I would land-damn 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.

Leon.
Cease; no more.
You smell this business with a sense as cold
As is a dead man's nose: I see't, and feel't,
As you feel doing thus; and see withal
The instruments that feel".

Ant.
If it be so,
We need no grave to bury honesty ;
There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.

Leon.
What! lack I credit?
1 Lord. I had rather you did lack, than I, my lord,
Upon this ground: and more it would content me
To have her honour true, than your suspicion;

Be blam'd for't how you might.

Leon. Why, what need we Commune with you of this? but rather follow

land-damn him :] Mr. Steevens, after giving various opinions on this expression, says, After all these awkward struggles to obtain a meaning, we might, I think, not unsafely read "I'd laudanum him,

99

i. e. poison him with laudanum.

5

I see't, and feel't,

As you feel doing thus; and see withal

The instruments that feel.] Some stage direction seems necessary in this place; but what that direction should be, it is not easy to decide. Sir T. Hanmer gives - Laying hold of his arm: Dr. Johnson-striking his brows. Mr. Henley thinks that Leontes, perhaps, touches the forehead of Antigonus with his fore and middle fingers forked in imitation of a SNAIL'S HORNS; for these, or imaginary horns of his own like them, are the instruments that feel, to which he alluded. Mr. Malone reads, "but I do see't," &c.

Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative

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,
We need no more of your advice: the matter,
The loss, the gain, the ordering on't, is all
Properly ours.

Ant.

And I wish, my liege,

You had only in your silent judgment tried it,
Without more overture.

Leon.
How could that be?
Either thou art most ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,

(Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation,
But only seeing, all other circumstances

Made up to the deed,) doth push on this proceeding: Yet, for a greater confirmation,

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

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

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

Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more Than what I know, yet shall the oracle

Give rest to the minds of others; such as he,

Whose ignorant credulity will not

Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good, From our free person she should be confin'd;

Lest that the treachery of the two, fled hence,

+"Relish a truth,"-MALONE.

6

nought for approbation,] Approbation is put for proof.

7 stuff'd sufficiency:] i. e. of abilities more than enough.

Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in publick: for this business
Will raise us all.

Ant. [aside.] To laughter, as I take it, If the good truth were known.

Re-enter Attendant, with the Keeper.

SCENE II.

The same. The outer Room of a Prison.

Enter PAULINA and Attendants.

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

You know me, do you not?

Keep.

And one whom much I honour.

For a worthy lady,

Paul.

Pray you then,

Conduct me to the queen.

Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary

I have express commandment.

Paul.

Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from
The access of gentle visitors!-Is it lawful,
Pray you, to see her women? any of them?
Emilia?

[Exeunt.

Keep. So please you, madam, to put
Apart these your attendants, I shall bring
Emilia forth.
Paul.
Withdraw yourselves.

I

pray now, call her.

Keep.

And, madam,
I must be present at your conference.

[Exeunt Attend.

Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee.

Here's such ado to make no stain a stain,
As passes colouring.

[Exit Keeper.

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 lunes o'the king! beshrew 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 show'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,

• These dangerous unsafe lunes o'the king!] I have no where, but in our author, observed this word adopted in our tongue, to signify frenzy, lunacy. But it is a mode of expression with the FrenchIl y a de la lune : (i. e. he has got the moon in his head; he is frantick.) Cotgrave. "Lune, folie. Les femmes ont des lunes dans la tête. Richelet." THEobald.

Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident,
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving issue; there is 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 denied.

Paul.

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 nearer.
Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur, to pass it,
Having no warrant.

Paul. You need nor fear it, sir:

The child was prisoner to the womb; and is,
By law and process of great nature, thence
Free'd and enfranchis'd: not a party to
The anger of the king; nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.
Keep. I do believe it.

Paul.
Do not you fear: upon
Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger.

[Exeunt.

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