ACT III. SCENE I. The same. A Street in some Town. Enter CLEOMENES and DION. Cleo. The climate's delicate; the air most sweet; Fertile the isle; the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears. Dion. I shall reportFor most it caught me-the celestial habits (Methinks I so should term them) and the reverence Of the grave wearers. wearers. O, the sacrifice! How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly It was i' the offering! Cleo. But of all, the burst And ear-deafening voice o' the oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense, That I was nothing. Dion. If the event o' the journey Prove as successful to the queen,—O, be't so !— The time is worth the use on't. Cleo. Great Apollo, Turn all to the best! These proclamations, So forcing faults upon Hermione, I little like. Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear, or end, the business. When the oracle Thus by Apollo's great divine sealed up) Shall the contents discover, something rare Even then will rush to knowledge. horses! And gracious be the issue! Go,-fresh [Exeunt. 1 Warburton has remarked that the temple of Apollo was at Delphi, which was not an island. But Shakspeare little regarded geographical accuracy. He followed Green's Dorastus and Fawnia, in which it is called the isle of Delphos. There was a temple of Apollo in the isle of Delos. 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, Produce the prisoner. Offi. 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. Offi. 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 and king, thy royal husband; the pretence1 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 Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, I doubt not, then, but innocence shall make 11. e. the design. Shakspeare often uses the word for design or intention. False accusation blush, and tyranny Tremble at patience.-You, my lord, best know 1 A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Have strained, to appear thus: if one jot beyond Leon. Her. That's true enough; More than mistress of, Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. Her. Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not 1 Own, possess. 2 Encounter so uncurrent is unallowed or unlawful meeting.—Strained means swerved or gone astray from the line of duty. The explanations of this passage are not very satisfactory. It appears to be designed as a question. 3 It is to be observed that originally, in our language, two negatives did not affirm, but only strengthen the negation. In this passage, Johnson observes that, according to the present use of words, less should be more, or wanted should be had. At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, To you and toward your friend; whose love had spoke, Even since it could speak, from an infant freely, That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy, I know not how it tastes; though it be dished Is, that Camillo was an honest man; And why he left your court, the gods themselves, Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know You speak a language that I understand not. Leon. Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dreamed it.-As you were past all shame, (Those of your fact are so,) so past all truth; 2 Which to deny, concerns more than avails; for as Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage, Her. 1 See note 1, p. 35. To stand within the level of a gun is to stand in a direct line with its mouth, and in danger of being hurt by its discharge. This expression often occurs in Shakspeare. 2 i. e. they who have done like you. 3 Bugbear. The crown and comfort of my life, your favor, But know not how it went. My second joy, Tell me what blessings I have here alive, Apollo be my judge. This your request 1 Lord. Is altogether just therefore, bring forth, And in Apollo's name, his oracle. [Exeunt certain Officers. Her. The emperor of Russia was my father. O 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! 1 "Starred most unluckily;" ill-starred, born under an inauspicious planet. 2 Strength of limit, i. e. the degree of strength which it is customary to acquire before women are suffered to go abroad after child-bearing. 3 The completeness of my misery. |