As he had lost some province, and a region
Lov'd as he loves himself: even now I met him
With customary compliment; when he,
Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling
A lip of much contempt, speeds from me; and
So leaves me, to consider what is breeding
That changes thus his manners.

Cam. I dare not know, my lord.

Pol. How dare not! do not. Do you know, and dare not Be intelligent to me? 'Tis thereabouts ;

For, to yourself, what you do know you must ;
And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror,
Which shews me mine chang'd too: for I must be
A party in this alteration, finding
Myself thus alter'd with it.

Cam.

There is a sickness

Which puts some of us in distemper; but
I cannot name the disease; and it is caught
Of you that yet are well.

Pol.

How caught of me?

Make me not sighted like the basilisk:

I have look'd on thousands who have sped the better
By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo-

As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienc'd, which no less adorns
Our gentry than our parents' noble names,
In whose success we are gentle-I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my knowledge
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not

In ignorant concealment.

Cam.

I may not answer.

Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well! I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo,

I conjure thee, by all the parts of man

Which honour does acknowledge-whereof the least

C

Is not this suit of mine-that thou declare

What incidency thou dost guess of harm
Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;

If not, how best to bear it.

Cam.

Sir, I will tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him

That I think honourable: therefore, mark my counsel;
Which must be even as swiftly follow'd as

I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry lost, and so good-night.

Pol.

On, good Camillo.
Cam. I am appointed him to murder you.
Pol. By whom, Camillo ?

Cam.

Pol.

By the king.

For what?

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence, he swears, As he had seen 't or been an instrument

To vice you to 't-that you have touch'd his queen
Forbiddenly.

Pol.

O, then my best blood turn

To an infected jelly, and my name

Be yok'd with his that did betray the Best ! 15
Turn then my freshest reputation to

A savour that may strike the dullest nostril
Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection
That e'er was heard or read!

Swear his thought over

Cam.
By each particular star in heaven, and
By all their influences, you may as well
Forbid the sea for to obey the moon,
As, or by oath, remove, or counsel, shake
The fabric of his folly, whose foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.

grow

Pol.
How should this
Cam. I know not: but, I am sure, 'tis safer to
Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis born.
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
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;
For, by the honour of my parents, I

Have utter'd 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.

I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places shall

Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago.-This jealousy

Is for a precious creature: as she's rare,
Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,
Must it be violent: and as he does conceive
He is dishonour'd by a man which ever
Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must
In that be made more bitter.

Fear o'ershades me:

Good expedition be my friend, heaven comfort
The gracious queen,16 part of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo ;

I will respect thee as a father, if

Thou bear'st my life off hence: let us avoid.

Cam. It is in mine authority to command
The keys of all the posterns: please your highness
To take the urgent hour: come, sir, away.

[Exeunt.

Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies.

Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,

'Tis past enduring.

First Lady.

Come, my gracious lord,

No, I'll none of you.

Shall I be your playfellow?

Mam.

First Lady. Why, my sweet lord?

Mam. You'll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if I were a

baby still.-I love you better.

Second Lady. And why so, my lord?

Not for because

Mam.
Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say,
Become some women best; so that there be not

Too much hair there, but in a semicircle,

Or a half-moon made with a pen.

Second Lady.

Who taught ye this? Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces: pray now

What colour are your eyebrows?

First Lady.

Blue, my lord.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

Second Lady.

Hark ye:

The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall
Present our services to a fine new prince

One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us,

If we would have you.

First Lady.

She is spread of late

Into a goodly bulk: good time encounter her!

Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now

I am for you again: pray you, sit by us,

Come on, sit down :-come on, and do your best

To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful at it.

Mam. There was a man

Her.

Nay, come, sit down; then on.

Mam. Dwelt by a churchyard :-I will tell it softly;

Yon crickets shall not hear it.

Her.

And give 't me in mine ear.

Come on then,

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and Guards.

Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with

him?

First Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never