Ant.

Hang all the husbands, That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Hardly one subject.

Leon. Once more, take her hence. Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more.

Leon.

Paul.

It is an heretick, that makes the fire,

Not she, which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant; But this most cruel usage of your queen

I'll have thee burn'd.

I care not:

(Not able to produce more accusation

Than your own weak-hing'd fancy,) something

savours

Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you,
Yea, scandalous to the world.

Leon. On your allegiance, Out of the chamber with her. Were I a tyrant, Where were her life? she durst not call me so, If she did know me one. Away with her.

Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: Jove send

her

A better guiding spirit!—What need these hands?—
You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,
Will never do him good, not one of you.
So, so:-Farewel; we are gone.

[Exit.
Leon. 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.

Ant.
I did not, sir:
These lords, my noble fellows, if they please,
Can clear me in't.

1 Lord.
We can; my royal liege,
He is not guilty of her coming hither.
Leon. You are liars all.

1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better credit:

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.

Leon. 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 adventure 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.
Leon. It shall be possible: Swear by this sword,
Thou wilt perform my bidding.

Ant.

I will, my lord. Leon. Mark, and perform it; (seest thou?) for the fail

Of any point in't shall not only be

Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongued 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,
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,-
On thy soul's peril, and thy body's torture,-
That thou commend it strangely to some place,
Where 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,
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! [Exit, with the child.

Leon. Another's issue.

No, I'll not rear

1 Atten.

Please your highness, posts,

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.

1 Lord.

Hath been beyond account.

So please you, sir, their speed

Leon. Twenty-three days They have been absent: 'Tis good speed; foretels, The great Apollo suddenly will have The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; 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. And think upon my bidding.

Leave me;

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

THE SAME. A STREET IN SOME TOWN.

Enter Cleomenes and Dion.

Cleo. The climate's delicate; the air most sweet; Fertile the isle; the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears.

Dion. I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits, (Methinks, I so should term them,) and the reve

rence

Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice!
How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly
It was i'the offering!

Cleo.
But, of all, the burst
And the ear-deafening 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 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,)