I'll pawn the little blood which I have left Leon. It shall be possible. Swear by this sword Thou wilt perform my bidding. Ant. Leon. I will, my lord! Mark and perform it, see'st thou: for the fail 170 Of any point in't shall not only be 180 Had been more merciful. Come on, poor babe: In more than this deed does require! And blessing Leon. Another's issue. Serv. 191 [Exit with the child. No, I'll not rear Enter a Servant. Please your highness, posts From those you sent to the oracle are come An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion, Being well arrived from Delphos, are both landed, Hasting to the court. First Lord. So please you, sir, their speed Hath been beyond account. Leon. Twenty-three days They have been absent: 'tis good speed; foretells The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; Cleo. ACT III. SCENE I. A sea-port in Sicilia. Enter CLEOMENES and DION. 200 [Exeunt. The climate's delicate, the air most sweet, Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears. I shall report, Dion. For most it caught me, the celestial habits, Methinks I so should term them, and the reverence Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! How ceremonious, solemn and unearthly It was i' the offering! Cleo. But of all, the burst And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense, 10 That I was nothing. Dion. If the event o' the journey Prove as successful to the queen,-O be't so!- Cleo. I little like. Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear or end the business: when the oracle, 20 Even then will rush to knowledge. Go: fresh horses! And gracious be the issue! [Exeunt. SCENE II. A court of Justice. Enter LEONTES, Lords, and Officers. Leon. This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce, Even pushes 'gainst our heart: the party tried Off. It is his highness' pleasure that the queen Appear in person here in court. Silence! Enter HERMIONE guarded; PAULINA and Leon. Read the indictment. ΙΟ Off. [Reads] Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia, and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband: the pretence* whereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night. *Design. Her. Since what I am to say must be but that Which contradicts my accusation and The testimony on my part no other But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot* me To say 'not guilty:' mine integrity *Avail. Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express† it, Be so received. But thus: if powers divine Behold our human actions, as they do, †Reveal. 30 I doubt not then but innocence shall make False accusation blush and tyranny Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know, Who least will seem to do so, my past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing 41 To prate and talk for life and honour 'fore Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour, 'Tis a derivative from me to mine, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Have strain'd to appear thus: if one jot beyond Leon. Her. That's true enough; Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. Leon. You will not own it. Her. 50 More than mistress of 60 Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, With whom I am accused, I do confess I loved him as in honour he required, With such a kind of love as might become A lady like me, with a love even such, So and no other, as yourself commanded: Which not to have done I think had been in me Both disobedience and ingratitude Το 70 you and toward your friend, whose love had spoke, Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy, I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd Is that Camillo was an honest man; And why he left your court, the gods themselves, Wotting no more than I, are ignorant. Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know What you have underta'en to do in's absence. Her. Sir, You speak a language that I understand not: Leon. 80 Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dream'd it. As you were past all shame, Those of your fact* are so-so past all truth: *Guilt. Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as -so thou Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage Look for no less than death. 90 Her. Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I seek, To me can life be no commodity: The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, I do give lost; for I do feel it gone, But know not how it went. My second joy I am barr'd, like one infectious. My third com fort, Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast, 100 IIO |