. Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whofe fuccefs we are gentle ;) I beseech you,
If you know aught, which does behove my knowledge
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not

In ignorant concealment.

Cam. I may not answer.

Pol. A ficknefs caught of me, and yet I well?
I must be answer'd. Doft thou hear, Camillo,
I conjure thee by all the parts of man,

Which honour does acknowledge, (whereof the leaft
Is not this fuit of mine,) that thou declare,
What incidency thou doft guess of harm

Is creeping towards me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if it 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 I think honourable; therefore, mark my coun-
fel:

Which must be ev'n as fwiftly follow'd, as
I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry loft, and fo good night.

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 feen't, or been an instrument

* To vice you to't, that you have toucht his Queen Forbiddenly.

Pol. Oh, then, my best blood turn

To an infected gelly, and my name

Be yoak'd with his, that did betray the best!
Turn then my fresheft reputation to

A favour, that may

ftrike the dulleft doftril

To vice you to't,- -] i. e. to draw, perfuade you. racter called the Vice, in the old Plays, was the Tempter to Evil.

The Cha

Where

Where I arrive; and my approach be fhun'd, Nay, hated too, worse than the great'ft infection That e'er was heard, or read!

Cam. Swear this thought over

By each particular ftar in heaven, and
By all their influences; you may as well
Forbid the fea 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 ftanding of his body.

Pol. How fhould this grow?

Cam. I know not; but, I'm fure, 'tis fafer to Avoid what's grown, than queftion how 'tis born. If therefore you dare truft my honefty,

That lies inclosed 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,
Clear them o'th' city. For myself, I'll put
My fortunes to your fervice, which are here
By this difcovery loft. Be not uncertain;
For by the honour of my parents, I

Have utter'd truth; which if you feek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor fhall you be safer,
Than one condemned by the King's own mouth;
Thereon his execution fworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:

I faw his heart in's face.

Give me thy hand;

Be pilot to me, and thy places shall

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

Is for a precious creature; as fhe's rare,
Muft it be great; and, as his perfon's mighty,
Muft it be violent; and, as he does conceive
He is dishonour'd by a man, which ever
Profefs'd to him; why, his revenges must

In That be made more bitter. Fear o'er-fhades me:
Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
The grecious Queen's; part of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en fufpicion! Come, Camillo,

I will respect thee as a father, if

Thou bear'ft my life off hence. Let us avoid.

Cam. It is in mine authority to command

The keys of all the pofterns: please your Highness, To take the urgent hour. Come, Sir, away. [Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE I.

The PALACE.

Enter Hermione, Mamillius, and Ladies.
HERMIONE.

AKE the boy to you; he fo troubles me,
Tis paft 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 kifs me hard, and fpeak to me as if I were a baby ftill; I love you better.

2 Lady. And why fo, my Lord?

Mam. Not for because

Your brows are blacker; (yet black brows, they say, Becomes fome women beft; fo that there be not Too much hair there, but in a femicircle,

Or a half-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 be your eye-brows.

1 Lady. Blue, my Lord.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I've feen a lady's nofe That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.

1 Lady. Hark ye,

The

The Queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall Present our services to a fine new prince

One of these days; and then you'll wanton with us, If we would have you.

2 Lady. She is fpread of late

Into a goodly bulk; (good time encounter her!) Her. What wisdom ftirs amongst you? come, Sir,

now

I am for you again. Pray you fit by us,

And tell's a tale.

Mam. Merry, or fad, shall't be?
Her. As

merry as you

will.

Mam. A fad tale's best for winter.
I have one of sprights and goblins.
Her. Let's have that, good Sir.
Come on, fit down. Come on, and do

your best To fright me with your fprights: you're powerful

at it.

Mam. There was a man

Her. Nay, come fit down; then on.

[foftly:

church-yard; I will tell it

Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard;

Yond crickets fhall not hear it.

Her. Come on then, and give't me in mine ear.

Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men fcowr so on their way:

Even to their fhips.

Leo. How bleft am I

: I ey'd them

In my juft cenfure! in my true opinion!
Alack, for leffer knowledge, how accurs'd
In being fo bleft! There may be in the cup
A fpider fteep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet pertake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present

E 5

Th'

Th' abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his fides With violent hefts.I have drunk, and feen the fpider.

Camillo was his help in this, his Pander:

There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true, that is miftrufted: that falfe villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him:
He hath difcover'd my defign, and I

Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick
For them to play at will: how came the pofterns
So eafily open?

Lord. By his great authority,

Which often hath no less prevail'd than fo
On your command.

Leo. I know't too well.

Give me the boy; I'm glad, you did not nurse him: Though he does bear fome figns of me, yet you Have too much blood in him.

Her. What is this sport?

Leo. 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
Has made thee fwell thus.

Her. But I'd fay, he had not;

And, I'll be fworn, you would believe my saying, Howe'er you lean to th' nayward.

Leo. You, my lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about

To fay, fhe is a goodly lady, and

The juftice of your hearts will thereto add,

'Tis pity, fhe's not honeft, honourable:

Praife her but for this her without-door form,
(Which on my faith deferves high speech,) and ftraight
The fhrug, the hum, or ha,—(thefe petty brands,
That calumny doth ufe: oh, I am out,-

That mercy do's; for calumny will fear