But this moft cruel ufage of your Queen (Not able to produce more accufation Than your own weak-hing'd fancy) fomething favours Lea. On your allegiance, Out of the chamber with her. Were I a tyrant, Paul. I pray you, do not push me, I'll be gone. Will never do him good, not one of you. [Exit Leo. Thou, traitor, haft fet on thy wife to this. My child? away with't. Even thou, thou that haft 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: Thefe lords, my noble fellows, if they pleafe, Lord. We can; my royal Liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither: Leo. You're liars all. Lords. Befeech your Highness, give us better credit. We've always truly ferv'd you, and befeech you So to efteem of us and on our knees we beg, (As recompence of our dear fervices Paft, and to come) that you do change this purpose, Lead on to fome foul iffure. We all kneel Leo. I am a feather for each wind that blows: Shall I live on, to fee this baftard 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 fo tenderly officious With lady Margery, your midwife there, [To Antigonus. To fave this baltard's life; (for 'tis a baftard, So fure as this beard's grey) what will you adventure To fave this brat's life? Ant. Any thing, my Lord, That my ability may undergo,. And nobleness.impofe: at least, thus much; Leo. It fhall be poffible; fwear by this sword, Ant. I will, my Lord. Leo. Mark and perform it; feeft thou? for the fail Of any point in't fhall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife, Against [Exit, with the Child. Against this cruelty, fight on thy fide! Another's iffue. Enter a Messenger. Mef. Please your Highness, posts, From those you fent to th' oracle, are come Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed," Lord. So please you, Sir, their speed Leo. Twenty-three days They have been abfent: this good speed foretels, The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords, Leave me, [Exeunt feverally. A C T III. SCENE, A Part of Sicily, near the Sea-fide. Enter Cleomines and Dion. CLEO MINES. "HE climate's delicate, the air most sweet, T Fertile the ifle, the temple much furpaffing The common praise it bears. Dion. I fhall report, For most it caught me, the celeftial habits, M 5 (Me (Methinks, I fo fhould term them,) and the reverence O, the facrifice Of the grave wearers. How ceremonious, folemn, and unearthly It was i'th' offering! Cleo. But of all, the burft And the ear-deafning voice o'th' oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, fo furpriz'd my fenfe, Dion. If th' event o'th' journey Prove as fuccessful to the Queen, (O be't fo!) Cleo. Great Apollo, Turn all to th' beft! these 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 rufh to knowledge. Go; fresh horfes: And gracious be the iffue! [Exeunt. SCENE represents a Court of Justice. Leontes, Lords and Officers, appear properly feated. Leo. TH HIS feffion, (to our great grief, we pro- Ev'n pushes 'gainft our heart. The party try'd, Produce the prifoner. Offi. It is his Highness' pleasure, that the Queen Appear in perfon here in court. Silence! Hermione Hermione is brought in, guarded; Paulina, and Ladies, attending. Leo. Read the indictment. Offi. Hermione, Queen to the worthy Leontes, King of Sicilia, thou art here accufed and arraigned of high treafon, in committing adultery avith Polixenes, King of Bohemia, and confpiring with Camillo to take away the life of our fovereign bord the King, thy royal husband; the pretence whereof being by circumflances partly laid apen, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true fubject, didft counsel and aid them, for their better fafety, to fly away by night. Her. Since what I am to say, must be but That Which contradicts my accufation; and The teftimony on my part, no other But what comes from myfelf; it shall scarce boot me To fay, Not guilty: mine integrity, Being counted falfhood, fhall, as I express it, I doubt not then, but innocence shall make Tremble at patience. - patience. You, my Lord, beft know, A moiety of the throne, a great King's daughter, And only That Iftand for. I appeal |