instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utt

ance.

Cam. Siçilia cannot show himself over-kind Bohemia. They were trained together in the childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them th such an affection, which cannot choose but bran now. Since their more mature dignities, and roy necessities, made separation of their society, the encounters, though not personal, have been roya attornied', with interchange of gifts, letters, lovi embassies; that they have seemed to be togeth though absent: shook hands, as over a vast 2; a embraced, as it were, from the ends of oppos winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world eith malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an u speakable comfort of your young prince, Mamilli it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ev came into my note.

:

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes him it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, ph sicks the subject 3, makes old hearts fresh: the that went on crutches ere he was born, desire y their life, to see him a man.

Arch. Would they else be content to die?

Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse w they should desire to live.

Arch. If the king had no son, they would desi to live on crutches till he had one.

1 Supplied by substitution of embassies.

2 Wide waste of country.

3 Affords a cordial to the state.

[Exeu

SCENE II.

A Room of State in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants.

Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne Without a burden: time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply,

With one we-thank-you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leon.

Stay your thanks awhile;

Sir, that's to-morrow.

And pay them when you part.
Pol.
I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance,
Or breed upon our absence: That may blow
No sneaping 4 winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd
To tire your royalty.

Leon.

Than you can put us to't.
Pol.

We are tougher, brother,

No longer stay.

Very sooth, to-morrow.

Leon. One seven-night longer.

Pol.

Leon. We'll part the time between's then: and

in that

I'll no gain-saying.

Pol.

Press me not, 'beseech you, so : There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'the

world,

So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now,

Were there necessity in your request, although
"Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder,
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay,
To you a charge, and trouble: to save both,
Farewell, our brother.

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you.
Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace,
until

You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You,

sir,

Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure,
All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Leon.

Well said, Hermione. Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong: But let him say so then, and let him go;

But let him say so, and he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with distaffs..

Yet of your royal presence [To POLIXENES.] I'll adventure

The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commission,
To let him there a month, behind the gest

Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind
What lady she her lord.

Pol.

Her. Nay, but you will.

Pol.

Her. Verily !

You'll stay?

No, madam.

You put me off with limber vows: But I,

Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with

oaths,

5 Gests were the names of the stages where the King appointed to lie, during a royal progress.

6 Indeed.

Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily,
You shall not go; a lady's verily is

As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?
Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

Not like a guest; so you

shall pay your fees, When you depart, and save your thanks. How say

you?

My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread verily, One of them you shall be.

Pol.

Your guest then, madam : To be your prisoner, should import offending; Which is for me less easy to commit,

Than you to punish.

Her.

Not your gaoler then, But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were

boys;

You were pretty lordlings then.

Pol. We were, fair queen, Two lads, that thought there was no more behind, But such a day to-morrow as to-day,

And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two? Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i'

the sun,

And bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd,
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not,
The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd
That any did: Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd
heaven

Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,

Hereditary ours.

Her.

By this we gather,

You have tripp'd since.

7 A diminutive of lords.

Pol.

O my most sacred lady, Temptations have since then been born to us: for In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl; Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes Of my young play-fellow.

Her.

Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclusion; lest you say,
Your queen and I are devils: Yet, go on;
The offences we have made you do, we'll answer;
If you first sinn'd with us, and that with us
You did continue fault, and that you slipp'd not
With any but with us.

Leon.

Is he won yet?

Her. He'll stay, my lord.

Leon.

At my request, he would not.

Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't

before?

I pr'ythee, tell me : Cram us with praise, and make

us

As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongueless,

Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages: You may ride us,
With one soft kiss, a thousand furlongs, ere
With spur we heat an acre. But to the goal;
My last good deed was, to entreat his stay;
What was my first; it has an elder sister,

Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace!
But once before I spoke to the purpose: When?
Nay, let me have't, I long.

Leon.

Why, that was when

Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to

death,

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,