Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, Leon. Traitors! Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard Thou dotard, [to ANTIGONUS] thou art woman-tired,a unroosted By thy dame Partlet here,-take up the bastard; Take 't up, I say; give 't to thy crone. Paul. Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou For ever Tak'st up the princess, by that forced baseness Leon. He dreads his wife. Paul. So I would you did; then 't were past all doubt You'd call your children yours. Leon. A nest of traitors! Nor I; nor any, Ant. I am none, by this good light. But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he The sacred honour of himself, his queen's, His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will not Of boundless tongue; who late hath beat her husband, It is the issue of Polixenes: Hence with it; and, together with the dam, Commit them to the fire. And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge, a Woman-tired. This is equivalent to our hen-pecked. To tire is to tear, as a bird of prey does his meat : "And like an empty eagle, Tire on the flesh of me and of my son." (Henry VI., Part III.') So like you, 't is the worse.-Behold, my lords, The trick of his frown, his forehead; nay, the valley, The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours Leon. a That wilt not stay her tongue. Ant. A gross hag! Hang all the husbands That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Hardly one subject. Leon. Once more, take her hence. Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more. Leon. Paul. I'll have thee burn'd. It is an heretic that makes the fire, I care not: Not she which burns in 't. I'll not call you tyrant; (Not able to produce more accusation Than your own weak-hing'd fancy) something savours Yea, scandalous to the world. Leon. Out of the chamber with her. On your allegiance, Were I a tyrant, Where were her life? she durst not call me so, Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. a Lozel. Verstegan explains this as "one that hath lost, neglected, or cast off, his own good and welfare, and so is become lewd and careless of credit and honesty." You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, Will never do him good, not one of So, so:-Farewell; we are gone. you. Leon. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.My child! away with 't!-even thou, that hast A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence, And see it instantly consum'd with fire; Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up straight: For thou sett'st on thy wife. Ant. I did not, sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in 't. 1 Lord. We can, my royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. Leon. You are liars all. [Exit. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better credit; We have always truly serv'd you; and beseech So to esteem of us: And on our knees we beg, (As recompense of our dear services, Past, and to come,) that you do change this purpose; Which, being so horrible, so bloody, must Lead on to some foul issue: We all kneel. Leon. I am a feather for each wind that blows: Shall I live on, to see this bastard kneel And call me father? Than curse it then. Better burn it now, It shall not neither. But, be it; let it live: [to ANT. You, that have been so tenderly officious With lady Margery, your midwife, there, To save this brat's life? VOL. IV. what will you adventure a Leontes here probably points to the beard of Antigonus. E That my ability may undergo, And nobleness impose: at least, thus much,— Leon. It shall be possible: Swear by this sword, Ant. I will, my lord. Leon. Mark, and perform it; (seest thou?) for the fail Of any point in 't shall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongued wife; This female bastard hence; and that thou bear it Ant. I swear to do this, though a present death In more than this deed does require! and blessing, Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! a Leon. Another's issue. [Exit, with the Child. No, I 'll not rear a Loss. We have the word repeated in the third act:— "Poor wretch, That, for thy mother's fault, art thus expos'd To loss, and what may follow!" This passage shows that loss does not here mean destruction—a final calamity; for something may follow. It probably means exposure. 1 Attend. Please your highness, posts, From those you sent to the oracle, are come An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, 1 Lord. So please you, sir, their speed Hath been beyond account. Leon. Twenty-three days They have been absent: 't is good speed; foretells The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; Leave me; [Exeunt. |