Of the whole dungy earth.

LEON. What! lack I credit?

I LORD. I had rather you did lack, than I, my lord, Upon this ground: and more it would content me To have her honour true, than your fufpicion; Be blam'd for't how you might.

LEON. Why, what need we

Commune with you of this? but rather follow
Our forceful inftigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counfels; but our natural goodness
Imparts this which, if you (or stupified,
Or seeming fo in skill,) cannot, or will not,
Relish as truth, like us; inform yourselves,
We need no more of your advice: the matter,
The lofs, the gain, the ordering on't, is all
Properly ours.

ANT. And I wish, my liege,

You had only in your filent judgement tried it,
Without more overture.

LEON. How could that be?

Either thou art moft ignorant by age,

Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,

(Which was as grofs as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd fight only, nought for approbation,

But only feeing, all other circumftances.

Made up to the deed,) doth push on this proceeding:

Yet, for a greater confirmation,

(For, in an act of this importance, 'twere

Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatch'd in post, To facred Delphos, to Apollo's, temple,

Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuff'd fufficiency: Now, from the oracle

They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall ftop, or fpur me. Have I done well?

I LORD. Well done, my lord.

LEON. Though I am fatisfied, and need no more Than what I know, yet shall the oracle

Give reft to the minds of others; fuch as he,

Whofe ignorant credulity will not

Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good,
From our free person she should be confin'd;
Left that the treachery of the two, fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in publick: for this bufinefs
Will raise us all.

ANT. [Afide.] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. The fame. The outer Room of a Prison.
Enter PAULINA and Attendants.

PAUL. The keeper of the prison,—call to him ;

[Exit an Attendant. Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady! No court in Europe is too good for thee, What doft thou then in prifon?-Now, good fir, Re-enter Attendant, with the KEEPER,

You know me, do you not?

KEEP. For a worthy lady,

And one whom much I honour.

PAUL. Pray you then,

Conduct me to the queen.

KEEP. I may not, madam; to the contrary

I have exprefs commandment.

PAUL. Here's ado,

To lock up honefty and honour from

The accefs of gentle vifitors!Is it lawful,
Pray you, to see her women? any of them?
Emilia ?

KEEP. So please you, madam, to put

Apart these your attendants, I fhall bring

Emilia forth.

I must be present at your conference.

PAUL. Well, be it fo, pr'ythee.

Here's fuch ado to make no ftain a stain,
As paffes colouring.

[Exeunt Attend.

[Exit KEEPER.

Re-enter KEEPER, with EMILIA,

Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?
EMIL. As well as one fo great, and so forlorn,
May hold together: On her frights, and griefs,
(Which never tender lady hath borne greater,)
She is, fomething before her time, deliver'd.
PAUL. A boy?

EMIL. A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lufty, and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in't: fays, My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.

PAUL. I dare be fworn:

Thefe dangerous unfafe lunes o'the king! befhrew them!
He must be told on't, and he fhall: the office
Becomes a woman beft; I'll take't upon me :
If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blifter;
And never to my red-look'd anger be

The trumpet any more :-Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my beft obedience to the queen;
If the dares truft me with her little babe,

Hh iiij

I'll show't the king, and undertake to be

Her advocate to th' loudeft: We do not know
How he may soften at the fight o' the child;
The filence often of pure innocence
Perfuades, when speaking fails.

EMIL. Moft worthy madam,

Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident,
That your free undertaking cannot miss

A thriving iffue; there is no lady living,

So meet for this great errand: Please your ladyship
To vifit the next room, I'll presently

Acquaint the queen of your moft noble offer
Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this defign;
But durft not tempt a minister of honour,
Left fhe fhould be denied.

PAUL. Tell her, Emilia,

;

I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,
As boldness from my bofom, let it not be doubted
I fhall do good.

EMIL. Now be you bleft for it!

I'll to the queen: Please you, come fomething nearer. KEEP. Madam, if't please the queen to fend the babe, I know not what I fhall incur, to pass it,

Having no warrant.

PAUL. You need not fear it, fir:

The child was prifoner to the womb; and is,
By law and procefs of great nature, thence
Freed and enfranchis'd: not a party to
The anger of the king; nor guilty of,
If any be, the trefpass of the queen.

Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. The fame. A Room in the Palace.
Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and other
ATTENDANTS.

LEON. Nor night, nor day, no reft: 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
Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank
And level of my brain, plot-proof: but she
I can hook to me: Say, that she were gone,
Given to the fire, a moiety of my reft
Might come to me again. -Who's there?

1 ATTEN. My lord?

LEON. How does the boy?

I ATTEN. He took good reft to-night; 'Tis hop'd, his fickness is discharg'd. LEON. To fee,

His noblenefs !

[advancing.

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply;
Faften'd and fix'd the fhame on't in himself;
Threw off his fpirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And down-right languifh'd.-Leave me folely: go,
See how he fares. [Exit ATTEND.]-Fie, fie! no thought
of him ;-

The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty;
And in his parties, his alliance,—Let him be,
Until a time may ferve: for present vengeance,
Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes

Laugh at me; make their pastime at my forrow:
They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor