Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i’the

sun, And bleat the one at the other: what we chang’d, Was innocence for innocence; we knew not The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd, That any did: Had we pursued that life, And our weak spirits ne'er been higher reard : With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd, Hereditary ours.

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

Pol. O my most sacred lady,
Temptations have since then been born to us : for
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 answer;
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.

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 be

fore? I pr’ythee, tell me : Cram us with praise, and make us As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongueless, Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. Our praises are our wages: You may ride us, With one soft kiss, a thousand furlongs, ere With spur we heat an acre. But to the goal;My last good was, to entreat his stay; What was my first? it has an elder sister, Or I mistake you: 0, 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 Three crabbed months had sourd themselves to death, Ere I could make thee open thy white hand, And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter, I am yours for ever.

Her. It is Grace, indeed. Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: The one for ever earn'd a royal husband; The other, for some while a friend.

[Giving her hand to POLIXENES. Leon. Too hot, too hot:

[Aside. To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. I have tremor cordis on me:—my heart dances; But not for joy,—not joy.—This entertainment May a free face put on; derive a liberty 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 'twere
The mort o'the deer; O, that is entertainment
My bosom likes not, nor my brows.—Mamillius,
Art thou my boy?

Mam. Ay, my good lord.

Leon. I'fecks?
Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd thy

nose? -
They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain,
We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain :
And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf,
Are all calld, neat.-Still virginalling

[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 shoots 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 center: Thou dost make possible, things not so held, Communicat’st with dreains;-(How can this be?) With what's unreal thou coactive art, And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent,

Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou dost;
(And that beyond commission; and I find it)
And that to the infection of my brains,
And hardening of my brows.

Pol. What means Sicilia ?
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 unbreech'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 kernel,
This squash, this gentleman:-Mine honest friend,
Will you take eggs for money?

Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.
Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole !—My

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

Pol. 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.--Hermione,
How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's welcome;
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,
We are yours i’the garden : Shall's attend you there!

Leon. To your own bents dispose you : you'll be founu,
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 Hermione. 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, HERMIONE, 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 clamour
Will be my knell.-Go, play, boy, play ;—There have

been,
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 arm,
That little thinks she has been sluic'd in his absence,
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by

.