Part 29

[33] _honey-mouth'd_] _honey-mouth_ Warburton.

[45] _there is_] _there's_ Hanmer.

[49] _hammer'd of_] _hammered of_ Ff. _hammer'd on_ Hanmer.

[51] _Lest_] Rowe. _Least_ Ff.

[53] _let't_] F3 F4. _le't_ F1 F2. _let it_ Steevens.

[59] _This child_] _The child_ Rowe.

[64-66] As two lines in Capell, ending _upon ... danger._

[66] _betwixt_] _'twixt_ Pope.

## SCENE III. _A room in_ LEONTES' _palace_.

_Enter_ LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, _and_ Servants.

_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 adulteress; for the harlot king Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank 5 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?

_First Serv._ My lord?

_Leon._ How does the boy?

_First Serv._ He took good rest to-night; 10 'Tis hoped his sickness is discharged.

_Leon._ To see his nobleness! Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, He straight declined, droop'd, took it deeply, Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself, 15 Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, And downright languish'd. Leave me solely: go, See how he fares. [_Exit Serv._] Fie, fie! no thought of him: The very thought of my revenges that way Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty, 20 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 25 Shall she within my power.

_Enter_ PAULINA, _with a child_.

_First Lord._ You must not enter.

_Paul._ Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me: Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas, Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul, More free than he is jealous.

_Ant._ That's enough. 30

_Sec. Serv._ Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded 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 35 Nourish the cause of his awaking: I Do come with words as medicinal as true, Honest as either, to purge him of that humour That presses him from sleep.

_Leon._ What noise there, ho?

_Paul._ No noise, my lord; but needful conference 40 About some gossips for your highness.

_Leon._ How! 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, 45 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 honour, trust it, He shall not rule me.

_Ant._ La you now, you hear: 50 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 professes Myself your loyal servant, your physician, Your most obedient counsellor, yet that dares 55 Less appear so in comforting your evils, Than such as most seem yours: I say, I come From your good queen.

_Leon._ Good queen!

_Paul._ Good queen, my lord, Good queen; I say good queen; And would by combat make her good, so were I 60 A man, the worst about you.

_Leon._ Force her hence.

_Paul._ Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes First hand me: on mine own accord I'll off; But first I'll do my errand. The good queen, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; 65 Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. [_Laying down the child._

_Leon._ Out! A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' door: A most intelligencing bawd!

_Paul._ Not so: I am as ignorant in that as you In so entitling me, and no less honest 70 Than you are mad; which is enough, I 'll warrant, As this world goes, to pass for honest.

_Leon._ Traitors! Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard. Thou dotard! thou art woman-tired, unroosted By thy dame Partlet here. Take up the bastard; 75 Take't up, I say; give't to thy crone.

_Paul._ For ever Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou Takest up the princess by that forced baseness Which he has put upon't!

_Leon._ He dreads his wife.

_Paul._ So I would you did; then 'twere past all doubt 80 You'ld call your children yours.

_Leon._ A nest of traitors!

_Ant._ I am none, by this good light.

_Paul._ Nor I; nor any But one that's here, and that's himself; for he The sacred honour of himself, his queen's, His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, 85 Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will not,-- For, as the case now stands, it is a curse He cannot be compell'd to't,--once remove The root of his opinion, which is rotten As ever oak or stone was sound.

_Leon._ A callat 90 Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her husband And now baits me! This brat is none of mine; It is the issue of Polixenes: Hence with it, and together with the dam Commit them to the fire!

_Paul._ It is yours; 95 And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge, So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold, my lords, Although the print be little, the whole matter And copy of the father, eye, nose, lip; The trick of's frown; his forehead; nay, the valley, 100 The pretty dimples of his chin and cheek; his smiles; The very mould and frame of hand, nail, finger: And thou, good goddess Nature, which hast made it So like to him that got it, if thou hast The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours 105 No yellow in't, lest she suspect, as he does, Her children not her husband's!

_Leon._ A gross hag! And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, That wilt not stay her tongue.

_Ant._ Hang all the husbands That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself 110 Hardly one subject.

_Leon._ Once more, take her hence.

_Paul._ A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more.

_Leon._ I'll ha' thee burnt.

_Paul._ I care not: It is an heretic that makes the fire, Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant; 115 But this most cruel usage of your queen-- Not able to produce more accusation Than your own weak-hinged fancy--something savours Of tyranny and will ignoble make you, Yea, scandalous to the world.

_Leon._ On your allegiance, 120 Out of the chamber with her! Were I a tyrant, Where were her life? she durst not call me so, If she did know me one. Away with her!

_Paul._ I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: Jove send her 125 A better guiding spirit! What needs these hands? You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, Will never do him good, not one of you. So, so: farewell; we are gone. [_Exit._

_Leon._ Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this. 130 My child? away with't! Even thou, that hast A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence And see it instantly consumed with fire; Even thou and none but thou. Take it up straight: Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, 135 And by good testimony, or I'll seize thy life, With what thou else call'st thine. If thou refuse And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so; The bastard brains with these my proper hands Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire; 140 For thou set'st on thy wife.

_Ant._ I did not, sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in't.

_Lords._ We can: my royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither.

_Leon._ You're liars all. 145

_First Lord._ Beseech your highness, give us better credit: We have always truly served you; and beseech you So to esteem of us: and on our knees we beg, As recompense of our dear services Past and to come, that you do change this purpose, 150 Which being so horrible, so bloody, must Lead on to some foul issue: we all kneel.

_Leon._ I am a feather for each wind that blows: Shall I live on to see this bastard kneel And call me father? better burn it now 155 Than curse it then. But be it; let it live. It shall not neither. You, sir, come you hither; You that have been so tenderly officious With Lady Margery, your midwife there, To save this bastard's life,--for 'tis a bastard, 160 So sure as this beard's grey,--what will you adventure To save this brat's life?

_Ant._ Any thing, my lord, That my ability may undergo, And nobleness impose: at least thus much: I'll pawn the little blood which I have left 165 To save the innocent: any thing possible.

_Leon._ It shall be possible. Swear by this sword Thou wilt perform my bidding.

_Ant._ I will, my lord.

_Leon._ Mark and perform it: seest thou? for the fail Of any point in't shall not only be 170 Death to thyself but to thy lewd-tongued wife, Whom for this time we pardon. We enjoin thee, As thou art liege-man to us, that thou carry This female bastard hence and that thou bear it To some remote and desert place quite out 175 Of our dominions, and that there thou leave it, Without more mercy, to its own protection And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune It came to us, I do in justice charge thee, On thy soul's peril and thy body's torture, 180 That thou commend it strangely to some place Where chance may nurse or end it. Take it up.

_Ant._ I swear to do this, though a present death Had been more merciful. Come on, poor babe: Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens 185 To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say, Casting their savageness aside have done Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous In more than this deed does require! And blessing Against this cruelty fight on thy side, 190 Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! [_Exit with the child._

_Leon._ No, I'll not rear Another's issue.

_Enter a_ Servant.

_Serv._ Please your highness, posts From those you sent to the oracle are come An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion, Being well arrived from Delphos, are both landed, 195 Hasting to the court.

_First Lord._ So please you, sir, their speed Hath been beyond account.

_Leon._ Twenty three days They have been absent: 'tis good speed; foretells The great Apollo suddenly will have The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; 200 Summon a session, that we may arraign Our most disloyal lady; for, as she hath Been publicly accused, so shall she have A just and open trial. While she lives My heart will be a burthen to me. Leave me, 205 And think upon my bidding. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

## SCENE III.] SCENE IV. Pope.

A room....] Scene changes to the Palace. Theobald.

Enter ... and Servants] Enter Leontes, Servants, Paulina, Antigonus and Lords. Ff.

[2] _weakness. If_] Collier. _weaknesse, if_ Ff.

[3] _being,--_] _being:_ Ff.

[5] _arm_] _aim_ Field conj.

[9] First Atten. [advancing] Capell. Ser. Ff. Enrer. F2. Enter. F3 F4. om. F1.

[10,11] _rest to-night; 'Tis hoped his_] _rest to night: 'tis hop'd His_ Ff. _rest To-night tis hop'd his_ Hanmer.

[14] _declined_] _declin'd upon't_ Capell.

_deeply_] _most deeply_ Hanmer.

[18] [Exit....] Theobald.

[20] _Recoil_] _Recoyle_ F1 F2. _Recoyl_ F3 F4. _Recoils_ Hanmer.

[21] _And in ... be_] F1. omitted in F2 F3 F4.

_And_] om. Capell.

_alliance;_] _Alliance;_ F1. _alliances,--_ Capell conj.

[21, 22] _let him be Until_] _let him Be 'till_ Hanmer.

[26] SCENE V. Pope.

Enter P. ... child.] Rowe. Enter P. Ff.

First Lord.] Malone. Lord. Ff.

[30] _That's enough._] Marked as aside by Capell.

[31] Sec. Serv.] Ser. Ff. Atten. [within. Theobald. 2 A. Capell.

[37] _medicinal_] _med'cinal_ Capell.

[39] _What_] F2 F3 F4. _Who_ F1.

[49] _trust it_] _trust me_ Hanmer.

[50] _La you_] _La-you_ Ff. _Lo-you_ Pope.

[51] _rein_] Rowe. _raine_ F1 F2. _rain_ F3 F4.

[53] _professes_] _profess_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[57] _seem_] _seems_ Pope (ed. 2).

[58, 59] Paul. _Good ... say good queen_] As one line in Capell.

[59] _I say good queen_] As one line in Ff.

[60] _her_] _it_ Heath conj.

_good, so_] Theobald, _good so,_ Ff. _good,_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[61] _the worst_] _on th' worst_ Hanmer (Warburton).

[66] [Laying....] Rowe. om. Ff.

[73] [To Ant. Rowe.

[74] _thou art_] _that art_ Capell.

_woman-tired_] _woman-tyr'd_ F1 F2 F3. _woman-tir'd_ F4.

[75] _thy dame_] _the dame_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[76] _thy crone_] _thy croane_ F1. _the croane_ F2 F3. _the croan_ F4.

[78] _forced_] _falsed_ Collier conj.

[85] _his babe's_] _this babe's_ Capell.

[90] _sound_] F1. _found_ F2 F3 F4.

[95] _them_] _it_ Capell conj.

[100] _valley_] _valleys_ Hanmer.

[101] _pretty_] om. Hanmer.

_of his chin_] _of's chin_ Dyce.

_his smiles_] omitted by Capell.

[109] _That_] _Thou_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[Aside. Anon. conj.

[113] _ha' thee_] _have thee_ Steevens.

[118] _something_] _sometimes_ Rowe.

[120] _the world_] _all the world_ Pope.

[125] _Jove_] _God_ Anon. conj.

_her_] _him_ Heath conj.

[126] _better guiding_] _better-guiding_ S. Walker conj.

_needs_] F1. _neede_ F2. _need_ F3 F4.

[130] SCENE VI. Pope.

[131] _with't!_] _with't?_ Ff.

_thou,_] _thou, thou_ Theobald.

[137] _what thou else call'st_] _all that's_ Hanmer, ending line 136 at _seize._

[141] _set'st_] _sett'd'st_ Hanmer.

[142] _These lords_] _The Lords_ Hanmer.

[143] Lords.] Ff. Lord. Rowe. 1. L. Capell.

[143, 144] Lords. _We can ... hither_] Lords. _We can._ First Lord. _My ... hither_ Anon. conj.

[146] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff. Lords. Rowe.

[147] _We have_] _We've_ Pope.

_beseech you_] Rowe. _beseech'_ F1. beseech F2 F3 F4.

[149] _services_] _service_ Hanmer, ending line 148 at _knees._

[152] _we all kneel_] Lords. _We all kneel_ Anon. conj.

[153] _feather_] F1 F2 F3. _father_ F4.

[157] [To Ant. Rowe.

[159] _midwife_] _Mid-wife_ Ff. _mild wife_ Rann (Capell conj.).

[161] _this_] _his_ Theobald conj. _thy_ Collier (Egerton MS.).

[164] _at least_] F1. _at last_ F2 F3 F4.

[166] _any thing possible_] _what's possible_ Hanmer.

[171] _lewd-tongued_] _loud-tongued_ Anon. conj.

[177] _more_] F1. _much_ F2 F3 F4.

_its_] F3 F4. _it_ F1 F2. See note (VII).

[181] _strangely to some_] _to some stranger_ Hanmer.

[182] _chance_] F1 F2. _change_ F3 F4.

[189-191] _require! ... loss!_] _require; and ... side_ (_Poor ... losse._) Ff. _require; and ... side! Poor ... loss.--_ Theobald.]

[190] _this_] _his_ Roderick conj.

[191] [Exit ... child.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.

_rear_] F3 F4. _reare_ F1. _rare_ F2.

[192] [Enter a Servant.] Ff. Enter a Messenger. Rowe. om. Capell.

Serv.] Ff. Mes. Rowe. 2. A. Capell.

[196] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff.

[197] _account_] F4. _accompt_ F1 F2 F3.

[198] _'tis good speed; foretells_] _this good speed foretels_ Pope.

_foretells_] _and foretells_ or _it foretells_ Keightley conj.

## ACT III.

## SCENE I. _A sea-port in Sicilia._

_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 report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits, Methinks I so should term them, and the reverence 5 Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! How ceremonious, solemn and unearthly It was i' the offering!

_Cleo._ But of all, the burst And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense, 10 That I was nothing.

_Dion._ If the event o' the journey Prove as successful to the queen,--O be't so!-- As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy, The time is worth the use on't.

_Cleo._ Great Apollo Turn all to the best! These proclamations, 15 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 seal'd up, Shall the contents discover, something rare 20 Even then will rush to knowledge. Go: fresh horses! And gracious be the issue! [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

## ACT III. SCENE I.] ACT II. SCENE IV. Theobald conj.

A sea-port....] Edd. A part of Sicily near the seaside. Theobald. The same. A street in some town. Capell.

Enter C. and D.] Enter C., D., and an Attendant. S. Walker conj.

[2] _isle_] _soil_ Hanmer (Warburton conj.).

[3] _I shall report,_] _It shames report._ Warburton.

[4] _For most_] _Foremost_ Warburton.

_it_] _they_ Hanmer.

[14] _time ... use_] _use ... time_ Hanmer (Warburton).

## SCENE II. _A court of Justice._

_Enter_ LEONTES, Lords, _and_ Officers.

_Leon._ This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce, Even pushes 'gainst our heart: the party tried The daughter of a king, our wife, and one Of us too much beloved. Let us be clear'd Of being tyrannous, since we so openly 5 Proceed in justice, which shall have due course, Even to the guilt or the purgation. Produce the prisoner.

_Off._ It is his highness' pleasure that the queen Appear in person here in court. Silence! 10

_Enter_ HERMIONE _guarded_; PAULINA _and_ Ladies _attending_.

_Leon._ Read the indictment.

_Off._ [_reads_] 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 the king, 15 thy royal husband: the pretence 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 20 Which contradicts my accusation and The testimony on my part no other But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me To say 'not guilty:' mine integrity Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, 25 Be so received. But thus, if powers divine Behold our human actions, as they do, I doubt not then but innocence shall make False accusation blush, and tyranny Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know, 30 Who least will seem to do so, my past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, As I am now unhappy; which is more Than history can pattern, though devised And play'd to take spectators. For behold me 35 A fellow of the royal bed, which owe A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing To prate and talk for life and honour 'fore Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it 40 As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour, 'Tis a derivative from me to mine, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Came to your court, how I was in your grace, 45 How merited to be so; since he came, With what encounter so uncurrent I Have strain'd, to appear thus: if one jot beyond The bound of honour, or in act or will That way inclining, harden'd be the hearts 50 Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin Cry fie upon my grave!

_Leon._ I ne'er heard yet That any of these bolder vices wanted Less impudence to gainsay what they did Than to perform it first.

_Her._ That's true enough; 55 Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me.

_Leon._ You will not own it.

_Her._ More than mistress of Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, With whom I am accused, I do confess 60 I loved him as in honour he required, With such a kind of love as might become A lady like me, with a love even such, So and no other, as yourself commanded: Which not to have done I think had been in me 65 Both disobedience and ingratitude 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 dish'd 70 For me to try how: all I know of it Is that Camillo was an honest man; And why he left your court, the gods themselves, Wotting no more than I, are ignorant.

_Leon._ You knew of his departure, as you know 75 What you have underta'en to do in's absence.

_Her._ Sir, You speak a language that I understand not: My life stands in the level of your dreams, Which I'll lay down.

_Leon._ Your actions are my dreams; 80 You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dream'd it. As you were past all shame,-- Those of your fact are so,--so past all truth: Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, 85 No father owning it,--which is, indeed, More criminal in thee than it,--so thou Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage Look for no less than death.

_Her._ Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I seek. 90 To me can life be no commodity: The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, I do give lost; for I do feel it gone, But know not how it went. My second joy And first-fruits of my body, from his presence 95 I am barr'd, like one infectious. My third comfort, Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast, The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth, Haled out to murder: myself on every post Proclaimed a strumpet: with immodest hatred 100 The child-bed privilege denied, which 'longs To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried Here to this place, i' the open air, before I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege, Tell me what blessings I have here alive, 105 That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed. But yet hear this; mistake me not; no life, I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour, Which I would free, if I shall be condemn'd Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else 110 But what your jealousies awake, I tell you 'Tis rigour and not law. Your honours all, I do refer me to the oracle: Apollo be my judge!

_First Lord._ This your request Is altogether just: therefore bring forth, 115 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 120 Of pity, not revenge!

_Re-enter_ Officers, _with_ CLEOMENES _and_ DION.

_Off_. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd 125 Of great Apollo's priest and that since then You have not dared to break the holy seal Nor read the secrets in't.

_Cleo. Dion._ All this we swear.

_Leon._ Break up the seals and read.

_Off._ [_reads_] Hermione is chaste; Polixenes blameless; 130 Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found.

_Lords._ Now blessed be the great Apollo!

_Her._ Praised!

_Leon._ Hast thou read truth?