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Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my | To you a charge and trouble: to save both, knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence Farewell, our brother. in so rare-I know not what to say. We will give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us.

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. Her. I had thought, Sir, to have held my peace, until

You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, Sir,

Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely. Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure, Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understand-All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction ing instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to

utterance.

The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him, He's beat from bis 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.-
Yet of your royal presence [To POLIXENES.]
I'll adventure

Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia seemed to be together, though absent; shook You take my lord, I'll give him my commisbands, as over a vast ; + and embraced, as it were, sion, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man.

Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live.

Arch. If the king bad no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one.

[Exeunt. SCENE II-The same.-A Room of state in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MA-
MILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants.
Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have
been
[throne
The shepherd's note, since we have left our
Without a burden: time as long again
Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply,
With one we-thank-you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leon. Stay your thanks awhile;
And pay them when you part.
Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance,

Or breed upon our absence: That may blow
No sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have
To tire your royalty.

Leon. We are tougher, brother,

Than you can put us to't.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leon. One seven-night longer. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow.

[stay'd

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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. No, madam.

Her. Nay, but you will?
Pol. I may not, verily.
Her. Verily !

You put me off with limber § vows: But I,
Though you would seek to unsphere the stars
with oaths,
Verily,

Should yet say, Sir, no going.
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,
When you depart, and save your thanks. How
say you?
[verily,
My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread
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 jailer then,

But your kind bostess. Come, I'll question you Of my lord's tricks, and your's, when you were boys;

You were pretty lordings || 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 our's. ¶

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

Pol. O my most sacred lady,

Temptations have since then been born to na: In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl; [for Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes of my young playfellow.

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The offences we have made you do, we'll an

swer ;

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 before ?

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 jail :-
My last good was, to entreat his stay;
What was my first? it has an elder sister,
Or I mistake you: Oh! 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 bad sour'd themselves to death,

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand, And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter, I am your's for ever.

[twice:

Her. It is Grace, indeed.Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose The one for ever earn'd a royal busband; 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

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thy nose?

What, hast smutch'd

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 fall 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

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Most dear'st!

my collop!-Can thy dam fmay'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 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, methought, 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 quash, t 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 our's?

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come;

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 your's i'the garden: Shall's attend you there?

Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,

Be you beneath the sky :-I am angling now
Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to!

MIONE.

[Aside. Observing POLIXEN ES and HERHow 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. tt-

[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 cla

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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,

• Credible. + Peacod.

Will you be cajo. ed. May his share of life be a happy one. Heir apparent, next claimant. f Mouth. .. Approving. 11 A horned one.

That little thinks she has been sluc'd in his absence,

And his poud fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort
in't,
[open'd,
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates
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, [cluded, From east, west, north, and south: Be it conNo 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. Why that's some comfort.

What! Camillo there?

Cam. Ay, my good lord.

man.

Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest [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. Didst note it?

Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; His business more material. [made whispering,

Leon. Didst perceive it ?

They're here with me already;

rounding,⚫

Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone,

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 fearfu
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 trespas
By its own visage: if I then deny it,
'Tis none of mine.

Leon. Have not you seen, Camillo, (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 hobby-horse: 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 true.

Leon. Is whispering nothing?

When I shall gust it last.-How came't, Camillo, Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses ? That he did stay?

Cam. At the good queen's entreaty.

Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible

Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?

pertinent;

But 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, t
Perchance, are to this business purblind: say.
Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most un-
derstand

Bohemia stays here longer.

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Skulking in corners wishing clocks more swift? Hours, minutes ? noon, midnight? and all eyes

blind

With the pin and web, ⚫ but their's, their's only, That would unseen be wicked? Is this nothing? Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is no

thing;

The covering sky is nothing: Bohemia nothing; My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings

If this be nothing.

Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd

Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;
For 'tis most dangerous.

Leon. Say, it be; 'tis true.

Cam. No, no, my lord.

Leon. 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, hanging

About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I
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 cup-bearer,-whom I from meaner form
Have bench'd, and rear'd to worship; who
inay'st see
[heaven,

Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees
How I am galled,-might'st bespice a cup,
To give mine enemy a lasting wink;
Which draught to me were cordial

Cam. Sir, my lord,

I could do this; and that with no rash ‡ potion,

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Leon. Make't thy question, and go rot ! 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 spotted,

being

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 blench: +

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 your's at first;
Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for
sealing

The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms
Known and allied to your's,

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

hemia,

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

Cam. I'll do't, my lord.

Bo

Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd me.

[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.

Enter POLIXENES.

Pol. This is strange ! methinks,

My favour bere 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 bath 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 be,
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 dare not

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

Maliciously, with effects openly hurtfu te. Could any mau so start off from propriety?

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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

Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm

Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;

If not, how best to hear it.

Cam. Sir, I'll tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him That I think honourable: Therefore mark my counsel;

Which must be even as swiftly follow'd as

I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry, lost, and so good-night.

Pol. On, good Camillo.

Cam. I am appointed Him to murder you.
Pol. By whom, Camillo ?

Cam. By the king.

Pol. For what?

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he

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Pol. Oh! then my best blood turn
To au 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 inclosed 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 pos-
terns,

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

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Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, |

thereon

His execution sworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:

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

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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 be your playfellow?

Mam. No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord?

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 his, his pander :-
There is a plot against my life, iny 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 1
Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick
For them to play at will:-How came the posterns
So casily 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

Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me Has made thee swell thus.

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,

Become some women best; so that there be not
Too much hair there, but in a simi-circle,
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.

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 pretty brands,
That calumny doth use:-Oh! I am out,
That mercy does; for calumny will sear ||

Mum. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a Virtue itself :-these shrugs, these hums, and

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[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

am for you again: Pray you, sit by us, And tell's a tale.

Mam. 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,-

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.

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 be,

She's an adultress.

Her. Should a villain say so,

The most replenish'd villain in the world,
He were as much more villain you, my lord,
Do but mistake.

Leon. You have mistook, my lady,
Polixenes for Leontes: O 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 would shame to know herself,
But with her most vile principal that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those

Oh that my knowledge were less.

+ Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's
time.
↑ Heavings.

A thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet.
Brand as infamous.

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