Leo. A callat Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her husband, It is the iffue of Polixenes. Hence with it; and, together with the dam, Pau. It is yours; And, might we lay th' old proverb to your charge, And copy of the father; eye, nose, lip, The trick of's frown, his forehead, nay, the valleys, The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours Leo. A grofs hag! And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, Ant. Hang all the hufbands That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Leo. Once more, take her hence. Pau. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more. Leo. I'll ha' thee burn'd. Pau. I care not; It is an heretick that makes the fire, Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant, (Not able to produce more accufation Than your own weak-hing'd fancy) something savours Yea, Yea, fcandalous to all the world. Leo. On your allegiance, Out of the chamber with her. Where I a tyrant, Pau. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. Will never do him good, not one of you. SCENE VI. Leo. Thou, traitor, haft set on thy wife to this. And see it instantly confum'd with fire; Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up straight: And by good teftimony, or I'll seize Thy life, with all that's thine: if thou refuse, Ant. I did not, fir: The lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in't. Lord. We can, my royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. Leo. You're liars all. Lord. 'Befeech your highness, give us better credit. We've alway truly ferv'd and befeech you you, So to esteem of us: and on our knees We beg (as recompence of our dear service [Exit. Paft, Paft, and to come) that you do change this purpose, Lead on to fome foul iffue. We all kneel Leo. I am a feather for each wind that blows: Shall I live on, to fee this baftard kneel And call me father? better burn it now, Than curfe it then. It fhall not neither. But, be it; let it live: You, fir, come you hither; You that have been fo tenderly officious With lady Margery, your midwife there, To fave this baftard's life; (for 'tis a bastard, So fure as this beard's gray) what will you adventure To fave this brat's life? Ant. Any thing, my lord, That my ability may undergo And nobleness impofe: at least, thus much; I'll pawn the little blood which I have left, To fave the innocent; what's poffible. Leo. It fhall be poffible: fwear by this sword, Thou wilt perform my bidding. Of Ant. I will, my lord. Leo. Mark, and perform it; feeft thou? for the fail any point in't shall not only be Death to thyfelf, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife, Whom, for this time, we pardon. We enjoin thee, [to Ant. Ant. Ant. I fwear to do this; though a prefent death, In more than this deed does require! and blessing, Leo. No; I'll not rear Another's iffue. Enter a Meffenger. Mess. Please your highness, posts, From thofe you fent to th' oracle, are come An hour fince. Cleomines and Dion, [Exit with the child. Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, Lord. So pleafe you, fir, their speed Hath been beyond account. Leo. Twenty three days They have been abfent: this good speed foretels The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords, [Exeunt feverally. ACT ** T HE climate's delicate, the air most sweet, Fertile the foil, the temple much furpaffing The common praise it bears. Dion, I fhall report, For most they caught me, the celestial habits, Of the grave wearers. O, the facrifice! How ceremonious, folemn, and unearthly, Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear or end the bufinefs, when the oracle Shall the contents difcover: fomething rare VOL. II. Y y y Even |