Pray you, to see her women? any of them? Emilía? Keep. So please you, madam, to put Apart these your attendants, I shall bring Emilia forth. [Exeunt attend. And, madam, Paul. I pray now, call her. Withdraw yourselves. Keep. I must be present at your conference. Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee. [Exit Keeper. Here's such ado to make no stain a stain, As passes colouring. Re-enter Keeper, with Emilia. Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady? I dare be sworn : He must be told on't, and he shall: the office Emil. Most worthy madam, To visit the next room, I'll presently Paul. SCENE III.-The same. A room in the palace. Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and other attendants. Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but weakness To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if 1 Atten. Leon. How does the boy? 1 Atten. My lord? [Advancing. He took good rest to-night; 'Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. His nobleness! To see, Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, -20, See how he fares. [Exit attend.]-Fie, fie! no thought of him ; The very thought of my revenges that way Enter Paulina, with a child. 1 Lord. You must not enter. Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me: Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas, Tell her, Emilia, I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it, As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted I shall do good. Emil. Now be you blest for it! I'll to the queen: Please you, come something That's enough. 1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded None should come at him. Paul. Not so hot, good sir: I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh At each his needless heavings, such as you Nourish the cause of his awaking: I Do come with words as med'cinal as true; Honest, as either; to purge him of that humour, That presses him from sleep. Leon. What noise there, ho? Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference, About some gossips for your highness. Ant. Leon. What, canst not rule her? Paul. From all dishonesty, he can: in this, (Unless he take the course that you have done, Commit me, for committing honour,) trast it, [Exeunt. He shall not rule me. Do not you fear: upon Mine honour I will stand 'twixt you and danger. (1) Frenzies. (2) Mark and aim. Ant. Lo you now; you hear! (S) Alone. When she will take the rein, I let her run But she'll not stumble. Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen: I say, good queen; And would by combat make her good, so were I A man, the worst2 about you. Leon. Force her hence. Paul. Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes, First hand me: on mine own accord, I'll off; But, first, I'll do my errand.-The good queen, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. [Laying down the child. Out! A mankind' witch! Hence with her, out o'door: A most intelligencing bawd! Leon. Paul. Not so: I am as ignorant in that, as you In so entitling me: and no less honest On your allegiance, Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, Out of the chamber with her. Were I a tyrant, As this world goes, to pass for honest. Leon. Where were her life? she durst not call me so, Traitors! If she did know me one. Away with her. Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard:Thou dotard, [To Antigonus.] thou art womantir'd, unroosted By thy dame Partlet here,-take up the bastard; Tak't up, I say; giv't to thy crone." Paul. Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou For ever Tak'st up the princess, by that forced baseness Which he has put upon't! Leon. He dreads his wife. Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: Jove send her A better guiding spirit!-What need these hands?— [Exit. Leon. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.My child? away with't!-even thou, that hast A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence, And see it instantly consum'd with fire; Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up straight: Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, (And by good testimony,) or I'll seize thy life, With what thou else call'st thine: If thou refuse, And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so; The bastard brains with these my proper hands Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire; For thou sett'st on thy wife. Ant. I did not, sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in't. pose; Which, being so horrible, so bloody, must Leon. I am a feather for each wind that blows. (6) Forced is false; uttered with violence to truth (7) Trull. (8) The colour of jealousy. (9) Worthless fellow. 9 Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! Ant. Of any point in't shall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife; Leon. 1 Atten. Please your highness, posts, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, Twenty-three days ACT III. [Exeunt. Dion. Cleo. Dion. The violent carriage of it And gracious be the issue! SCENE II-The same. A court of justice. Leontes, Lords, and Officers, appear properly seated. Leon. This sessions (to our great grief, we pro nounce,) Even pushes 'gainst our heart: The party tried, Offi. It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen Leon. Read the indictment. king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and ar- Her. Since what I am to say, must be but that But what comes from myself; it shall scarce boot me To say, Not guilty: mine integrity, Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express ft, SCENE I.—The same. A street in some Town. I doubt not then, but innocence shall make Enter Cleomenes and Dion. Cleo. The climate's delicate; the air most sweet; False accusation blush, and tyranny Tremble at patience.-You, my lord, best know (Who least will seem to do so,) my past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, As I am now unhappy; which is more Than history can pattern, though devis'd, And play'd, to take spectators; For behold me,(Methinks, I so should term them,) and the reve-A fellow of the royal bed, which owe' I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits rence (3) i. e. Our journey has recompensed us the (1) It was anciently a practice to swear by the time we spent in it. cross at the hilt of a sword. (2) i. e. Commit it to some place as a stranger. Equal (5) Scheme laid. (6) Treachery. Own, possess. A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Have strain'd, to appear thus: if one jot beyond Leon. I ne'er heard yet, it Her. To you, and toward your friend; whose love had Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely, And, why he left your court, the gods themselves, Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know You speak a language that I understand not: Leon. Your actions are my dreams; And I but dream'd it:-As you were past all shame, Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, Sir, spare your threats: Her. The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, But know not how it went: My second joy, And first-fruits of my body, from his presence, fort, Starr'd most unluckily,' is from my breast, (1) Is within the reach. (2) They who have done like you. (3) Ill-starred; born under an inauspicious planet The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth, 1 Lord. This your request [Exeunt certain Officers. Re-enter Officers with Cleomenes and Dion. That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd Cleo. Dion. All this we swear. Leon. Break up the seals, and read. Offi. [Reads.] Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that, which is lost, be not found. Lords. Now blessed be the great Apollo! Leon. Hast thou read truth? Offi. As it is here set down. Praised! Ay, my lord; even so Leon. There is no truth at all i'the oracle: The sessions shall proceed; this is mere falsehood. I have too much believ'd mine own suspicion:'Beseech you, tenderly apply to her Some remedies for life.-Apollo, pardon [Exeunt Paulina and Ladies, with Her. My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle !I'll reconcile me to Polixenes; New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo; My friend Polixenes; which had been done, Paul. Re-enter Paulina. Wo the while! O, cut my lace; lest my heart, cracking it, Break too! 1 Lord. What fit is this, good lady? Paul. What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? What wheels? racks? fires? What flaying? boiling, In leads, or oils? what old, or newer torture Must I receive; whose every word deserves To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny Together working with thy jealousies,Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle For girls of nine !-0, think, what they have done, And then run mad, indeed; stark mad! for all Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it. That thou betray'dst Polixenes, 'twas nothing; That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant, And damnable ungrateful: nor was't much, Thou would'st have poison'd good Camillo's honour, To have him kill a king; poor trespasses, More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon The casting forth to crows thy baby daughter, To be or none, or little; though a devil Would have shed water out of fire, ere done't: Nor is't directly laid to thee, the death Of the young prince; whose honourable thoughts (Thoughts high for one so tender,) cleft the heart That could conceive, a gross and foolish sire Blemish'd his gracious dam: this is not, no, Laid to thy answer: But the last,-O, lords, When I have said, cry, wo!-the queen, the queen, The sweetest, dearest, creature's dead; and vengeance for't Not dropp'd down yet. 1 Lord. The higher powers forbid ! Paul. I say, she's dead; I'll swear't: if word, nor oath, Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring help, Should be past grief: Do not receive affliction Leon. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Bohemia. A desert country near Enter Antigonus, with the child; a. the sea. a Mariner. Ant. Thou art perfect then, our ship hath touch'd upon The deserts of Bohemia ? Mar. Ay, my lord: and fear We have landed in ill time; the skies look grimly, And threaten present blusters. In my conscience, The heavens with that we have in hand are angry, And frown upon us. Ant. Their sacred wills be done!-Go, get aboard; Look to thy bark; I'll not be long, before I Ant. I'll follow instantly. Mar. I am glad at heart To be so rid o'the business. Ant. Come, poor babe : [Exit. I have heard (but not believ'd,) the spirits of the dead My cabin where I lay, thrice bow'd before me : (3) Well-assured. |