Leon. Thou dost advise me, Even so as I mine own course have set down: Go then; and with a countenance as clear Leon. This is all: Do't, and thou hast the one half of my heart; Do't not, thou split'st thine own. Cum. I'll do't, my lord. Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd [Exit. me. Cam. O miserable lady !—But for me, What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner Of good Polixenes: and my ground to do't Is the obedience to a master; one, Who, in rebellion with himself, will have All, that are his, so too.-To do this deed, Promotion follows: If I could find example Of thousands that have struck anointed kings, And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not nance, As he had lost some province, and a region, Cam. I dare not know, my lord. Pol. How dare not? do not. Do you know, Be intelligent to me? "Tis thereabouts: Cam. There is a sickness, 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,- Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not Cam. I may not answer. Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well! Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare Cam. Sir, I'll 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 Pol. On, good Camillo. Cam. I am appointed Him to murder you. Pol. By whom, Camillo? Cam. By the king. Pol. For what? Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, As he had seen't, or been an instrument Pol. O, then my best blood turn Cam. Swear his thought over Pol. How should this grow? 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, His execution sworn. Pol. I do believe thee: I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand; | Is for a precious creature: as she's rare, [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE L-The same. Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies. Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring. 1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord, Shall I be your play-fellow? Mam. No, I'll none of you. 1 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. 2 Lady. And why so, my good lord? Mam. Not for because Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say, Become some women best ; so that there be not 2 Lady. Who taught you this? Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces.-Pray now What colour are your eye-brows? 1 Lady. Blue, my lord. Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eye-brows. The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall 1 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, Saw I men scour so on their way: I ey'd them Even to their ships. Leon. How bless'd am I In my just censure? in my true opinion?— sides, With violent hefts :-I have drank, and seen the spider. Camillo was his help in this, his pander !— There is a plot against my life, my crown; All's true, that is mistrusted :—that false villain. Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him: So easily open? 1 Lord. By his great authority; Which often hath no less prevail'd than so, On your command. Leon. I know't too well. Give me the boy; I am glad, you did not nurse him: Though he does bear some sign of me, yet you Have too much blood in him. Her. What is this? sport? Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come about her; Away with him :-and let her sport herself Her. But I'd say, he had not, And, I'll be sworn, you would believe my saying, Howe'er you lean to the nayward. Leon. You, my lords, Look on her, mark her well; be but about The justice of your hearts will thereto add, The shrug, the hum, or ha; these petty brands, When you have said, she's goodly, co She's an adultress. Her. Should a villain say so, The most replenish'd villain in the world, He were as much more villain: you, my lord, Do but mistake. Leon. You have mistook, my lady, Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing, Which I'll not call a creature of thy place, Lest barbarism, making me the precedent, Should a like language use to all degrees, And mannerly distinguishment leave out Betwixt the prince and beggar!-I have said, She's an adultress; I have said with whom : More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is A federary with her; and one that knows What she should shame to know herself, But with her most vile principal, that she's A bed-swerver, even as bad as those That vulgars give bold titles; ay, and privy To this their late escape. Her. No, by my life, Privy to none of this: How will this grieve you, When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that VOL. I. You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord, You scarce can right me throughly then, to say You did mistake. Leon. No, no; if I mistake In those foundations which I build upon, A school-boy's top.-Away with her to prison: Her. There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient, till the heavens look With thoughts so qualified as your charities Leon. Shall I be heard? [To the Guards. Her. Who is't, that goes with me?—'Beseech your highness, My women may be with me; for, you see, mistress Has deserv'd a prison, then abound in tears, I trust, I shall.—My women, come; you have leave. Leon. Go, do your bidding; hence. [Exeunt Queen and Ladies. 1 Lord. 'Bescech your highness, call the queen again. Ant. Be certain what you do, sir; lest your justice Proye violence; in the which three great ones suffer, Yourself, your queen, your son. 1 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 spot less Ant. If it be so, We need no grave to bury honesty ; There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten Leon. What! lack I credit? 1 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. Leon. Why, what need we Commune with you of this? but rather follow Ant. And I wish, my liege, You had only in your silent judgment tried it, Without more overture. Leon. How could that be? Either thou art most ignorant by age, Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight, (Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, Yet, for a greater confirmation, (For, in an act of this importance, 'twere To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple, Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more From our free person she should be confin'd; Enter PAULINA and Attendants. Paul. The keeper of the prison,-call to him; [Exit an Attendant. 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 Attendant, with the Keeper. You know me, do you not? Keep. For a worthy lady, And one whom I much honour. Paul. Pray you then, Conduct me to the queen. Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary To lock up honesty and honour from Keep. So please you, madam, to put Emilia forth. Paul. I pray now, call her.Withdraw yourselves. Keep. And, madam, [Exeunt Attend. I must be present at your conference. 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? Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe, Lusty, and like to live: the queen receives Much comfort in't: says, My poor prisoner, I am innocent as you. Paul. I dare be sworn :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 The trumpet any more:-Pray you, Emilia, Commend my best obedience to the queen; If she dares trust me with her little babe, I'll show't the king, and undertake to be Her advocate to th' loudest: We do not know Emil. Most worthy madam, Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident, To visit the next room, I'll presently Paul. Tell her, Emilia, I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it, As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted I shall do good. Emil. Now be you blest for it! I'll to the queen: Please you, come something nearer. Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe, I know not what I shall incur, to pass it, Paul. You need not fear it, sir: The child was prisoner to the womb; and is, Paul. Do not you fear: upon Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A room in the palace. Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and other Attendants. Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but weakness To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if Leon. How does the boy? [Advancing. 1 Atten. He took good rest to-night; 'Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. To see His nobleness! Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, -go, Ant. That's enough. 1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night commanded None should come at him. Paul. Not so hot, good sir; I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh At each his needless heavings, such as you Nourish the cause of his awaking: I Do come with words as med'cinal as true; Honest as either; to purge him of that humour That presses him from sleep. Leon. What noise there, ho? Paul. No noise, my lord ; but needful confer ence, About some gossips for your highness. Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus, Ant. I told her so, my lord, Leon. What, canst not rule her? 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; Paul. Good my liege, I come,- Leon. Good queen! Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen: I say, good queen ; And would by combat make her good, so were Í A man, the worst about you. Leon. Force her hence. |