Her.
Take the boy to you; he so troubles me,
'Tis past enduring.

1 Lady.
Come, my gracious lord,
Shall I be your play-fellow?

Mam.
No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady.
Why, my sweet lord?

Mam.
You'll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if
I were a baby still; I love you better.

2 Lady.
And why so, my lord?

Mam.
Not for because
Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say,
Become some women best, so they be
In a semicircle cut,
Or a half-moon made with a pen.

2 Lady.
Who taught you this?

Mam.
I learn'd it out of women's faces: pray now
What colour be your eye-brows?

1 Lady.
Blue, my lord.

Mam.
Nay, that's a mock.

1 Lady.
Hark ye,
The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall
Present our services to a fine new prince,
One of these days, and then you'll wanton with us,
If we would have you.

Her.
What wisdom stirs amongst you? come, Sir, now
I am for you again. Pray you sit by us,
And tell's a tale.

Mam.
Merry, or sad, shall't be?

Her.
As merry as you will.

Mam.
A sad tale's best for winter;
I have one of sprights and goblins.

Her.
Let's have that, good Sir.
Come on, sit down, and do your best,
To fright me with your sprights: you're powerful at it.

Mam.
There was a man—

Her.
Nay, come sit down; then on.

Mam.
Dwelt by a church-yard: I will tell it softly.
Yon crickets shall not hear it.

Her.
Come on then, and give't me in mine ear. Enter Leontes, Antigonus, and Lords.

Leo.
Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

Lord.
Behind the tuft of pines I met them:
I ey'd then even to their ships.

Leo.
How blest am I
In my just censure! in my true opinion!
Alack, for lesser knowledge, how accurs'd
In being so blest! there may be in the cup
A spider steep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowlege
Is not infected: but if one present
Th' abhor'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pandar:
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true that is mistrusted: that false villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him.
How came the posterns so easily open?

Lord.
By his great authority,
Which often hath no less prevail'd than so,
On your command.

Leo.
I know't too well.
Give me the boy, I'm glad you did not nurse him:
Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.

Her.
What is this? sport?

Leo.
Bear the boy hence, he shall not come about her.— [Mamillus taken off.
You, my lords,
Look on her, mark her well; be but about
To say she is a goodly lady, and
The justice of your hearts will thereto add,
'Tis pity she's not honest; but be't known,
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,
She's an adultress.

Her.
Should a villain say so,
The most replenish'd villain in the world,
He were as much more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.

Leo.
You have mistook, my lady,

Polixenes for Leontes* ^note





. I have said
She's an adultress; I have said with whom:
More; she's a traitor‡ ^note





; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.

Her.
No, by my life,
Privy to none of this: how will this grieve you,
When you shall come to clearer knowlege, that
You thus have publish'd me? gentle my lord,
You scarce can right me throughly then, to say
You did mistake.

Leo.
No, if I mistake
In these foundations which I build upon,
The center is not big enough to bear
&verbar2; ^noteA school-boy's top. Away with her to prison:

Her.
There's some ill planet reigns;
I must be patient, 'till the heavens look
With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are, the want of which vain dew
§ ^notePerchance shall dry your pities; but I have
That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns
Worse than tears drown: 'beseech you all, my lords.
With thoughts so qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so
The king's will be perform'd.

Leo.
Shall I be heard;

Her.
'Beseech your highness
My women may be with me; for you know
My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools,
There is no cause; when you shall know your mistress
Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears;
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've leave.

Leo.
Go, do our bidding; hence. [Exeunt Hermione, &c.

Lord.
'Beseech your highness call the queen again.

Ant.
Be certain what you do, Sir, lest your justice:
Prove violence, in the which three great ones suffer,
Your self, your queen, your son.

Lord.
For her, my lord,
I dare my life lay down, and will do't, Sir,
Please you t' accept it, that the queen is spotless,
I'th' eyes of heav'n, and to you, I mean
In this which you accuse her.

Leo.
Hold your peaces.

Ant.
It is for you we speak, not for our selves:
You are abused by some putter-on,
That will be damn'd or't; would I knew the villain!

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 for this? Camillo's flight
Added to their familiarity,
(Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture)
Doth push on this proceeding;
Yet for a greater confirmation,
I have dispatch'd in post,
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomines and Dion, whom you know
Of try'd sufficiency: now, from the oracle

They will bring all, whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?

Lord.
Well done, my lord.

Leo.
Tho' I am satisfy'd, and need no more,
Than what I know; yet shall the oracle
Give rest to th' minds of others. [Exeunt. Scene SCENE, a prison. * ^noteEnter Paulina and a Gentleman.

Pau.
The keeper of the prison, call to him: [Exit Gent.
Let him have knowlege who I am. Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee;
What dost thou then in prison: now, good Sir,
You know me, do you not? [Re-enter Gentleman with the Goaler.

Goa.
For a worthy lady,
And one whom much I honour.

Pau.
Pray you then,
Conduct me to the Queen.

Goa.
I may not, madam;
To the contrary I have express commandment.

Paul
Here's a-do to lock up honesty and honour, from
Th' access of gentle visitors! Is't lawful, pray you,
To see her women? any of them? Emilia?

Goa.
So please you, madam, I
Shall bring Emilia forth.

Pau.
I pray you now call her.

Goa.
And, madam,
I must be present at your conference.

Pau.
Well; be it so, pr'ythee. Enter Emilia.
Here's such a-do to make no stain a stain,
As passes colouring. 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 born greater,
She is, something before her time, deliver'd.

Pau.
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'm innocent as you,

Pau.
I dare be sworn:
These dangerous, unsafe lunes† ^note i'th' king! bestrew them.
He must be told of it, and 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 shew't the king, and undertake to be
Her advocate, to th'loud'st. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o'th' 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
* ^noteAcquaint the queen of your most noble offer,
* ^noteWho, but to-day hammer'd of this design,
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be deny'd.

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

Emil.
Now be you blest for it.
I'll to the queen: please you come something nearer.

Goa.
Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
Having no warrant.

Pau.
Do not you fear; upon mine honour, I
Will stand 'twixt you and danger. [Exeunt. Scene SCENE, the palace. Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and other attendants.

Leo.
Nor night, nor day, no rest; it is but weakness,
To bear the matter thus; mere weakness.
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,
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 down-right languish'd. Leave me; go,
See how he fares. Camillo and Polixenes
Laugh at me, make their pastime at my sorrow? Enter Paulina with a child.

Lord.
You must not enter.

Pau.
Nay rather, good my lords, be second to me:
Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas,
Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul,
More free than he is jealous.

Atten.
Madam, he hath not slept, to-night; commanded
None should come at him.

Pau.
Not so hot, good Sir,
I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you
That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh

At each his needless heavings; such as you
Nourish the cause of his awaking. I
Do come with words medicinal, as true;
Honest as either, to purge him of that humour;
That presses him from sleep.

Leo.
What noise there, hoa?

Pau.
No noise, my lord, but needful conference,
About some gossips for your highness.

Leo.
How?
Away with that audacious lady. Antigonus,
I charg'd thee that she should not come about me.

Ant.
I told her so, my lord,
On your displeasure's peril and on mine,
She should not visit you.

Leo.
What! can'st not rule her?

Pau.
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.

Pau.
Good my liege, I come—
And I beseech you hear me, who profess
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor: I say, I come
From your good queen.

Leo.
Good queen?

Pau.
Good queen, my lord?
Good queen, I say, good queen.
And would by combat make her good, so were I
A man, the worst about you

Leo.
Force her hence.

Pau.
Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes,
First hand me: on mine own accord I'll off;
But first, I'll do my errand. The good queen,
For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter,
Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. [Laying down the child.

Leo.
Hence with her out o' door:
A most intelligencing bawd.

Pau.
Not so,
I am as ignorant in that as you,
In so intit'ling me; and no less honest
Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant,
As this world goes, to pass for honest.

Leo.
Traitors!
Will you not push her out? give her the bastard, [To Ant.
Thou dotard, thou art woman-tir'd; unroosted
* ^noteBy thy dame Partlet here. Take up the bastard,
Take't up, I say, give't to thy croan.

Pau.
For ever
Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou
Tak'st up the princess', by that forced baseness
Which he has put upon't.

Leo.
A nest of traitors!

Ant.
I am none, by this good light.

Pau.
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 swords; and will not
(For as the case now stands, it is a curse
He cannot be compell'd to't) once remove
The root of his opinion, which is rotten,
As ever oak or stone was found.

Leo.
This brat is none of mine,
It is the issue of Polixenes.
Hence with it.

Pau.
It is yours;
And, might we lay th' old proverb to your charge,
So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold, my lords,
Altho' the print be little, the whole matter
And copy of the father; eye, nose, lip,
The trick of's frown, his forehead, nay the valley,
The pretty dimples of his chin, and cheek, his smiles,

The very mold and frame of hand, nail, finger:
And thou good goddess nature, which
So like to him in feature, if thou hast
The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours
No yellow in't, lest she suspect, as he does,
Her children not her husband's* ^note.

Leo.† ^note
Lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd,
Thou wilt not stay her tongue.

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

Leo.
Once more take her hence.
I'll ha' thee burnt.

Pau.
I care not;
It is an heretic that makes the fire,
Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant;
But this most cruel usage of your queen,
(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 all the world.

Leo.
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.

Pau.
I pray you do not drag 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.

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.

Ant.
We've always truly serv'd you, and beseech you

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.

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,
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.* ^note.

Leo.
It shall be possible; swear by this sword
Thou wilt perform my bidding.

Ant.
I will, my lord.

Leo.
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-tongu'd wife,
Whom for this time we pardon. We enjoin thee,
As thou art liege-man to us, that thou carry
This female bastard hence, and that thou bear it
To some remote and desart place, quite out
Of our dominions; and that there thou leave it,
To its own protection and favour of the climate.
Take it up.

Ant.
I swear to do this: tho' 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.

Leo.
No; I'll not rear
Another's issue. Enter a Messenger.

Mes.
Please your highness, posts
From those you sent to th' oracle, are come,
An hour since. Cleomines and Dion
Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed,
Hasting to th' court.

Lord.
So please you, Sir, their speed
Hath been beyond account.

Leo.
This 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 publicly accus'd, so shall she have
A just and open trial. [Exeunt. ^note End of the Second ACT.

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