The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

That vulgars give bold 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 shall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord,
You scarce can right me throughly then, to say
You did mistake.

Leon. No, no; if I mistake

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

A school-boy's top.-Away with her to prison:
He, who shall speak for her, is afar off guilty,
But that he speaks. +

Her. There's some ill planet reigns:

I must be patient, till the heavens look
With an aspect more favourable.-Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew,
Perchance, shall dry your pities: but I have
That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns
Worse than tears drown: 'Beseech you all, my
lords,

With thoughts so qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, measure me :-and so
The king's will be perform'd!
Leon. Shall I be heard? [To the Guards.
Her. Who is't, that goes with me ?-'Beseech
your highness,

My women may be with me; for, you see,
My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;
There is no cause: when you shall know your
mistress

Has deserv'd prison, 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 see you sorry; now,

Ant. If it be so,

We need no grave to bury honesty ;
There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.

Leon. What! lack I credit?

1 Lord. I had rather you did lack, than I my lord, [me Upon this ground and more it would content To have her honour true, than your suspicion; Be blam'd for't how you might.

Leon. Why, what need we

Commune with you of this? but rather follow
Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels: but our natural good-

ness

Imparts this which, if you (or stupified,
Or seeming so in skill,) cannot, or will not,
Relish as truth, like us; inform yourselves,
We need no more of your advice: the matter,
The loss, the gain, the ordering on't, is all
Properly our's.

Ant. And I wish, my liege,

You had only in your silent judgment tried it,
Without more overture.

Leon. How could that be!

Either thou art most ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,

(Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation,
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to the deed,) doth push on this pro.
ceeding:

Yet, for a greater confirmation,

(For, in an act of this importance, 'twere
Most piteous to be wild, I have despatch'd in
post,

I trust, I shall.--My women, come; you have To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
leave.

Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence.
[Exeunt QUEEN and LADIES.
1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, call the queen
again.

Ant. Be certain what you do, Sir; lest your
justice

Prove violence; in the which three great ones

suffer,

She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where
I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her;
Than when I feel, and see her, no further trust
For every inch of woman in the world, [her;
Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,
If she be.

Leon. Hold your peaces.

1 Lord. Good my lord,

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves :
You are abus'd, and by some putter-on, ý
That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the
villain,

I would land-damn him: Be she honour-flaw'd,-
I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven ;
The second, and the third, nine, and some five;
If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine

Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
Of stuff'd sufficiency: Now, from the oracle
They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well?
1 Lord. Well done, my lord.

Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no

Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to the minds of others; such as be
Whose ignorant credulity will not

Come up to the truth: So have we thought it
good,

From our free person she should be confin'd;
Lest that the treachery of the two, fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in public: for this business
Will raise us all.

Ant. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.-The same.—The outer Room of
a Prison.

Enter PAULINA and Attendants.
Paul. The keeper of the prison,-call to him;
[Exit an Attendant.
Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good
lady!

No court in Europe is too good for thee,
What dost thou then in prison ?-Now, good
Sir,

Re-enter Attendant, with the KEEPER.
You know me, do you not?

Keep. For a worthy lady,
And one whom much I honour.
Paul. Pray you, then,

Conduct me to the queen.

Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary

I have express commandment.

Paul. Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from

The access of gentle visitors!--Is it lawful,
Pray you, to see her women! any of them?
Emilia ?

• Proof.

In merely speaking,

Of abilities more than sufficien

Keep. So please you, madam, to put Apart these your attendants, I shall bring Emilia forth.

Paul. I pray now, call her.

Withdraw yourselves.

Keep. And, madam,

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 [Exeunt Attend. Might come to me again.-Who's there? [Advancing

I must be present at your conference.
Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee.

(Erit KEEPER.
Here's such ado to make no stain a stain,
As passes colouring.

Re-enter KEEPER, with EMILIA.
Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?
Emil. As well as one so great, and so for-
lorn,

May hold together: On her frights, and griefs,
(Which never tender lady hath borne greater,)
She is, something before her time, deliver❜d.
Paul. A boy?

Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lusty, and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in't: says, My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.

Paul. I dare be sworn.

These dangerous unsafe lunes o'the king! shrew 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-look'd anger be
The trumpet any more :-Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my 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 lady-
ship

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 doubt-
I shall do good.

Emil. Now be you bless'd for it!

[ed

I'll to the queen: Please you, come something

nearer.

Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to send
the babe,

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.-The same.-A Room in the
Palace.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and other
ATTENDANTS.

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

To bear the matter thus: mere weakness, if
The
were not being;-part o'the

cause

cause,

She, the adultress;-for the harlot king

• Frenzies.

1 Atten. My lord?

Leon. How does the boy?

1 Attend. He took good rest to-night; 'Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. To see,

His nobleness!

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.]-Fie, fie! 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;

Shall she, within my power.

Enter PAULINIA, with a Child,

1 Lord. You must not enter.

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

to me :

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

Ant. That's enough.

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

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 heavings,-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. What noise there, ho?

Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful con-
ference,

About some gossips for your highness.
Leon. How?--

Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus,

I charg'd thee that she should not come about ine;
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 bear!

When she will take the rein, I let her run;
But she'll not stumble.

Paul. Good my liege, I come,-
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, t
Than such as most seems your's;-i say, I come
From your good queen.

Leon. Good queen!

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

Unvenerable be thy hands, if thon

Tak'st up the princess, by that forced § baseness

Which he has put upon't?

Leon. He dreads his wife.

Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you,
Yea, scandalous to the world.
Leon. On your allegiance,

Out of the chamber with her.
rant,

Were I a ty

Where were her life? she durst not call me so, If she did know me one. Away with her.

Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone.

Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis your's: Jove send her

A better guiding spirit!-What need these bands ?

You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,
Will never do him good, not one of you.
So, so-Farewell; we are gone.
Leon. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to
this.-

[Exit.

Paul. So, I would, you did; then, 'twere past Within this hour bring me word 'tis done,

all doubt,

You'd call your children your's.

Leon. A nest of traitors!

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, ||

Of boundless tongue; who late hath beat her husband,

And now baits mel-This brat is none of mine;
It is the issue of Polixenes :

Hence with it; and, together with the dam,
Commit them to the fire.

Paul. It is your's;

And, might we lay the old proverb to your

charge,

So like you, 'tis the worse.-Behold, my lords,
Although the print be little, the whole matter
And copy of the father: eye, nose, lip,
The trick of his frown, his forehead; nay, the
valley,
[suiles;
The pretty dimples of his chin, and cheek; his;
The very mould and frame of hand, nail, finger
And thou, good goddess nature which hast

made it

So like to him that got it, if thou hast

The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours

No yellowin't; lest she suspect, as he does, Her children not her husband's !

Leon. A gross hag!

And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd,
That wilt not stay her tongue.

Ant. Hang all the husbands,

That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Hardly one subject.

Leon. Once more, take her hence.

Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more.

Leon. I'll have thee burn'd.

Paul. I care not:

It is a heretic that makes the fire,

Not she, which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant ;

(And by good testimony,) or I'll seize thy life, With what thou else cali'st thine: If thou re

fuse,

And wit encounter with my wrath, say so;
The bastard's brains with these my proper

hands

Hasting to the court.

1 Lord. So please yon, Sir, their speed Hath been beyond account.

Leon. Twenty-three days

They have been absent: Tis good speed; foretels,
The great Apollo suddenly will have

The truth of this appear. Prepare you lords;
Summon a session, that we may arraign
Our most disloyal lady: for, as she hath
Been publicly accus'd, so shall she have
A just and open trial. While she lives,
My heart will be a burden to me.
And think upon my bidding.

ACT III.

Leave me ; [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same.-A Court of Justice. LEONTES, LORDS, and OFFICERS, appear properly seated.

Leon. This sessions (to our great grief, we

pronounce,)

Even pushes 'gainst our heart: The party tried,
The daughter of a king; our wife; and one
Of us too much belov'd.-Let us be clear'd
of being tyrannous, since we so openly
Proceed in justice; which shall have due course,
Even to the guilt, or the purgation
Produce the prisoner.

Off. It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen

Appear in person here in court.-Silence! HERMIONE is brought in, guarded; PAULINA and LADIES, attending.

Leon. Read the indictment.

Ofi. Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia; and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband; the pretence whereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night.

Her. Since what I am to say, must be but that

Which contradicts my accusation; and

The testimony on my part, no other

But what comes from myself; it shall scarce boot me

To say, Not guilty: mine integrity,
Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,
Be so receiv'd. But thus,-If powers divine
Behold our human actions, (as they do,)

I doubt not then, but innocence shall make
False accusation blush, and tyranny

Tremble at patience.-You, my lord, best know,
(Who least will seem to do so,) my past life
Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,
As I am now unhappy; which is more
Than history can pattern, though devis'd,
And play'd, to take spectators: For behold

yond

The bound of honour; or, in act, or will, That way inclining; harden'd be the hearts Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin Cry, Fie upon my grave!

Leon. I ne'er heard yet,

That any of these bolder vices wanted Less impudence to gainsay what they did, Than to perform it first.

Her. That's true enough;

Though 'tis a saying, Sir, not due to me.
Leon. You will not own it.
Her. More than mistress of,

A lady like me; with a love, even such,
So, and no other, as yourself commanded :

Re-enter OFFICERS, with CLEOMENES and DION.

Offi. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice,

That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have

Been both at Delphos; and from thence have brought

This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd

Which not to have done, I think, had been in Of great Apollo's priest; and that, since then,

Both disobedience and ingratitude,

To you, and toward your friend; whose love had spoke,

Ryen since it could speak, from an infant, freely,

That it was your's. Now, for conspiracy,

I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd
For me to try how all I know of it,

Is, that Camillo was an honest man ;

And, why he left your court, the gods themselves,

Wotting no more than 1, are ignorant.

Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know

What you have underta'en to do in his absence.
Her. Sir,

You speak a language that I understand not:
My life stands in the level of your dreams,

Which I'll lay down.

Leon. Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes,

And I but dream'd it :-As you were past all

shame,

(Those of your fact + are so,) so past all truth: Which to deny, concerns more than avails: For as

Thy brat hath been cast out, like to thyself,
No father owning it, (which is, indeed,
More criminal in thee, than it,) so thou

Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage,
Look for no less than death.

Her. Sir, spare your threats;

The bug, which you would fright me with, I seek.

To me can life be no commodity :

The crown and comfort of my life, your favour,
I do give lost; for I do feel it gone,
But know not how it went: My second joy,
And first fruits of my body, from his presence,
I am barr'd, like one infectious: My third com-
fort,

Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast
The innocent milk, in its most innocent mouth,
Haled out to murder: Myself on every post
Proclaim'd a strumpet: With immodest hatred,
The child-bed privilege denied, which 'longa
To women of all fashion :-Lastly, hurried
Here to this place, i'the open air, before
I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege,
Tell me what blessings I have here alive,
That I should fear to die? Therefore, proceed.
But yet hear this; mistake me not;--No!
life,

I prize it not a straw; but for mine honour,
(Which I would free,) if I shall be condemn'd
Upon surmises, (all proofs sleeping else,
But what your jealousies awake) I tell you,
'Tis rigour and not law.-Your bonours all,
I do refer me to the oracle;

Apollo be my judge.

1 Lord. This your request

Is altogether just: therefore, bring forth,
And in Apollo's name his oracle.

[Exeunt certain OFFICERS.
Her. The emperor of Russia was my father:
Oh! that he were alive, and here beholding
His daughter's trial! that he did but see
The flatness of my misery; yet with eyes
Of pity, not revenge;

Is within the reach.

+They who have done like you.

Ill-starred; born under an inauspicious planet. 1. e. The degree of strength which it is customary to acquire before women are suffered to go abroad after child-bearing

You have not dar'd to break the holy seal,
Nor read the secrets in't.

Cleo. Dion. All this we swear.

Leon. Break up the seals, and read.

Offi. [Reads.] Hermione is chaste, Polixenes, blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that, which is lost, be not found. Lords. Now blessed be the great Apollo ! Her. Praised!

Leon. Hast thou read truth?

As it is here set down.

Offi. Ay, my lo d; even so

Leon. There is no truth at all i'the oracle: The sessions shall proceed; this is mere false. hood.

Enter a SERVANT hastily.

Serv. My lord the king, the king!

Leon. What is the business?

The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear
Serv. O Sir, I shall be hated to report it:
Of the queen's speed is gone.

Leon. How! gone?

Serv. Is dead.

Paul. This news is mortal to the queen :Look down

And see what death is doing.

Leon. Take her hence :

Her heart is but o'ercharg'd; she will recover.I have too much believ'd mine own suspicion :'Beseech you, tenderly apply to her

Some remedies for life.-Apollo, pardon

[Exeunt PAULINA and LADIES, with HERM. I'll reconcile me to Polixenes; My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle !—

New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo ;
Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy :
For, being transported by my jealousies
To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose
Camillo for the minister, to poison

My friend Polixenes which had been done,
But that the good mind of Camillo tardied
My swift command, though I, with death and
with

Reward, did threaten and encourage him,
Not doing it, and being done: he, most hu

« Zurück Weiter »

Books

The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, Band 9