Offi. Ay, my lord; even so As it is here set down. Leon. There is no truth at all i'the oracle: The sessions shall proceed; this is mere falsehood. Enter a Servant, hastily. Serv. My lord the king, the king! Leon. What is the business? Serv. O sir, I shall be hated to report it: The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear Of the queen's speed, is gone. Leon. How! gone? Serv. Is dead. Leon. Apollo's angry; and the heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice. [HERMIONE faints.] How now there? Paul. This news is mortal to the queen:-Look down, And see what death is doing. Leon. Take her hence : Her heart is but o'ercharg'd; she will recover.— [Exeunt PAULINA and Ladies, with HERM. My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle !— I'll reconcile me to Polixenes; 1 New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo; But that the good mind of Camillo tardied My swift command, though I with death, and with Not doing it, and being done: he, most humane, Re-enter PAULINA. Paul. Woe the while! O, cut my lace; lest my heart, cracking it, 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 !-O, 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 Of the young prince; whose honourable thoughts 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, Heat outwardly, or breath within, I'll serve you Leon. Go on, go on: Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserv'd 1 Lord. Say no more ; Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault I'the boldness of your speech. Paul. I am sorry for❜t; All faults I make, when I shall come to know them, I do repent: Alas, I have show'd too much The rashness of a woman: he is touch'd To the noble heart.-What's gone, and what's past help, Should be past grief: Do not receive affliction At my petition, I beseech you; rather Let me be punish'd, that have minded you Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege, The love I bore your queen,-lo, fool again!— Who is lost too: Take your patience to you, Leon. Thou didst speak but well, When most the truth; which I receive much better To the dead bodies of my queen, and son : Our shame perpetual: Once a day I'll visit Nature will bear up with this exercise, [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Bohemia. A desert Country near the Sea. Enter ANTIGONUS, with the Child; and 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, Ant. Their secret wills be done!-Go, get aboard; Mar. Make your best haste; and go not Too far i'the land: 'tis like to be loud weather; Besides, this place is famous for the creatures Of prey, that keep upon't. Ant. Go thou away: 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 So fill'd, and so becoming: in pure white robes, |