Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots || Go, play, boy, play;
To be full like me: yet, they say we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will say any thing: But were they false
As o'er-died blacks, 20) as, wind, as waters; false
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
No bourn 21) 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true
To say this boy were like me. Come, sir page,
Look on me with your welkin eye: 22) Sweet villain!
Most dear'st! my collop!23) Can thy dam?
may't be?
Affection! thy intention stabs the center: 24)
Thou dost make possible, things not so held,
Communicat'st with dreams;-(How can this be?)-
With what's unreal thou coactive art,
And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent, 2
25)
Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou dost;
(And that beyond commission; and I find it,)
And that to the infection of my brains,
And hardening of my brows.
Pol.
thy mother plays, and I Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and clamour Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play; - There have been,
Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a inan there is, even at this present,
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm,
That little thinks she has been sluic'd in his absence,
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't,
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates open'd,
As mine, against their will: Should all despair,
That lave revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none;
It is a bawdy planet, that will strike
Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it,
From east, west, north, and south: Be it concluded,
No barricado for a belly; know it;
It will let in and out the enemy,
How, my lord? What cheer? how is't with you, best brother? Her.
What means Sicilia? Her. He something seems unsettled. Pol.
What! Camillo there? Cam. Ay, my good lord.
How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, This squash,26) this gentleman:- Mine honest friend, Will you take eggs for money? 27)
Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.
Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole ! 2) –
My brother,
Are you so fond of your young prince, as we
Do seem to be of ours?
Pol.
If at home, sir,
He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter:
Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all:
He makes a July's day short as December;
And, with his varying childness, cures in me
Thoughts that would thick my blood.
Leon.
So stands this squire
Offic'd with me: We two will walk, my lord,
And leave you to your graver steps.
How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's welcome;
Let what is dear in Sicily, be cheap:
Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's
Apparent 29) to my heart.
Her.
If you would seek us,
We are your's i'the garden: Shall's attend you there?
Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be
found,
Be you beneath the sky: I am angling now,
Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to!
[Aside. Observing POLIXENES, and HERMIONE. How she holds up the neb, 30) the bill to him! And arms her with the boldness of a wife To her allowing husband! 31) Gone already; Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one. 32)
Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou'ṛt an honest man. — [Exit MAMILLIUS. Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer. Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold: When you cast out, it still came home. 33) Leon. Didst note it? Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made His business more material. 34) Leon. Didst perceive it? They're here with me already; whispering, round
Sicilia is a 80-forth: "Tis far gone,
When I shall gust it 36) last. How came't, Camillo,
That he did stay?
Cam.
At the good queen's entreaty.
Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be per-
tinent;
But so it is, it is not. Was this taken
By any understanding pate but thine?
For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in
More than the common blocks: Not noted, is't,
But of the finer natures? by some severals,
Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes, 37)
Perchance, are to this business purblind: say.
Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most understand
Bohemia stays here longer.
Cam. To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties
Of our most gracious mistress.
Leon.
Be it forbid, my lord!
Leon. To bide upon't: - Thou art not honest: or,
If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward:
Which hoxes honesty behind, 38) restraining
From course requir'd: Or else thou must be counted
A servant, grafted in my serious trust,
[Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE, and Attendants. || And therein negligent: or else a fool,
Have bench'd, and rear'd to worship; who may'st see
Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees heaven,
How I am galled, might'st bespice a cup,
To give mine enemy a lasting wink;
Which draught to me were cordial.
That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn, || His cupbearer,
And tak'st it all for jest.
Cam.
My gracious lord,
I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
Amongst the infinite doings of the world,
Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord,
If ever I were wilful-negligent,
It was my folly; if industriously
I play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance, 39) 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord,
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me: let me know my trespass
By its own visage: if I then deny it,
"Tis none of mine.
Leon.
(But that's past doubt: you have; or your eye-glass
Is thicker than a cuckold's horn;) or heard,
(For, to a vision so apparent, rumour
Cannot be mute,) or thought, (for cogitation
Resides not in that man, that does not think it,)
My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,
(Or else be impudently negative,
Have not you seen, Camillo,
I could do this; and that with no rash potion,
But with a ling'ring dram, that should not work
Maliciously like poison: But I cannot
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress,
So sovereignly being honourable.
Leon.
Make't thy question, and go rot! 42)
Dost think, I am so muddy, so unsettled,
To appoint myself in this vexation? sully
The purity and whiteness of my sheets,
Which to preserve, is sleep; which being spotted,
Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps?
Give scandal to the blood o'the prince my son,
Who, I do think is mine, and love as mine;
Without ripe moving to't? - would I do this?
Could man so blench; 43)
Cam.
I must believe you, sir;
I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't:
Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness
Will take again your queen, as yours at first;
Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for sealing
The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then say, Known and allied to yours.
My wife's a hobbyhorse; deserves a name
As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say it, and justify it.
Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this; which to reiterate, were sin
As deep as that, though true.
Leon.
Is whispering nothing?
Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible
Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes blind
With the pin and web, 4°) but theirs, theirs only,
That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing?
Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is nothing;
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,
If this be nothing.
Cam.
Good my lord, be cur'd
Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;
For 'tis most dangerous.
I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee;
Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave;
Or else a hovering temporizer, that
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, she would not live
The running of one glass.
Cam.
Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, 41)
hanging
About his neck, Bohemia: Who - if I
Had servants true about me: that bare eyes
To see alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts, they would do that
Which should undo more doing: Ay, and thou,
Leon.
Even so as I mine own course have set down:
I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.
Cam. My lord,
Go then; and with a countenance as clear
As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia,
And with your queen: I am his cupbearer;
If from me he have wholesome beverage,
Account me not your servant.
Leon.
Do't, and thou hast the one half of my heart;
Do't not, thou split'st thy own.
Cam.
I'll do't, my lord.
Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd me.
[Exit.
Cam. O miserable lady! But, for me,
What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner
Of good Polixenes: and my ground to do't
Is the obedience to a master; one,
Who, in rebellion with himself, will have
All that are his, so too. To do this deed,
Promotion follows: If I could find example
Of thousands, that had struck anointed kings,
And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since
Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one,
Let villainy itself forswear't. I must
Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain
To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now!
Here comes Bohemia.
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Hail, most royal sir!
Pol. What is the news i'the court?
Cam.
None rare, my lord.
Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance,
As he had lost some province, and a region,
Lov'd as he loves himself: even now I met him
With customary compliment; when he,
Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling
A lip of much contempt, speeds from me; and
So leaves me, to consider what is breeding,
That changes thus his manners.
Cam. I dare not know, my lord.
Shall bear along impawn'd, ·
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will, by twos, and threes, at several posterns,
Pol. How! dare not? do not. Do you know, and || Clear them o'the city: For myself, I'll put
Be intelligent to me? "Tis thereabouts;
For, to yourself, what you do know, you must;
And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror,
Which shows me mine chang'd too: for I must be
A party in this alteration, finding
Myself thus alter'd with it.
Which puts some of us in distemper; but
I cannot name the disease;
Of you that yet are well.
Pol.
How! caught of me? Make me not sighted like the basilisk:
I have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better
By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,
As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienc'd, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whose success we are gentle-44) I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my knowledge
Thereof to be inform❜d, imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.
Pol. For what? Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, As he had seen't, or been an instrument
To vice) you to't,— that you have touch'd his queen Forbiddenly.
O, then my best blood turn
To an infected jelly; and my name
Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best! 47) Turn then my freshest reputation to
A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril 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, 48) 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
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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
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
Thou 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. [Exeunt.
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. 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? 1) 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. Who taught you this? Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces. Pray now What colour are your eye-brows?
Let's have that, sir. 2) || Come on, sit down: Come on, and do your best To fright me with your sprites: 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, 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.
By his great authority;
Which often hath no less prevail'd than so,
On your command.
Leon.
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.
Her.
But I'd say, he had not,
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 The justice of your hearts will thereto add, 'Tis pity, she's not honest, honourable: Praise her but for this her without-door form, (Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and straight
The shrug, the hum, or ha; these petty brands,
That calumny doth use: O, I am out,
That mercy does; for calumny will sear 8)
Virtue itself: - these shrugs, these hums, and ha's,
When you have said, she's goodly, come between,
Ere you can say she's honest: But be it known,
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,
She's an adultress.
Her. The most replenish'd villain in the world, He were as much more villain: you, my lord, Do but mistake.
Should a villain say so,
Leon. You have mistook, my lady, Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing,
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,
Should a like language use to all degrees,
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar! I have said,
She's an adultress; I have said, with whom:
More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is
A federary) with her: and one that knows
What she should shame to know herself,
But with her most vile principal, 10) that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold titles; 1) 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 knowledge, that You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord, You scarce can right me thoroughly then, to say You did mistake.
My women may be with me; for, you see,
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,
As I come out: 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 have leave.
Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence.
[Exeunt QUEEN and Ladies. 1 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, Yourself, your queen, your son. 1 Lord.
For her, my lord, I dare my life lay down, and will do't, sir: Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless I'the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean, In this which you accuse her. Ant. If it prove She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where
I lodge my wife; 13) I'll go in couples with her; 14) Than when I feel, and see her, no further trust her; For every inch of woman in the world, Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false, If she be. Leon. 1 Lord.
Good my lord, Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: You are abus'd, and by some putter-on, 15) That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the villain, I would land-damn him: 16) Be she honour-flaw'd, I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven;
1 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.
Leon.
Why, what need we
Commune with you of this? but rather follow
Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels; but our natural goodness
Imparts this: which, if you (or stupified,
Or seeming so in skill,) cannot, or will not,
Relish as truth, 18) like us; inform yourselves,
We need no more of your advice: the matter,
The loss, the gain, the ordering on't, is all
Properly ours.
Ant.
You had only in your silent judgment tried it,
Without more overture.
Either thou art most ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,
(Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation, 19)
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to the deed,) doth push on this proceeding:
Yet, for a greater confirmation,
(For, in an act of this importance, 'twere
Pray you, to see her women? any of them?
Emilia?
Keep. So please you, madam, to put
Apart these your attendants, I shall bring
Emilia forth.
Paul.
Withdraw yourselves.
Keep.
I pray now, call her.
I must be present at your conference.
Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee.
Here's such ado to make no stain a stain,
As passes colouring.
Re-enter Keeper, with EMILIA.
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 borne greater,)
She is, something before her time, deliver'd.
Paul. 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 am innocent as you.
Paul.
I dare be sworn:
These dangerous unsafe lunes o' the king!21) beshrew
He must be told on't, and he 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
Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatch'd in post, The trumpet any more:
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know,
Of stuff'd sufficiency: 20) Now, from the oracle
They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well?
1 Lord. Well done, my lord.
Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more
Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to the minds of others; such as he,
Whose ignorant credulity will not
Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good,
From our free person she should be confin'd;
Lest that the treachery of the two, fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in public: for this business
Will raise us all.
Ant. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known.
The same. The outer Room of a Prison.
Enter PAULINA and Attendants.
Paul. The keeper of the prison, call to him;
[Exit an Attendant.
Let him have knowledge who I am. Good lady!
No court in Europe is too good for thee,
What dost thou then in prison?
Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen;
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll show't the king, and undertake to be
Her advocate to th' loudest: We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o' the child;
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades, when speaking fails.
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
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this design;
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.
Tell her, Emilia,
I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,
As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted
I shall do good.
Emil.
Now be you blest for it!
I'll to the queen: Please you, come something nearer.
Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur, to pass it,
Having no warrant.
Paul. You need not fear it, sir:
The child was prisoner to the womb; and is,
Now, good sir, || By law and process of great nature, thence
|