ey're here with me already; whispering, rounding,*

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

en I shall gust it last-How came't, Caat he did stay? [millo,

Cam. At the good queen's entreaty. Leon. At the queen's, be it : good, should be pertinent;

so it is, it is not. Was this taken any understanding pate but thine? thy conceit is soaking, will draw in [is't, 'e than the common blocks :-Not noted, of the finer natures? by some severals, head-piece extraordinary? lower messes, Perchance, are to this business purblind: say. Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most unBohemia stays here longer. [derstand Leon. Ha?

Cam. Stays here longer.
Leon. Ay, but why?

[treaties

Cam. To satisfy your highness, and the enOf our most gracious mistress. Leon. Satisfy

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-councils: wherein, priest-like,

A servant, grafted in my serious trust,
And therein negligent; or else a fool,
That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake
And tak't it all for jest.

Cam. My gracious lord,

[drawn,

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,
Somtiemes 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, Camillo, [glass (But that's past doubt: you have; or your eyeIs 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,)

[say,

My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,
(Or else be impudently negative,
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then
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.
Taste.

* To round in the ear was to tell secretly.
Inferiors in rank.

To hoax is to hamstring.

Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear My soverign 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?

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? [blind

Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes
With the pin and web, but theirs, theirs 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
If this be nothing.
[nothings

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 [evil,
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, she would not live
The running of one glass.t

Cam. Who does infect her?

Leon. Why he, that wears herlike 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

may'st see

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
[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 rasht portion, But with a lingering dram, that should not work

Maliciously like poison: But I cannot
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress
So sovereignly being honourable.
I have lov'd thee,-

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 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 blench?

Cam. I must believe you, Sir;

I do and will fetch off Bohemia for't: Provided, that when he's remov'd, your high

Enter HERMIONE MAMILLIUS, and LADIES. Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring.

Lady. Come, my gracious lord,
Shall I be your playfellow?
Mam. No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord?

[say,

Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me I were a baby still.-I love you better. [as if 2 Lady. And why so, my good lord? Mam. Not for because Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they Become some women best; so that there be not Too much hair there, but in a semi-circle, Or half-moon made with a pen.

2 Lady. Who taught you this?

Mam. I learn'd it out of woman's faces.Pray now

What colour are your eye-brows? 1 Lady. Blue, my lord.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose

That has been blue, but not her eye-brows. 2 Lady. Hark ye : [shall The queen, your mother, rounds apace; we Present our services to a fine new prince, One of these days; and then you'd wanton with If we would have you.

[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

I 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.

[best Come on, sit down:-Come on, and do your To fright me with your sprites : you're powerful at it.

Mam. There was a man,

Her. Nay, come, sit down: then on.

1 Lord. Behind the turf of pines Imet them;

never

Saw I men scour so on their way: Iey'd them Even to their ships.

Leon. How bless'd am I

In my just censure ?* in my true opinion?→
Alack, for lesser knowledge !t How accus'd
In being so blest!-There may be in the cup
A spidert steep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present [known
The abhorr'd, ingredient to his eye, make
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 well:-How came the pos-
[terns
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: [you Though he does bear some signs of me, yet

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 sayHowe'er you lean to the nayward.

Leon. You, my lords.

(ing.

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 :-O, I am out, That mercy does; for calumny will sear¶ Virtue itself:-these shrugs, these hums, and ha's, [tween,

When you have said she's goodly, come be 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: Othou thing, Which I'll not call a creature of thy place.

it softly;

Yon crickets shall not hear it.

Her. Come on then,

And give't me in mine ear.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and others.

Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

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

* Judgement. 10 that my knowledge were less. Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's time, Heavings.

A thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet.

T Brand as infamous.

Her. No, by my life,

Privy to none of this: How will this grieve you,

[that When you shall come to clearer knowledge, You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord, You scarce can right me throughly then, to say You did mistake.

Leon. No, no; if I mistake

In those foundations which I build upon,
The centre is not big enough to bear

A school-boy's top.-Away with her to prison:
He, who shall speak for her, is afar off guilty
But that he speaks.§

Her. There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient, till the heavens look With an aspect more favourable.-Good my I am not prone to weeping, as our sex [lords, Commonly are; the want of which vain dew, Perchance, shall dry your pities: but I have That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns [lords, Worse than tears drawn: 'Beseech you all, my With thoughts so qualified as your charities Shall best instruct you, measure me;-and so The king's will be perform'd! Leon. Shall I be heard?

[To the Guards. Her. Who is't, that goes with me?-'Beseech your highness,

My woman may be with me; for, you see,
My plight requires it. Do not weep, good
fools;
mistress
There is no cause: when you shall know your
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 your 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 [suffer, Prove violence; in the which three great ones Yourself, your queen, your son.

1 Lord. For her, my lord,

I dare my life lay down, and will do't, Sir,

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 isssue.

Leon. Case; 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,

[me Upon this ground: and more it would content To have her honour true, then 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 perogative Calls not your counsels: but our natural good

ness

Imparts this: which,-if you (or stupified, Or seeming so in skill,) cannot, nor 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'u sight only, nought for approbation,

But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to the deed,) doth push on this pro-
Yet, for a greater confirmation,
[ceeding:
For, in an act of this importance, 'twere
Most piteous to be wild, I have dispatch'd in
post,

To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
Of stuff'd sufficiency:t Now, from the oracle
They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel
had,

less

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
For every inch of woman in the world, [her,
Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,
If she be.

Leon. Hold your peaces.

1 Lord. Good my lord,

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, [flaw'd,

I would land-damn him: Be she honourI have three daughters; the eldest is eleven; † Only.

* Confederate.

fo merely speaking.

Remotely guilty. Take my station

¶ Instigator.

1 Lord. Well done, my lord..

Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no

more

[good,

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
From our free person she should be confin'd:
Lest that the treachery of the two, fled 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. 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.

[ter;

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 blis-
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,
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
I shall do good.
[doubted

Emil. Now be you bless'd for it!
I'll to the queen: Please you, come something

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 not fear it, Sir:

The child was prisoner to the womb; and is,
By law and process of great nature, thence
Freed 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 [Exeunt.

danger.

SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in the Palace.

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 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. My Lord?
[Advancing,

Leon. How does the boy?

1 Atten. He took good rest to-night; 'Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg❜d. Leon. To see,

His nobleness !

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 sole-
ly:t-go,

See how he fares. [Exit Attend.]-Fie, fie! no thought of him ;—

The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty;
And in his parties, his alliance,-Let him be,
Until a time may serve: for present vengeance,
Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes [row:
Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sor-
They should not laugh, if I could reach them;
Shall she, within my power.

Enter PAULINA, with a Child.

[nor

Ant. That's enough.

1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; None should come at him. [commanded

Paul. Not so hot, good Sir;

I come to bring him sleep. "Tis such as you,-
That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh
At each his needless heavings,-such as you
Nourish the cause of his awaking: I
Do come with words as med'cinal as true;

Honest, as either; to purge him of that hu-
That presses him from sleep.
[mour,

Leon. What noise there, ho?
Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful con-

nearer.

* Frenzies.

ference,