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

a

Our gentry than our parents' noble names,

In whose success we are gentle,-I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my knowledge
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not

In ignorant concealment.

Cam.

I may not answer.

Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!
I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo?
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man,

Which honour does acknowledge,—whereof the least
Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm

Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;

If not, how best to bear it.

Cam.

Sir, I will tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him

That I think honourable. Therefore, mark my counsel;
Which must be even as swiftly follow'd as

I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry, lost, and so good night.

Pol.

On, good Camillo.
Cam. I am appointed him to murder you.
Pol. By whom, Camillo ?

Cam.

Pol.

By the king.

For what?

a Gentry, i. e. estate or degree as gentlemen. So in The Merry Wives of Windsor, "alter the article of gentry by being knighted.” 44 Success, for succession. Gentle, well born, was opposed to simple.

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, As he had seen't, or been an instrument

you to't,-that have touch'd his queen

To vice 45
Forbiddenly.
Pol.

you

O, then my best blood turn.

To an infected jelly; and my name

Be yok'd with his, that did betray the Best 46!
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.
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 fabrick of his folly; whose foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.

Swear his thought over 47

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 Shall bear along impawn'd,-away to-night. Your followers I will whisper to the business; And will, by twos, and threes, at several posterns, Clear them o'the city: For myself, I'll put

45 To vice you to't, i. e. to screw or move you to it. Shakespeare's time meant any kind of winding screw. of a clock was a common expression.

A vice in

The vice

46 That is Judas. A clause in the sentence of excommunicated persons was:-" let them have part with Judas that betrayed Christ."

47 Swear his thought over. The meaning apparently is “overswear his thought by," &c.

My fortunes to your service, which are here
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain:
For, by the honour of my parents, I

Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer
Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth,
Thereon his execution sworn.

Pol.

I do believe thee:

I saw his heart in's face.

Give me thy hand;

Be pilot to me, and thy places shall

Still neighbour mine 48. 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 49! 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.

48 Thy places shall still neighbour mine, i. e. I will place thee in elevated rank always near to my own in dignity, or near my person. 49 This passage is very obscure, and probably corrupt. I have

sometimes thought that we should read:-
"God comfort

The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en suspicion."

Perhaps the passage as it is will bear this construction :-" Good expedition be my friend, and may my absence bring comfort to the gracious queen who is part of his theme, but who knows nothing, is entirely guiltless, of his unjust suspicion."

ACT II.

SCENE I. Sicilia.

Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies.

Hermione.

AKE the boy to you: he so troubles me,
'Tis past enduring.

1 Lady.

Shall I be your playfellow?

Mam.

Come, my gracious lord,

No, I'll none of you.

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 lord?

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 semicircle,

Or a half-moon made with a pen.

2 Lady.

Who taught you1 this?

Blue, my lord.

Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces.-Pray now What colour are your eye-brows?

1 Lady.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.

Hark

ye:

2 Lady. The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall Present our services to a fine new prince, One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us, If we would have you.

1 Lady.

She is spread of late

1 You is not in the old copy.

Into a goodly bulk: Good time encounter her!

Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come,

sir, now

I am for you again: Pray you, sit by us,

Let's have that, good sir.

Her. 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; Yond' crickets shall not hear it.

Her.

And give't me in mine ear.

Come on then,

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.

How bless'd am I

Leon.
In my just censure?! in my true opinion!—
Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accurs'd,
In being so blest!—There may be in the cup
A spider3 steep'd, and one may drink, depart*,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present

The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides,

2 Censure, i. e. judgment.

3 Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's time. Depart, i. e. go away.