So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, 'Twere needful I denied it. Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder, To you a charge and trouble: to save both, Leon. Tongue-tied our queen? speak you. Her. I had thought, Sir, to have held my peace until You, Sir, The by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him, 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 swear so, and he shall not stay, We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. [To POLIXENES.] Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia You take my lord, I'll give him my commission, Prefix'd for's parting :-yet, good deed, Leontes, What lady she her lord. You'll stay? You put me off with limber vows; but I, Though you would seek t' unsphere the stars with oaths, 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? Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees 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 Pol. 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 th' other: what we chang'd, Was innocence for innocence; we knew not The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd That any did. Had we pursu'd that life, And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven Tempations have since then been born to us; for Of this make no conclusion, lest you say Your queen and I are devils: yet, go on; Th' 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 Leon. Is he won yet? Her. What! have I twice said well? when was 't before? I pr'ythee tell me; cram's with praise, and make's As fat as tame things: one good deed, dying tongueless, Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that. Our praises are our wages: you may ride's 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! 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, And clap thyself my love: then didst thou utter, "I am yours for ever." Her. It is Grace indeed. Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: Th' other for some while a friend. Leon. [Aside.] [Giving her hand to POLIXENES. To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. Mam. Leon. Ay, my good lord. I' fecks? Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd thy nose?— They say, it is a copy out of mine. Come, captain, We must be neat ;-not neat, but cleanly, captain : And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf, Are all call'd neat.—[Observing POL. and HER.] Still virgin alling Upon his palm-How now, you wanton calf! Art thou my calf? Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots that I have, To be full like me :-yet they say we are And fellow'st nothing: then, 'tis very credent, Thou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost,-- And that to the infection of my brains, And hardening of my brows. Pol. Her. He something seems unsettled. Pol. What means Sicilia? How, my lord! You look What cheer? how is 't with you, best brother? Her. As if you held a brow of much distraction: Leon. No, in good earnest.- As ornaments oft do, too dangerous: How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, This squash, this gentleman.-Mine honest friend, Will you take eggs for money y? Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight. Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole !-My brother, Are you so fond of your young prince, as we Do seem to be of ours? Pol. My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all: Leon. So stands this squire Offic'd with me: we two will walk, my lord, And leave you to your graver steps.-Hermione, Next to thyself and my young rover, he's Apparent to my heart. Her. We are yours If you would seek us, i' the garden shall's attend you there? Be you Go to, go to! [Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE. How she holds up the neb, the bill to him; And arms her with the boldness of a wife To her allowing husband! Gone already! [Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE, and Attendants. Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one!— Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue And many a man there is, (even at this present, Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it, It will let in and out the enemy, With bag and baggage: many thousand on's Have the disease, and feel't not.-How now, boy! |