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. 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; I am question'd by my fears, of what may Or breed upon our absence: That my blow Leon. We are tougher, brother, Pol. No longer stay. Leon. One seven-night longer. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. [stay'd [you Her. Not your jailer then, Two lads, that thought there was no more be- Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o'the 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; [now, Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure, Leon. Well said, Hermione. Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were But let him say so then, and let him go; That any did: Had we pursued that life, Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd, Her. By this we gather, 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; Her. Grace to boot! Of this make no conclusion; lest you say, swer; Leon. Is he won yet? Leon. At my request, he would not. 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, with oaths, Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, Pol. Your guest then, madam: To be your prisoner, should import offending; Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. But once before I spoke to the purpose: When? Leon. Why, that was when [to death, * A diminutive of lords. + Setting aside orginal sin. From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, 'twere Mum. Ay, my good lord. 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 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: Her. He something seems unsettled. What cheer? how is't with you, best brother? As if you held a brow of much distraction: Leon. No, in good earnest. How sometimes nature will betray its folly, In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled, 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: Offic'd with me: We two will walk, my lord, Her. If you would seek us, 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? Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone, 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. But so it is, it is not. Was this taken Leon. Ha? If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward; A servant, grafted in my serious trust, Cam. My gracious lord, [drawn, I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful; 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, Leon. Is whispering nothing? Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses? The covering sky is nothing: Bohemia nothing Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd Leon. Say, it be; 'tis true. I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee; Cam. Who does infect her? Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, hanging About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I that Maliciously like poison: But I cannot Leon. Make't thy question, and go rot! 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; 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 Leon. Thou dost advise me, Even so as I mine own course have set down: Go then and with a countenance as clear In ignorant concealment. Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo, 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. 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. For what? Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence be swears, As he had seen't, or been an instrument Pol. O, then my best blood turn 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? Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance, As he had lost some province, and a region, 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; Cam. There is a sickness Which puts some of us in distemper; but Pol. How! caught of me? have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,- you, * for succession. → Gentie was opposed to simple; well born. Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd, Cam. Swear his thought over 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,- Clear them o'the city: For myself, I'll put Pol. I do believe thee: |