Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Which I would free, if I shall be condemn'd
Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else
But what your jealousies awake, I tell you
'Tis rigour and not law. Your honours all,

I do refer me to the oracle:

Apollo be my judge!

First Lord.

This your request

Is altogether just: therefore bring forth,
And in Apollo's name, his oracle.

[Exeunt certain Officers.

121

Her. The Emperor of Russia was my father: O that he were alive, and here beholding His daughter's trial! that he did but see The flatness* of my misery, yet with eyes *Depth. Of pity, not revenge!

Re-enter Officers, with CLEOMENES and DION. Off. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice,

That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have

Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought

This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd
Of great Apollo's priest and that since then
You have not dared to break the holy seal
Nor read the secrets in't.

Cleo. Dion.
All this we swear.
Leon. Break up the seals and read.

130

Off. [Reads] Hermione is chaste; Polixenes blameless; Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found.

Lords. How blessed be the great Apollo!
Her.

Leon. Hast thou read truth?

Off.

As it is here set down.

Praised!

Ay, my lord; even so

140

Leon. There is no truth at all i' the oracle: The sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood.

Enter Servant.

Serv. My lord the king, the king!

Leon.

What is the business?

Serv. O sir, I shall be hated to report it! The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear Of the queen's speed,* is gone.

Leon.
Serv.

*Fortune.

How! gone!

Is dead.

Leon. Apollo's angry; and the heavens them

selves

Do strike at my injustice. [Hermione swoons.] How now there!

Paul. This news is mortal to the queen: look down

And see what death is doing.

Leon. Take her hence: 150 Her heart is but o'ercharged; she will recover: I have too much believed mine own suspicion: Beseech you, tenderly apply to her

Some remedies for life.

[Exeunt Paulina and Ladies, with Hermione.
Apollo, pardon

My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle!
I'll reconcile me to Polixenes,

New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo,
Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy;
For, being transported by my jealousies
To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose
Camillo for the minister to poison

160

My friend Polixenes: which had been done,
But that the good mind of Camillo tardied
My swift command, though I with death and with
Reward did threaten and encourage him,
Not doing't and being done: he, most humane
And fill'd with honour, to my kingly guest
Unclasp'd my practice, quit his fortunes here,
Which you knew great, and to the hazard
Of all incertainties himself commended,
No richer than his honour: how he glisters
Thorough my rust! and how his piety
Does my deeds make the blacker!

Paul.

Re-enter PAULINA.

170

Woe the while!

O, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it,

Break too!

What studied torments, tyrant, hast

180

First Lord. What fit is this, good lady?
Paul.
for me?
What wheels? racks? fires? what flaying? boiling?
In leads or oils? what old or newer torture
Must I receive, whose every word deserves
To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny
Together working with thy jealousies,
Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle
For girls of nine, O, think what they have done
And then run mad indeed, stark mad! for all
Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it.
That thou betray'dst Polixenes, 'twas nothing;
That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant
And damnable ingrateful: nor was't much,
Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's hon-
our,

To have him kill a king; poor trespasses,
More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon
The casting forth to crows thy baby-daughter
To be or none or little; though a devil
Would have shed water out of fire ere done't:
Nor is't directly laid to thee, the death

190

Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts,
Thoughts high for one so tender, cleft the heart
That could conceive a gross and foolish sire
Blemish'd his gracious dam: this is not, no,
Laid to thy answer: but the last,—O lords,
When I have said, cry 'woe!'-the queen, the

queen,

200

The sweet'st, dear'st creature's dead, and vengeance for't

Not dropp'd down yet.

First Lord.

The higher powers forbid! Paul. I say she's dead; I'll swear't. If word nor oath

Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring
Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye,

Heat outwardly or breath within, I'll serve you
As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant!
Do not repent these things, for they are heavier

211

Than all thy woes can stir: therefore betake thee
To nothing but despair. A thousand knees
Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting,
Upon a barren mountain, and still winter
In storm perpetual, could not move the gods
To look that way thou wert.

Leon.
Go on, go on:
Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserved
All tongues to talk their bitterest.

First Lord.

Say no more: Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault I' the boldness of your speech.

Paul.

I am sorry for't: All faults I make, when I shall come to know

them,

I do repent. Alas! I have show'd too much
The rashness of a woman: he is touch'd

221

To the noble heart. What's gone and what's past help

Should be past grief: do not receive affliction

At my petition; I beseech you, rather

Let me be punish'd, that have minded you

Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege,
Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman:
The love I bore your queen-lo, fool again!-
I'll speak of her no more, nor of your children;
I'll not remember* you of my own lord,
Who is lost too: take your patience to you,
And I'll say nothing.

231

*Remind.

Leon. Thou didst speak but well When most the truth; which I receive much better Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee, bring me To the dead bodies of my queen and son: One grave shall be for both: upon them shall The causes of their death appear, unto Our shame perpetual. Once a day I'll visit The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there Shall be my recreation: so long as nature Will bear up with this exercise, so long I daily vow to use it. Come and lead me Unto these sorrows.

241

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Bohemia. A desert country near the

sea.

Enter ANTIGONUS with a Child, and a Mariner. Ant. Thou art perfect* then, our ship hath touch'd upon

The deserts of Bohemia?

*Certain.

Mar. Ay, my lord; and fear We have landed in ill time: the skies look grimly And threaten present blusters. In my conscience, The heavens with that we have in hand are angry And frown upon 's.

Ant. Their sacred wills be done! Go, get aboard; Look to thy bark: I'll not be long before

I call upon thee.

Mar. Make your best haste, and go not Too far i' the land: 'tis like to be loud weather; Besides, this place is famous for the creatures Of prey that keep upon't.

Ant.

I'll follow instantly.

Mar.

ΙΟ

Go thou away:

I am glad at heart

[Exit.

Come, poor babe:

To be so rid o' the business.

Ant.

I have heard, but not believed, the spirits o' the

21

dead May walk again: if such thing be, thy mother Appear'd to me last night, for ne'er was dream So like a waking. To me comes a creature, Sometimes her head on one side, some another; I never saw a vessel of like sorrow, So fill'd and so becoming: in pure white robes, Like very sanctity, she did approach My cabin where I lay; thrice bow'd before me, And gasping to begin some speech, her eyes Became two spouts: the fury spent, anon Did this break from her: 'Good Antigonus, Since fate, against thy better disposition, Hath made thy person for the thrower-out Of my poor babe, according to thine oath, Places remote enough are in Bohemia, There weep and leave it crying; and, for the babe Is counted lost for ever, Perdita,

I prithee, call't. For this ungentle business,

30

« ПредишнаНапред »