Much comfort in't: says, My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.

Paul.

I dare be sworn :

These dangerous unsafe lunes1 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-looked anger be

my

The trumpet any more: Pray you, Emilia,
Commend 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.

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

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,

VOL. IV.

4 Lunacies, fits of madness.

E

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,
By law and process of great nature, thence
Freed and enfranchis'd: not a party to
The anger of the king; nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.
Keep. I do believe it.
Paul.

Do not you fear; upon Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A Room in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and other Attendants.

Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but weak

ness

To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if

The cause were not in being; - part o'the cause,
She, the adultress; for the harlot king
Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank
And level of my brain, plot-proof: but she
I can hook to me: Say, that she were gone,
Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest
Might come to me again.

1 Atten.

Leon. How does the boy?

1 Atten.

Who's there?

My lord?

[Advancing.

He took good rest to-night:

'Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg'd.

Leon.

His nobleness!

To see,

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,

He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply;
Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself;
Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And downright languish'd Leave me solely-go,
See how he fares. [Exit Attend.]-Fye, fye! no
thought of him ; —

The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil upon me; in himself too mighty;
And in his parties, his alliance,—Let him be,
Until a time may serve; for present vengeance,
Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes

Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow:
They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor
Shall she, within my power.

1 Lord.

Enter PAULINA, with a Child.

You must not enter.

Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to

me:

Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas,
Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul;
More free, than he is jealous.

Ant.

That's enough.

1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; com

manded

None should come at him.

Paul.
Not so hot, good sir:
I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,-
That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh
At each his needless heaving,—such as you
Nourish the cause of his awaking: I

Do come with words as med'cinal as true;
Honest, as either; to purge him of that humour,
That presses him from sleep.

Leon.

5 Alone.

What noise there, ho?

Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference, About some gossips for your highness.

Leon. How? Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus, I charg'd thee, that she should not come about me; I knew, she would.

Ant.

I told her so, my lord,

On your displeasure's peril, and on mine,
She should not visit you.

Leon.

What, canst not rule her?
Paul. From all dishonesty, he can: in this,
(Unless he take the course that you have done,
Commit me, for committing honour,) trust it,
He shall not rule me.

Ant.
Lo you now; you hear !
When she will take the rein, I let her run;
But she'll not stumble.

Paul.
And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dare
Less appear so, in comforting your evils,6
Than such as most seem yours:-
-I say, I come
From your good queen.
Good queen!

Good my liege, I come.

Leon.

Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen: I say, good queen;

And would by combat make her good, so were I A man, the worst about you.

Leon.

Force her hence.

Paul. Let him, that makes but trifles of his eyes, First hand me on mine own accord, I'll off; But, first, I'll do my errand. The good queen, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing.

-

[Laying down the Child.

Out!

Leon.

6 Abetting your ill courses.

7 Lowest.

A very witch! Hence with her, out o' door:
A most intelligencing bawd;

Paul.

No so:

I am as ignorant in that, as you

In so entitling me: and no less honest

Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, As this world goes, to pass for honest.

Traitors;

Leon. Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard:Thou, dotard, [To ANTIGONUS.] thou art womantir'd, unroosted

By thy dame Partlet here,-take up the bastard; Take't up, I say; give't to thy crone."

Paul.

Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou

For ever

Tak'st up the princess, by that forced1 baseness Which he has put upon't!

Leon.

He dreads his wife.

Paul. So, I would, you did: then, 'twere past all

doubt,

You'd call your children

Leon.

Ant. I am none, by this good light. Paul. Nor I; nor any, But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he The sacred honour of himself, his queen's,

His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will

not

(For, as the case now stands, it is a curse
He cannot be compell'd to't,) once remove
The root of his opinion, which is rotten,
As ever oak, or stone, was sound.
Leon.

A callat,

8 Pecked by a woman; hen-pecked.
9 Worn-out old woman.

Forced is false; uttered with violence to truth.

• Trull.