hands, as over a vast,† and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves! *Performed by agents. †Gulf.

Arch. I think there is not in the world either malice or matter to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius: it is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my note.

40

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that indeed physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to see him a man.

Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other why they should desire to live.

excuse

Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one.

50

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. A room of state in the same.

Enter LEONTES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS,
POLIXENES, CAMILLO, and Attendants.

Pol. Nine changes of the watery star hath been

The shepherd's note since we have left our throne Without a burthen: time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply

With one 'We thank you' many thousands moe
That go before it.

Leon.

Stay your thanks a while;

Sir, that's to-morrow.

And pay them when you part.

Pol.

ΙΟ

I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance'
Or breed upon our absence; that may blow
No sneaping* winds at home, to make us say
'This is put forth too truly:' besides, I have

stay'd To tire your royalty.

*Nipping.

and in that

I'll no gainsaying.

Pol.

Press me not, beseech you, so.

There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'

the world,

20

So soon as yours could win me: so it should now,
Were there necessity in your request, although
'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder
Were in your love a whip to me; my stay
To you a charge and trouble: to save both,
Farewell, our brother...

Leon. Tongue-tied our queen? speak you.
Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my
peace until

You had drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,

Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure 30
All in Bohemia's well; this satisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Leon.

Well said, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong:

But let him say so then, and let him go;

But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure
The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia

You take my lord, I'll give him my commission

40

To let him there a month behind the gest* *Period.
Prefix'd for's parting: yet, good deed,† Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind
What lady-she her lord. You'll stay?
Pol.

Her. Nay, but you will?

†Indeed.

tTick.

No, madam.

Pol.

Her. Verily!

I may not, verily.

You put me off with limber vows; but I,

Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths,

Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily,

You shall not go: a lady's 'Verily' 's

50

As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?
Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?

My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread

'Verily,'

One of them you shall be.

Pol.

Your guest, then, madam:

To be your prisoner should import offending;
Which is for me less easy to commit

Than you to punish.

Not your gaoler, then,

59

Her. But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys: You were pretty lordings then?

Pol. We were, fair queen, Two lads that thought there was no more behind But such a day to-morrow as to-day,

And to be boy eternal.

Her.

Was not my lord The verier wag o' the two?

Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk

i' the sun,

And bleat the one at the other: what we changed Was innocence for innocence; we knew not

70

The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd
That any did. Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd

heaven

Boldly 'not guilty;' the imposition clear'd
Hereditary ours.

Her.

You have tripp'd since.

Pol.

By this we gather

O my most sacred lady!

Temptations have since then been born to's; for In those unfledged days was my wife a girl; Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes Of my young play-fellow.

Her.

Grace to boot! Of this make no conclusion, lest you say Your queen and I are devils: yet go on; The offences we have made you do we'll answer, If you first sinn'd with us and that with us You did continue fault and that you slipp'd not With any but with us.

Leon.

Is he won yet?

Her. He'll stay, my lord.

Leon.

80

At my request he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest

To better purpose.

Her.

Leon.

Never?

Never, but once.

Her. What! have I twice said well? when was't before?

90

I prithee tell me; cram's with praise, and make's As fat as tame things: one good deed dying

tongueless

Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages: you may ride's
With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere
With spur we heat an acre. But to the goal:
My last good deed was to entreat his stay:
What was my first? it has an elder sister,
Or I mistake you: O, would her name were
Grace!

But once before I spoke to the purpose: when?
Nay, let me have't; I long.

Leon.

Why, that was when 101

Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to

death,

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand

And clap thyself my love: then didst thou utter 'I am yours for ever.'

Her.

'Tis grace indeed.

Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose

twice:

The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;

The other for some while a friend.

Leon.
[Aside] Too hot, too hot!
To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods.
I have tremor cordis on me: my heart dances;
But not for joy; not joy. This entertainment III
May a free face put on, derive a liberty

From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom,
And well become the agent; 't may, I grant;
But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers,
As now they are, and making practised smiles,
As in a looking-glass, and then to sigh, as 'twere
The mort* o' the deer; O, that is entertainment
My bosom likes not, nor my brows! Mamillius,
Art thou my boy?

Mam.
Leon.

Ay, my good lord.

*Death.

I' fecks!* 120

Why, that's my bawcock.† What, hast smutch'd thy nose?

*In faith. †Fine fellow.

They say it is a copy out of mine. Come, cap

tain,

We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, cap

tain:

And yet the steer, the heifer and the calf

Are all call'd neat.-Still virginalling‡

Upon his palm!-How now, you wanton calf!

Art thou my calf?

Mam.

Playing as on a spinnet. Yes, if you will, my lord.

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

*Face.

130

To be full like me: yet they say we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will say any thing: but were they false
As o'er-dyed blacks, as wind, as waters, false
As dice are to be wish'd by one that fixes
No bournt 'twixt his and mine, yet were it true
To say this boy were like me. Come, sir page,
Look on me with your welkint eye: sweet villain!
Most dear'st! my collop! Can thy dam?-may't
be?-
†Boundary. Sky-blue.
Affection! thy intention stabs the centre:
Thou dost make possible things not so held,
Communicatest with dreams;-how can this be?—
With what's unreal thou coactive art,

141