As he had seen't or been an instrument To vice* you to't, that you have touch'd his queen O, then my best blood turn To an infected jelly and my name Be yoked with his that did betray the Best! *Screw. 420 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! *Outswear. 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 piled upon his faith and will continue The standing of his body. Pol. 430 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. Pol. I do believe thee: I saw his heart in's face. Give me thy hand: 440 Be pilot to me and thy places shall Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready and Is for a precious creature: as she's rare, 450 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; 460 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. ACT II. SCENE I. A room in LEONTES' palace. Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring. First Lady. Come, my gracious lord, No, I'll none of you. Shall I be your playfellow? Mam. First Lady. Why, my sweet lord? Mam. You'll kiss me hard and speak to me as if I were a baby still. I love you better. Sec. Lady. And why so, my 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 semicircle, Or a half-moon made with a pen. Sec. Lady. ΙΟ Who taught you this? Mam. I learnt it out of women's faces. First Lady. Mam. lady's nose Blue, my lord. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a That has been blue, but not her eyebrows. Hark ye; The queen your mother rounds apace: we shall One of these days; and then you'ld wanton with us, If we would have you. Sec. Lady. She is spread of late 20 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, good sir. Come on, sit down: come on, and do your best To fright me with your sprites; you're powerful at it. Mam. Her. There was a man— Nay, come, sit down; then on. Mam. Dwelt by a churchyard: I will tell it softly; Yond crickets shall not hear it. Her. And give't me in mine ear. 30 Come on, then, Enter LEONTES, with ANTIGONUS, Lords, and Leon. others. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? First Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men scour so on their way: I eyed them Even to their ships. Leon. How blest am I In my just censure, in my true opinion! In being so blest! There may be in the cup 40 The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides, With violent hefts.* I have drunk, and seen the spider. *Heavings. Camillo was his help in this, his pander: Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick 50 For them to play at will. How came the posterns So easily open? First 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 60 Her. But I'ld say he had not, And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying, Howe'er you lean to the nayward. * Leon. *Denial. 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 7པ That calumny doth use-O, I am out— 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't known, From him that has most cause to grieve it should be, She's an adulteress. Her. Should a villain say so, The most replenish'd villain in the world, He were as much more villain: you, my lord, 80 Do but mistake. Leon. You have mistook, my lady, A federary* with her, and one that knows Her. No, by my life, 90 *Confederate. 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. Leon. No; if I mistake In those foundations which I build upon, A school-boy's top. Away with her! to prison! Her. 100 There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient till the heavens look With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords, |