Shall the contents discover, something rare, fresh horses; And gracious be the issue! Go, [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Court of Justice. LEONTES, Lords, and Officers, appear properly seated. Leon. This sessions (to our great grief, we pronounce,) Even pushes 'gainst our heart: The party tried, Offi. It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen Appear in person here in court. Silence ! HERMIONE is brought in, guarded; PAULINA and Ladies attending. Leon. Read the indictment. Offi. Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia; and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband; the pretence whereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true > Scheme laid. 7 Equal. 8 subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night. Her. Since what I am to say, must be but that Which contradicts my accusation; and The testimony on my part, no other But what comes from myself; it shall scarce boot me To say, Not guilty: mine integrity, Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, I doubt not then, but innocence shall make Tremble at patience. — You, my lord, best know, A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Have strain'd, to appear thus: if one jot beyond Leon. I ne'er heard yet, 9 Own, possess. That any of these bolder vices wanted Her. That's true enough: More than mistress of, Leon. You will not own it. Her. Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not To you, and toward spoke, your friend; whose love had Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely, Is, that Camillo was an honest man ; And, why he left your court, the gods themselves, Wotting no more than I, are ignorant. Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know What you have underta'en to do in his absence. Her. Sir, You speak a language that I understand not : Leon. Your actions are my You had a bastard by Polixenes, dreams; And I but dream'd it :-As you were past all shame, (Those of your fact2 are so,) so past all truth: Which to deny, concerns more than avails : For as Is within the reach. 2 They who have done like you, Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage, Her. The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, But know not how it went: My second joy, The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth, Apollo be my judge. 1 Lord. This your request Is altogether just: therefore, bring forth, And in Apollo's name, his oracle. [Exeunt certain Officers. 3 i. e. The degree of strength which it is customary to acquire before women are suffered to go abroad after childbearing. father: Her. The emperor of Russia was my Re-enter Officers with CLEOMENES and DION. Offi. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have Been both at Delphos; and from thence have brought This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd Cleo. Dion. All this we swear. Leon. Break up the seals, and read. Offi. [Reads.] Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that, which is lost, be not found. Lords. Now blessed be the great Apollo! Her. Praised! Ay, my lord; even so Leon. There is no truth at all i'the oracle : The sessions shall proceed; this is mere falsehood. Enter a Servant, hastily. Serv. My lord the king, the king! Leon. What is the business? Serv. O sir, I shall be hated to report it: The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear Of the queen's speed 4, is gone. 4 Of the event of the queen's trial. |