The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my | To you a charge and trouble: to save both, knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence Farewell, our brother. in so rare-I know not what to say.--We will give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us.

Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely.

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, Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understand-All in Bobemia's well; this satisfaction ing instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to

utterance.

The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from bis 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 [To POLIXENES.]
I'll adventure

Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia seemned to be together, though absent; shook You take my lord, I'll give him my commishands, as over a vast ;+ and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens To let him there a month, behind the gest⚫ continue their loves! Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, † Leontes,

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

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 excuse why they should desire to live.

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

[Exeunt. SCENE 11-The same.-A Room of state in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MA-
MILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants.
Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have
been
[throne
The shepherd's note, since we have left our
Without a burden: 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 more
That go before it.

Leon. Stay your thanks awhile;
And pay them when you part.
Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow.

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
To tire your royalty.

Leon. We are tougher, brother,

Thau you can put us to❜t.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leon. One seven-night longer.
Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow.

[stay'd

sion,

love thee not a jar o'the clock behind
What lady she her lord.-You'll stay?
Pol. No, madam.

Her. Nay, but you will?
Pol. I may not, verily.
Her. 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 is
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?
[verily,
My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread
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.

Her. Not your jailer then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question yoa
Of my lord's tricks, and your's, when you were
boys;

You were pretty lordings || then.
Pol. We were, fair queen,

Two lads, that thought there was no more be-
bind,

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 chang'd,
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd
That any did: Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher tear'd
With stronger blood, we should have auswer'd
heaven

Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,
Hereditary our's.

Her. By this we gather,
You have tripp'd since.

Pol. O my most sacred lady,

Temptations have since then been born to as:
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl; [for
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young playfellow.

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. At my request, he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st To better purpose.

Her. Never ?

Leon. Never, but once,

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

I pr'ythee, tell me : Cram us with praise, and make us

As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongueless,

Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages: You may ride us,
With one soft kiss, a thousand furlongs, ere
With spur we heat an acre. But to the jail :—
My last good was, to entreat his stay;
What was my first? it has an elder sister,
Or I mistake you: Oh! 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

Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,

Ere could make thee open thy white hand, And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter, I am your's for ever.

[twice:

Her. It is Grace, indeed.Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose The one for ever earn'd a royal husband; The other, for some while a friend.

[Giving her hand to POLIXENES. Leon. Too hot, too hot: [Aside. To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. 1-have tremor cordis on me :-my heart dances; But not for joy,-not joy.-This entertainment May a free face put on; derive a liberty From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, And well become the agent; it may, I grant: But to be paddling palms, and pinching fingers, As now they are; and making practis'd smiles, As in a looking-glass ;-and then to sigh, as 'twere

The mort o'the deer; Ob! that is entertain

ment

My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-Mamillius,
Art thou my boy?

Mam. Ay, my good lord.
Leon. I'fecks ? =

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

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

tain, We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain: And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf, Are all call'd, neat.-Still virginalling

[Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE. Upon his palm ?-How now, you wanton calf ? Art thou my calf?

Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord.
Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the
shoots that I have,

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-died blacks, as wind, as waters; false
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
No bourn¶twixt his and mine; yet were it

true

To say this boy were like me.-Come, Sir page, Look on me with your welkin ** eye: Sweet

villain !

Most dear'st!

my collop!-Can thy dam ↑→ may't be?

Affection! thy intention stabs the centre:
Thou dost make possible, things not so held
Communicat'st with dreams ;-(How can this
be ?)-

With what's unreal thou coactive art,

And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent, Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou dost;

(And that beyond commission; and I find it,)
And that to the infection of my brains,
And hardening of my brows.

Pol. What means Sicilia ?

Her. He something seems unsettled.
Pol. How, my lord?

What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?
Her. You look,

As if you held a brow of much distraction:
Are you mov'd, my lord?

Leon. No, in good earnest.-
How sometimes nature will betray its folly
Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime
To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines
Of my boy's face, methought, I did recoil
Twenty-three years; and saw myself unbreech'd,
In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled,
Lest it should bite its master, and so prove,
As ornaments oft do, too dangerous.
How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,
This quash, this gentleman:-Mine houest
friend,

Will you take eggs for money? ↑
Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.

Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole -My brother,

Are you so fond of your young prince, as we
Do seem to be of our's?

Pol. If at home, Sir,

He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter:
Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parasite, iny soldier, statesman, all:
He makes a July's day short as December;
And with his varying childness, cures in me
Thoughts that would thick my blood.

Leon. So stands this squire

Offic'd with me: We two will walk, my lord, And leave you to your graver steps.-Hermione, How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's wel

Will be my knell.-Go, play, boy, play ;-There have been,

Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the
arm,

• Credible. + Peacod.

Will you be cajo ed. $ May his share of life be a happy one. Heir apparent, next claimant. Mouth. tt A horned one.

Approving.

That little thinks she has been sluc'd in his ab- | Amongst the infinite doings of the world,

sence,

And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by Sir Smile, his neighbour : nay, there's comfort in't, [open'd, Whiles other men have gates; and those gates As mine, against their will: Should all despair, That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none;

It is a bawdy planet, that will strike Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it, [cluded, From east, west, north, and south: Be it conNo barricado for a belly; know it; It will let in and out the enemy,

With bag and baggage: many a thousand of us Have the disease, and feel't not. -How now, boy?

Mam. I am like you, they say. Leon. Why that's some comfort.What! Camillo there?

Cam. Ay, my good lord.

Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone,

Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord.
If ever I were wilful-negligent,
It was my folly; if industriously

I play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord;
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me; let me know my trespas
By its own visage: if I then deny it,"

'Tis none of mine.

Leon. Have not you seen, Camillo, (But that's past doubt: you have; or your eyeglass

Is thicker than a cuckold's horn :) or heard,
(For, to a vision so apparent, rumour
Cannot be mute,) or thought, (for cogitation
Resides not in that man, that does not think it,)
My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,
(Or else be impudently negative,
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then
say,

My wife's a hobby-horse: deserves a name
As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say it, and justify it.
Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this; which to reiterate, were sin
As deep as that, though true.

Leon. Is whispering nothing?

When I shall gust it last.-How came't, Camillo, Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses ? That he did stay?

Cam. At the good queen's entreaty.

Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career Of laughter with a sigh ? (a note infallible

Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?

pertinent;

But so it is, it is not. Was this taken
By any understanding pate but thine?
For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in

More than the common blocks :-Not noted, is't,
But of the finer natures? by some severals,
Of head-piece extraordinary ? lower messes, t
Perchance, are to this business purblind: say.
Cum. Business, my lord? think, most un-

derstand

The entreaties of your mistress ?--satisfy ?Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo, With all the nearest things to my heart, as well My chamber-councils: wherein, priest-like, thou Hast cleans'd my bosom; I from thee departed Thy penitent reform'd: but we have been Deceiv'd in thy integrity, deceiv'd

In that which seems so.

Cam. Be it forbid, my lord !

Leon. To bide upon't;-Thou art not honest: or,

If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward;
Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining
From course requir'd: Or else thou must be
counted

A servant, grafted in my serious trust,
And therein negligent; or else a fool,
That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake
drawn

And tak'st it all for jest.

Cam. My gracious lord,

I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that nis negligence, his folly, fear,

To rosad in the ear was to tell secretly.
+ Taste.
1 Inferiors in "ank.
To hox is to hamstring.

Skulking in corners wishing clocks more swift? Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes

blind

The covering sky is nothing: Bohemia nothing; My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings

If this be nothing.

Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd

Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;
For 'tis most dangerous.

Leon. Say, it be; 'tis true.
Cam. No, no, my lord.

Leon. It is; you lie, you lie

I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee:
Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave;
Or else a hovering temporizer, that

Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, she would not live
The running of one glass. +

Cam. Who does infect her?

Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, hanging

About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I
Had servants true about me: that bare eyes
To see alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts,-they would do

that

Which should undo more doing: Ay, and thou, His cup-bearer,-whom I from meaner form Have bench'd, and rear'd to worship; who [heaven,

may'st see

Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees
How I am galled,-might'st bespice a cup,
To give mine enemy a lasting wink;
Which draught to me were cordial

Cam. Sir, my lord,

I could do this; and that with no rash potion,

But with a lingʼring dram, that should not work
Maliciously like poison: But I cannot
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress
So sovereignly being honourable.

I have lov'd thee,-

Leon. Make't thy question, and go rot ! Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled, To appoint myself in this vexation? sully The purity and whiteness of my sheets, Which to preserve, is sleep; which spotted,

being

Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps ?
Give scandal to the blood o'the prince my son,
Who, I do think is mine, and love as mine;
Without ripe moving to't? Would I do this ?
Could inan so blench: t

Cam. I must believe you, Sir;

I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't:
Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness
Will take again your queen, as your's at first;
Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for
sealing

The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms
Known and allied to your's.

Leon. Thou dost advise me,

Even so as 1 mine own course have set down:
I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.
Cam. My lord,

Go then and with a countenance as clear
As friendship wears at feasts, keep with

Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd me.

[Exit.

Cam. O miserable lady!-But, for me, What case stand 1 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 had struck anointed kings, And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not

one,

Let villany itself forswear't. I must
Forsake the court to do't, or no, is certain
To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now!
Here comes Bohemia.

Enter POLIXENES.

Pol. This is strange! methinks,

My favour here begins to warp. Not speak ?Good-day, Camillo.

Cam. Hail, most royal Sir !

Pol. What is the news i'the court?
Cam. None rare, my lord.

Pol. The king hath on him such a counte

nance,

As he had lost some province, and a region,
Lov'd as he loves himself; even now I met him
With customary compliment; when he,
Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling
A lip of much contempt, speeds from me; and
So leaves me, to consider what is breeding,
That changes thus his manners.

Cam. I dare not know, my lord.

Pol. How dare not? do not. Do you know, and dare not

Be intelligent to me? "Tis thereabouts;
For, to yourself, what you do know, you must;
And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror,
Which shows me mine chang'd to: for I must be
A party in this alteration, finding
Myself thus alter'd with it.

Maliciously, with effects openly hurtful. 1. e. Could any mau so start off from propriety?

you,

If you know aught which does behove my knowledge

Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.

Cam. I may not answer.

Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!

I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo,
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man,
Which honour does acknowledge,-whereof the
least

Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm

Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;

If not, how best to bear it.

Cam. Sir, I'll tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him
That think honourable: Therefore mark my

counsel;

Which must be even as swiftly follow'd as

I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me Cry, lost, and so good-night.

Pol. On, good Camillo.

Cam. I am appointed Him to murder you. t Pol. By whom, Camillo ?

Cam. By the king.

Pol. For what?

Pol. Oh! then my best blood turn
To an infected jelly; and my naine
Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to

A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril
Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection
That e'er was heard, or read !

Cam. Swear his thought over
By each particular star in heaven, and
By all their influences, you may as well
Forbid the sea for to obey the moon,
As or, by oath, remove, or counsel, shake
The fabric of his folly; whose foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.

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 inclosed in this trunk, which your
Shall bear along impawn'd,-away to-night.
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will, by twos and threes, at several pos-
terus,

Clear them o'the city: For myself, I'll put
My fortunes to your service, which are here
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;
For, by the honour of my parents, I
Have utter'd truth; which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer

Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth,{ thereon

His execution sworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:

I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places shall

Still neighbour mine; My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago.-This jealousy

Is for a precious creature as she's rare,
Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,
Must it be violent; and as he does conceive
He is dishonour'd by a man which ever
Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must
In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades
me:

Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but no-
thing

Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo ;
I will respect thee as a father, if

Thou bear'st my life off hence: Let us avoid.
Cam. It is in mine authority to command
The keys of all the posterns: Please your high-

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 playfellow?

Mam. No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord ?

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and others.

Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them;

never

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 !-
Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accurs'd,
In being so blest!-There may be in the cup
A spider steep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present

The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drank, he cracks his gorge, his
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:
He has discover'd my design, and I
Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick
For them to play at will:-How came the posterus
So casily 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 signs of me, yet you
Have too much blood in bim.

Her. What is this? sport?

Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come
about her;

Away with him :-and let her sport herself
With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes

Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me Has made thee swell thus.

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
Too much hair there, but in a simi-circle,
Or balf-moon made with a pen.

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.

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
To say, she is a goodly lady, and
The justice of your hearts will thereto add,
'Tis pity, she's not honest, honourable;
Praise her but for this her without-door form,
(Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and
straight

The shrug, the hum, or ha; these pretty brands,
That calumny doth use:-Oh! I am out,
That mercy does; for calumny will sear

Mum. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a Virtue itself these shrugs, these hums, and

1 Lady. She is spread of late
Into a goodly bulk: Good time encounter her!
Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come,
Sir, now

am for you again: Pray you, sit by us,

And tell's a tale.

Mam. Merry, or sad, shall't be?

Her. As merry as you will.

Mam. A sad tale's best for winter:

I have one of sprites and goblins.
Her. Let's have that, Sir.

Come on, sit down :-Come on, and do your best
To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful
at it.

Mam. There was a man,-

Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on.
Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard ;-I will tell it

softly;

Yon crickets shall not hear it.

Her. Come on then,

And give't me in mine cal.

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: 0 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!-1 bave 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 would shame to know herself,
But with her most vile principal that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those

Oh! that my knowledge were less.

+ Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's
time.
* Heavings.

A thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet.
Braud as infamous.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: With Glossarial Notes, a Sketch of ...