1 Lord.

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.

Ant. If it prove She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables1 where I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her; Than when I feel, and see her, no further trust her; For every inch of woman in the world,

Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,

Good my lord,

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves. You are abused, and by some putter-on,

2

That will be damned for't; 'would I knew the villain,
I would land-damn him. Be she honor-flawed,-
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 honor,
I'll geld them all fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations; they are coheirs;
And I had rather glib myself, than they
Should not produce fair issue.

Leon.

Cease; no more.

You smell this business with a sense as cold

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.3

Ant.

If it be so,

We need no grave to bury honesty;

1 This passage may be explained thus:-"If she prove false, I'll make my stables or kennel of my wife's chamber; I'll go in couples with her like a dog, and never leave her for a moment; trust her no further than I can feel and see her."

2 "I would land-damn him." Johnson interprets this:-"I will damn or condemn him to quit the land."

3 I see and feel my disgrace, as you, Antigonus, now feel my doing this to you, and as you now see the instruments that feel, i. e. my fingers Leontes must here be supposed to touch or lay hold of Antigonus.

There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.

Leon.

What! lack I credit?

1 Lord. I had rather you did lack, than I, my lord, Upon this ground: and more it would content me To have her honor true, than your suspicion;

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 stupefied, Or seeming so in skill) cannot, or will not, Relish as 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.

Ant.

And I wish, my liege,

You had only in your silent judgment tried it,

Without more overture.

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,

2

(Which was as gross as ever touched conjecture, That lacked 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

Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatched in post,
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuffed sufficiency. Now from the oracle
They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel, had,
Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well?

1 Lord. Well done, my lord.

1 The old copy reads a truth. Rowe made the correction.
2 i. e. proof.

3 i. e. of abilities more than sufficient.

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

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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. The same. The outer Room of a Prison.

Enter PAULINA and Attendants.

Paul. The keeper of the prison, call to him;

[Exit an Attendant. Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady! No court in Europe is too good for thee;

What dost thou then in prison?-Now, good sir,

Re-enter Attendant, with the Keeper.

You know me, do you not?

Keeper.

And one whom I much honor.

Paul.

Conduct me to the queen.

For a worthy lady,

Pray you, then,

Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary

I have express commandment.

Paul.

Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honor from

The access of gentle visitors!Is it lawful,
Pray you, to see her women? any of them?
Emilia ?

Keep. So please you, madam, to put

Apart these your attendants, I shall bring

Emilia forth.

Paul.

I pray now, call her.

Withdraw yourselves.

Keep.

[Exeunt Attend.

And, madam,

[Exit Keeper.

I must be present at your conference.
Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee.

Here's such ado to make no stain a stain,
As passes coloring.

Re-enter Keeper, 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, delivered.
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.

These dangerous, unsafe lunes1 o' the king! beshrew

them!

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-mouthed, let my tongue blister;
And never to my red-looked 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 th' loudest. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o' the child;
The silence often of pure innocence

Persuades, when speaking fails.

1 Lunes. This word has not been found in any other English writer; but it is used in old French for frenzy, lunacy, folly. A similar expression occurs in The Revenger's Tragedy, 1608.

VOL. III.

5

Emil.

Most worthy madam,

Your honor, 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, hammered of this design;
But durst not tempt a minister of honor,
Lest she should be denied.

Paul.

I'll use that tongue I have.

Tell her, Emilia,

If wit flow from it,

As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted

I shall do good.
Emil.

I'll to the queen.

Now be you blest for it!

Please you, come something nearer. Keep. 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.

The child was prisoner to the womb; and is,
By law and process of great nature, thence
Freed and enfranchised: not a party to

nor guilty of, of the queen.

The anger of the king;
If any be, the trespass
Keep. I do believe it.
Paul.
Mine honor, I will stand

SCENE III. The same. A Room in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and other Attendants.

Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest. It is but weak

ness

To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if
The cause were not in being;-part o' the cause,