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Pol.

No longer stay.

Leon.

Leon. One seven-night longer.

Pol.
Very sooth, to-morrow.
Leon. We'll part the time between's then and in
I'll no gainsaying.
[that
Pol.
Press me not, 'beseech you, so;
There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'the
world,

So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now,
Were there necessity in your request, although
'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder,
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay,
To you a charge, and trouble: to save both,
Farewell, our brother.

Leon.

Tongue-tied, our queen ? speak you.
Her. I had thought, sir, to have heid my peace, until
You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, sir,
Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure,
All in Bohemia's weil: this satisfaction
The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Leon.

Well said, Hermione.
Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong :
But let him say so then, and let him go;
But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.- [ture
Yet of your royal presence [To Polixenes. ] I'll adven-
The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commission,
To let him there a month, behind the gest
Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o'the clock behind
What lady she her lord.-You'll stay?
Pol.

Her. Nay, but you will?
Pol.

Her. Verily!

No, madam.
I may not, verily.

[oaths,

You put me off with limber vows: But I,
Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with
Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily,
You shall not go: a lady's verily is
As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?
Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees, [you?
When you depart, and save your thanks. How say
My prisoner ? or my guest? by your dread verily,
One of them you shall be.

Pol.
Your guest, then, madam:
To be your prisoner, should import offending;
Which is for me less easy to commit,

Than you to punish.
Her.

Not your gaoler then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you
Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were boys;
You were pretty lordlings then.
Pol.
We were, fair queen,
Two lads, that thought there was no more behind,
But such a day to-morrow as to-day,
And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o'the two?
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 rear'd
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.

O my most sacred lady,

Pol.
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.
Grace to boot!

Her.

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 ns
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.

Never, but once.

Her. What have I twice said well? when was't
before?

I pr'ythee, tell me : Cram us with praise, and make us
As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongue-
Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. [less,
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.

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[Giving her Hand to Polixenes.
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?

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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 call'd 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-dyed 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 centre:
Thou dost make possible, things not so held,
Communicat'st with dreams ;-(How can this be?)-
With what's unreal thou coactive art,

And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent,
Thou mayst 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?
You look,

Her.

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,

At my request, he would not. Will you take eggs for money?
Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st

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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."

If you would seek us,

[one.

Her.
We are yours i'the garden: Shall's attend you there?
Leon. To your own bents dispose you you'll be
Be you beneath the sky :--I am angling now, [found,
Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to [Aside. Observing Polix, and Herm.
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
[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
Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now; [been,
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 sluie'd in his absence,
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't,
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates open'd,
As mine, against their will: Should all despair
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none;
It is a bawdy planet, that will strike

Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it,
From east, west, north, and south: Be it concluded,
No barricado for a belly; know it;
It will let in and out the enemy,

With bag and baggage: many a thousand of us
Have the disease, and feel't not.-How now, boy?
Mam. I am like you, they say.

Leon.

What! Camillo there?

Why, that's some comfort.

Cam. Ay, my good lord.

man.

Leon. To bide upon't;-Thou art not honest: or, If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward; Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining

From course requir'd: Or else thou must be counted
A servant, grafted in my serious trust,
And therein negligent; or else a fool,

That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn,
And tak'st it all for jest.

Cam.

My gracious lord,
I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;
In every one of these no man is free.
But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
Amongst the infinite doings of the world,
Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord,
If ever I were wilful-negligent,

It was my folly, if industriously

I play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord,
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me let me know my trespass
By its own visage: if I then deny it,
"Tis none of mine.
Leon.
Have not you seen, Camille,
(But that's past doubt: you have; or your eye-glass
Is thicker than a cuckold's horn ;) or heard
(For, to a vision so apparent, rumour
Cannot be mute,) or thought (for cogitation
Resides not in that man, that does not think it,)
My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,
(Or else be impudently negative,
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then say,
My wife's a hobbyhorse; deserves a name
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
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this: which to reiterate, were sin
As deep as that, though trae.

Leon.

Is whispering nothing?
Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh (a note infallible
Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot!
Skulking in corners wishing clocks more swift?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes blind

Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest With the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only,
[Exit Mamillius.
Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.
Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold:
When you cast out, it still came home.
Leon.

That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing?
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 nothings,
If this be nothing.

Cam.

Didst note it?
Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made
Good my lord, be car'd
His business more material.
Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;
For 'tis most dangerous.

Leon.

Didst perceive it?They're here with me already; whispering, rounding, Sicilia is a so-forth: "Tis far gone, When I shall gust it last.-How came't, Camillo, That he did stay? Cam.

[nent;

At the good queen's entreaty. Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be pertiBut so it is, it is not. Was this taken By any understanding pate but thine? For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in More than the common blocks :-Not noted, is't, But of the finer natures? by some severals, Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes, Perchance, are to this business purblind say. Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most understand Bobemia stays here longer. Ha?

Leon. Cam.

Leon. Ay, but why?

Stays here longer.

Cam. To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties Of our most gracious mistress.

Satisfy

Leon. The entreaties of your mistress? -satisfy?-Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo, With all the nearest things to my heart, as well My chamber-counsels; wherein, priest-like, thou Hast cleans'd my bosom; I from thee departed Thy penitent reform'd; but we have been Deceiv'd in thy integrity, deceiv'd

la that which seems so.

Cam.

Be it forbid, my lord!

Leon..

Cam. No, no, my lord Leon.

Say, it be; 'tis true. It is; you lie; you lie : I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee; Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave; Or else a hovering temporizer, that 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? Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I [hanging Had servants true about me; that bare eyes To see alike mine honour as their profits, Their own particular thrifts,-they would do that Which should undo more doing: Ay, and thou His cupbearer,-whom I from meaner form Have bench'd, and rear'd to worship; who mayst see Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees heaven, How I am galled,-mightst bespice a cup, To give mine enemy a lasting wink; Which draught to me were cordial.

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Leon.

Make't thy question, and go rot! Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare

Dost think, I am so muddy, so unsettled,
To appoint myself in this vexation? sully.
The purity and whiteness of my sheets,
Which to preserve is sleep; which, being spotted,
Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps?

Give scandal to the blood o'the prince my son,
Who, I do think, is mine, and love as mine;
Without ripe moving to't; Would I do this?
Could man so bleach!

Cam.
I must believe you, sir;
I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't.
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
Known and allied to yours.

Leon.

Thou dost advise me,
Even so as I mine own course have set down:
I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.

Cam. My lord,

Go then; and with a countenance as clear

As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia,
And with your queen: I am his cupbearer;
If from me he have wholesome beverage,
Account me not your servant.

Leon.

This is all

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

Leon. I will seem friendly, as

me.

I'll do't, my lord.
thou hast advis'd
[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,
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 flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since
Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one,
Let villany 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.

Pol.

Enter Polixenes.

This is strange! methinks, My favour here begins to warp. Not speak !---Good-day, Camillo.

Cam.

Hail, most royal sir!
Pol. What is the news i'the court?
Cam.
None rare, my lord.
Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance,
As he had lost some province, and a region,
Lov'd as he loves himself: even now I met him.
With customary compliment; when he,
Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling
A lip of much contempt, speeds from me; and
So leaves me to consider what is breeding,
That changes thus his manners.

Cam. I dare not know, my lord.

Pol. How dare not? do not. Do you know, and
Be intelligent to me? "Tis thereabouts; [dare not
For, to yourself, what you do know, you must;
And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror
Which shows me mine chang'd too: for I must be
A party in this alteration, finding
Myself thus alter'd with it.
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..

Pol.
How caught of me?
Make me not sighted like the basilisk:

I have look'd on thousands who have sped the better.
By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,
As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienc'd, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whose success we are gentle,-I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my knowledge
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.

Cam.

I may not answer.

Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!
I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo,
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man,

Which honour does acknowledge,-whereof the least

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O, then my best blood turn

To an infected jelly; and my name
Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to

A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril
Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection
That e'er was heard, or read!

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
The fabric of his folly; whose foundation.
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.

Pol.
How should this grow?
Cam. I know not: but, I am sure, 'tis safer to
Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born.
If therefore you dare trust my honesty,-
That lies enclosed in this trunk, which you
Shall bear along impawn'd, away to-night.
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will, by twos, and threes, at several posterns,
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, I

Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,

I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer

Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, thereon
His execution sworn.

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I 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,

Is for a precious 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 dishonour'd by a man which ever
Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must
In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades 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

Thou bear'st my life off hence: Let us avoid.
Cam. It is in mine authority, to command
The keys of all the posterns: Please your highness
To take the urgent hour: come, sir, away. [Exeunt.

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Merry, or sad, shall't be?

Her. As merry as you will.
Mam.

A sad tale's best for winter:
I have one of sprites and goblins.
Her.
Let's have that, sir.
Come on, sit down :-Come on, and do your best
To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful at it.
Mam. There was a man,——
Nay, come, sit down; then on.
Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard;-I will tell it softly;
Yon crickets shall not hear it.
Her.

Her.

And give't me in mine ear.

Come on then,

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 bless'd 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 abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drank, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts:-I have drank, and seen the spider,
Camillo was his help in this, his pander :-
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true that is mistrusted :-that false villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him:
He has discover'd my design, and I

Remain a pinch'd thing: yea, a very trick
For them to play at will:-How came the posterns
So easily open?

1 Lord.

By his great authority;

Which often hath no less prevail'd than so, On your command.

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
Has made thee swell thus.

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:-0, I am out,
That mercy does; for calumny will sear
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
She's an adultress.

Her.

Should a villain say so, The most replenish'd villain in the world,

Leon.

He were as much more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.
You have mistook, my lady,
Polixenes for Leontes: 0 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
Betwixt the 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,
But with her most vile principal, that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold titles; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.

Her.
No, by my life,
Privy to none of this: How will this grieve you,
When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord,
You scarce can right me throughly then, to say
You did mistake.

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There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient, till the heavens look With an aspect more favourable.-Good my lords, 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 That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns Worse than tears drown: 'Beseech you all, my lords, With thoughts so qualified as your charities Shall best instruct you, measure me ;-and so The king's will be perform'd!

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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 mis-
Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears,
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,

I trust, I shall. My women, come; you have leave.
Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence.

[Exeunt Queen and Ladies.

1 Lord.'Beseech your highness, call the queen again. Ant. Be certain what you do, sir; lest your justice Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer, Yourself, your queen, your son.

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I dare my life lay down, and will do't, sir,
Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotiess
I'the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean,
In this which you accuse her.
Ant.
If it prove
She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where
I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her;
Than when I feel, and see her, no further trust her;
For every inch of woman in the world,
Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,
If she be.

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Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: You are abus'd, and by some putter-on, That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the villain, 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
be,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 dangy 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
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 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

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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 of 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 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;
Bat 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

Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatch'd in post, I shall do good.

To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of staff'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 contined;
Lest that the treachery of the two, tled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in public; for this business
Will raise us all.

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

[Exeunt.

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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?
Emília?

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

Paul.
I pray now, call her.
Withdraw yourselves.

Keep.

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You need not 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.
SCENE III. The same.
A Room in the Palace.
Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and other At-
tendants.

Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but weakness
To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if
The cause were not in being;-part o'the cause
She, the adultress; for the harlot king
Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank
And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she
I can hook to me: Say, that she were gone,
Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest
Might come to me again.Who's there?
1 Atten.

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Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
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,
See how he fares. [Exit Attend.]-Fie, tie! no
thought of him ;-

The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty;
[Exeunt Attend. And in his parties, his alliance, Let him be,

And, madam,
I must be present at your conference.
Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee.
Here's such ado to make no stain a stain,
As passes colouring.

Until a time may serve for present vengeance,
Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes

[Exit Keeper. Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow:
They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor
Shail she, within my power.

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,

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