ACT II. SCENE I.-The same Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies. Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring. 1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord. Shall I be your play-fellow? Mam. No, I'll none of you. 1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord? Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me as if I were a baby still.-I love you better. 2 Lady. And why so, my good lord? Mam. Not for because Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say, 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 What colour are your eye-brows? 1 Lady. Blue, my lord. Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eye-brows. 2 Lady. Hark ye: The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us, 1 Lady. She is spread of late Into a goodly bulk: Good time encounter her! Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now I am for you again: Pray you, sit by us, And tell's a tale. Mam. Merry, or sad, shall't be? Mam. A sad tale's best for winter: I have one of sprites and goblins. Come on, sit down:-Come on, and do your best Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on. Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard;—I will tell it softly; Yon crickets shall not hear it. Her. Come on then, And give't me in mine ear. Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and Others. Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? 1 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. Leon. How blest am I In my just censure? in my true opinion?— And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick For them to play at will:-How came the posterns 1 Lord. By his great authority; Which often hath no less prevail'd than so, Leon. I know't too well. Give me the boy; I am glad you did not nurse him: Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you Have too much blood in him. Her. What is this? sport? Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come about her; Away with him :-and let her sport herself With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes 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. Leon. You, my lords, Look on her, mark her well; be but about 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, (Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and straight The shrug, the hum, or ha; these petty brands, That calumny doth use:-O, I am out, That mercy does; for calumny will sear Virtue itself:-these shrugs, these hums, and ha's, Her. Should a villain say so, The most replenish'd villain in the world, He were as much more villain: you, my lord, Leon. You have mistook, my lady, Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing, Her. No, by my life, Privy to none of this: How will this grieve you, Leon. No, no; if I mistake In those foundations which I build upon, A school-boy's top.-Away with her to prison: Her. There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient, till the heavens look With an aspéct more favourable.-Good my lords, Commonly are; the want of which vain dew, Perchance, shall dry your pities: but I have Shall best instruct you, measure me;—and so The king's will be perform'd! Leon. Shall I be heard? [To the Guards. Her. Who is't, that goes with me?-'Beseech your highness, My women may be with me; for, you see, My plight requires it.-Do not weep, good fools; There is no cause: when you shall know, your mistress Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears, |