Ere I could make thee open thy white hand And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter,

"I am yours for ever."
Her.
'T is grace indeed. 105
Why, lo you now,
I have spoke to the pur-
pose twice:

The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;
The other for some while a friend.

[Gives her hand to Polixenes.] Leon. [Aside.] Too hot, too hot To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods. I have tremor cordis on me; my heart dances,

110

Still virginalling
How now, you wanton calf!

Yes, if you will, my lord.

Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash and the shoots that I have,

130

To be full like me; yet they say we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will say anything. But were they false
As o'er-dy'd blacks, as wind, as waters, false
As dice are to be wish'd by one that fixes
No bourn 'twixt his and mine, yet were it true
To say this boy were like me. Come, sir page, 135
Look on me with your welkin eye. Sweet
villain !

Most dear'st! my collop! Can thy dam?
may 't be ?-

Affection! thy intention stabs the centre. Thou dost make possible things not so held, Communicat'st with dreams;- how can this be?

With what 's unreal thou coactive art,

140

And fellow'st nothing. Then 't is very credent Thou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost,

And that beyond commission, and I find it,
And that to the infection of my brains
And hardening of my brows.
Pol.

245

What means Sicilia ?

As if you held a brow of much distraction.
Are you mov'd, my lord?
Leon.
No, in good earnest.
How sometimes nature will betray its folly, 151
Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime
To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines
Of my boy's face, methoughts I did recoil
Twenty-three years, and saw myself un-

breech'd

155

In my green velvet coat, my dagger muzzl'd,
Lest it should bite its master, and so prove,
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?

Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.

130

Leon. You will! Why, happy man be 's

dole! My brother,

Are you so fond of your young prince as we Do seem to be of ours?

105

Pol. If at home, sir, He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter, Now my sworn friend and then mine enemy, My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all. He makes a July's day short as December, And with his varying childness cures in me Thoughts that would thick my blood Leon. So stands this squire Offic'd with me. We two will walk, my lord, And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione, How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's wel

Will take again your queen as yours at first, Even for your son's sake; and thereby forsealing

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,

341

Go then; and with a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohe mia

And with your queen. I am his cupbearer: 345 If from me he have wholesome beverage, Account me not your servant.

Leon. This is all. Do't and thou hast the one half of my heart; Do 't not, thou split'st thine own. Cam. I'll do 't, my lord. Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd me. [Exit. 350

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

435

If therefore you dare trust my honesty,
That lies enclosed 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 posterns
Clear them o' the city. For myself, I'll put
My fortunes to your service, which are here 440
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;
For, by the honour of my parents, I

Have utt'red truth, which if you seek to prove,

I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer Than one condemn'd by the King's own mouth, thereon

His execution sworn.

Pol.

I do believe thee;

445