Leo.
Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.
My child? away with't. Even thou, 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 it is 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.

Lord.
We can. My royal Liege,
He is not guilty of her coming hither:

Leo.
You're liars all.

Lord.
'Beseech your Highness, give us better credit.
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. We all kneel— [they 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, 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.

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 sail
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 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,^{7 note}
Where chance may nurse, or end it. 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.
Twenty-three days
They have been absent: 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. While she lives,
My heart will be a burden to me. Leave me,
And think upon my bidding. [Exeunt severally.

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