ΙΙΟ

I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew
Perchance shall dry your pities: but I have
That honourable grief lodged here which burns
Worse than tears drown: beseech you all, my
lords,

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?

Her. Who is't that goes with me? Beseech your highness,

My women may be with me; for you see

My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools; There is no cause: when you shall know your mistress

Has deserved 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 20

I trust I shall. My women, come; you have leave.

Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence!

[Exit Queen, guarded; with Ladies. First Lord. Beseech your highness, call the queen again.

Ant. Be certain what you do, sir, lest your justice

Prove violence; in the which three great ones

suffer,

Yourself, your queen, your son.

First Lord.

130

For her, my lord, I dare my life lay down and will do't, sir, Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless I' the eyes of heaven and to you; I mean, In this which you accuse her.

If it prove

Ant. +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 farther trust her; For every inch of woman in the world, Ay, every dram of woman's flesh is false,

If she be.

Leon. Hold your peaces.
First Lord.

Good my lord,—

141

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: You are abused and by some putter-on* That will be damn'd for't; would I knew the villain, *Instigator. +I would land-damn† him. Be she honour-flaw'd, I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven; The second and the third, nine, and some five; If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour,

+Extirpate.

I'll geld 'em all; fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations: they are co-heirs;
And I had rather glib? myself than they children.
Should not produce fair issue.

Leon.

Cease; no more. You smell this business with a sense as cold

¿Geld.

151

As is a dead man's nose: but I do 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.

What! lack I credit?

Leon. First Lord. I had rather you did lack than I, my lord, Upon this ground; and more it would content me To have her honour true than your suspicion, 160 Be blamed for't how you might.

Leon.
Why, what need we
Commune with you of this, but rather follow
Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative

Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness
Imparts this; which if you, or stupified
Or seeming so in skill, cannot or will not
Relish a 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.

Ânt.

And I wish, my liege, You had only in your silent judgement tried it, Without more overture.

170

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'd sight only, nought for approbation But only seeing, all other circumstances

Made up to the deed, doth push on this proceeding:

Yet, for a greater confirmation,

For in an act of this importance 'twere

180

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: now from the oracle
They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?
First Lord. Well done, my lord.

Leon. Though I am satisfied and need no

more

Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to the minds of others, such as he
Whose ignorant credulity will not

190

Come up to the truth. So have we thought it good
From our free person she should be confined,
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.

SCENE II. A prison.

[Exeunt.

Enter PAULINA, a Gentleman, and Attendants.

Paul. The keeper of the prison, call to him; Let him have knowledge who I am.

[Exit Gent. Good lady,

No court in Europe is too good for thee;
What dost thou then in prison?

Re-enter Gentleman, with the Gaoler.

Now, good sir,

You know me, do you not?

Gaol.

For a worthy lady

Pray you then,

I may not, madam:

And one whom much I honour.

Paul.

Conduct me to the queen.

Gaol.

To the contrary I have express commandment.
Paul. Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from ́

ΙΟ

The access of gentle visitors! Is't lawful, pray

you,

To see her women? any of them? Emilia?

Gaol.

So please you, madam,

To put apart these your attendants, I

Shall bring Emilia forth.

Paul.

Withdraw yourselves.

Gaol.

I pray now, call her.

[Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants.
And, madam,

I must be present at your conference.
Paul. Well, be't so, prithee.

[Exit Gaoler.

Here's such ado to make no stain a stain

As passes colouring.

Re-enter Gaoler, with EMILIA.

Dear gentlewoman,

How fares our gracious lady?

Emil. As well as one so great and so forlorn May hold together: on her frights and griefs, Which never tender lady hath borne greater, She is something before her time deliver'd. Paul. A boy?

Emil. A daughter, and a goodly babe, Lusty and like to live: the queen receives Much comfort in't; says 'My poor prisoner, I am innocent as you.'

Paul.

I dare be sworn:

20

These dangerous unsafe lunes* i' the king, be

shrew them!

*Fits of lunacy.

30

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 blister
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 the loud'st. 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.

40

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.

50

Paul. Tell her, Emilia, I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from't As boldness from my bosom, let't not be doubted I shall do good.

Emil.

Now be you blest for it!

I'll to the queen: please you, come something

nearer.

Gaol. 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:
This child was prisoner to the womb and is
By law and process of great nature thence
Freed and enfranchised, not a party to
The anger of the king nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.
Gaol. I do believe it.

60

Paul. Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I Will stand betwixt you and danger.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A room in LEONTES' palace.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and

Servants.

Leon. Nor night nor day no rest: it is but weakness