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 mis

tress

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 jus

tice

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.

If it prove

Ant.
She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables* where

I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her;

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.

Hold your peaces.

1 Lord.

Good my lord,

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves:

You are abus'd, and by some putter-ont,

That will be damu'd for't; 'would I knew the vil

lain,

I would land damn him: Be she honour-flaw'd,

I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven;

* Take my station.

+ Instigator.

The second, and the third, nine, and some five; If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine ho

nour,

I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations: they are co-heirs ;
And I had rather glib myself, than they

Should not produce fair issue.

Leon.

Cease; no more.

You smell this business with a sense as cold
As is a dead man's nose: I see't, and feel't,

As you feel doing thus; and see withal
The instruments that feel.

Ant.

If it be so,

We need no grave to bury honesty;

There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.

Leon.

What! lack I credit?

1 Lord. I had rather you did lack, than 1, 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, 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.

And I wish, my liege,

You had only in your silent judgement tried it,
Without more overture.

Leon.

How could that be?

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*,
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

Most piteous to be wild), I have despatch'd in post,
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuff'd sufficiency t; 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 publick: for this business
Will raise us all.

Ant. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

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!

* Proof.

+ Of abilities more than sufficient.

No court in Europe is too good for thee,

What dost thou then in prison?-Now, good sir,

Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary

I have express commandment.

Paul.

Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from

The access of gentle visitors !Is it lawful,
Pray you, to see her women? any of them?
Emilia ?

Keep. So please you, madam, to put

Apart these your attendants, I shall bring

[Exit Keeper.

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! beshrew

them!

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

The trumpet any more:-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' loudést: We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o' the child;
The silence often of pure innocence

Persuades, when speaking fails.

Emil.

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

7

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.

Paul.

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,

* Frenzies.