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ACT 1.

bassies; that they have seemed to be together,

SCENE I-Sicilia.—An Antechamber in LEON- though absent; shook hands, as over a vast;"

TES' Palace.

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and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either

malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note.

of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes physics the subject,t makes old hearts fresh: desire yet their life, to see him a man. they, that went on crutches ere he was born,

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 desire to live on crutches till he had one.

[Exeunt.

We will give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, SCENE II.-The same.-A Room of state in though they cannot praise us, as little accuse

us.

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

Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

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 em

Nobly supplied by substitution of embassies,

the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXenes, Hermione, MaMILLIUS, 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 And yet we should, for perpetuity, [thanks 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.

Wide waste of country. Affords a cordial to the State.

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 my 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,
Than you can put us to't.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leon. One seven-night longer.

Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow.

[stay'd

[you

Her. Not your jailer then,
But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question
Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you
You were pretty lordings* then. [were boys;
Pol. We were, fair queen,

Two lads, that thought there was no more be-
But such a day to-morrow as to-day, [hind,
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, [chang'd, And bleat the one at the other: what we Was innocence for innocence; we knew not

Leon. We'll part the time between's then: The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd

and in that

I'll no gain-saying.

Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so;
There is no tongue that moves, none, none
i'the world,

[now,
So soon as yours, could win me: so it should
Were there necessity in your request, although
"Twere needful I denied it. My affairs
Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder,
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay,
To you a charge, and trouble: to save both,
Farewell, our brother.

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,
All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction
The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his 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

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That any did: Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er- been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd
heaven

Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,
Hereditary ours.t

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

Pol. O my most sacred lady,

[for

Temptations have since then been born to us:

In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl;
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young play fellow.

Her. Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclusion; lest you say,
Your queen and I are devils: Yet, go on;
The offences we have made you do, we'll an-
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.

swer;

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? [make us pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongueless,

You take my lord, I'll give him my commis-I

sion,

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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.

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Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages: You inay 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: O, 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 [to death,
Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves
Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,
And clap thyself my love; then didst thou
I am yours for ever.

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* A diminutive of lords.

+ Setting aside orginal sin.
Trembling of the heart.

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
The mort o'the deer;* O, that is entertainment
My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-Mamil-
Art thou my boy?
[lius,

'twere

Mum. Ay, my good lord.
Leon. I'fecks?

Why that's my bawcock.t What, hast smutch'd thy nose?

They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain, [tain: We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, capAnd yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf, Are all call'd, neat. Still virginallingt

[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 shoot's 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
With what's unreal thou coactive art, [be?)
And fellow's nothing: Then, 'tis very cre-
dent .
[dost;
Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou
(And that beyond commission; and I find it,)
And that to the infection of my brains,
And hardening of my brows.
Pol. What means Silicia?

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, methoughts, I did recoil'
Twenty-three years; and saw myself un-
breech'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 ker-
nel,
[friend,
This quash,tt this gentleman:-Mine honest
Will you take eggs for money?‡‡
Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.

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

The tune played at the death of the deer.

+ Hearty fellow.

11. e. Playing with her fingers as if on a spinnet. Thou wantest a rough head, and the budding horns

that I have.

Bluc.

++ Peacod.

Boundary.

Credible.

It Will you be cajoled.

May his share of life be a happy one.

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

Pot. If at home, Sir,

He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter:
Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parasite, my 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.-Her-
moine,
[welcome;
How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's
Let what is dear in Sicily, be cheap:
Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's
Apparent to my heart.

Her. If you would seek us,
[there?
We are yours i'the garden: Shall's attend you
Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll

be found,

Be you beneath the sky :-I am angling now, Though you perceive me not how I give line. Go to, go to!

[Aside. Observing POLIXENES and HERMOINE. How she holds up the neb, the bill to him! And arms her with the boldness of a wife To her allowing‡ husband! Gone already; Inch-thick, knee-deep; o'er head and ears a fork'd one.§

[Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMOINE, and Attendants.

Go, play, boy, play;-thy mother plays, and I Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and cla

mour

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

arni,

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 [sence, That little thinks she has been sluc'd in his abAnd 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.

man.

Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest [Exit MAMILLIUS. Camillo, this great Sir will yet stay longer. Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold:

When you cast out, it still came home.

Leon. Didst note it?

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Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone,
When I shall gust it last.-How came't,
That he did stay?

Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear My sovereign mistress clouded so, without My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart, Ca-You never spoke what did become you less Than this; which to reiterate, were sin As deep as that, though true.

[millo,

Cam. At the good queen's entreaty.
Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, "should be
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 [is't,
More than the common blocks:-Not noted,
But of the finer natures? by some severals,
Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes,
Perchance, are to this business purblind: say.
Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most un-
Bohemia stays here longer. [derstand

Leon. Ha?

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If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward;
Which hoxess 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
And tak'st it all for jest.

Cam. My gracious lord,

[drawn,

I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
Amongst the infinite doings of the world,
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-peformance, '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 trespass
By its own visage: if I then deny it,
"Tis none of mine.

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

[say,

My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,
(Or else be impudently negative,
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then
My wife's a hobbyhorse; deserves a name
As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say it, and justify it.
To round in the ear was to tell secretly. + Taste.
* Inferiors in rank.
To hox is to hamstring.

Leon. Is whispering nothing?

Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible
Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more
swift?
[blind
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes
With the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only
That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing
Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is no
thing;

The covering sky is nothing: Bohemia nothing
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these
If this be nothing.
[nothings

Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd
Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;
For 'tis most dangerous.

Leon. Say, it be; 'tis true.
Cum. 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 [evil,
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, she would not live
The running of one glass.t

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

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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 being
spotted,

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 man so blench?

Cam. I must believe you, Sir;

I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't: Provided, that when he's remov'd, your high

ness

Will take again your queen, as yours at first;
* Disorders of the eye. + Hour-glass. Hasty.
Maliciously, with effects openly hurtful.
I. e. Could any man so start off from propriety?

Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for¦ If you know aught which does behove my sealing

knowledge

The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not
Known and allied to yours.

Leon. Thou dost advise me,

Even so as I 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
hemia,

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,
Bo-Which honour does acknowledge,—whereof
the least

And with your queen: I am his cupbearer; If from me he have wholesome beverage, Account me not your servant.

Leon. This is all:

Do't, and thou hast one half of my heart; Do't not, thou split'st thine own.

Cam. I'll do't my lord.

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Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him ad-That I think honourable: Therefore mark my [Exit. counsel;

Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast vis'd 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 had struck anointed kings, And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not Let villany itself forswear't. I must [one. 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,

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.
Pol. By whom, Camillo ?
Cam. By the king.

Pol. For what?

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence be

swears,

As he had seen't, or been an instrument
To vicer you to't,-that you have touch'd his
Forbiddenly.
[queen

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

My favour here begins to warp. Not speak? A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril 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 countenance,

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.

Cam. There is a sickness

Which puts some of us in distemper; but
I cannot name the disease; and it is caught
Of you that yet are well.

Pol. How! caught of me?
Make me not sighted like the basilisk:

have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better

By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,-
As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienc'd, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whose success we are gentle,t-I beseech

you,

* for succession.

→ Gentie was opposed to simple; well born.

Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infec-
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?

[tion

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 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 pos-
terns,

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:

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