Part 27
_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, 130 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, 135 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, Communicatest with dreams;--how can this be?-- 140 With what's unreal them 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 145 And hardening of my brows.
_Pol._ What means Sicilia?
_Her._ He something seems unsettled.
_Pol._ How, my lord! What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?
_Her._ You look As if you held a brow of much distraction: Are you moved, my lord?
_Leon._ No, in good earnest. 150 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, 155 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, 160 Will you take eggs for money?
_Mam._ No, my lord, I'll fight.
_Leon._ You will! why, happy man be's dole! My brother, Are you so fond of your young prince, as we Do seem to be of ours?
_Pol._ If at home, sir, 165 He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter: Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy; My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all: He makes a July's day short as December; And with his varying childness cures in me 170 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 lovest us, show in our brother's welcome; Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap: 175 Next to thyself and my young rover, he's Apparent to my heart.
_Her._ 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 found, Be you beneath the sky. [_Aside_] I am angling now, 180 Though you perceive me not how I give line. Go to, go to! How she holds up the neb, the bill to him! And arms her with the boldness of a wife To her allowing husband! [_Exeunt Polixenes, Hermione, and Attendants._
Gone already! 185 Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one! 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 clamour Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play. There have been, 190 Or I am much deceived, 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's absence And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by 195 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; 200 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't; It will let in and out the enemy 205 With bag and baggage: many thousand on's Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!
_Mam._ I am like you, they say.
_Leon._ Why, that's some comfort. What, Camillo there?
_Cam._ Ay, my good lord. 210
_Leon._ Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man. [_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 215 His business more material.
_Leon._ Didst perceive it? [_Aside_] 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. 220
_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, 225 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 Bohemia stays here longer.
_Leon._ Ha!
_Cam._ Stays here longer. 230
_Leon._ Ay, but why?
_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, 235 With all the nearest things to my heart, as well My chamber-councils; wherein, priest-like, thou Hast cleansed my bosom, I from thee departed Thy penitent reform'd: but we have been Deceived in thy integrity, deceived 240 In that which seems so.
_Cam._ Be it forbid, my lord!
_Leon._ To bide upon't, thou art not honest; or, If thou inclinest that way, thou art a coward, Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining From course required; or else thou must be counted 245 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 takest it all for jest.
_Cam._ My gracious lord, I may be negligent, foolish and fearful; 250 In every one of these no man is free, But that his negligence, his folly, fear, Among the infinite doings of the world, Sometime puts forth. In your affairs, my lord, If ever I were wilful-negligent, 255 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 260 Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear Which oft infects 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 265 By its own visage: if I then deny it, 'Tis none of mine.
_Leon._ Ha' 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 rumour 270 Cannot be mute,--or thought,--for cogitation Resides not in that man that does not think,-- My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess, Or else be impudently negative, To have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then say 275 My wife's a hobby-horse; deserves a name As rank as any flax-wench that puts to Before her troth-plight: say't and justify't.
_Cam._ I would not be a stander-by to hear My sovereign mistress clouded so, without 280 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? 285 Kissing with inside 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 290 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, 295 If this be nothing.
_Cam._ Good my lord, be cured Of this diseased opinion, and betimes; For 'tis most dangerous.
_Leon._ Say it be, 'tis true.
_Cam._ No, no, my lord.
_Leon._ It is; you lie, you lie: I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee, 300 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 305 The running of one glass.
_Cam._ Who does infect her?
_Leon._ Why, he that wears her like her medal, hanging About his neck, Bohemia: who, if I Had servants true about me, that bare eyes To see alike mine honour as their profits, 310 Their own particular thrifts, they would do that Which should undo more doing: ay, and thou, His cup-bearer,--whom I from meaner form Have bench'd and rear'd to worship, who mayst see Plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven, 315 How I am gall'd,--mightst bespice a cup, To give mine enemy a lasting wink; Which draught to me were cordial.
_Cam._ Sir, my lord, I could do this, and that with no rash potion, But with a lingering dram, that should not work 320 Maliciously like poison: but I cannot Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress, So sovereignly being honourable. I have loved thee,--
_Leon._ Make that thy question, and go rot! Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled, 325 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, 330 Who I do think is mine and love as mine, Without ripe moving to't? Would I do this? Could man so blench?
_Cam._ I must believe you, sir: I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't; Provided that, when he's removed, your highness 335 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.
_Leon._ Thou dost advise me Even so as I mine own course have set down: 340 I'll give no blemish to her honour, 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 cup-bearer: 345 If from me he have wholesome beverage, Account me not your servant.
_Leon._ This is all: Do't and thou hast the one half of my heart; Do't not, thou splitt'st thine own.
_Cam._ I'll do't, my lord.
_Leon._ I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me. 350 [_Exit._
_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 355 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'ld not do't; but since Nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one, 360 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.
_Re-enter_ POLIXENES.
_Pol._ This is strange: methinks My favour here begins to warp. Not speak? 365 Good day, Camillo.
_Cam._ Hail, most royal sir!
_Pol._ What is the news i' the court?
_Cam._ None rare, my lord.
_Pol._ The king hath on him such a countenance As he had lost some province and a region Loved as he loves himself: even now I met him 370 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. 375
_Cam._ I dare not know, my lord.
_Pol._ How! dare not! do not. Do you know, and dare not? Be intelligent to me: 'tis thereabouts; For, to yourself, what you do know, you must, And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo, 380 Your changed complexions are to me a mirror Which shows me mine changed too; for I must be A party in this alteration, finding Myself thus alter'd with't.
_Cam._ There is a sickness Which puts some of us in distemper; but 385 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. Camillo,-- 390 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 knowledge 395 Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not In ignorant concealment.
_Cam._ I may not answer.
_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 400 Which honour 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; 405 If not, how best to bear it.
_Cam._ Sir, I will tell you; Since I am charged in honour and by him That I think honourable: therefore mark my counsel, Which must be ev'n as swiftly follow'd as I mean to utter it, or both yourself and me 410 Cry lost, and so good night!
_Pol._ On, good Camillo.
_Cam._ I am appointed him to murder you.
_Pol._ By whom, Camillo?
_Cam._ By the king.
_Pol._ For what?
_Cam._ He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, As he had seen't, or been an instrument 415 To vice you to't, that you have touch'd his queen Forbiddenly.
_Pol._ O, then my best blood turn To an infected jelly and my name Be yoked with his that did betray the Best! Turn then my freshest reputation to 420 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!
_Cam._ Swear his thought over By each particular star in heaven and 425 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 430 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 435 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 440 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 445 His execution sworn.
_Pol._ I do believe thee: I saw his heart in's 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 450 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 455 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; 460 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._ 465
LINENOTES:
## SCENE II. A room....] Capell. Scene opens to the Presence. Theobald.
Camillo] om. Theobald.
and Attendants] Theobald, om. Ff.
[1] _hath_] _have_ Capell.
[1, 2] _been ... note_] _been_ (_The shepherd's note_,) Warburton.
[8] _moe_] _more_ Rowe.
[9] _a while_] _awhile_ Reed.
[11] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.
[12] _absence_;] _absence_, Ff.
[12, 13] _that may blow No_] _there may blow Some_ Hanmer. _may there blow No_ Warburton.
[12-14] _that ... truly_:] _that ... truly!_ Steevens (Farmer conj.).
[14] _truly_] _early_ Hanmer. _tardily_ Capell.
[17] _seven-night_] _seve'night_ F1 F2 F3. _sev'night_ F4.
[19] _beseech you, so._] _'beseech you!_ Hanmer. _so, beseech you_: Capell.
[20] _world_] F1 F3 F4. _would_ F2.
[28] _to have_] _to've_ Pope.
[29] _You had_] _You 'ad_ Theobald.
[33] [He walks apart. Collier (Collier MS.).
[38] [To Polixenes. Rowe.
[40] _give him_] _give you_ Hanmer (Warburton).
[41] _behind_] _beyond_ Heath conj.
_gest_] F1 F2. _guest_ F3 F4. _just_ Theobald conj. _geste_ Hanmer. _list_ Heath conj.
[42] _good deed,_] (_good-deed_) F1. (_good-heed_) F2. (_good heed_) F3 F4. See note (i).
[44] _lady she_] _lady should_ Collier (Egerton and Collier MSS.). _lady-she_ Staunton.
[50] _'Verily''s_] Staunton and Grant White. _Verely 'is_ F1 F2. _verily is_ F3 F4.
[65, 66] _Was ... two?_] As in Ff. In one line. Hanmer.
[70] _nor dream'd_] F1. _no nor dream'd_ F2 F3 F4. _neither dream'd_ Spedding conj.
[77] _to's_] _to us_ Capell.
[80] _Grace_] _Oh! Grace_ Hanmer. _God's grace_ S. Walker conj.
_boot_] _both_ Heath conj.
[81] _lest_] F4. _least_ F1 F2 F3.
[88] _dearest_] _dear'st_ S. Walker conj.
_never_] _ne'er_ Pope.
[90] _was't_] _'twas_ Steevens (1778). _was it_ Mason conj.
[91] _cram's ... make's_] _cram us ... make us_ Capell.
[96] _heat an acre. But to the goal_;--] _heat an Acre. But to th' Goale_: Ff. (_Goal_ F3 F4). _heat an acre, but to th' goal._ Warburton. _clear an acre. But to the good_: Collier (Collier MS.).
[100] _spoke_] F1 F2. _spake_ F3 F4.
_purpose:_] Capell. _purpose?_ Ff.
[104] _And clap_] F2} F3 F4. _A clap_ F1. _And clepe_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[105] _'Tis_] Ff. _This is_ Hanmer. _It is_ Capell.
[106] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.
[108] [Giving her hand to Pol. Capell.
[Aside.] Rowe.
[112] _derive_] F1. _derives_ F2 F3 F4.
[113] _bounty, fertile bosom_] _bounty's fertile bosom_ Hanmer. _bounty:--fertile become_ Jackson conj.
[114] _well_] F1. _we'l_ F2 F4. _wee'l_ F3.
_become_] _becomes_ Rowe (ed. 2).
_'t may_] _it may_ Steevens.
[117] _looking-glass_] _glass_ S. Walker conj.
[119] _Mamillius_] _Mamillus_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[121] _hast_] Capell. _has't_ Ff.
[122] _They ... captain,_] As two lines in Capell, ending _mine ... captain._
_it is_] _it's_ Warburton. _'t's_ Anon. conj.
[Wipes the boy's face, Hanmer. [Pulling the boy to him and wiping him. Capell.
[123] _but_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.
[124] _heifer_] _heycfer_ F1 F2.
[125] [Observing Polixenes and Hermione. Rowe.
[128] _pash_] _bush_ Becket conj.
[129] _full like_] _full, like_ Ff.
[132] _o'er-dyed_] _o're-dy'd_ F1 F2 F3. _o're di'd_ F4. _our dead_ Collier (Collier MS.), _oft dyed_ Staunton conj.
_wind_] _winds_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[134] _bourn_] Capell. _bourne_ Rowe. _borne_ F1 F2. _born_ F3 F4.
[135] _were_] _is_ Hanmer.
[136] _welkin eye_] _welking eye_ Rowe (ed. 2). _welkin-eye_ Theobald.
[137] _dam?_--] _dam?_ Rowe. _dam_, Ff.
[137, 138] _may't be?--Affection, ... centre_] Steevens. _may't be? Affection, thy intention stabs to the center_ Capell. _may't be Affection? ... centre_ Ff. _may't be--Imagination! thou dost stab to th' center_ Rowe.
[138-146] _Affection ... brows._] Erased in Collier MS.
[139] _not so_] F1. _not be so_ F2 F3 F4. _not to be so_ Hanmer.
_held,_] _held?_ Staunton.
[140, 141] _dreams;--how ... be?--With ... unreal_] Rann (Theobald conj.). _dreames (how ... be?) With ... unreal_: F1 F2. _dreams (how ... be?) With ... unreal_, F3 F4. _dreams--how ... be With ... unreal_? Pope. _dreams?--how! can this be?--With ... unreal_ Staunton.
[142] _fellow'st_] _follow'st_ Rowe (ed. 2).
_nothing_] _nothings_ Hanmer.
[147, 148] _How, my lord! What ... brother?_] Rann (Steevens). _How? my lord?_ Leo. _What ... brother?_ Ff. _How? my lord?_ Leo. _What ... my best brother?_ Rowe. _How? my lord? What ... my best brother?_ Hanmer. _Now, my lord? What ... brother?_ Capell. _How is't, my lord? What ... brother?_ Long MS. _How now, my lord?_ Leo. _What ... brother?_ Singer MS. _Ho, my lord! What ... brother?_ Dyce conj.
[148-150] _What ... lord?_] S. Walker arranges as three lines, ending _with you, ... brow ... lord?_
[148] _is't_] _is it_ Rowe (ed. 2).
_best_] _my best_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[150] _Are you_] _Are not you_ Theobald. _Are you not_ Hanmer.
_earnest._] _earnest, no.--_ Capell.
[151] [Aside. Capell.
[151, 152] _its ... Its_] _it's ... It's_ F1 F2. _its ... It's_ F3 F4.
[154] _methoughts_] F4. _me thoughts_ F1 F2 F3. _my thoughts_ Collier (Egerton MS.), _methought_ Staunton. See note (II).
_recoil_] F4. _requoyle_ F1 F2. _recoyl_ F3. _recall_ Grey conj.
[157] _its_] _it's_ Ff.
[158] _ornaments ... do_] Rowe. _ornaments ... do's_ Ff (_does_ F4). _ornament ... does_ Capell.
_do_] Rowe. _do's_ F1 F2 F3. _does_ F4.
[161] _eggs_] _ayes_ Becket conj.
[162] _my lord_] om. Hanmer.
[163] _will!_] Rowe. _will:_ Ff.
_be's_] _be his_ Capell.
[170] _childness_] _childishness_ Pope.
[171] _would_] F1. _should_ F2 F3 F4.
_thick_] _think_ F4.
[177] _would_] _will_ Theobald.
[180] [Aside] Aside, observing Her. Rowe (after line 182).
[183] _neb_] _nib_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[185] [Exeunt....] Rowe.
[194] _in's_] _in his_ Capell
[202-206] _and 'tis ... baggage._] Put in the margin as spurious by Hanmer.
[202, 203] _powerful, think it, From ... south:_] Capell. _powrefull: thinke it: From ... south,_ Ff.
[203-206] _From east ... baggage._] Omitted by Warburton.
[204] _know't_] _know it_ Capell (corrected in MS.).
[206] _many ... on's_] F1 F2 F3. _many a ... one's_ F4. _many a ... of's_ Rowe.
[208, 209] _Why ... there?_] S. Walker arranges as one line.
[208] _they_] F2 F3 F4. om. F1.
[209] _What._] _What? is_ Hanmer.
[211] _Mamillius_] _Mamillus_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[Exit M.] Rowe.
[212] SCENE III. Pope.
[213] _his anchor_] _the anchor_ Hanmer.
[215] _petitions; made_] _petitions made;_ Pope.
[217] [Aside] Hanmer.
_whispering, rounding_] _whisp'ring round_ Hanmer.
[218] _is a so-forth_] _is a--so forth_ Rann (Mason conj.). _is--and so forth_ Malone conj. _is a sea-froth_ Jackson conj.
[224] _is soaking_] _in soaking_ Grey conj.
[230, 231] Leon. _Ha!_ Cam. _Stays here longer._ Leon. _Ay_] Leo. _Ha? stays here, longer. Ay_ Hanmer. Leo. _Ha?_ Cam. _Bohemia stays here longer._ Leo. _Ay_ Capell.
[233] _Satisfy!_] _Satisfie?_ Ff. _Satisfie_ Theobald.
[235] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.
[236] _nearest things to_] Ff. _things nearest_ Pope, _nearest things to_ S. Walker conj.
_as well_] _with all_ Hanmer. _as well as_ Capell conj.
[241] _my lord!_] Hanmer. (_my Lord._) Ff. _my lord._ Pope. _my lord--_ Theobald.
[244] _hoxes_] Ff. _hockles_ Hanmer.
[253] _Among_] F1. _Amongst_ F2 F3 F4.
_doings_] F1. _doing_ F2 F3 F4.
[254] _forth. In_] Theobald. _forth in_ Ff.
_my lord,_] Theobald. (_my Lord._) Ff. _my Lord._ Rowe.