Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my | To you a charge and trouble: to save both, knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence- Farewell, our brother.

in so rare-I know not what to say.We will give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us.

Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely.

Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to

utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seemed to be together, though absent; shook bands, as over a vast ; + and embraced, as it were, from the cuds of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen ? speak you.

Her. I had thought, Sir, to have held my
peace, until

You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay.
You, Sir,

Charge bim too coldly: Tell him, you are sure,
All in Bohemia's well; this satisfaction
The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an un-I speakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man.

Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live.

Arch. If the king bad no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one.

[Exeunt. SCENE II-The same.-A Room of state in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MA-
MILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants.
Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have
been
[throne
The shepherd's note, since we have left our
Without a burden: tiine as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply,
With one we-thank-you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leon. Stay your thanks awhile;
And pay them when you part.

Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears, of what may
chance,

Or breed upon our absence: That may blow
No sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have
To tire your royalty.

Leon. We are tougher, brother,

Than you can put us to't.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leon. One seven-night longer.

Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow.

[stay'd

Leon. Well said, Hermione.
Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were
strong:

But let him say so then, and let him go;
But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.-
Yet of your royal presence [TO POLIXENES.]
I'll adventure

The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commis-
sion,
To let him there a month, behind the gest⚫
Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, † Le-
ontes,

love thee not a jar ‡ o'the clock behind
What lady she her lord.-You'll stay?
Pol. No, madam.

Her. Nay, but you will?
Pol. I may not, verily.
Her. Verily !

You put me off with limber § vows: But I,
Though you would seek to unsphere the stars
with oaths,

Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily,
You shall not go; a lady's verily is
As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?
Force me to keep you as a prisoner,
Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees,
When you depart, and save your thanks. How
say you?
[verily,
My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread
One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your guest then, madam :
To be your prisoner, should import offending;
Which is for me less easy to commit,
Than you to punish.

Her. Not your jailer then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you
Of my lord's tricks, and your's, when you were
boys;

You were pretty lordings then.
Pol. We were, fair queen,

Two lads, that thought there was no more be

hiud,

But such a day to-morrow as to day,
And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o'the
two?

Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk

i'the sun,

And bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd,
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd
That any did: Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd
heaven

Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,
Hereditary our's. ¶

Her. By this we gather,

You have tripp'd since.

Pol. O my most sacred lady,

Temptations have since then been born to na:
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl; [for
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young playfellow.

That little thinks she has been sluc'd in his ab-
senice,

And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort
in't,
[open'd,
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates
As mine, against their will: Should, all despair,
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is

none;

It is a bawdy planet, that will strike
Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think
it,
[cluded,
From east, west, north, and south: Be it con-
No barricado for a belly; know it;
It will let in and out the enemy,

With bag and baggage: many a thousand of us
Have the disease, and feel't not. -How now,
boy?

Mam. I am like you, they say. Leon. Why that's some comfort.What! Camillo there?

man.

Cam. Ay, my good lord.
Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest
[Exit MAMILLIUS.
Camillo, this great Sir will yet stay longer.
Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor
hold;

When you cast out, it still came home,
Leon. Didst note it?

Cam. He would not stay at your petitions;
His business more material.
[made
whispering,

Leon. Didst perceive it ?They're here with me already; rounding,

Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone,

Amongst the infinite doings of the world,
Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord,
If ever I were wilful-negligent,
It was my folly; if industriously

play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord;
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me; let me know my trespas
By its own visage: if I then deny it,
'Tis none of mine.

Leon. Have not you seen, Camillo,
(But that's past doubt: you have; or your eye.
glass

Is thicker than a cuckold's horn :) or heard,
(For, to a vision so apparent, rumour
Cannot be mute,) or thought, (for cogitation
Resides not in that man, that does not think it,)
My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,
(Or else be impudently negative,
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then

say,

My wife's a hobby-horse: deserves a name
As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say it, and justify it.

Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this; which to reiterate, were sin
As deep as that, though true.

Leon. Is whispering nothing?

When I shall gust it last.-How came't, Camillo, Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses ? That he did stay?

Cam. At the good queen's entreaty.

Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible

Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?

pertinent;

But so it is, it is not. Was this taken
By any understanding pate but thine?
For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in

More than the common blocks :-Not noted, is't,
But of the finer natures? by some severals,
Of head-piece extraordinary ? lower messes, t
Perchance, are to this business purblind: say.
Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most un-
derstand

Bohemia stays here longer.

Leon. Ha?

Cam. Stays here longer.

Leon. Ay, but why?

Cam. To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties

Of our most gracious mistress.

Leon. Satisfy

The entreaties of your mistress ?--satisfy ?—
Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo,
With all the nearest things to my heart, as well
My chamber-councils: wherein, priest-like, thou
Hast cleans'd my bosom; I from thee departed
Thy penitent reform'd: but we have been
Deceiv'd in thy integrity, deceiv'd

In that which seems so.

Cam. Be it forbid, my lord !

Leon. To bide upon't ;-Thou art not honest:

or,

If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward;
Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining
From course requir'd: Or else thou must be
counted

A servant, grafted in my serious trust,
And therein negligent; or else a fool,

That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake
drawn,

And tak'st it all for jest.

Cam. My gracious lord,

I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that nis negligence, his folly, fear,

• To rosad in the ear was to tell secretly.
1 luferiors in ank.
† Taste.
To box is to hamstring.

Skulking in corners ? wishing clocks more swift?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes
blind

With the pin and web, but their's, their's only,
That would unseen be wicked? Is this nothing?
Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is no-
thing;

The covering sky is nothing: Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these no-
things

If this be nothing.

Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd

Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;
For 'tis most dangerous.

Leon. Say, it be; 'tis true.
Cam. No, no, my lord.

Leon. It is; you lie, you lie :

I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee:
Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave;
Or else a hovering temporizer, that
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as ber life, she would not live
The running of one glass. +

Cam. Who does infect her?

Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal,
hanging

About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I
Had servants true about me: that bare eyes
To see alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts,-they would do

Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, thereon

His execution sworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:

I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places shall

Still neighbour mine; 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

Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and LADIES.
Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,

'Tis past enduring.

1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord,

Shall be your playfellow ?

Mam. No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord?

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.

Leon. How bless'd am I

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 spider + 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 drank, he cracks his gorge, his
sides,

With violent hefts: -I have drank, and seen
the spider.

Camillo was his help in his, his pander :-
There is a plot against my life, iny crown;
All's true that is mistrusted :-that false villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him :
He has discover'd my design, and I
Remain a pinch'd thing; § yea, a very trick
For them to play at will:-How came the posterns
So casily open?

1 Lord. By his great authority;
Which often hath no less prevail'd than so,
On your command.

Leon. I know't too well.——

Give me the boy; I am glad you did not nurse

him:

Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.

Her. What is this? sport?

Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come
about her;

Away with him :-and let her sport herself
With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes

Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me Has made thee swell thus.

as if

I were a baby still.-I love you better. 2 Lady. And why so, my good 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 simi-circle,
Or 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 are your eye-brows?

1 Lady. Blue, my lord.

Her. But I'd say, he had not,

And, I'll be sworn, you would believe my saying,
Howe'er you lean to the nayward.

Leon. You, my lords

Look on her, mark her well; be but about
To say, she is a goodly lady, and
The justice of your hearts will thereto add,
'Tis pity, she's not honest, honourable ;
Praise her but for this her without-door form,
(Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and
straight

The shrug, the hum, or ha; these pretty brands,
That calumny doth use:-Oh! I am out,
That mercy does; for calumny will sear ||

Mum. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a Virtue itself:-these shrugs, these hums, and

lady's nose

That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.
2 Lady. Hark ye:

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
If we would have you.

1 Lady. She is spread of late

[us,

Into a goodly bulk: Good time encounter her!
Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come,

Sir, now

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

And tell's a tale.

Mam. Merry, or sad, shall't be ?

Her. As merry as you will.

Mam. A sad tale's best for winter:

I have one of sprites and goblins.
Her. Let's have that, Sir.

Come on, sit down :-Come on, and do your best
To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful

at it.

She's an adultress.

Hler. Should a villain say so,

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

Leon. You have mistook, my lady,
Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing,
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,
Should a like language use to all degrees,
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar!-I have said,
She's an adultress; I have said with whom
More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is
A federary with her; and one that knows
What she would shame to know herself,
But with her most vile principal that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those

Oh! that my knowledge were less.

+ Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's
time.
1 Heavings.

A thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet.
Brand as infamous.