ΙΙΟ I am not prone to weeping, as our sex With thoughts so qualified as your charities 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 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. 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, 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 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. Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness 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, 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 Of stuff'd sufficiency: now from the oracle Leon. Though I am satisfied and need no more Than what I know, yet shall the oracle 190 Come up to the truth. So have we thought it good Ant. [Aside] To laughter, as I take it, 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; 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. 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. I must be present at your conference. [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 The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia, Commend my best obedience to the queen: Emil. 40 Most worthy madam, Your honour and your goodness is so evident 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; But durst not tempt a minister of honour, 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, You need not fear it, sir: 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 |