SCENE I-Sicilia. An Antechamber in Leontes'

Palace.

Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS.

Arch. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia.

Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which. he justly owes him."

Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, indeed,— Cam. 'Beseech you,

Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificencein 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 hands, as over a vast; and embraced as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable 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?

: Supplied by substitution of embassies.

9 Wide waste of country.

Cam. Yes: if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeund.

SCENE II. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMIL. LIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants.

Pol. Nine changes of the wat`ry star have been
The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne
Without a burden: time 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 chaton 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 stay'd To tire your royalty.

Leon.

We are tougher, brother,

Than you can put us to't.

Pol.
Leon. One seven-night longer.
Pol.

No longer stay.
Very sooth, to-morr. w.
Leon. We'll part the time between's then: and
in that
I'll no gain-saying.

Pol.

Press me not, 'beseech you so: There is no tongue that moves, none, none the world, So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, Were there necessity in your request, although Twere needful I denied it. My affairs Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder, Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay, To you a charge, and trouble: to save both, Farewell, our brother.

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. Her. I had thought, sir, to have hek my peace, until

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

Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure,

Affords a cordial to the state.

230

Nipping.

You take my lord, I'll give him my commission,
To let him there a month, behind the gest
Prefixed for his parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o'the clock behind
What lady she her lord.-You'll stay?

Pol.

Her. Nay, but you will.

Pol.

Her. Verily!

No, madam.

I may not, verily.

You put me off with limber vows: But I,

oaths.

Not your gaoler then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you
et my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were boys:
You were pretty lordlings then.
Pol.
We were, fair queen,
Taolads, that thought there was no more belind,
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 changed,
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 reared
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd
heaven

Bidly, Not guilty: the imposition clear'd,
Hereditary ours.

lier.

You have tripp'd since.

By this we gather,

Pol. O my most sacred lady, Temptations have since then been borne to us: for In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl; Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes of tay young play-fellow.

Her.

Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclusion; lest you say,
Your queen and I are devils: Yet go on;

The offences we have made you do, we'll answer;
If you first sinn'd with us, and that with us
You did continue fault, and that you slipp'd not
With any but with us.

Leon

Is he won yet?

As now they are; and making practis d smiles,
As in a looking-glass;—and then to sigh, as 'twere
The mort o' the deer; 0, that is entertainment
My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-Mamillus,
Art thou my boy?

Mum. Leon.

Ay, my good lord.

I fecks ? Why that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd thy nose!

They say it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain,
We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain.
And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf,
Are all call'd neat.-Still virginalling

[Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE Upon his palm ?-How now, you wanton calf? Art thou my calf?

Mam.
Yes, if you will, my lord.
Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots
that I have,

To be full like me:-yet, they say we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will say any thing: but were they false
As o'er-died blacks, as wind, as waters; false
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
No bourn 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true
To say this boy were like me.-Come, sir page,
Look on me with your welkin' eye: Sweet villain!
Most dearest! my collop?-Can thy dam?-may`t be?
Allection! thy intention stabs the centre:
Thou dost make possible, things not so held,
Communicat st with dreams;-(How can this be?)
With what s unreal thou co-active art,
And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent,
Thou may'st co-jom with something; and thou dost:
(And that beyond commission; and I find it :)
And that to the infection of my brains,
And hardening of my brows.

If at home, sir,

Are you sc fond of your young prince, as we
Do seem to be of ours?
Pul.
He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter:
Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parasite, ny soldier, statesman. all:
He makes a July's day short as December;
And, with his varying childness, cures in me
Thoughts that would thick my blood.
Leon.
So stands this squire
Officed with me: we two will walk, my lord,
And leave you to your graver steps.-Hermione,
How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's welcome:
Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap:
Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's
Apparent to my heart.

Her.

If you would seek us, We are your's i'the garden: Shall's attend you there? Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,

Be you beneath the sky :-I am angling now,
Though you perceive me not how I give line."
Go to, go to"

Aside. Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE.
How she holds up the neb,' the bill to him!
And arins her with the boldness of a wife
To her allowing husband! Gone already;
Inch-thick, knee-deep; o`er head and ears a fork'd

one.

[Exeunt POLIXEN ES, HERMIONE, and
Attendants.

Go, play, boy, play ;-thy mother plays, and I
Play too; but so disgraced a part, whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and clamor
Will be my knell,-Go, play, boy, play;-There
have been,

Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm,
That little thinks she has been sluiced in his absence,
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbor, by
Sir Smile, his neighbor: nay, there's comfort in't,
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates
open'd,

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, From east, west, north, and south; Be it concluded, 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.
What! Camillo there?

man.

Why, that's some comfort.

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; made His business more material. Didst perceive it? They're here with me already; whispering, rounding.

Leon.

Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone,
When I shall gusts it last.-How cam't, Camillo,
That he did stay?

Cam.

At the good queen's entreaty. Leon. At the queen's be't; good should be 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,"
Perchance, are to this business purblind: say.
Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most under-
stand

Bohemia stays here longer.

Heir apparent, next claimant.

1 Mouth.

A horned one, a cuckold,

• Approving.

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 required: 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 tearful;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
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

I 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 trespass
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, rumor
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!
Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses!
Kissing with inside lip stopping the carcer
Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible
Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners wishing clocks more swift?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes bund
With the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only,
That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing!
Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is nothing,
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings
If this be nothing.

Cam.
Good my lord, be cured
Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;
For 'tis most dangerous.

Leon.

Cam. No, no, my lord. Leon.

Say, it be; 'tis true.

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 her life, she would not live The running of one glass.

Cam.

To hox is to hamstring.

Who does infect her

Disorders of the ef

About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I

Had servants true about me, that bare cyes
To see alike mine honor as their profits,

Their own particular thrifts,—they would do that
Which should undo more doing: Ay, and thou,
His cupbearer,-whom I from meaner form

Have bench'd, and rear'd to worship; who may'st

I have lov'd thee,

Leon. Make't thy question, and go rot! Dost think, I am so muddy, so unsettled, To appoint myself in this vexation? sully The purity and whiteness of my sheets,

Which to preserve, is sleep; which being spotted,
Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps!

Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son
Who, I do think, is mine, and love as mine;
Without ripe moving to't? Would I do this?
Conld man so blench!!

Cam.
I must believe you, sir
I do: and will fetch off Bohemia for't:
Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness
Will take again your queen, as yours at first;
Even for your son's sake: and, thereby, for sealing
The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms
Known and allied to yours.

Lan.

Thou dost advise me,

Even so as I mine own course have set down:
I'd give no blemish to her honor, none.
Cam. My lord.

Go then; and with a countenance as clear

As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia,
And with your queen: I am his cupbearer;
If from me he have wholesome beverage,
Account me not your servant.

This is all;

Lean. Dot, and thou hast the one half of my heart; Do't not, thou split'st thine own. Cam. I'll do't, my lord. Lean. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd [Exit.

me.

Cam. O miserable lady!-But, for me, What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner Of good Polixenes: and my ground to do't Is the obedience to a master; one, Who, in rebellion with himself, will have All that are his, so too. To do this deed, Promotion follows: If I could find example Of thousands, that had struck annointed kings, And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one Let villany itself forsweart. I must Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now! Here comes Bohemia.

POL.

Enter POLIXENES. This is strange, methinks, My favor here begins to warp. Not speak?God-day, Camillo. Cam. Hail, most royal sir! Pol. What is the news i' the court? Cum.

None rare, my lord. Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance, As he had lost some province, and a region, Lord as he loves himself: even now I met him With customary compliment; when he, Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling Ap of much contempt, speeds from me: and So leaves me, to consider what is breeding, That changes thus his manners.

Cam. I dare not know, my lord.

Which shows me me changed too: for I must be
A party in this alteration, finding
Myself thus alter'd with it.

Cam.
There is a sickness
Which puts some of us in distemper; but
I cannot name the disease; and it is caught
Of you that yet are well.
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. Cainillo,-
As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienced, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whose success we are gentle,-I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my knowl-
edge

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 answered.-Dost thou hear. Camillo,
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man,
Which honor 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'll tell you;
Since I am charged in honor, and by him
That I think honorable: Therefore, mark my cour..
sel;

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!

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he

O, then my best blood turn
To an infected jelly; and my name
Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to
A savor 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.
Swear his thought over
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 fabric of his folly; whose foundation
Is piled upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.
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
My fortunes to your service, which are here
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;
For, by the honor 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

dare not

de intelligent to me? 'Tis thereabouts;

For, to yourself, what you do know, you must; And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo, •Hasty. i. e. So start off from propriety.

Two days ago.This jealousy

Is for a precious creature: as she's rare,

2 For succession.

Gentle was opposed to simple; well born. 4i. e. The person. Draw.

Come, my gracious lord,

Shall I be your play-fellow !
Mam.

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, iny good lord! Mum.

Not for because

Exeuni

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 easily open?

1 Lord.

By his great authority;

Which often hath no less prevailed than so,

On your command.

Leon.

say,

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 us
If we would have you.
1 Lady.
She is spread of late
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,
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.

Leon.

How bless'd am I,

In my just censure?s 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:-1 have drank, and seen the
spider.

Camillo was his help in this, his pander :-
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true that is mistrusted-that false villain,
Whom I employed, was pre-employ'd by him:
Judgment.

Heavings.

With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes
Has made thee swell thus.
Her.

But I'd say he had not
And, I'll be sworn, you would believe iny 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
'Tis pily she's not honest, honorable:
The justice of your hearts will thereto add,

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 petty brands,
That calumny doth use:-), I am out.
That mercy does; for calumny will sear
Virtue itself:-These shrugs, these hums, and ba's,
When you have said, she's goodly, come between,
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,
Ere you can say she's honest: But be it known.

She's an adultress.
Her.
Should a villain say so,
The most replenish'd villain in the world,
He were as inuch more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.
Leon.
You have mistook, my lady.
Polixenes for Leontes: 0 thou thing,
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
Should a like language use to all degrees,
Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
She's an adultress; I have said with whom:
Betwixt the prince and beggar!-I have said,
More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is

A fedary with her; and one that knows
What she should shame to know herself,
But with her most vile principal, that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold titles; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.

Her.

No, by my life, When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that Privy to none of this: How will this grieve you, You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord, You scarce can right me thoroughly 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 reignst
With an aspect more favorable. Good my lords,
I must be patient, till the heavens look
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew,
Perchance, shall dry our pities: but I have
That honorable grief lodg'd here, which burns
A thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet.
• Brand as infamous. A Confederate.
Remotely guilty.

• Only In merely speaking