and I

Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick

For them to play at will:-How came the posterns
So eafily open?

I LORD. By his great authority;

Which often hath no lefs prevail'd than fo,
On your command.

LEON. I know't too well.

Give me the boy; I am glad, you did not nurse him': Though he does bear fome figns of me, yet you

Have too much blood in him.

HER. What is this? sport?

[her;

LEON. Bear the boy hence, he fhall not come about

Away with him :—and let her sport herself

With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes
Has made thee fwell thus.

HER. But I'd fay, he had not,

And, I'll be fworn, you would believe my faying,

Howe'er you lean to the nayward.

LEON. You, my lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about

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To fay, he is a goodly lady, and

The justice of your hearts will thereto add,

'Tis pity, he's not bonet, honourable:

Praise her but for this her without-door form,

(Which, on my faith, deferves high speech,) and straight

VOL. II.

Hh

The fhrug, the hum, or ha; these petty brands,
That calumny doth use :-O, I am out,

That mercy does; for calumny will fear

Virtue itself:-these shrugs, these hums, and ha's, When you have faid, fhe's goodly, come between, Ere you can fay the's honeft: But it be known, From him that has moft caufe to grieve it should be, She's an adultrefs.

HER. Should a villain fay fo,

The most replenish'd villain in the world,
He were as much more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.

LEON. You have miftook, my lady,

Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing,
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
Left barbarifm, making me the precedent,
Should a like language ufe to all degrees,
And mannerly diftinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar!-I have faid,
She's an adultrefs; I have faid, with whom:
More, fhe's a traitor; and Camillo is
A federary with her; and one that knows
What she should fhame to know herself,
But with her moft vile principal, that fhe's
A bed-fwerver, even as bad as thofe
That vulgars give bold titles; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.

HER. No, by my life,

Privy to.none of this: How will this grieve you,
When you fhall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have publish'd me? Gentle, my lord,
You fcarce can right me throughly then, to fay
You did mistake.

LEON. No, no; if I mistake

In thofe foundations which I build upon,
The center is not big enough to bear

A schoolboy's top.-Away with her to prison :
He, who shall speak for her, is afar off guilty,
But that he speaks.

HER. There's fome ill planet reigns:

I must be patient, till the heavens look

With an afpéct more favourable.-Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our fex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew,

Perchance, fhall dry your pities: but I have
That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns
Worfe than tears drown: Befeech you all, my lords,
With thoughts fo qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, meafure me ;-and fo

The king's will be perform'd!

LEON. Shall I be heard?

[To the guards.

[highness,

HER. Who is't, that goes with me?-'befeech your

My women may be with me; for, you fee,

My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;

There is no caufe: when you fhall know, your mistress
Has deferv'd prifon, then abound in tears,
As I come out; this action, I now go on,
Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord:
I never wish'd to fee you forry; now,

I trust, I shall....—My women, come; you have leave.
LEON. Go, do our bidding; hence.

[Exeunt QUEEN and LADIES. I LORD. 'Beseech your highness, call the queen again ANT. Be certain what you do, fir; left your juftice Prove violence; in the which three great ones fuffer, Yourself, your queen, your fon.

I LORD. For her, my lord,

I dare my life lay down, and will do't, fir,
Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotlefs
I'the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean,

In this which you accuse her.

ANT. If it prove

She's otherwife, I'll keep my ftables where

I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her;
Than when I feel, and fee her, no further trust her ;
For every inch of woman in the world,

Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,

If the be.

LEON. Hold your peaces.

I LORD. Good my lord,

ANT. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: You are abus'd, and by fome putter-on,

That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the villain,
I would land-damn him: Be fhe honour-flaw'd,-

I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven ;
The fecond, and the third, nine, and some five;
If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour,
I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not fee,
To bring falfe generations: they are co-heirs ;
And I had rather glib myself, than they
Should not produce fair iffue.

LEON. Ceafe; no more.

You fmell this bufinefs with a fenfe as cold
As is a dead man's nofe: I fee't, and feel't,

As

you feel doing thus; and fee withal

The inftruments that feel.

ANT. If it be so,

We need no grave to bury honesty;

There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten

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