Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more Than what I know, yet shall the oracle

Give rest to the minds of others; such as he,
Whose ignorant credulity will not

Come up to the truth. So have we thought it good,
From our free person she should be confined;
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,

Pray you, then,

And one whom I much honor.

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 honor from

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

Keep. So please you, madam, to put

Apart these your attendants, I shall bring

Emilia forth.

I pray now, call her.

Paul.
Withdraw yourselves.

Keep.

[Exeunt Attend.

And, madam,

[Exit Keeper.

I must be present at your conference.

Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee.

Here's such ado to make no stain a stain,

As passes coloring.

Re-enter Keeper, with EMILIA.

Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?
Emil. As well as one so great, and so forlorn,
May hold together. On her frights and griefs
(Which never tender lady hath borne greater)
She is, something before her time, delivered.
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! beshrew

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-mouthed, let my tongue blister;
And never to my red-looked 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.

1 Lunes. This word has not been found in any other English writer; but it is used in old French for frenzy, lunacy, folly. A similar expression occurs in The Revenger's Tragedy, 1608.

VOL. III.

5

Emil.

Most worthy madam,

Your honor, 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 ladyship
To visit the next room, I'll presently

Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who, but to-day, hammered of this design;
But durst not tempt a minister of honor,
Lest she should be denied.

Paul.

I'll use that tongue I have.

Tell her, Emilia,

If wit flow from it,

As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted

I shall do good.

Emil.

I'll to the queen.

Now be you blest for it!

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 enfranchised: 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.

Do not you

Paul.
Mine honor, I will stand 'twixt you and danger.

fear; upon

[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 weak

ness

To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if

The cause were not in being;-part o' the cause,

She, the adult'ress;-for the harlot king
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
Might come to me again.- Who's there?
1 Attend.

-

Leon. How does the boy? 1 Attend.

My lord! [Advancing.

He took good rest to-night;

'Tis hoped his sickness is discharged.

Leon.

His nobleness!

Conceiving the dishonor of his mother,

To see

He straight declined, drooped, took it deeply;
Fastened and fixed the shame on't in himself;
Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And downright languished.-Leave me solely; 2—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; nor
Shall she, within my power.

1 Lord.

Enter PAULINA, with a Child.

You must not enter.

Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me. you his tyrannous passion more, alas,

Fear

Than the queen's life? a gracious, innocent soul;
More free, than he is jealous.

3

1 Blank and level mean mark and aim, or direction. They are terms

of gunnery.

2 i. e. leave me alone.

3 Free, i. e. as here used, pure, chaste.

Ant.

That's enough.

1 Attend. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; com

manded

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 humor,
That presses him from sleep.

Leon.

What noise there, ho!

your highness.

How?

Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference About some gossips for

Leon.

Away with that audacious lady. Antigonus,

I charged thee, that she should not come about me; 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 honor,) trust it,
He shall not rule me.

Ant.
Lo you now; you hear!
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 profess1
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dare
Less appear so, in comforting your evils,
Than such as most seem yours;-I say, I come
From your good queen.

1 The old copy has professes.

2 "In comforting your evils." To comfort, in old language, is to aid, to encourage. Evils here mean wicked courses.