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As he had seen't or been an instrument

To vice* you to't, that you have touch'd his queen
Forbiddenly.
Pol.

O, then my best blood turn

To an infected jelly and my name

Be yoked with his that did betray the Best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to

*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
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

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.
Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies.

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.

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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.
First Lady.

Hark ye;

The queen your mother rounds apace: we shall
Present our services to a fine new prince

One of these days; and then you'ld wanton with us,

If we would have you.

Sec. Lady.

She is spread of late

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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.

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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!
Alack, for lesser knowledge! how accursed

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

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:
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

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
With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes
Has made thee swell thus.

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—
That mercy does, for calumny will sear

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,
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 adulteress; I have said with whom:
More, she's a traitor and Camillo is

A federary* with her, and one that knows
What she should shame to know herself
But with her most vile principal, that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold'st titles, ay, and privy
To this their late escape.

Her.

No, by my life,

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*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,
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.

100

There's some ill planet reigns:

I must be patient till the heavens look

With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,

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