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As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say it, and justify it.
Cam. I would not be a stander-by to hear

Who, I do think, is mine, and love as mine,
Without ripe moving to't? Would I do this?
Could man so blench'?

My sovereign mistress clouded so, without

Cam. I must believe you, sir;

My present vengeance taken; 'Shrew my heart, 5 I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't:

You never spoke what did become you less
Than this; which to reiterate, were sin

As deep as that, though true'.

Leo. Is whispering nothing?

Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness
Will take again your queen, as yours at first;
Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for sealing
The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms

Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
Kissing with the inside lip? stopping the career

10 Known and ally'd to yours.

Leo. Thou dost advise me,

Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible

Even so as I mine own course have set down:

Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?

I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.

Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift;

Cam. My lord,

Hours, minutes; the noon, midnight? and all eyes 15 Go then; and with a countenance as clear

Blind with the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only,

As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia,

That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing?

And with your queen: I am his cup-bearer;
It from me he have wholsome beverage,

Account me not your servant.

Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is nothing;
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these no-20
If this be nothing.

Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd

Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;

For 'tis most dangerous.

Leo. Say, it be; 'tis true.

Cam. No, no, my lord.

[things,

Leo. It is: you lie, you lie :
I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee;
Pronounce thee a gross lowt, a mindless slave;
Or else a hovering temporizer, that

25

Leo. This is all:

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

Cam. I'll do't, my lord.

Leo. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd

me.

[Exit.

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,

30 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 flourished after, I'd not do't: but since
[hanging 35 Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one,

Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, she would not live
The running of one glass.

Cam. Who does infect her?

Leo. Why he, that wears her like her medal,

Let villainy itself forswear't. I must
Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain
To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now;
Here comes Bohemia.

About his neck, Bohemia :-Who, if I
Had servants true about me; that bare eyes
To seek alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts, they would do that 40
Which should undo more doing: Ay, and thou,
His cup-bearer, whom I, from meaner form [see
Have bench'd and rear'd to worship; who may'st
Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees heaven,

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How I am gall'd, -thou might'st be-spice a cup, 45 Pol. What is the news i' the court?

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But with a ling'ring dram, that should not work 50 With customary compliments; when he,

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Which shews me mine chang'd too: for I must be A favour, that may strike the dullest nostril

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.

A party in this alteration, finding
Myselt thus alter'd with it.

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

5

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

Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.

Pol. How should this grow?

Pol. How! caught of me?

Make me not sighted like the basilisk:

[better

I have looked on thousands, who have sped the 10 The fabrick of his folly; whose foundation

By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,

As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienced, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In wlrose success we are gentle',-I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my know-
Thereof to be inform'd; imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.

Cam. I may not answer.

[ledge

Cam. I know not but, I am sure, 'tis safer to
15 Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born
If therefore you dare trust my honesty, -
That lies inclosed in this trunk, which von
Shall bear along impawn'd,-away to-night.
Your followers I will whisper to the business;

Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well! 20 And will, by twos and threes, at several posterns,
I must be answer'd. - Dost thou hear, Camillo ?

I conjure thee, by all the parts of man, [least
Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the
Is not this suit of mine, that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm
Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;
If not, how best to bear it.

Cam. Sir, P'll tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him

That I think honourable: Therefore, mark my

counsel;

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?

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, F

25 Ilave utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer [thereon,
Than one condemn'd; by the king's own mouth
Is execution sworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:

301 saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places shall

Still neighbour mine: My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago. This jealousy
35/1s for a a precious precious creatur creature: as she's rare,
Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,
Must it be violent; and, as he does conceive
He is dishonoured by a man which ever
Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must

[swears 40 In that be made more bitter. Fear o'er-shades me:
Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo;
I will respect thee as a father, if

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1 Gentle is evidently opposed to simple; alluding to a distinction between the gentry and yeomanry. 2 i. e. to draw, persuade you. The character called the Vice in the old plays, was the tempter to evil.

Mam

Mam. Not for because

Your brows areblacker; yet black brows, they say, Become some women best; so that there be not

Too much hair there, but in a semicircle,

Or half-moon made with a pen.

2 Lady. Who taught you this?

Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces.-Pray

[now,

1 Lady. Blue, my lord.

[nose

What colour are your eye-brows?

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Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you

5 Have too much blood in him.

Her. What is this? sport?

[about her;

Leo. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come

Away with him :-and let her sport herself

With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes

Mum. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's 10 Has made thee swell thus.

That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.

2 Lady. Hark ye:

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

Her. But I'd say, he had not,

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

One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us, 15 Look on her, mark her well; be but about

If we would have you.

Lady. She is spread of late

Into a goodly bulk; Good time encounter her!

Her. What wisdom stirs among you? Come sir, now

I am for you again: Pray you, sit by us,
And tell us a tale.

Mam. Merry, or sad, shall it be?
Her. As merry as you will.

Mam. A sad tale's best for winter :

I have one of sprights and goblins.
Her. Let's have that, good sir.

Come on, sit down:-Come on, and do your best
To fright me with your sprights; you're powerful
Mam. There was a man-

Leo. You my lords,

To say, she is

a

goodly lady, and The justice of your hearts will thereto add, 'Tis pity, she's not honest, honourable:

Praise her but for this her without-door form, straight

20 (Which, on my faith, deserves high speech) and

The shrug, the hum, or ha; these petty brands,
That calumny doth use:-Oh, I am out,
That mercy does; for calumny will sear

25 Virtue itself: these shrugs, these hums, and ha's,
When you have said, she's goodly, come between,
Ere you can say she's honest: But be it known,
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,

She's an adultress.

[at it. 30 Her. Should a villain say so,

[softly;

Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on.
Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard; - I will tell it

Yon crickets shall not hear it.

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

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and others. Leo. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men scour so on their way: I ey'd them Even to their ships.

Leo. How blest am I

In my just censure? in my true opinion?Alack, for lesser knowledge !-how accurs'd, In being so blest!-There may be in the cup A spider steep'd, and one may drink; depart, And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge Is not infected: but if one present

The abhor'd ingredient to his eye, make known

The most replenish'd villain in the world,
He were a much more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.

Leo. You have mistook, my lady,
35 Polixenes for Leontes. O thou thing,
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,
Should a like language use to all degrees,
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
40 Betwixt the p prince and beggar! I have said,
She's an adultress: I have said, with whom:
More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is

A federary with her; and one that knows What she should shame to know herself, 45 But with her most vile principal, that she's A bed-swerver, even as bad as those That vulgars give bold'st titles; ay, and privy To this their late escape.

How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides, 50 Privy to none of this: How will this grieve you,

Her. No, by my life,

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All's true, that is mistrusted:---that talse villain, 55 Leo. No: if I mistake

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2 i. e. I am treated as a mere child's baby, a thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet for them to move and actuate as they please, i. e. a confederate. But is here used for except.

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60 But that he speaks.

Her. There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient, till the heavens look

I am not prone to weeping, as our sex

Commonly are; the want of which vain dew,
Perchance, shall dry your pities: but I have

There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.
Leo. What? lack I credit?

With thoughts so qualified as your charities

[To the Guards.

That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns

Worse than tearsdrown: 'Beseech youall, my lords, 5 Upon this ground: and more it would content me

Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so

The king's will be perform'd!

Leo. Shall I be heard?

Her. Who is't that goes with me?-'beseech 10 Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative

Lord. I had rather you did lack, than I my lord,

To have her honour true, than your suspicion;
Be blanı'd for't how you might.
Leo. Why, what need we

Commune with you of this? but rather follow

your highness,

My women may be with me; for, you see,
My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;
[To her ladies.

Calls not your counsels; but our natural goodness
Imparts this: which, if you, (or stupified,
Or seeming so in skill) cannot, or will not,
Relish as truth, like us; inform yourselves,

The loss, the gain, the ord'ring on't, is all
Properly ours.

Ant. And I wish, my liege,

There is no cause: when you shall know, your 15 We need no more of your advice: the matter,

Has deserv'd prison, then abound intears, [mistress

As I come out; this action', I now go on,

Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord :

I never wish'd to see you sorry; now,

You had only in your silent judgment try'd it,

I trust, I shall. My women,come; you have leave. 20 Without more overture.

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again.

Leo. How could that be?

Either thou art most ignorant by age,

Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,

Ant. Be certain, what you do, sir; lest your 25 (Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,

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That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation',
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to the deed) do push on this proceeding:
Yet, for a greater confirmation,

30 (For, in an act of this importance, 'twere

Most piteous to be wild) I have dispatch'd in post,
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuff'd sufficiency: Now, from the oracle
35 They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well?
Lord. Well done, my lord.

Leo. Though I am satisfy'd, and need no more

Than what I know, yet shall the oracle 40 Give rest to the minds of others; such as he, Whose ignorant credulity will not

You are abus'd, and by some putter-on,
That will be damn'd for't: 'would I knew the villain! 45
I would land-damn2 him: Be she honour-flaw'd, -
I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven;
The second, and the third, nine, and some five';
If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour,
I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations: they are co-heirs;
And I had rather glib myself, than they
Should not produce fair issue.

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Paul. The keeper of the prison,-call to him;
[Exit Gentleman.

Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady!
No court in Europe is too good for thee,
What dost thou then in prison?-Now, good sir,
Re-enter Gentleman, with the Keeper.

60 You know me, do you not?

Action is here applied in the legal sense, for charge or accusation. Meaning, perhaps, I would rid the country of him; condemn him to quit the land. 3 The second folio reads sonnes five. To glib, or to lib, means the same as to geld. Approbation here means proof. Meaning, of abilities more than enough.

Keep.

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[Exit Keeper. 20 Го bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if

To make no stain a stain, as passes colouring.
Re-enter Keeper, with Emilia.
Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?
Emil. As well as one so great, and so forlorn,
May hold together; On her frights and griefs,
(Which never tender lady hath borne greater)
She is, something before her time, deliver'd.
Paul. A boy?

Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lusty, and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in't; says, My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.

Paul. I dare be sworn!

These dangerous unsafe lunes1 ở' the king; be

shrew them!

He must be told on't, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best: I'll take't upon me:
If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blister;
And never to my red-look'd anger be
The trumpet any more:-Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen;
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll shew't the king, and undertake to be
Her advocate to th' loudest: We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o the child;
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades, when speaking fails.

Emil. Most worthy madam,

Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident,
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving issue; there's no lady living,

So meet for this great errand: Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I'll presently

Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this design;
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,

Lest she should be deny'd.

Paul. Tell her, Emilia,

I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,

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Atten. My lord?

30 Leo. How does the boy?

Atten. He took good rest to-night; 'tis hop'd, His sickness is discharg'd.

Leo. To see his nobleness!

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, 35 He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply; Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself: Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, And downright languish'd.-Leave me solely: go, [Exit Attendant.

40 See how he fares. -Fye, fye! no thought of him;-
The very thoughts of my revenge that way
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty;
And in his parties, his alliance,-Let him be,
Until a time may serve: for present vengeance,

45 Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes
Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow:
They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor
Shall she, within my power.

Enter Paulina, with a child.

50 Lord. You must not enter.

[to me;

Paul. Nay rather, good my lords, be second Fear you his tyrannous passion, more, alas, Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul; More free, than he is jealous.

55 Ant. That's enough.

[manded

Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; comNone should come at him.

Paul. Not so hot, good sir.

I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,

As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted 60 That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh

I shall do good.

Emil. Now be you blest for it!

I'll to the queen: please you, come something nearer.

i. e. frenzy, lunacy.

At each his needless heavings, such as Nach det hanging

you

Do come with words as med'cinal as true;

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