ACT III. SCENE I.—Sicilia. A Street. Enter CLEOMENES and DION. Cleo. The climate's delicate: the air most sweet; Fertile the isle; the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears. Dion. I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits, (Methinks I so should term them,) and the reverence How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly Cleo. But, of all, the burst And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surpris'd my sense, That I was nothing. Dion. If the event o' the journey Prove as successful to the queen,-O, be 't so !— The time is worth the use on 't. Cleo. Great Apollo, Turn all to the best! These proclamations, So forcing faults upon Hermione, I little like. Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear, or end, the business: When the oracle (Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up) Shall the contents discover, something rare Even then will rush to knowledge.-Go,-fresh horses ;- [Exeunt. SCENE II.The same. A Court of Justice. LEONTES, Lords, and Officers, appear properly seated. Leon. This sessions (to our great grief, we pronounce) Even pushes 'gainst our heart: The party tried, The daughter of a king; our wife; and one Of us too much belov'd.-Let us be clear'd Of being tyrannous, since we so openly Proceed in justice; which shall have due course, Even to the guilt, or the purgation. Produce the prisoner. Offi. It is his highness' pleasure that the Appear in person here in court. Silence! queen HERMIONE is brought in, guarded; PAULINA and Ladies, attending. Leon. Read the indictment. Offi. "Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia; and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband: the pretence b thereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night.” Her. Since what I am to say must be but that Which contradicts my accusation, and The testimony on my part no other But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me To say, "Not guilty;" mine integrity, Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, Be so receiv'd. But thus, If powers divine I doubt not then but innocence shall make Tremble at patience.-You, my lord, best know, a Even-equal, indifferent. b Pretence-design. (Who least will seem to do so,) my past life A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes With what encounter so uncurrent I Have strain'd,a to appear thus: if one jot beyond Leon. I ne'er heard yet, Less impudence to gainsay what they did, Her. That 's true enough; Though 't is a saying, sir, not due to me. Leon. You will not own it. Her. More than mistress of, Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, I lov'd him, as in honour he requir'd, a The metaphor appears to be taken from an encounter of chivalry, in which one swerving from the accustomed course would be uncurrent. Which not to have done, I think, had been in me То you, and toward your friend; whose love had spoke, I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd : Is, that Camillo was an honest man; And, why he left your court, the gods themselves, Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know You speak a language that I understand not: Leon. Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dream'd it:-As you were past all shame, Which to deny, concerns more than avails: For as Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage, Her. Sir, spare your threats; The bug which you would fright me with I seek. The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, But know not how it went: My second joy, I am barr'd, like one infectious: My third comfort, The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth, a Your dreams afford the level, the aim, of this accusation; and my life therefore stands within the range of the attack you direct against it. Proclaim'd a strumpet; with immodest hatred, Apollo be my judge. 1 Lord. This your request Is altogether just: therefore, bring forth, And in Apollo's name, his oracle. [Exeunt certain Officers. Her. The emperor of Russia was my father: O, that he were alive, and here beholding His daughter's trial! that he did but see e! Of pity, not revenge! Re-enter Officers, with CLEOMENES and DION. Offi. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, Been both at Delphos; and from thence have brought Of great Apollo's priest; and that, since then, Nor read the secrets in 't. Cleo., Dion. All this we swear. Leon. Break up the seals, and read. Offi. [Reads.] "Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found." Lords. Now blessed be the great Apollo! |