Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near; If not, how best to bear it. Cam. Sir, I'll tell you; Since I am charged in honor, and by him That I think honorable. Therefore, mark my counsel; Which must be even as swiftly followed, as I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me Cry, lost, and so good-night. Pol. 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 2 To vice you to't,-that you have touched his O, then my best blood turn Be yoked with his, that did betray the best! 3 queen A savor, that may strike the dullest nostril Cam. 1 "I am appointed him to murder you;" I am the person appointed to murder you. 2 i. e. to screw or move you to it. A vice, in Shakspeare's time, meant any kind of winding screw. The vice of a clock was a common expression. 3 That is, Judas. 4 "Swear his thought over." The meaning apparently is, " Over-swear his thought by," &c. As, or by oath, remove, or counsel, shake Pol. How should this grow? Cam. I know not; but, I am sure, 'tis safer to Have uttered truth; which if you seek to prove, Than one condemned 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 neighbor mine. My ships are ready, and My people did expect my hence departure Is for a precious creature; as she's rare, In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me; 1 "Is piled upon his faith;" this folly which is erected on the foundation of settled belief. 2 i. e. I will place thee in elevated rank, always near to my own in dignity, or near my person. Come, Camillo; I will respect thee as a father, if Thou bear'st my life off hence. Let us avoid. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, 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 playfellow? 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 lord? Not for because Mam. Too much hair there, but in a semicircle, Or half-moon made with a pen. 2 Lady. Who taught you this? Mam. I learned it out of women's faces.-Pray now What color are your eyebrows? 1 Johnson might well say, "I can make nothing of the following words: and comfort The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing Of his ill-ta'en suspicion."" He suspected the line which connected them to the rest to have been lost. 1 Lady. Blue, my lord. Mam. Nay, that's a mock; I have seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eyebrows. 2 Lady. Hark ye; The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us, 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. Her. As merry as you will. Merry, or sad, shall't be? A sad tale's best for winter. Let's have that, good sir. I have one of sprites and goblins. Her. To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful at it. Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on. Mam. Dwelt by a churchyard;-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 eyed them Leon. In my just censure!1 How blessed am I 1 i. e. judgment. i Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accursed, The abhorred ingredient to his eye; make known, Camillo was his help in this, his pander.— 4 Remain a pinched thing; yea, a very trick 1 Lord. By his great authority; On your command. Leon. I know't too well. Give me the boy; I am glad you did not nurse 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. Her. But I'd say, he had not, You, my lords, And, I'll be sworn, you would believe my saying, Leon. Look on her, mark her well; be but about 1 That is, O that my knowledge were less! 2 Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's time. 3 Hefts, heavings. 4 i. e. "a thing pinched out of clouts; a puppet for them to move and actuate as they please." |