If you know aught which does behove my know

ledge

Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.

Cam.

I may not answer.

Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!
I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo,
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man,
Which honour does acknowledge,-whereof the
least

Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm

Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;

If not, how best to bear it.

Cam.

Sir, I'll tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him
That I think honourable: Therefore, mark my

counsel;

Which must be even as swiftly follow'd, as
I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry, lost, and so good-night.

Pol.
On, good Camillo.
Cam. I am appointed Him to murder you.'
Pol. By whom, Camillo ?

Cam.

Pol.

By the king.

For what?

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he

swears,

As he had seen't, or been an instrument

To vice2 you to't, that you have touch'd his queen Forbiddenly.

Pol.

O, then my best blood turn

To an infected jelly; and my name
Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to

A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril

(1) i. e. I am the person appointed, &c. (2) Draw.

Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd, Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection That e'er was heard, or read!

Cam.

Swear his thought over By each particular star in heaven, and By all their influences, you may as well Forbid the sea for to obey the moon, As or, by oath, remove, or counsel, shake The fabric of his folly; whose foundation Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue The standing of his body.

Pol.

How should this grow?
Cam. I know not: but, I am sure, 'tis safer to
Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born.
If therefore you dare trust my honesty,-
That lies enclosed in this trunk, which you
Shall bear along impawn'd,-away to-night.
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will, by twos, and threes, at several posterns,
Clear them o' the city: For myself, I'll put
My fortunes to your service, which are here
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;
For, by the honour of my parents, I

Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer
Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth,

thereon

His execution sworn.

Pol.

I do believe thee:

I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places shall

Still neighbour mine: My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago.-This jealousy

Is for a precious creature as she's rare,
Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,
Must it be violent; and as he does conceive
He is dishonour'd by a man which ever

(1) Settled belief.

Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must

In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me:
Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo;
I will respect thee as a father, if

Tnou bear'st my life off hence: Let us avoid.
Cam. It is in mine authority, to command
The keys of all the posterns: Please your highness
To take the urgent hour: come, sir, away. [Exe.

ACT II.

SCENE I--The same.

Enter Hermione, Ma

millius, and Ladies.

Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,

'Tis past enduring.

1 Lady.

Come, my gracious lord,

No, I'll none of you.

Shall I be your play-fellow?
Mam.

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 good lord?

Mam.

Not for because

Your brows are blacker: yet black brows, they say, Become some women best; so that there be not

Too much hair there, but in a semi-circle,

Or half-moon made with a pen.

2 Lady.

Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces.-Pray

now

Who taught you this?

Blue, my lord.

What colour are your eye-brows?

1 Lady.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's

nose

'That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.

2 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'd wanton with us, If we would have you.

1 Lady.

She is spread of late

Into a goodly bulk: Good time encounter her! 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?

A sad tale's best for winter:

Her. As merry as you will.
Mam.

I have one of sprites and goblins.

Let's have that, sir.

Her. Come on, sit down :-Come on, and do your best To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful

at it.

Nay, come, sit down; then on.

Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard;-I will tell it

softly;

Yon crickets shall not hear it.

Her.

And give't me in mine ear.

Come on then,

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and others. Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them;

never

Saw I men scour so on their way: I ey'd them
Even to their ships.

Leon.

How bless'd am I

In my just censure?1 in my true opinion? —
Alack, for lesser knowledge !2 How accurs'd,

(1) Judgment.

(2) O that my knowledge were less!

In being so blest!-There niay be in the cup
A spider1 steep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present

The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drank, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts :2-I have drank, and seen the

spider.

:

Camillo was his help in this, his pander :
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:
He has discover'd my design, and I

Remain a pinch'd thing :3 yea, a very trick
For them to play at will:-How came the posterns
So easily open?

1 Lord.

By his great authority; Which often hath no less prevail'd than so,

On your command.

Leon.

I know't too well.

Give me the boy; I am 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?

Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come

about her;

Away with him :-and let her sport herself

With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes

Has made thee swell thus.

But I'd say, he had not,

Her. And, I'll be sworn you would believe my saying, Howe'er you lean to the nayward.

Leon.

You, my lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about

To say, she is a goodly lady, and

(1) Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's time.

(2) Heavings.

(3) A thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet.