[To the Guards. Her. Who is't that goes with me?-'beseech 10 your highness,
My women may be with me; for, you see, My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools; [To her ladies. There is no cause: when you shall know, your 15 Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears, [mistress As I come out; this action', I now go on, Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord:
I never wish'd to see you sorry; now,
I trust, I shall.-My women, come; you have leave. 20 Leo. Go, do our bidding; hence.
[Exeunt Queen and Ladies. Lord. 'Beseech your highness, call the queen again.
Ant. Be certain, what you do, sir; lest your 25 justice
Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer, Yourself, your queen, your son.
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.
She's otherwise, I'll keep my stable 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, If she be.
Leo. Hold your peaces. Lord. Good my lord,-
Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: You are abus'd, and by some putter-on, That will be damn'd for't: 'would I knew the villain! 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, I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see, To bring false generations: they are co-heirs ; And I had rather glib* myself, than they Should not produce fair issue.
There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten Of the whole dungy earth.
Leo. What? lack I credit?
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; Be blam'd for't how you might."
Leo. 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 stupified, 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 ord'ring on't, is all Properly ours.
Ant. And I wish, my liege,
You had only in your silent judgment try'd it, Without more overture.
Leo. How could that be?
Either thou art most ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight, Added to their familiarity,
(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) do push on this proceeding: Yet, for a greater confirmation,
30 (For, in an act of this importance, 'twere Most piteous to be wild) I have dispatch'd in post; To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple, Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
Of stuff'd sufficiency': Now, from the oracle 35 They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had, Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well? Lord. Well done, my lord.
Leo. Though I am satisfy'd, and need no more Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
40 Give rest to the minds of others; such as he, Whose ignorant credulity will not
Come up to the truth: Sohave we thought it good, From our free person she should be confin'd; 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..
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 this, and see withal
The instruments that feel. [Striking his brows. Ant. If it be so,
We need no grave to bury honesty;
Enter Paulina, and Gentlemen.
Paul. The keeper of the prison,-call to him ; [Exit Gentleman. 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 Gentleman, with the Keeper. 60 You know me, do you not?
1 Action is here applied in the legal sense, for charge or accusation. Meaning, perhaps, I would rid the country of him; condemn him to quit the land. 3 The second folio reads sonnes tive. To glib, or to lib, means the same as to geld."' Approbation here means proof. Meaning, of abilities more than enough.
Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to send the I know not what I shall incur to pass it, [babe, Having no warrant.
Paul. You need not fear it, sir:
5 The child was prisoner to the womb; and is, By law and process of great nature, thence Freed and enfranchis'd; not a party to The anger of the king; nor guilty of, If any be, the trespass of the queen.
10 Keep. I do believe it.
Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee. Here is such ado, [Exit Keeper. 20 To make no stain a stain, as passes colouring.
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, deliver❜d. Paul. A boy?
Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe, Lusty, and like to live: the Much comfort in't; says, My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.
Paul. I dare be sworn!
These dangerous unsafe lunes' o' the king; be
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-mouth'd, let my tongue blister; And never to my red-look'd anger be
The trumpet any more:-Pray you, Emilia, Commend best obedience to the queen; If she dares trust me with her little babe, I'll shew'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.
Emil. Most worthy madam,
Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident, That your free undertaking cannot miss A thriving issue; there's 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, hammer'd of this design;
But durst not tempt a minister of honour, Lest she should be deny'd.
I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,.
Paul. Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I Will stand 'twixt you and danger.
Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and other Attendants,
Leo. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but
To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if The cause were not in being-part o' the cause, Sie, the adultress;-for the harlot king
quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank And level of my brain, plot-proof: but she 251 can hook to me: Say, that she were gone, Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest Might come to me again.-Who's there? Enter an Attendant.
Atten. My lord?
Leo. How does the boy?
Atten. He took good rest to-night; 'tis hop'd, His sickness is discharg'd.
Leo. To see his nobleness!
Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
35 He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply; Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself: Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, And downright languish'd.-Leave me solely: go, [Exit Attendant. 40 See how he fares.-Fye,fye! no thought of him;— The very thoughts of my revenge that way Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty; And in his parties, his alliance,-Let him be, Until a time may serve: for present vengeance, 45 Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes
As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted 60 That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh I shall do good.
Emil. Now be you blest for it!
I'll to the queen please you,come something nearer.
At each his needless heavings,-such as you Nourish the cause of his awaking: I
Do come with words as med'cinal as true;
? Blank and level are terms of archery.
Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus,
I charg'd thee, that she should not come about I knew she would.
Ant. I told her so, my lord, On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, She should not visit you.
Leo. What, canst not rule her?
Paul. From all dishonesty, he can in this, (Unless he take the course that you have done, Commit me, for committing honour) trust it, He shall not rule me.
Ant. Lo you now; you hear!
When she will take the rein, I let her run; But she'll not stumble.
Paul. Good my liege, I come,- And I beseech you, hear me, who profess Myself your loyal servant, your physician, Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dares Less appear so, in comforting your evils, Than such as most seem yours: -I say, From your good queen.
Leo. Good queen! [good queen; Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen! I say, And would by combat make her good, so were I A man, the worst' about you.
You'd call your children yours.
Leo. A nest of traitors!
Ant. I am none, by this good light. Paul. Nor I; nor any,
But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he The sacred honour of himself, his queen's, His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, Whose sting is sharper than the sword's,and will not (For, as the case now stands, it is a curse
10 He cannot be compell'd to't) once remove The root of his opinion, which is rotten, As ever oak, or stone, was found.
And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, 35 That wilt not stay her tongue.
A mankind witch'! Hence with her, out o' door:-40
A most intelligencing bawd!
Paul. Not so:
Ant. Hang all the husbands
That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Hardly one subject.
Leo. Once more, take her hence.
Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more.
Leo. I'll have thee burnt.
Paul. I care not:
It is an heretick, that makes the fire,
Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, 45 Not she, which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant; As this world goes, to pass for honest.
Worst here implies lowest. The phrase of mankind-woman is still in use in some counties, for a woman violent, ferocious, and mischievous; which is its meaning in this passage.
is synonymous with the modern hen-pecked. A croan means an old toothless sheep: thence an old woman. i. e. false baseness. Yellow is the colour of jealousy, 'Lozel is an ancient
term of contempt, meaning a worthless fellow.
You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, Will never do him good, not one of you, So, so:-Farewell; we are gone.
Leo. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.~ My child? away with't!-even thou, that hast A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence, And see it instantly consum'd with fire; Even thou, and none but thou, Take it up straight: Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, (And by good testimony) or I'll seize thy life, With what thou else call'st thine: If thou refuse, And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so; The bastard brains with these my proper hands Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire; For thou sett'st on thy wife.
These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in't.
Lord. We can; my royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither.
Leo. You are liars all.
Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better We have always truly serv'd you; and beseech So to esteem of us: And on our knees we beg, (As recompence of our dear services, Past,and to come) that you do change this purpose; Which being so horrible, so bloody, must Lead on to some foul issue: We all kneel.
Leo. I am a feather for each wind that blows:- Shall I live on, to see this bastard kneel And call me father? better burn it now, Than curse it then. But, be it ; let it live:
It shall not neither.-You, sir, come you hither: [To Antigonus. You that have been so tenderly officious With lady Margery, your midwife, there, To save this bastard's life:-for 'tis a bastard, So sure as this beard's grey,-what will you ad- To save this brat's life?
Ant. Any thing, my lord,
That my ability may undergo,
And nobleness impose: at least, thus much; I'll pawn the little blood which I have left,
To save the innocent: any thing possible.
Leo. Mark, and perform it! (seest thou?) for Of any point in't shall not only be
Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife; Whom, for this time, we pardon. We enjoin thee, As thou art liegeman to us, that thou carry This female bastard hence; and that thou bear it To some remote and desert place, quite out Of our dominions; and that there thou leave it, 10 Without more mercy, to its own protection, And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune It came to us, I do in justice charge thee,- Onthy soul's peril, and thy body's torture,— That thou commend it strangely to some place, 15Where chance may nurse, or end it: Take it up.
Ant. I swear to do this; though a present death Had been more merciful.-Come on, poor babe: Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens To be thy nurses! Wolves, and bears, they say, 20 Casting their savageness aside, have done Like offices of pity.-Sir, be prosperous In more than this deed does require! and blessing, Against this cruelty, fight on thy side, Poor thing, condemn'd to loss!
Leo. No, I'll not rear
Another's issue.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes. Please your highness, posts,
30 From those you sent to the oracle, are come An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion,
Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, Hasting to the court.
Lord. So please you, sir, their speed
35 Hath been beyond account.
Leo. Twenty-three days
They have been absent: 'Tis good speed; fore- The great Apollo suddenly will have
The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; 40 Summon a session, that we may arraign Our most disloyal lady: for, as she hath Been publickly accus'd, so shall she have A just and open trial. While she lives, My heart will be a burden to me. Leave me;
Leo. It shall be possible: Swear by this sword, 45 And think upon my bidding. Thou wilt perform my bidding.
A Part of Sicily, near the Sea-side. Enter Cleomenes, and Dion.
Cleo. o.THE climate's delicate; the air most sweet; Fertile the isle; the temple much sur-
The common praise it bears. Dion. I shall report,
(Methinks, I so should term them) and the
55 Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly It was i' the offering!
For most it caught me, the celestial habits,
Cleo. But, of all, the burst
And the ear-deaf'ning voice o' the oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surpriz'd my sense, That I was nothing.
Dion. If the event o' the journey
! That is, commit it to some place as a stranger.
Prove as successful to the queen,-O, be't so!- As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy, The time is worth the use on't. Cleo. Great Apollo
Turn all to the best! These proclamations, So forcing faults upon Hermione, I little like.
Dion. The violent carriage of it
Will clear, or end, the business: When the oracle, (Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up) Shall the contents discover, something rare, Even then, will rush to knowledge.-Go,-fresh horses;
And gracious be the issue!
SCENE
A Court of Justice.
Leontes, Lords, andOfficers,appear properly seated Leo. This session (to our great grief, we pronounce) Even pushes against our heart: The party try'd, The daughter of a king; our wife; and one Of us too much belov'd.-Let us be clear'd Of being tyrannous, since we so openly Proceed in justice; which shall have due course, Even' to the guilt, or the purgation. Produce the prisoner.
Of. It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen Appear in person here in court.-Silence! Hermione is brought in, guarded: Paulina and Ladies altending.
Leo. Read the indictment.
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
5 To your own conscience, sir, betore Polixenes Came to your court, how I was in your grace, Now merited to be so: Since he came, With what encounter so uncurrent I Have strain'd, to appear thus? if one jot beyond 10 The bound of honour; or, in act, or will, That way inclining; hard'ned be the hearts Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin Cry, Fye upon my grave!
Leo. I ne'er heard yet,
15 That any of these bolder vices wanted Less impudence to gainsay what they did, Than to perform it first.
Her. That's true enough;
Though 'tis a saying, sir not due to me. Leo. You will not own it.
Her. More than mistress of,
Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, With whom I am accus'd) I do confess, 251 lov'd him, as in honour he requir'd; 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 30 Both disobedience and ingratitude, [spoke, To you, and towards your friend; whose love had Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely, That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy, know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd For me to try how: all I know of it, Is, that Camillo was an honest man; And, why he left your court, the gods themselves, Wotting no more than I, are ignorant.
Offi. "Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, "king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and ar"raigned of high treason, in committing adultery "with Polixenes, king of Bohemia; and conspi-35 "ring 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 40 "counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to "fly away by night."
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 To say, Not guilty: mine integrity, Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, Be so receiv'd. But thus,-if powers divine Behold our human actions, (as they do) 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 Ilath been as continent, as chaste, as true, As I am now unhappy; which is more Than history can pattern, though devis'd, And play'd to take spectators: For behold me,- A fellow of the royal bed, which owe A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, The mother to a hopeful prince,-here standing, To prate and talk of life, and honour, 'fore
Leo. You knew of his departure, as you know What you have underta’en to do in his absence. Her. Sir,
You speak a language that I understand not: My life stands in the level of your dreams, Which I'll lay down.
Leo. Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dream'd it:-As you were past all (Those of your fact' are so) so past all truth: Which to deny, concerns more than avails: for as 50 Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, No father owning it, (which is, indeed, More criminal in thee, than it) so thou Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage, Look for no less than death.
1i. e. equal. 2i. e. the design. 3 To spare means here, to let it go, to quit the possession of it. To be in the level means io be within the reach. i. e. those who have done as you are sup posed to have done. Starr'd
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