Nay, hated too, worse than the great'ft infection
That e'er was heard, or read!

Cam. Swear this though over

By each particular ftar in heaven, and
By all their influences; you may as well
Forbid the fea for to obey the moon,
As or by oath remove, or counsel fhake
The fabrick of his folly, whofe foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The ftanding of his body.

Pol. How fhould this grow
Cam. I know not

but I'm fure 'tis fafer to
Avoid what's grown, than queftion how 'tis born.
If therefore you dare truft my honesty
That lyes inclofed in this trunk, which you
Shall bear along impawn'd, away to-night!
Your followers I will whifper to the business,
And will by twoes, and threes, at feveral pofterns,
Clear them o'th' city. For my felf, I'll put
My fortunes to your fervice, which are here
By this difcovery loft. Be not uncertain,
For by the honour of my parents, I

Have utter'd truth; which if you feek to prove,
I dare not ftand by't; nor fhall you be fafer
Than one condemn'd by the King's own mouth,
His execution fworn.

Pal. I do believe thee: ffaw his heart in's face.

Give me thy hand;

Be pilot to me, and thy places fhall

Still neighbour mine. My fhips are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure

Two days ago. This jealouhe

Is for a precious creature; as fhe's rare,

Muft it be great; and, as his perfon's mighty,
Muft it be violent; and, as he does conceive

Fear o'er-fhades me?

He is dishonour'd by a man which ever
Profefs'd to him, why, his revenges muft
In that be made more bitter.
Good expedition be my friend! Heav'n comfort
The gracious Queen, part of his theam, but nothing

Cz

Of his ill-ta'en fufpicion! Come, Camillo,
I will refpect thee as a father, if

Thou bear'ft my life off hence. Let us avoid.
Cam. It is in mine authority to corrimand
The keys of all the posterns: please your Highness
To take the urgent hour. Come, Sir, away,

ACT II. SCENE I.

The SCENE Continues.

Exeunt

Enter Hermione, Mamillus, and Ladies,
AKE the boy to you; he fo troubles me,
'Tis paft enduring.

Her. T

1 Lady. Come, my gracious Lord,

Shall I be your play-fellow?

Mam. No, I'll none of you.
1 Lady. Why, my fweet Lord ?

N

Mam. You'll kifs me hard, and speak to me as if you better.

I were a baby ftill; I love

2 Lady. And why fo, pray, my Lord?

Mam. Not for because

Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they fay,
Become fome women beft, fo that there be not
Too much hair there, but in a femicircle,
Like a 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 be your eye-brows?

1 Lady. Blue, my Lord.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I've seen a Lady's nofe That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.

1 Lady. Hark ye,

The Queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall

Prefent our fervices to a fine new Prince

One of these days, and then you'll wanton with us,

If we would have you.

2 Lady. She is fpread of late

Into a goodly bulk, good time encounter her!

Her. What wifdom ftirs amongst you? come, Sir, now I am for you again. Pray you fit by us,

And tell's a tale.

Mam

Mam, Merry, or fad, fhall't be

Her. As merry as you will.

Mam. A fad tale's best

For winter. I have one of fprights and goblins.
Her. Let us have that, good Sir.

Come on, fit down. Come on, and do your beft,

To fright me with your sprights

Mam. There was a man

you're powerful at it

Her. Nay, come fit down; then on.

Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard: I will tell it foftly: Yond crickets fhall not hear it.

Her. Come on then, and give it me in mine ear.
SCENE II.

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, and Lords.

Leo. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men fcowr fo on their way: I ey'd them On even to their fhips.

Leo. How bleft am I

In my juft cenfure! in my true opinion!
Alack, for leffer knowledge! how accurs'd
In being fo bleft! there may be in the cup
A fpider fteep'd, and one may drink, depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one prefent

Th' abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his fides
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and feen the spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander:
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true that is miftrufted: that falfe villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him:
He hath discover'd my defign, and I
Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick
For them to play at will: how came the pufterns
So early open?

Lord. By his great authority,

Which hath prevailed oftentimes na lefs
Than fo on your command.

C

Leo. I know't too well.

Give me the boy, I'm glad you did not nurse him!
Though he does bear fome figns of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.

Her. What is this? fport?

Leo. Bear the boy hence, he fhall not come about her, Away with him, and let her fport her felf With that fhe's big with: 'tis Polixenes Has made thee fwell thus.

Her. I'd but fay he had not;

And I'll be fworn you would believe my faying,
Howe'er you lean to th' nayward.

Leo. You, my Lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about

To fay fhe is a goodly Lady, and

The juftice of your hearts will thereto add,

'Tis pity fhe's not honeft, honourable :

Praise her but for this her without-door form,

Which on my faith deferves high speech, and ftraight
The fhrug, the hum, or ha, these petty brands
That calumny doth use, oh, I am out,

That mercy doth, (for calumny will fear
Virtue it felf) these fhrugs, these hums, and ha's,
When you have faid fhe's goodly, come between
Ere you can fay fhe's honeft: but be't known,
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,
She's an adult'refs.

Her. Should a villain fay fo,

The most replenish'd villain in the world,
He were as much more villain: you, my Lord,
Do but miftake.

Leo. You have miftook, my Lady,
Polixenes for Leontes. O thou thing!
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
Left barbarism, making me the precedent,
Should a like language ufe to all degrees,
And mannerly diftinguishment leave out
Betwixt the Prince and beggar. I have faid
She's an adult'refs, I have faid with whom :
More; he's a traitor, and Camillo is

A

A federary with her, one that knows
What the fhould be afham'd to know her felf,
But with her moft vile principal; that the's
A bed-fwerver, even as bad as thofe

The vulgar give bold'ft titles; 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 fhall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have publish'd me? gentle my Lord,
You scarce can right me throughly then, to fay
You did mistake.

Leo. No, if I do mistake

In those foundations which I build upon,
The center is not big enough to bear

A fchool-boy's top. Away with her to prifon:
He who shall speak for her, is far off guilty
In that he speaks.

Her. There's fome ill planet reigns;
I must be patient, 'till the heavens look
With afpect of more favour. Good my Lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our fex
Commonly are, the want of which vain dew
Perchance fhall dry your pities; but I have
That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns
Worfe than tears drown: 'befeech you all, my Lords,
With thoughts fo qualified as your charities

Shall beft inftruct you, measure me; and fo

The King's will be perform'd!

Leo. Shall I be heard?

Her. Who is't that goes with me? 'befeech your Highness, My women may be with me, for you fee

My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools,

There is no caufe; when you fhall know your mistress
Has deferv'd prifon, 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 fee you forry; now.

I truft I fhall. My women, come, you've leave, Leo