ANT.

If it be so,

We need no grave to bury honesty;

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

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 honour true, than your suspicion;
Be blam'd 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 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,

Leontes must here be supposed to lay hold of either the beard or arm, or some other part, of Antigonus. See a subsequent. note in the last scene of this Act. MALONE.

8

9

dungy earth.] So, in Antony and Cleopatra:
our dungy earth alike

"Feeds beast as man."

which, if you

STEEVENS.

Relish as truth,] The old copy reads a truth. Mr. Rowe made the necessary correction-as. STEEVENS.

Our author is frequently inaccurate in the construction of his sentences, and the conclusions of them do not always correspond with the beginning. So, before, in this play:

who, if I

they would do that," &c.

The late editions read-as truth, which is certainly more grammatical; but a wish to reduce our author's phraseology to the modern standard, has been the source of much error in the regulation of his text. MALONE.

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,

(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,) 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 despatch'd in post,
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuff'd 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.

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 confin'd;

1

1 nought for approbation,

2

But only seeing,] Approbation, in this place, is put for proof.

JOHNSON.

stuff'd sufficiency:] That is, of abilities more than

enough. JOHNSON.

Lest that the treachery of the two,3 fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in publick: for this business
Will raise us all.

ANT. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

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?

KEEP. I may not, madam; to the contrary

I have express commandment.

PAUL.

Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from

The access of gentle visitors!Is it lawful,

3

Lest that the treachery of the two, &c.] He has before declared, that there is a plot against his life and crown, and that Hermione is federary with Polixenes and Camillo. JOHNSON.

7

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.

I must be present at your conference.

PAUL. Well, be it so, pr'ythee. [Exit Keeper.
Here's such ado 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 queen receives
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!' beshrew

them!

• These dangerous unsafe lunes o' the king!] I have no where, but in our author, observed this word adopted in our tongue, to signify frenzy, lunacy. But it is a mode of expression with the French.-Il ya de la lune: (i. e. he has got the moon in his head; he is frantick.) Cotgrave. "Lune, folie. Les femmes ont des lunes dans la tete. Richelet." THEOBALD.

པས་ ་

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 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.

EMIL.

Most worthy madam, Your honour, 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, hammer'd of this design;
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.

PAUL.

Tell her, Emilia,
I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,
As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted
I shall do good.

EMIL.

Now be you blest for it!
I'll to the queen: Please you, come something

nearer.

A similar expression occurs in The Revenger's Tragedy, 1608: "I know 'twas but some peevish moon in him." Again, in As you like it, Act III. sc. ii:" At which time would I, being but a moonish youth," &c. STEEVEns.

The old copy has made by Mr. Steevens.

the king. This slight correction was
MALONE.

1