Enter CLEOMENES and DION. Cleo. The climate's delicate; the air most sweet; Fertile the isle; the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears. Dion. I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits (Methinks I so should term them), and the reverence Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly It was i' the offering! Cleo. But, of all, the burst And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surpris'd my sense, Dion. If the event o' the journey Prove as successful to the queen-O, be it so !— The time is worth the use on 't. Cleo. Great Apollo, Turn all to the best! These proclamations, 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;— [Exeunt. SCENE II-The same. A Court of Justice. LEONTES, Lords, and Officers, appear properly seated. Proceed in justice; which shall have due course, Produce the prisoner. Offi. It is his highness' pleasure that the queen Appear in person here in court.-Silence! HERMIONE is brought in, guarded; PAULINA and Ladies attending. Leon. Read the indictment. Offi. [Reads.] 'Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia; and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband: the pretence thereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night.' 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 me To say, 'Not guilty;' mine integrity, Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, I doubt not then but innocence shall make Tremble at patience.—You, my lord, best know A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Leon. I ne'er heard yet, That any of these bolder vices wanted Than to perform it first. Her. That's true enough ; Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. Leon. You will not own it. Her. More than mistress of Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not (With whom I am accus'd), I do confess, Which not to have done, I think, had been in me To you and toward your friend; whose love had spoke, I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd Is, that Camillo was an honest man ; Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know You speak a language that I understand not : Leon. Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dream'd it :—as you were past all shame (Those of your fact are so), so past all truth: Which to deny, concerns more than avails; for as Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, Her. Sir, spare your threats; The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, But know not how it went. My second joy, Apollo be my judge! First Lord. This your request Is altogether just therefore, bring forth, And in Apollo's name, his oracle. [Exeunt certain Officers. Her. The emperor of Russia was my father: |