ber; Her. But I'd say, he had not, My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools ; And, I'll be sworn, you would velieve my saying, There is no cause : when you shall know, your Howe'er you lean to the nayward. mistress Leon. You, my lords. Has deserv'd a prison, then abound in tears, Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord : I trust, I shall. --My women, come; you bave Praise her but for this her without-door form, leave. (Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and Leon. Go, do our bidding ; bence. straight [exeunt Queen, sc. The shrug, the hum, or ha; these petty brands, I Lord. 'Beseech your highness, call the qucci) That calumny doth use :-0, I am out, again. That mercy does ; for calumny will sear Ant. Be certain what you do, sir ; lest your Virtue itself:—these shrugs, these bums, and ba's, justice When you have said, she's goodly, come between, Prove violence; in the which three great ones Ere you can say, she's honest : but be it known, suffer, From him, that has most cause to grieve it should Yourself, your queen, your son. She's an adultress. (be, 1 Lord. For her, my lord, Her. Should a villain say 80, I dare my life lay down, and will do't, sir, The most replenish'd villain in the world, Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless He were as much more villain : you, my lord, I'the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean, Do but mistake. In this which you accuse her. Leon. You have mistook, my lady, Ant. If it prove Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing, She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where Which I'll not call a creature of thy place, I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her ; Lest barbarism, making me the precedent, Than when I feel, and see her, no further truet Should a like language use to all degrees, And mannerly distivguishment leave out For every inch of woman in the world, Betwixt the prince and beggar!—I have said, Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false, She's an adultress; I have said with whom : If sbe be. More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is Leon. Hold your peaces. A federary with her; and one that knows | Lord. Good my lord, What she should shame to know herself, Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves But with her most vile principal, that she's You are abus'd, and by some putter-on, A bed-swerver, even as bad as those That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the That vulgars give bold tides ; ay, and privy villain, To this their late escape. I would land-damn him: be she honour-flaw'd, Her. No, by my life, I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven; Privy to none of this: how will this grieve you, | The second, and the third, nine, and some five; When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that If this prove true, they'll pay for’t: by mine You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord, honour, You scarce can right me throughly then, to say I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see, You did mistake. To bring false generations: they are co-heirs ; Leon. No, no ; if I mistake And I had rather glib myself, than they In those foundations which I build upon, Should not produce fair issue. The centre is not big enough to bear Leon. Cease ; no more. A school-boy's top. — Away with her to prison : You smell this business with a sense as cold He, who shall speak for her, is afar off guilty, As is a dead man's nose : I see't, and feel't, But that he speaks. As you feel doing thus ; and see withal Her. There's some ill planet reigns : The instruments that feel. Ant. If it be so, There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten Upon this ground : and more it would content mo With thoughts so qualified as your charities To have ber honour true, than your suspicion ; Shall best instruct you, measure me ;-and so Be blam'd for't how you might. The king's will be perform'd! Leon. Why, what need we Leon. Shall I be heard ? (to the Guards. Commune with you of this ? but rather follow Her. Who is't, that goes with me?-Beseech Our forceful instigation. Our prerogative your highness, Calls not your counsels; but our natural good women may be with me; for, you see, Imparts this: wbich,-if you (or stupified, My Os seeming so in skill,) cannot, or will not, Here's such ado to make no stain a stain, Re-enter Keeper, with Emilia. Emil. As well as one so great, and so fürlern, Ant. And I wish, my liege, May hold together : on her frights, and griefs, You had only in your silent judgment tried it, (Which never tender lady had borne greater,) Without more overture. Sbe is, something before her time, deliver'd. Leon. How could that be? Paul. A boy? Either thou art most ignorant by age, Emil. A daughter, and a goodly babe, Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight, Lusty, and like to live : the queen receives Added to their familiarity, Much comfort in't ; says, My poor prisoner, (Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, I an innocent as you. That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation, Paul. I dare be sworn :But only seeing, all other circumstances These dangerous unsafe lunes o'the king! ba Made up to the deed,) doth push on this proceed shrew them! Yet, for a greater confirmation, [ing : He must be told on't, and he shall: the office {For, in an act of this importance, 'twere Becomes a woman best ; I'll take't upon me : Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatch'd in post, If I prove honey-mouth’d, let my tongue blister : To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple, And never to my red-look'd anger be Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know The trumpet any more.-Pray you, Emilia, Of stuff'd sufficiency: now, from the oracle Commend my best obedience to the queen ; They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had, If she dares trust me with her little babe, Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well? I'll show't the king, and undertake to be 1 Lord. Well done, my lord. Her advocate to th' loudest: we do not know Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more How he may soften at the sight o' the child ; Than what I know, yet shall the oracle. The silence often of pure innocence Give rest to the minds of others; such as he, Persuades, when speaking fails. Whose ignorant credulity will not Emil. Most wortby madam, Come up to the truth : 80 have we thought it Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident, good, That your free undertaking cannot miss From our free person she should be confin'd; A thriving issue ; there is no lady living, Lest that the treachery of the two, Aled hence, So meet for this greut errand.—Please your ladyBe left her to perform. Come, follow us: ship We are to speak in public: for this business To visit the next room, I'll presently Will raise us all. Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;. Lest she should be denied. Paul. Tell her, Emilia, [exit an Attendant. As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted Let him have knowledge who I am.- -Good lady! I shall do good. No court in Europe is too good for thee, Emil. Now be you blest for it! What dost thou then in prison ?--Now, good sir, I'll to the queen : please you, come something Re-enter Attendant, with the Keeper. You know me, do you not? Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to send tho Keep. For a worthy lady, babe, And one wbom I much honour. I know not what I shall incur, to pass it, Paul. Pray you, then, Having no warrant. Conduct me to the queen. Paul. You need not fear it, sir; Keep. I may not, madam ; to the contrary The child was prisoner to the womb; and is, I bave express commandment. By law and process of great nature, thence Paul. Here's ado, Free'd and enfranchis'd: not a party to The anger of the king ; nor guilty of, Paul. Do not you fear : upon Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger. Apart these your attendants, I shall bring [ereunt. Emilia forth. SCENE III. A ROOM IN THE PALACE. Paul. I pray now, call her ; Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and other AtWithdraw yourselves. [exeunt Attend. tendants. Keep. And, madam, Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest : it is lut I must be present at your conference. weakness Paul Well, be it so, priythee. [exit Keeper. To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, is SCENE II. THE OUTER ROOM ON A PRISON. nearer. . م 11 :: The cause were not in being; part o’the cause, Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dare Less appear so, in comforting your evils, i dat dit I can hook to me: say, that she were gone, Leon. Good queen! [good queen ; Given to the fire, a moiety, of Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen: I say, Might come to me again. Who's there? And would by combat make her good, so were I 1 Attend. My lord ? [advancing. man, the worst about you. *r $317.87 Leon. How does the boy? Leon. Force her bence. La til 1 Attend. He took good rest to-night; Paul. Let him, that makes but trifles of his 'Tis hop'd his sickness is discharg'a. eyes, Leon. To see First hand me: on mine own accord, I'll off ; His nobleness ! But, first, I'll do mine errand. The good queen, Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughHe straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply ; Here 'tis ; commends it to your blessing. [ter; Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself ; slays down the Child. Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, [go, Leon. Out! And downright languish'd. Leave me solely : A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o'door : See how he fares. [exit Attend.]—Fie, fie ! no A most intelligencing bawd of thought of him ; Paul. Not so: Sri me : in himself too mighty; In so entitling me: and no less bonest Leon. Traitors! Dios srail Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow: Will you not push her out ? Give her the basThey should not laugh, if I could reach them: nor tard :Shall she, within my power." Thou, dotard, [to Antigonus] thou art womanEnter Paulina, with a Child. Wate tir'd, unroosted 1 Lord. You must not enter. Tidig '[mc: 1. By thy dame Partlet here.—take up the bastard, Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to Take't up, I say; give't to thy crone. vse Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas : Paul. For ever 1 Than the queen’s life? a gracious innocent soul; Uuvenerable be thy hands, if thou 5.s More free, than he is jealous. Tak'st up the princess, by that forced baseness Ant. That's e enough. 215 Wbich he has put upon't ! i Atten. Madam, he hath not slept 'to-night; Leon. He dreads his wife. None should come at him. - [commanded Paul. So, I would, you did ; then 'tyvere past Paul. Not fo' hot; good sirarstad all doubt, 13 I come to bring him sleep. You'd call your children yours. Paul. Nor I; nor any, His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, Leon. What noise there, ho? Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful confer-|(For, as the case now stands, it is a curse (not About some gossips for your highness. [ence, He cannot be compell’d'to't,) once remove Leon. How The root of his opinion, which is rotten, bitte Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus As ever oak, or stone, was sound. I charg'd tbee, that'she should not come about me; Leon. A callat, 105 9.3+ [husband, I knew, she would. Of boundless tongue; who late hath beat her Ant. I told her so, my lord, And now baits me!This brat is none of mine ; On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, It is the issue of Polixenes ; She should not visit you. Hence with it; and, together with the dam, a Leon. What, canst not rule her? Commit them to the fire. Paul. From all dishonesty he can : in this, Paul. It is your's ;) (Unless take the course that you have done, And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge, me, for committing honour,) trust it, So like you, 'tis the worse. — - Behold, my lords, He shall not rule me. Although the print be little, the whole matter Ant. Lo you now ; you hear!! And copy of the father; eye, nose, lip, [valley, When she will take the rein, I let her run; The trick of his frown, his forehead; nay, cho But she'll not stumble. The 'pretty dimples of his chin, and chees; his Paul. Good my liege, I come, — smiles ; And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess The very mould and frame of hand, nail. finger: Hygclf your loyal servant, your physician, And thou, good goddess Nature, which hast made it 'Tis such as you, That pre Commis het 10 ( OVOZ 1.16 So like to him that got it, if thou hast viwili Shall I live on, to see this bastard kneel tu? The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours Aud call me father ? Better burn it now, No yellow in't; lest she suspect, as he does,urd Than curse it then. But, be it ; let it live. Her children not her husband's ! It shall not neither. - You, sir, come you hither; Leon. A gross hag! (to Ant. And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, I You, that have been so tenderly officious That wilt not stay her tongue. With lady Margery, your midwife, there, Ant. Hang all the husbands, the To save this bastard's life:--for 'tis a bastard, That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself T So sure as this beard's grey;—what will you adHardly one subject. To save this brat's lite? (venture Leon. Once more, take her hence. Ant. Any thing, my lord, dial. Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord That my ability may undergo, Can do no more. oubles And nobleness impose : at least, thus much Leon. I'll bave thee burn'd. benzo I'll pawn the little blood which I have left, Paul. I care not: ST To save the innocent: any thing possible. It is a heretic that makes the fire, d Bass ! Leon. It shall be possible: swear, by this sword, Not she, which burns in't. I'll not call thee Thou wilt perform my bidding, But this most cruel usage of your queen (tyrant; Ant. I will, my lord. (for the fail (Not able to produce more accusation Leon. Mark, and perform it; (see'st thou ?) Than your own weak-hing'd fancy,) something Of any point in't shall not only be Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you, (savours Death to thyself, but to thy 'lewd-tongu'd wife; Yea, scandalous to the world. 11111 •Whom, for this time, we pardon. We enjoin thee, Leon. On your allegiance, As thou art liegeman to us, that thou carry Out of the chamber with her. Were I a tyrant, This female bastard hence, and that thou bear it Where were her life ? she durst not call me so, To some remote and desert place, quite out If she did know me one. Away with her. Of our dominions; and that there thou leave it, Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. Without more mercy, to its own protection, Look to your babe, my lord ; 'tis yours : Jove And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune send her tes [hands ? - It came to us, I do in justice charge thee, A better guiding spirit! What need these On thy soul's peril, and thy body's torture, You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, That thou commend it strangely to some place, Will never do him good, not one of you. Where chance may nurse, or end it: take it So, so: - Farewell ; we are gone. Ant. I swear to do this, though a present death Leon. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to Had been more merciful. -Come on, poor babe: this. Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens My child ? away with't!--even thou, that hast To be thy nurses ! Wolves, and bears, they say, A heart so tender o'er it, take it henee, Subs Casting their savageness aside, have done And see it instantly consum'd with fire; (straight: Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up in more than this deed doth require ! and blessing, Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, Against this cruelty, fight on thy side, (And by good testimony,) or I'll seize thy life, Poor thing, condemn'd to loss ! With what thou else call'st-thine: if thou refuse, [cxit, with the Child. And wilt encounter with my wrath, say 80 ; Leon. No, I'll not rear The bastard brains with these my proper hands Another's issue. Shall I dash out. ) Go, take it to the fire;. 1 Atten. Please your highness, posts, For thou sett'st on thy wife. From those you sent to the oracle, are come Ant. I did not, sir : An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion, These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, Can clear me in't. Hasting to the court. 1 Lord. We can; my royal liege, 1 Lord. So please you, sir, their speed He is not guilty of her coming hither. Hath been beyond account. Leon. You are liars all. [credit: Leon. Twenty-three days 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better They have been absent : ''Tis good speed; foretels, We have always truly serv'd you ; and beseech The great Apollo suddenly will have So to esteem of us: and on our knees we beg, The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords ; (-A8 recompense of our dear services, [pose ; Summon a session, that we e may arraiga Past, and to come,) that you do change this pur- Our most disloyal lady: for, as she hath Which, being so horrible, so bloody, must Been publicly accus'd, so shall she have Lead on to some foul issue: we all kneel. A just and open trial. Wbile she lives, Leon. I am a feather for each wind that My heart will be a burden to me. Leave me; blows: And think upon my bidding. [exerunt ACT III. Fertile the isle; the temple much surpasing Inter Cleomenes and Dion. The common praise it bears. Clon. The climate's delicate; the air most swect; Dion. I shall report, up. 514: [exit. : BCENE I. A STREET IN A TOWN. SCENE II. A COURT OF JUSTICE. For most it caught me, the celestial habits, A fellow of the royal bed, wbich owe Who please to come and bear. For life, 1 prize it Cleo. But, of all, the burst As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honAnd the ear-deafening voice o'the oracle, 'Tis a derivative from me to mine, lour, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surpris'd iny sense, And only that I stand for. I appeal That I was nothing. To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Dion. If the event o'the journey Came to your court, how I was in your grace, Prove as successful to the queen,-0, be't so! How merited to be so; since he came, As it hath been to us, rare, pleasant, speedy, With what encounter so uncurrent I The time is worth the use on't. Have strain'd, to appear thus : if one jot beyond Cleo. Great Apollo, The bound of honour; or, in act, or will, Turn all to the best ! These proclamations, That way inclining ; barden'd be the hearts So forcing faults upon Hermione, Of all that bear me, and my near'st of kin I little like. Cry, Fie upon my grave! Dion. The violent carriage of it Leon. I ne'er heard yet, Will clear, or end, the business: when the oracle, That any of these bolder vices wanted (Thus by A pollo's great divine seald up,) Less impudence to gainsay what they did, Shall the contents discover, something rare, Than to perform it first. Even then, will rush to knowledge. Go,-fresh Her. That's true enough; horses; Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. And gracious be the issue ! [excunt. Leon. You will not own it. Her. More than mistress of, Leontes, Lords, and Officers, appeur properly Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not seated. At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, Leon. This sessions (to our great grief, we pro- (With whom I am accus'd), I do confess, nounce), I lov'd him, as in honour he requir'd; Even pushes 'gainst our heart: the party tried, With such a kind of love, as might become The daughter of a king; our wife ; and one A lady like me, with a love, even such, Of us too much belov'd.—Let us be clear'd So, and no other, as yourself commanded : Of being tyrannous, since we so openly Which not to have done, I think, bad been in me Proceed in justice ; which shall have due course, Both disobedience and ingratitude, Even to the guilt, or the purgation. To you, and toward your friend; whose love had Produce the prisoner. spoke, Offi. It is his bighness' pleasure, that the queen Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely, Appear in person here in court.- - Silence ! That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy, Hermione brought in, Paulina, &c. attending, I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd Leon. Read the indictment. For me to try how: all I know of it Offi. · Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, Is, that Camillo was an honest man ; king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraign- And, why he left your court, the gods themselves ed of high treason, in committing adultery with Wotting no more than I, are ignorant, Polixenes, king of Bohemia ; and conspiring Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know with Camillo to take away the life of our sover- What you have underta'en to do in 's absence. eign lord the king, thy royal husband; the pre Her. Sir, tence whereof being by circumstances partly laid You speak a language that I understand Dot: open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and My life stands in the level of your dreams, allegiance of a true subject, didst counsel and aid | Which I'll lay down. them for their better safety, to fly away by night.' Leon. Your actions are my dreams ; Her. Since what I am to say, must be but that you had a bastard by Polixenes, Which contradicts my accusation; and And I but dream'd it:- as you were past all shame, The testimony on my part, no other (Those of your fact are so,) so past all truth : But what comes from myself; it shall scarce boot which to deny, concerns more than avails : Not guilty ; mine integrity (me For as More criminal in thee than it,) so thou Look for no less than death. Tremble at patience.—You, my lord, best know, Her. Sir, spare your threats : (Who least will seem to do so), my past life The bug, which you would fright me with, I seek Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, To me can life be no commodity: As I am now unhappy; which is more The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, Than history can pattern, though devis'd, I do give lost ; for I do feel it gone, Ind play'd, to take spectators; for behold me,- But know not how it went: my second joy. To say, |