Which I would free, if I shall be condemn'd I do refer me to the oracle: Apollo be my judge! First Lord. Your honours all, This your request Is altogether just: therefore bring forth, [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 Cleo. Dion. 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! Leon. Hast thou read truth? 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. *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. My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle! New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo, 160 My friend Polixenes: which had been done, Paul. Re-enter PAULINA. 170 Woe the while! O, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it, Break too! First Lord. What fit is this, good lady? Paul. What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? 180 What wheels? racks? fires? what flaying? boiling? our, To have him kill a king; poor trespasses, 190 Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts, 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 Heat outwardly or breath within, I'll serve you 211 Than all thy woes can stir: therefore betake thee Go on, go on: Leon. 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 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, 231 *Remind. Leon. One grave shall be for both: upon them shall 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 |