So, fo: farewell, we are gone. Will never do him good, not one of you, LEO. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this, My child? away with't. Even thou, thou that hast A heart fo tender o'er it, take it hence, And fee it inftantly confum'd with fire; Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up ftraight: ANT. I did not, Sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, LORD. We can. My royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. LEO. You're liars all. [Exit. LORD. 'Befeech your highnefs, give us better credit. We've always truly ferv'd you, and beseech you So to esteem of us: and on our knees we beg (As recompence of our dear fervices Paft, and to come) that you do change this purpose, Which being fo horrible, fo bloody, must Lead on to fome foul iffue. We all kneel [they kneel. LEO. I am a feather for each wind that blows: Shall I live on, to fee this bastard kneel And call me father? better burn it now, Than curfe it then. But be it; let it live: -It shall not neither.-You, Sir, come you hither; You, that have been so tenderly officious ANT. Any thing, my lord, That my ability may undergo, you [To Antigonius. adventure And nobleness impose: at least, thus much; the little blood which I have left, I'll pawn To fave the innocent; any thing poffible. LEO. It shall be poffible; fwear by this sword, Thou wilt perform my bidding. ANT. I will, my lord. LEO. Mark and perform it ; feest thou? for the fail Death to thyfelf, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife, Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens Like offices of pity. Sir, be profperous In more than this deed does require; and bleffing, -Poor thing condemn'd to lofs. LEO. No; I'll not rear Another's iffue. Enter a Meffenger. MES. Please your highness, pofts, [Exit, with the child. From those you fent to th' oracle, are come An hour fince, Cleomines and Dion, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, LORD. So please you, Sir, their speed Hath been beyond account. LEO. Twenty-three days They have been abfent: this good speed foretels, The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords, Leave me, [Exeunt feverally. SCENE I. T ACT III. A part of Sicily, near the fea-fide. Enter Cleomines and Dion, with attendants. CLEOMINE S. HE climate's delicate, the air most sweet, Fertile the isle, the temple much furpaffing The common praise it bears, DION. I fhall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits, (Methinks, I fo fhould term them,) and the reverence Of the grave wearers. O, the facrifice How ceremonious, folemn, and unearthly CLEO. But of all, the burft And the ear-deafning voice o' th' oracle, DION. If th' event o' th' journey Prove as fuccessful to the queen, (O be't so') CLEO. Great Apollo, Turn all to th' beft! thefe proclamations, I little like. DION. The violent carriage of it Will clear, or end the bufinefs; when the oracle, (Thus by Apollo's great divine feal'd up,) Shall the contents difcover, fomething rare Even then will rush to knowledge. Gofreth horfes And gracious be the issue. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Represents a court of justice. Leontes, lords and officers, appear properly feated. LEO. This feffion, (to our great grief, we pronounce,) Ev'n pushes 'gainst our heart. The party try'd, The daughter of a king, our wife, and one Of us too much belov'd;-let us be clear'd Of being tyrannous, fince we so openly Proceed in juftice, which shall have due course, Even to the guilt, or the purgation. -Produce the prifoner. OFFI. It is his highnefs' pleasure, that the queen Appear in perion here in court.— -Silence! Hermione is brought in, guarded; Paulina, and ladies attending. LEO. Read the indiament. OFFI." Hermione, Queen to the worthy Leontes, king "of Sicilia, thou art here accufed and arraigned of high "treafon, in committing adultery with Polixenes king of "Bohemia, and confpiring with Camillo to take away the "life of our fovereign lord the king, thy royal husband; "the pretence whereof being by circumftances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegi66 ance of a true fubject, didft counfel and aid them, for "their better fafety, to fly away by night." HER. Since what I am to fay, must be but that Which contradicts my accufation; and The teftimony on my part, no other But what comes from myfelf; it fhall fearce boot me |