HERMIONE is brought in, guarded; PAULINA and Ladies, attending. Leon. Read the indictment. Offi. Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia; and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband; the pretence1 whereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night. Her. Since what I am to say, must be but that Which contradicts my accusation; and The testimony on my part, no other But what comes from myself; it shall scarce boot me Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, I doubt not then, but innocence shall make Tremble at patience.-You, my lord, best know 1 i. e. the design. Shakspeare often uses the word for design or intention. So in The Two Gentlemen of Verona: 'publisher of this pretence.' And in Macbeth: 'Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight Of treason's malice.' 2 i. e. my virtue being accounted wickedness, my assertion of it will pass but for a lie. Falsehood means both treachery and lie. 3 Which, that is, which unhappiness. And play'd, to take spectators: For behold me,A fellow of the royal bed, which owe1 A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes With what encounter so uncurrent I Have strain'd, to appear thus: if one jot beyond Leon. I ne'er heard yet, 4 Own, possess. 5 I prize my life no more than I value grief, which I would willingly spare. This sentiment, which is probably derived from Ecclesiasticus, iii. 11, cannot be too often impressed on the female mind: The glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to her children.' 6 Encounter so uncurrent is unallowed or unlawful meeting.— Strain'd means swerv'd or gone astray from the line of duty. So in Romeo and Juliet: 'Nor aught so good, but strain'd from that fair use, To appear thus is to seem guilty. 7 It is to be observed that originally in our language, two negatives did not affirm, but only strengthen the negation. Examples of similar phraseology occur in several of our author's plays, and even in the first act of this very drama: in this passage, Johnson observes that, according to the present use of words, less should be more, or wanted should be had. Her. That's true enough; Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. Leon. You will not own it. More than mistress of, Her. At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, Το you, and toward your friend; whose love had spoke, Even since it could speak, from an infant freely, I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd Is, that Camillo was an honest man; And, why he left your court, the gods themselves, Wotting no more than I, are ignorant. Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know What you have underta'en to do in his absence. Her. Sir, You speak a language that I understand not: Leon. Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, 8 See note 1, p. 38. To stand within the level of a gun is to stand in a direct line with its mouth, and in danger of being hurt by its discharge. This expression often occurs in Shakspeare; take one instance from K. Henry VIII. Act i. Sc. 2: 'I stood i'the level Of a full charg'd confederacy, and give thanks 10 And I but dream'd it:-As you were past all shame Her. Sir, spare your threats; The bug 11, which you would fright me with, I seek. To me can life be no commodity: The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, But know not how it went: My second joy, 9 i. e. they who have done like you. Shakspeare had this from Dorastus and Fawnia, it was her part to deny such a monstrous crime, and to be impudent in forswearing the fact, since she had passed all shame in committing the fault.' 10 It is your business to deny this charge; but the mere denial will be useless, will prove nothing. 11 Bugbear. 12 Starr'd most unluckily.' Ill starred; born under an inauspicious planet. 13 Strength of limit, i. e. the degree of strength which it is customary to acquire before women are suffered to go abroad after child-bearing. But yet hear this; mistake me not; -No! life, I prize it not a straw:-but for mine honour Apollo be my judge. 1 Lord. This your request Is altogether just: therefore, bring forth, And in Apollo's name, his oracle. [Exeunt certain Officers. Her. The emperor of Russia was my father: O, that he were alive, and here beholding His daughter's trial! that he did but see The flatness 14 of my misery; yet with eyes Of pity, not revenge! Re-enter Officers with CLEOMENES and DION. Offi. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have Been both at Delphos; and from thence have brought This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd Of great Apollo's priest; and that, since then, You have not dar'd to break the holy seal, Nor read the secrets in't. Cleo. Dion. All this we swear. Leon. Break up the seals, and read. Offi. [Reads.] Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous 14 The flatness of my misery,' that is absoluteness, the completeness of my misery. So Milton, P. L. b. ii: Thus repuls'd, our final hope i. e. complete or downright despair. |