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[To the Guards. Her. Who is't that goes with me?-'beseech 10 your highness,

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My women may be with me; for, you see,
My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;
[To her ladies.
There is no cause: when you shall know, your 15
Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears, [mistress
As I come out; this action', I now go on,
Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord:

I never wish'd to see you sorry; now,

I trust, I shall.-My women, come; you have leave. 20
Leo. Go, do our bidding; hence.

[Exeunt Queen and Ladies. Lord. 'Beseech your highness, call the queen again.

Ant. Be certain, what you do, sir; lest your 25
justice

Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer,
Yourself, your queen, your son.

Lord. For her, my lord,

I dare my life lay down, and will do't, sir,
Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless
I' the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean,
In this which you accuse her.

Ant. If it prove

She's otherwise, I'll keep my stable where
I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her;
Than when I feel, and see her, no further trust her;
For every inch of woman in the world.

Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,
If she be.

Leo. Hold your peaces.
Lord. Good my lord,-

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves:
You are abus'd, and by some putter-on,
That will be damn'd for't: 'would I knew the villain!
I would land-damn' him: Be she honour-flaw'd,-
I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven;
The second, and the third, nine, and some five';
If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour,
I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations: they are co-heirs ;
And I had rather glib* myself, than they
Should not produce fair issue.

Leo. Cease; no more.

There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.

Leo. What? lack I credit?

Lord. I had rather you did lack, than I my lord, Upon this ground: and more it would content me To have her honour true, than your suspicion; Be blam'd for't how you might."

Leo. Why, what need we

Commune with you of this? but rather follow
Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels; but our natural goodness
Imparts this: which, if you, (or stupified,
Or seeming so in skill) cannot, or will not,
Relish as truth, like us; inform yourselves,
We need no more of your advice: the matter,
The loss, the gain, the ord'ring on't, is all
Properly ours.

Ant. And I wish, my liege,

You had only in your silent judgment try'd it,
Without more overture.

Leo. How could that be?

Either thou art most ignorant by age,

Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,

(Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation',
But only seeing, all other circumstances

Made up to the deed) do push on this proceeding:
Yet, for a greater confirmation,

30 (For, in an act of this importance, 'twere
Most piteous to be wild) I have dispatch'd in post;
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuff'd sufficiency': Now, from the oracle
35 They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well?
Lord. Well done, my lord.

Leo. Though I am satisfy'd, and need no more
Than what I know, yet shall the oracle

40 Give rest to the minds of others; such as he, Whose ignorant credulity will not

45

(50

Come up to the truth: Sohave we thought it good,
From our free person she should be confin'd;
Lest that the treachery of the two, fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in public: for this business
Will raise us all.

Ant. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known..

SCENE II.

A Prison.

[Exeunt

You smell this business with a sense as cold

155

As is a dead man's nose: but I do see't, and feel't;
As you feel doing this, and see withal

The instruments that feel. [Striking his brows.
Ant. If it be so,

We need no grave to bury honesty;

Enter Paulina, and Gentlemen.

Paul. The keeper of the prison,-call to him ; [Exit Gentleman. Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady! No court in Europe is too good for thee, What dost thou then in prison?-Now, good sir, Re-enter Gentleman, with the Keeper. 60 You know me, do you not?

1 Action is here applied in the legal sense, for charge or accusation. Meaning, perhaps, I would rid the country of him; condemn him to quit the land. 3 The second folio reads sonnes tive. To glib, or to lib, means the same as to geld."' Approbation here means proof. Meaning, of abilities more than enough.

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Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to send the
I know not what I shall incur to pass it, [babe,
Having no warrant.

Paul. You need not fear it, sir:

5 The child was prisoner to the womb; and is,
By law and process of great nature, thence
Freed and enfranchis'd; not a party to
The anger of the king; nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.

10 Keep. I do believe it.

15

Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee. Here is such ado, [Exit Keeper. 20 To make no stain a stain, as passes colouring.

Re-enter Keeper, with Emilia.

Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?
Emil. As well as one so great, and so forlorn,
May hold together: On her frights and griefs,
(Which never tender lady hath borne greater)
She is, something before her time, deliver❜d.
Paul. A boy?

receives

Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lusty, and like to live: the
Much comfort in't; says, My poor prisoner,

I am innocent as you.

Paul. I dare be sworn!

queen

These dangerous unsafe lunes' o' the king; be

shrew them!

He must be told on't, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best: I'll take't upon me:
If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blister;
And never to my red-look'd anger be

my

The trumpet any more:-Pray you, Emilia,
Commend best obedience to the queen;
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll shew't the king, and undertake to be

Her advocate to th' loudest: We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o' the child;
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades, when speaking fails.

Emil. Most worthy madam,

Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident,
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving issue; there's no lady living,
So meet for this great errand: Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I'll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this design;

But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be deny'd.

Paul. Tell her, Emilia,

I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,.

Paul. Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I
Will stand 'twixt you and danger.

SCENE III.

The Palace.

[Exeunt.

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and other
Attendants,

Leo. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but

weakness

To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if
The cause were not in being-part o' the cause,
Sie, the adultress;-for the harlot king

quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank
And level of my brain, plot-proof: but she
251 can hook to me: Say, that she were gone,
Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest
Might come to me again.-Who's there?
Enter an Attendant.

30

Atten. My lord?

Leo. How does the boy?

Atten. He took good rest to-night; 'tis hop'd, His sickness is discharg'd.

Leo. To see his nobleness!

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,

35 He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply;
Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself:
Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And downright languish'd.-Leave me solely: go,
[Exit Attendant.
40 See how he fares.-Fye,fye! no thought of him;—
The very thoughts of my revenge that way
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty;
And in his parties, his alliance,-Let him be,
Until a time may serve: for present vengeance,
45 Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes

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As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted 60 That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh I shall do good.

Emil. Now be you blest for it!

I'll to the queen please you,come something nearer.

i. e. frenzy, lunacy.

At each his needless heavings,-such as you
Nourish the cause of his awaking: I

Do come with words as med'cinal as true;

? Blank and level are terms of archery.

Honest,

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Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus,

I charg'd thee, that she should not come about
I knew she would.

Ant. I told her so, my lord,
On your displeasure's peril, and on mine,
She should not visit you.

Leo. What, canst not rule her?

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Paul. From all dishonesty, he can in this, (Unless he take the course that you have done, Commit me, for committing honour) trust it, He shall not rule me.

Ant. Lo you now; you hear!

When she will take the rein, I let her run;
But she'll not stumble.

Paul. Good my liege, I come,-
And I beseech you, hear me, who profess
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dares
Less appear so, in comforting your evils,
Than such as most seem yours: -I say,
From your good queen.

I come

Leo. Good queen! [good queen; Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen! I say, And would by combat make her good, so were I A man, the worst' about you.

Leo. Force her hence.

[eves,

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You'd call your children yours.

Leo. A nest of traitors!

Ant. I am none, by this good light.
Paul. Nor I; nor any,

But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he
The sacred honour of himself, his queen's,
His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander,
Whose sting is sharper than the sword's,and will not
(For, as the case now stands, it is a curse

10 He cannot be compell'd to't) once remove
The root of his opinion, which is rotten,
As ever oak, or stone, was found.

Leo. A callat,

[band,

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Leo. A gross hag!

And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, 35 That wilt not stay her tongue.

A mankind witch'! Hence with her, out o' door:-40

A most intelligencing bawd!

Paul. Not so:

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Ant. Hang all the husbands

That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Hardly one subject.

Leo. Once more, take her hence.

Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more.

Leo. I'll have thee burnt.

Paul. I care not:

It is an heretick, that makes the fire,

Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, 45 Not she, which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant; As this world goes, to pass for honest.

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Worst here implies lowest. The phrase of mankind-woman is still in use in some counties, for a woman violent, ferocious, and mischievous; which is its meaning in this passage.

4

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is synonymous with the modern hen-pecked. A croan means an old toothless sheep: thence an old woman. i. e. false baseness. Yellow is the colour of jealousy, 'Lozel is an ancient

6

term of contempt, meaning a worthless fellow.

You,

You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,
Will never do him good, not one of you,
So, so:-Farewell; we are gone.

[Exit.

Leo. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.~
My child? away with't!-even thou, that hast
A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence,
And see it instantly consum'd with fire;
Even thou, and none but thou, Take it up straight:
Within this hour bring me word 'tis done,
(And by good testimony) or I'll seize thy life,
With what thou else call'st thine: If thou refuse,
And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so;
The bastard brains with these my proper hands
Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire;
For thou sett'st on thy wife.

Ant. I did not, sir:

These lords, my noble fellows, if they please,
Can clear me in't.

Lord. We can; my royal liege,
He is not guilty of her coming hither.

Leo. You are liars all.

[credit:

Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better
We have always truly serv'd you; and beseech
So to esteem of us: And on our knees we beg,
(As recompence of our dear services,
Past,and to come) that you do change this purpose;
Which being so horrible, so bloody, must
Lead on to some foul issue: We all kneel.

Leo. I am a feather for each wind that blows:-
Shall I live on, to see this bastard kneel
And call me father? better burn it now,
Than curse it then. But, be it ; let it live:

It shall not neither.-You, sir, come you hither:
[To Antigonus.
You that have been so tenderly officious
With lady Margery, your midwife, there,
To save this bastard's life:-for 'tis a bastard,
So sure as this beard's grey,-what will you ad-
To save this brat's life?

Ant. Any thing, my lord,

That my ability may undergo,

[venture

And nobleness impose: at least, thus much;
I'll pawn the little blood which I have left,

To save the innocent: any thing possible.

5

Ant. I will, my lord.

[the fil

Leo. Mark, and perform it! (seest thou?) for
Of any point in't shall not only be

Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife;
Whom, for this time, we pardon. We enjoin thee,
As thou art liegeman to us, that thou carry
This female bastard hence; and that thou bear it
To some remote and desert place, quite out
Of our dominions; and that there thou leave it,
10 Without more mercy, to its own protection,
And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune
It came to us, I do in justice charge thee,-
Onthy soul's peril, and thy body's torture,—
That thou commend it strangely to some place,
15Where chance may nurse, or end it: Take it up.

Ant. I swear to do this; though a present death
Had been more merciful.-Come on, poor babe:
Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens
To be thy nurses! Wolves, and bears, they say,
20 Casting their savageness aside, have done
Like offices of pity.-Sir, be prosperous
In more than this deed does require! and blessing,
Against this cruelty, fight on thy side,
Poor thing, condemn'd to loss!

25

Leo. No, I'll not rear

Another's issue.

[Exit, with the child.

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. Please your highness, posts,

30 From those you sent to the oracle, are come
An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion,

Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed,
Hasting to the court.

Lord. So please you, sir, their speed

35 Hath been beyond account.

Leo. Twenty-three days

[tels,

They have been absent: 'Tis good speed; fore-
The great Apollo suddenly will have

The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords;
40 Summon a session, that we may arraign
Our most disloyal lady: for, as she hath
Been publickly accus'd, so shall she have
A just and open trial. While she lives,
My heart will be a burden to me. Leave me;

Leo. It shall be possible: Swear by this sword, 45 And think upon my bidding.
Thou wilt perform my bidding.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I

ACT III.

A Part of Sicily, near the Sea-side.
Enter Cleomenes, and Dion.

Cleo.
o.THE climate's delicate; the air most sweet;
Fertile the isle; the temple much sur-

The common praise it bears.
Dion. I shall report,

(Methinks, I so should term them) and the

reverence

55 Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice!
How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly
It was i' the offering!

[passing 60

For most it caught me, the celestial habits,

Cleo. But, of all, the burst

And the ear-deaf'ning voice o' the oracle,
Kin to Jove's thunder, so surpriz'd my sense,
That I was nothing.

Dion. If the event o' the journey

! That is, commit it to some place as a stranger.

Prove as successful to the queen,-O, be't so!-
As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy,
The time is worth the use on't.
Cleo. Great Apollo

Turn all to the best! These proclamations,
So forcing faults upon Hermione,
I little like.

Dion. The violent carriage of it

Will clear, or end, the business: When the oracle,
(Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up)
Shall the contents discover, something rare,
Even then, will rush to knowledge.-Go,-fresh
horses;

And gracious be the issue!

SCENE

A Court of Justice.

[Exeunt.

II.

Leontes, Lords, andOfficers,appear properly seated
Leo. This session (to our great grief, we pronounce)
Even pushes against 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, since we so openly
Proceed in justice; which shall have due course,
Even' to the guilt, or the purgation.
Produce the prisoner.

Of. It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen
Appear in person here in court.-Silence!
Hermione is brought in, guarded: Paulina and
Ladies altending.

Leo. Read the indictment.

Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it
As I weigh grief, which I would spare': for honour,
Tis a derivative from me to mine,
And only that I stand for. I appeal

5 To your own conscience, sir, betore Polixenes
Came to your court, how I was in your grace,
Now merited to be so: Since he came,
With what encounter so uncurrent I
Have strain'd, to appear thus? if one jot beyond
10 The bound of honour; or, in act, or will,
That way inclining; hard'ned be the hearts
Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin
Cry, Fye upon my grave!

Leo. I ne'er heard yet,

15 That any of these bolder vices wanted
Less impudence to gainsay what they did,
Than to perform it first.

20

Her. That's true enough;

Though 'tis a saying, sir not due to me.
Leo. You will not own it.

Her. More than mistress of,

Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not
At all acknowledge. For Polixenes,
With whom I am accus'd) I do confess,
251 lov'd him, as in honour he requir'd;
With such a kind of love, as might become
A lady like me; with a love, even such,
So, and no other, as yourself commanded:
Which not to have done, I think, had been in me
30 Both disobedience and ingratitude, [spoke,
To you, and towards your friend; whose love had
Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely,
That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy,
know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd
For me to try how: all I know of it,
Is, that Camillo was an honest man;
And, why he left your court, the gods themselves,
Wotting no more than I, are ignorant.

Offi. "Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, "king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and ar"raigned of high treason, in committing adultery "with Polixenes, king of Bohemia; and conspi-35 "ring 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 subject, didst 40 "counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to "fly away by night."

[me 45

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
To say, Not guilty: mine integrity,
Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,
Be so receiv'd. But thus,-if powers divine
Behold our human actions, (as they do)
I doubt not then, but innocence shall make
False accusation blush, and tyranny
Tremble at patience.-You, my lord, best know,
(Who least will seem to do so) my past life
Ilath been as continent, as chaste, as true,
As I am now unhappy; which is more
Than history can pattern, though devis'd,
And play'd to take spectators: For behold me,-
A fellow of the royal bed, which owe
A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter,
The mother to a hopeful prince,-here standing,
To prate and talk of life, and honour, 'fore

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Leo. 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:
My life stands in the level of your dreams,
Which I'll lay down.

[shame,

Leo. Your actions are my dreams;
You had a bastard by Polixenes,
And I but dream'd it:-As you were past all
(Those of your fact' are so) so past all truth:
Which to deny, concerns more than avails: for as
50 Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself,
No father owning it, (which is, indeed,
More criminal in thee, than it) so thou
Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage,
Look for no less than death.

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1i. e. equal. 2i. e. the design. 3 To spare means here, to let it go, to quit the possession of it. To be in the level means io be within the reach. i. e. those who have done as you are sup posed to have done. Starr'd

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