The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare. With a Glossary

Pol.

No longer stay.

Leon. One seven-night longery sooth, to-morrow.

Leon. We'll part the time between's then and in
I'll no gainsaying.
[that
Pol.
Press me not, 'beseech you, so;
There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'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 a whip 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 heid my peace, until
You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, sir,
Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure,
All in Bohemia's weil: this satisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,

He's beat from his best ward.

Leon.

Well said, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong : But let him say so thea, and let him go;

But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,

[ture

We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.-
Yet of your royal presence [To Polixenes.] I'll adven-
'The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia

You take my lord, I'll give him my commission,
To let him there a month, behind the gest

Prefix'd 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?

Leon.

Never, but once.
Her. What! have I twice said well? when was't
before?

I pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and make us
As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongue-
Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that.
[less,
Our praises are our wages: You may ride us,
With one soft kiss, a thousand furlongs, ere
With spur we heat an acre. But to the goal;-
My last good was, to entreat his stay;
What was my first? it has an elder sister,

Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace!
But once before I spoke to the purpose. When?
Nay, let me have't; I long.

Leon.

Why, that was when
Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,
Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,
And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter,
I am yours for ever.

Her.

It is Grace, indeed.
Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice:
The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;
The other, for some while a friend.

Leon.

[Giving her Hand to Polixenes.
Too hot, too hot:
[Aside.

To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods.
I have tremor cordis on me; my heart dances;
But not for joy,-not joy. This entertainment
May a free face put on; ; derive a liberty
From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom,
And well become the agent it may, I grant:
But to be paddling palms, and pinching fingers,
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; O, that is entertainment
My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-Mamillius,
Art thou any boy?

Pol.

No, madam.

I may not, verily.

Her. Verily!

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

Leon.

I'fecks?

Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily,

[oaths,

Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd thy nose ?-

You shall not go: a lady's verily is

Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?

Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees, [you?
When you depart, and save your thanks. How say
My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread verily,

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 gaoler then,

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

Pol.

We were, fair queen,

Two lads, that thought there was no more behind,
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,

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-dyed 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 dear'st! my collop!-Can thy dam?-may't be?
Affection! 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 coactive art,

And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent,
Thou mayst co-join 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.

No, in good earnest.

How sometimes nature will betray its folly,

Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime

To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines

Of my boy's face, methoughts, I did recoil

Twenty-three years; and saw myself unbreech'd,

In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled,

Lest it should bite its master, and so prove,

As ornaments oft do, too dangerous.

How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,

This squash, this gentleman:-Mine honest friend,

At my request, he would not. Will you take eggs for money?

Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st

To better purpose.

Her.

Never!

If you would seek us,

We are yours i'the garden: Shall's attend you there?
Leon. To your own bents dispose you you'll be
Be you beneath the sky:-1 am angling now, (found,
Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to! [Aside. Observing Polix. and Herm.
How she holds up the neb, the bill to him!
And arms her with the boldness of a wife

To her allowing husband! Gone already; [one. Inch-thick, knee-deep; o'er head and ears a fork'd [Exeunt Polixenes, Hermione, and Attendants.

Go, play, boy, play;-thy mother plays, and I
Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and clamour
Will be my knell. Go, Go, play, boy, play;- -There have
Or I am much deceiv'd, cucko ckolds ere now;

[been,

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 sluic'd in his absence,
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by

Sir Smile, his neighbour: 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?

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.

man.

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.

Leon.

Didst perceive it!They're here with me already; whispering, rounding, Sicilia is a so-forth: "Tis far gone,

When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo, That he did stay?

Cam.

At the good queen's entreaty.

Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be perti But so it is, it is not. Was this taken

By any understanding pate but thine?

For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in

[nent;

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 understand

Bobemia stays here longer.

Leon.

Cam.

Leon. Ay, but why?

Ha?

Stays here longer.

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-counsels; 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.

I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;

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, Camille, (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 hobbyhorse; 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.

Is leaning cheek to cheek ? is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? lip? stopping the career
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 blind
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.

Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I [hanging

Had servants true about me: that bare eyes
To see alike mine honour 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 förm

Have bench'd, and rear'd to worship; who mayst see
Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees heaven,
How I am galled,-mightst bespice a cup,

To give mine enemy a lasting wink;

Which draught to me were cordial.

Leon.

What incidency thou dost guess of harm

Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near; Which way to be prevented, if to be;

Make't thy question, and go rot! Is not this suit of mine, that thou declare
Dost think, I am so muddy, so unsettled,
To appoint myself in this 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? Could man so bleach?

me.

I'll do't, my lord.

[Exit

Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd
Cam. O miserable lady!-But, for me,
What case stand I in? Í 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 anointed kings,
And flourish'd after, I'd not do't but since
Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one,
Let villany itself forswear't. I must

Forsake the court to do't, or no, is certain
To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now
Here comes Bohemia.

None rare, my lord.

Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance,

As he had lost some province, and a region,
Lov'd as he loves himself: even now I met him
With customary compliment; when he,
Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling
A lip 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.

Pol. How dare not? do not. Do you know, and Be intelligent to me? "Tis thereabouts;

[dare not

For, to yourself, what you do know, you must;
And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror

Which shows me mine chang'd too: for I must be
A party in this alteration, finding

Myself thus alter'd with it.

Cam.

There is a sickness

Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well! I must be answer'd. Dost thou hear, Camillo,

I conjure thee, by all the parts of man,

If not, how best to bear it. Cam.

Sir, I'll tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him

That I think honourable: Therefore, mark my counsel;
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 swears,

As he had seen't, or been an instrument
To vice you to't,
Forbiddenly.

that you have touch'd his queen

Pol.

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 savour, 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!

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 honour 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

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 me:
Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing,
Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo;
I will respect thee as a father, if

Thou bear'st my life off hence: Let us avoid.
Cam. It is in mine authority, to command

The keys of all the posterns: Please your highness
To take the urgent hour: come, sir, away. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE 1. The same.

Enter Hermione, Mamillius, and Ladies.

Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,

'Tis past enduring. I Lady.

Come, my gracious lord,

Shall I be your play-fellow? Mam.

No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord ? Mam. Y

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, my good lord?

Mam.

Not for because

Your brows are blacker: yet black brows, they say,

Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the least Become some women best; so that there be not

Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with 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 this, his pander:-

There is a plot against my life, my 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 easily 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.

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

The justice of your hearts will thereto add,

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 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,

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 f-'Beseech your

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

[tress

I trust, I shall. My women, come; you have 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, Yourself, your queen, your son.

1 Lord.

For her, my lord,

I dare my life lay down, and will do't, sir,
Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotiess
I'the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean,
In this which you accuse her.

Ant.

If it prove
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 her;
For every inch of woman in the world,

Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,

If she be.

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves:
You are abus'd, and by some putter-on,

That will be damu'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 honour,

(Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see,

To say, she is a goodly lady, and

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 proceeding:

Yet, for a greater confirmation,

(For, in an act t of this importance, 'twere

Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatch'd

To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,

Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuff'd sufficiency; Now, from the oracle

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 of 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 ladyship

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 doubted

in post, I shall do good.

Emil.

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 more

Now be you blest for it!

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.

You need not fear it, sir:

Paul.

Than what I know, yet shall the oracle

Give rest to the minds of others; such as he,

The child was prisoner to the womb; and is, By law and process of great nature, thence Free'd and enfranchis'd: not a a party to

Whose ignorant credulity will not

The anger of the king; nor guilty of,

Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good, If any be, the trespass of the queen.

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 cause were not in being; part o'the cause She, the adultress; -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?

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