Praise her but for this her out-door form, (Which, on my faith, deserves high speech—) If one by one you wedded all the world, Or from the all that are, took something good I might have looked upon my queen's full eyes, -and left them More rich for what they yielded. "dread The expressions "most sacred lady," mistress," "sovereign," with which she is addressed or alluded to, the boundless devotion and respect of those around her, and their confidence in her goodness and innocence, are so many additional strokes in the portrait. For her, my lord, I dare my life lay down, and will do 't, sir, Please you t' accept it, that the queen is spotless I' the eyes of heaven, and to you. Every inch of woman in the world, Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false If she be so. I would not be a stander-by to hear My sovereign mistress clouded My present vengeance taken! so, without The mixture of playful courtesy, queenly dignity and lady-like sweetness, with which she prevails on Polixenes to prolong his visit, is charming. You put me off with limber vows: but I Tho' you would seek t' unsphere the stars with oaths, Should still say, "Sir, no going!" Verily, You shall not go! A lady's verily is As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Force me to keep you as a prisoner, Not like a guest ? And though the situation of Hermione admits but of few general reflections, one little speech, inimitably beautiful and characteristic, has become almost proverbial from its truth. She says One good deed, dying tongueless Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. Our praises are our wages: you may ride us She receives the first intimation of her husband's jealous suspicions with incredulous astonishment. It is not that, like Desdemona, she does not, or cannot understand; but she will not. When he accuses her more plainly, she replies with a calm dignity Should a villain say so The most replenished villain in the world- This characteristic composure of temper never forsakes her; and yet it is so delineated that the impression is that of grandeur, and never borders upon pride or coldness: it is the fortitude of a gentle but a strong mind, conscious of its own innocence. Nothing can be more affecting than her calm reply to Leontes, who, in his jealous rage, heaps insult upon insult, and accuses her before her own attendants, as no better than one of those to whom the vulgar give bold titles." How will this grieve you, When you shall come to clearer knowledge That you have thus published me! Gentle, my lord, You scarce can right me thoroughly then, To say you did mistake. Her mild dignity and saint-like patience, combined as they are with the strongest sense of the cruel injustice of her husband, thrill us with admiration as well as pity; and we cannot but see and feel that for Hermione to give way to tears and feminine complaints under such a blow, would be quite incompatible with the character. Thus she says of herself, as she is led to prison : There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient till the heavens look With an aspect more favourable. Good, my lords, I am not prone to weeping, as our sex That honourable grief lodged here, that burns With thoughts so qualified as your charities Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so When she is brought to trial for supposed crimes, called on to defend herself, "standing to prate and talk for life and honour, before who please to come and hear," the sense of her ignominious situation-all its shame and all its horror press upon her, and would apparently crush even her magnanimous spirit, but for the consciousness of her own worth and innocence and the necessity that exists for asserting and defending both. 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. |