Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for | If you know aught which does behove my sealing The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms Known and allied to yours. Leon. Thou dost advise me, Even so as I mine own course have set down: I'll give no blemish to her honour, none. Cam. My lord, Go then and with a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia, And with your queen: I am his cupbearer; If from me he have wholesome beverage, Account me not your servant. Leon. This is all: Do't, and thou hast one half of my heart; Cam. I'll do't my lord. Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd me. [Exit. Cam. O miserable lady!-But, for me, What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner Of good Polixenes: and my ground to do't Is the obedience to a master; one, Who, in rebellion with himself, will have All that are his, so too.-To do this deed, Promotion follows: If I could find example Of thousands, that had struck anointed kings, And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not Let villany itself forswear't. I must [one. Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now! Here comes Bohemia. Enter POLIXenes. Pol. This is strange! methinks, knowledge Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well! I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo, the least As he had seen't, or been an instrument Pol. O, then my best blood turn My favour here begins to warp. Not speak?- A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril Good-day, Camillo. Cam. Hail, most royal Sir! Pol. What is the news i'the court? Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance, As he had lost some province, and a region, Lov'd as he loves himself; even now I met him With customary compliment; when he, Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling A lip of much contempt, speeds from me; and So leaves me, to consider what is breeding, That changes thus his manners. Cam. I dare not know, my lord. Pol. How! dare not? do not. Do you know, and dare not Be intelligent to me? "Tis thereabouts; Cam. There is a sickness Pol. How! caught of me? Make me not sighted like the basilisk: have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd, Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infec That e'er was heard, or read! Cam. Swear his thought over By each particular star in heaven, and By all their influences, you may as well Forbid the sea for to obey the moon, As or, by oath, remove, or counsel, shake, The fabric of his folly: whose foundation The standing of his body. Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue Pol. How should this grow? [tion Cam. I know not: but, I am sure, 'tis safer to Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born. If therefore you dare trust my honesty,That lies inclosed in this trunk, which you Shall bear along impawn'd,-away to-night. Your followers I will whisper to the business; And will, by twos, and threes, at several pos terns, Clear them o'the city: For myself, I'll put His execution sworn. thereon Pol. I do believe thee: I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand; * I. e. I am the person appointed, &c. Is for a precious creature: as she's rare, . me: Good expedition be my friend, and comfort Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo; Thou bear'st my life off hence: Let us avoid. To take the urgent hour: come, Sir, away. ACT II. SCENE 1.-The same. Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and LADIES. Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring. 1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord, Shall I be your playfellow? Mam. No, I'll none of you. 1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord? Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me 2 Lady. Who taught you this? 1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men scour so on their way: I ey'd them Leon. How bless'd am I In my just censure ?* in my true opinion?- The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known With violent hefts :-I have drank, and seen Camillo was his help in this, his pander :- Which often hath no less prevail'd than so, Leon. I know't too well. Give me the boy; I am glad, you did not nurse Have too much blood in him. Her. What is this? sport? Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come Away with him :-and let her sport herself Her. But I'd say, he had not, Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces. Howe'er you lean to the nayward. And, I'll be sworn, you would believe my say Pray now What colour are your eye-brows? 1 Lady. Blue, my lord. Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eye-brows. 2 Lady. Hark ye: [shall 1 Lady. She is spread of late I am for you again: Pray you, sit by us, Mam. Merry, or sad, shall't be? Her. As merry as you will. Mam. A sad tale's best for winter: I have one of sprites and goblins. [best Come on, sit down:-Come on, and do your To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful at it. Mam. There was a man, Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on. Leon. You, my lords. [ing, Look on her, mark her well; be but about That calumny doth use:-0, I am out, She's an adultress. Her. Should a villain say so, Leon. You have mistook, my lady, Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard;-I will tell And mannerly distinguishment leave out it softly; Yon crickets shall 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? Betwixt the prince and beggar!-I have said, Privy to none of this: How will this grieve [that When you shall come to clearer knowledge, You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord, You scarce can right me throughly then, to say You did mistake. Leon. No, no; if I mistake In those foundations which I build upon, A school-boy's top.-Away with her to prison: burns Her. There's some ill planet reigns: My women may be with me; for, you see, have leave. Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence. [Exeunt Queen and Ladies. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, call the queen again. Ant. Be certain what you do, Sir; lest your justice [suffer, Prove violence; in the which three great ones Yourself, your queen, your son. 1 Lord. For her, my lord, I dare my life lay down, and will do't, Sir, Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless I'the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean, Ant. If it prove She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables|| where Leon. Hold your peaces. 1 Lord. Good my lord, Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves : You are abus'd, and by some putter-on,¶ * Confederate. + Only. The second, 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 see, To bring false generations: they are co-heirs; And I had rather glib myself, than they Should not produce fair issue. Leon. Cease; no more. You smell this business with a sense as cold Ant. If it be so, We need no grave to bury honesty; Leon. What! lack I credit? 1 Lord. I had rather you did lack, than I my lord, [me Upon this ground: and more it would content To have her honour true, than your suspicion; Be blam'd for't how you might. Leon. Why, what need we Commune with you of this? but rather follow Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative Calls not your counsels: but our natural good. ness Imparts this: which, if you (or stupified, Or seeming so in skill,) cannot, or will not, Relish as truth, like us; inform yourselves, We need no more of your advice: the matter, The loss, the gain, the ordering on't, is all Properly ours. Ant. And I wish, my liege, You had only in your silent judgement tried it, Without more overture. Leon. How could that be? Either thou art most ignorant by age, Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight, Added to their familiarity, (Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, That lack'd sight only, nought for approba tion,* But only seeing, all other circumstances Made up to the deed,) doth push on this proYet, for a greater confirmation, [ceeding: (For, in an act of this importance, 'twere Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatch'd in post, To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple, Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well? 1 Lord. Well done, my lord. Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more [good, Than what I know, yet shall the oracle Ant. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it, Prison. Keep. And, madam, [Exeunt Attend. I must be present at your conference. Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee. [Exit KEEPER. Here's such ado to make no stain a stain, As passes colouring. Re-enter KEEPER, with EMILIA. Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady? Emil. As well as one so great, and so forlorn, May hold together: On her frights, and griefs, (Which never tender lady hath borne greater,) She is, something before her time, deliver'd. Paul. A boy? Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe, Lusty, and like to live: the queen receives Much comfort in't: says, My poor prisoner, I am innocent as you. Paul. I dare be sworn. These dangerous unsafe lunes o'the king! beshrew them! [ter; He must be told on't, and he shall: the office Emil. Most worthy madam, Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident, To visit the next room, I'll presently Paul. Tell her, Emilia, I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it, Emil. Now be you bless'd for it! I'll to the queen: Please you, come something nearer. * Frenzies. Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to sen the babe, I know not what I shall incur, to pass it, Paul. You need not fear it, Sir: The child was prisoner to the womb; and is, Paul. Do not you fear: upon Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in the Palace. Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and other ATTENDANTS. Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but weakness To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if The cause were not in being;-part o'the cause, She, the adultress;-for the harlot king Leon. How does the boy? 1 Atten. He took good rest to-night; "Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. To see, Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, His nobleness! He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply; Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself; Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, And downright languish'd.-Leave me soler ly:t-go, See how he fares. [Exit Attend.]-Fie, fie! no thought of him; The very thought of my revenges that way Enter PAULINA, with a Child. 1 Lord. You must not enter. Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me: Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas, Ant. That's enough. 1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; None should come at him. [commanded Paul. Not so hot, good Sir; I come to bring him sleep. Tis such as you,- Leon. What noise there, ho? Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus, Ant. I told her so, my lord, On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, Leon. What, canst not rule her? [me; Paul. From all dishonesty, he can in this, (Unless he take the course that you have done, Commit me, for committing honour,) trust it, He shall not rule me. Ant. Lo you now; you hear! When she will take the rein, I let her run; Paul. Good my liege, I come,- [come Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen: I And would by combat make her good, so were I Leon. Force her hence. Paul. Let him, that makes but trifles of his A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' Paul. Not so: [door: I am as ignorant in that, as you As this world goes, to pass for honest. Paul. It is yours; [charge, So like to him that got it, if thou hast No yellowt in't; lest she suspect, as he does, Leon. A gross hag!— And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, Ant. Hang all the husbands, That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Leon. Once more, take her hence, Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Leon. I'll have thee burn'd. It is a heritic, that makes the fire, [tyrant; savours Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you, Leon. On your allegiance, Out of the chamber with her. Were I a tyrant, By thy dame Partlet here, take up the bas-You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou Tak'st up the princess, by that forced¶ baseness Leon. He dreads his wife. [Exit. Leon. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to My child? away with't!-even thou, that hast Paul. So, I would, you did; then, 'twere And see it instantly consum'd with fire; past all doubt, You'd call your children yours. Leon. A nest of traitors! Ant. I am none, by this good light. But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he (For, as the case now stands, it is a curse |