Part 30

_Off._ Ay, my lord; even so 135 As it is here set down.

_Leon._ There is no truth at all i' the oracle: The sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood.

_Enter_ Servant.

_Serv._ My lord the king, the king!

_Leon._ What is the business?

_Serv._ O sir, I shall be hated to report it! 140 The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear Of the queen's speed, is gone.

_Leon._ How! gone!

_Serv._ Is dead.

_Leon._ Apollo's angry; and the heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice. [_Hermione faints._] How now there!

_Paul._ This news is mortal to the queen: look down 145 And see what death is doing.

_Leon._ Take her hence: Her heart is but o'ercharged; she will recover: I have too much believed mine own suspicion: Beseech you, tenderly apply to her Some remedies for life. [_Exeunt Paulina and Ladies, with Hermione._

Apollo, pardon 150 My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle! I'll reconcile me to Polixenes; New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo, Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy; For, being transported by my jealousies 155 To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose Camillo for the minister to poison My friend Polixenes: which had been done, But that the good mind of Camillo tardied My swift command, though I with death and with 160 Reward did threaten and encourage him, Not doing it and being done: he, most humane And fill'd with honour, to my kingly guest Unclasp'd my practice, quit his fortunes here, Which you knew great, and to the hazard 165 Of all incertainties himself commended, No richer than his honour: how he glisters Thorough my rust! and how his piety Does my deeds make the blacker!

_Re-enter_ PAULINA.

_Paul._ Woe the while! O, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it, Break too! 170

_First Lord._ What fit is this, good lady?

_Paul._ What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? What wheels? racks? fires? what flaying? boiling? In leads or oils? what old or newer torture Must I receive, whose every word deserves 175 To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny Together working with thy jealousies, Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle For girls of nine, O, think what they have done And then run mad indeed, stark mad! for all 180 Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it. That thou betray'dst Polixenes, 'twas nothing; That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant And damnable ingrateful: nor was't much, Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's honour, 185 To have him kill a king; poor trespasses, More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon The casting forth to crows thy baby-daughter To be or none or little; though a devil Would have shed water out of fire ere done't: 190 Nor is't directly laid to thee, the death Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts, Thoughts high for one so tender, cleft the heart That could conceive a gross and foolish sire Blemish'd his gracious dam: this is not, no, 195 Laid to thy answer: but the last,--O lords, When I have said, cry 'woe!'--the queen, the queen, The sweet'st, dear'st creature's dead, and vengeance for't Not dropp'd down yet.

_First Lord._ The higher powers forbid!

_Paul._ I say she's dead, I'll swear't. If word nor oath 200 Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye, Heat outwardly or breath within, I'll serve you As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant! Do not repent these things, for they are heavier 205 Than all thy woes can stir: therefore betake thee To nothing but despair. A thousand knees Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting, Upon a barren mountain, and still winter In storm perpetual, could not move the gods 210 To look that way thou wert.

_Leon._ Go on, go on: Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserved All tongues to talk their bitterest.

_First Lord._ Say no more: Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault I' the boldness of your speech.

_Paul._ I am sorry for't: 215 All faults I make, when I shall come to know them, I do repent. Alas! I have show'd too much The rashness of a woman: he is touch'd To the noble heart. What's gone and what's past help Should be past grief: do not receive affliction 220 At my petition; I beseech you, rather Let me be punish'd, that have minded you Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege, Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman: The love I bore your queen, lo, fool again! 225 I'll speak of her no more, nor of your children; I'll not remember you of my own lord, Who is lost too: take your patience to you, And I'll say nothing.

_Leon._ Thou didst speak but well When most the truth; which I receive much better 230 Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee, bring me To the dead bodies of my queen and son: One grave shall be for both; upon them shall The causes of their death appear, unto Our shame perpetual. Once a day I'll visit 235 The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there Shall be my recreation: so long as nature Will bear up with this exercise, so long I daily vow to use it. Come and lead me To these sorrows. [_Exeunt._ 240

LINENOTES:

## SCENE II. A court....] Scene represents a Court of Justice. Theobald.]

Enter...] Enter Leontes, Lords, Officers: Hermione (as to her Triall), Ladies: Cleomines, Dion. Ff.

At the upper End, a Throne; Lords, on either Hand, Judges, and other Officers, seated; People attending. Enter Leontes, and train of Lords, to his Throne. Capell.

[1] _sessions_] _session_ Theobald.

_pronounce_] _pronounce it_ Keightley conj.

[2] _Even_] _Ever_ Anon. conj.

[10] _Silence!_] See note (VIII).

Enter...] Hermione is brought in, guarded; Pauline, and Ladies, attending. Theobald. om. Ff.

[12] Off. [reads]. Capell. Officer. Ff.

[16] _circum stances_] F1. _circumstance_ F2 F3 F4.

[29] _accusation_] F1. _accusations_ F2 F3 F4.

[31] _Who_] Rowe. _Whom_ Ff.

[36] _owe_] _owes_ Steevens (1785).

[39] _prate_] _plead_ Keightley conj.

[41] _grief_] See note (IX).

_which .. spare:_] (_which ... spare_) Ff.

[47, 48] _I Have_] _have I_ Hanmer.

_I Have strain'd_] _have I Been stain'd_ Johnson conj. _I Have stray'd_ Collier (Mason conj.).

[49] _bound_] _bounds_ Rowe.

[53] _these_] _those_ F4.

[55] _That's_] _That is_ Rowe.

[57] _mistress of_] _I'm mistress of_ Hanmer. _misreport_ or _misprision_ Anon. conj. A line omitted. Anon. conj.

[58] _Which_] _What_ Rowe. _That_ Seymour conj.

[67] _toward_] F1 F2. _towards_ F3 F4.

_friend_] F1. _friends_ F2 F3 F4.

[68] _Even_] _Ever_ Long MS.

[75, 76] _know What you_] _know what You_ S. Walker conj., reading lines 75-77 as two lines, ending _know what ... Sir._

[83] _fact_] _pack_ Johnson conj. _sect_ Farmer conj. _pact_ Anon. conj.

_fact are so,--so past_] _fact are]_ _so you're past_] Hanmer.

[84] _Which to deny_] _To deny_ Capell.

[84, 85] _for as ... itself_] As two lines in Steevens (1793), ending _as ... itself._

[85] _brat hath been_] _brat's_ Hanmer, reading _for as ... itself_ as one line.

_like_] _left_ Keightley conj.

[90] _me_] _we_ Capell (corrected in MS.).

[95] _And_] _The_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[96] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[98] _it_] Ff. _its_ Rowe. See note (VII).

[100] _strumpet: ... hatred_] _strumpet ... hatred;_ Hanmer.

[104] _limit_] F1 F2. _limbs_ F3 F4. _limbs. And_ Hanmer. _limb. And_ Johnson conj.

[107] _no life,_] _no! life,_ Hanmer. _my life,_ Grant White. _for life,_ Keightley conj.

[114] SCENE III. Pope.

[116] [Exeunt....] Capell. om. Ff.

[121] Re-enter....] Re-enter Officers, with C. and D., bringing in the Oracle. Capell. Enter Dion and Cleomenes. F2 F3 F4 (at line 114). om. F1.

[122] _this_] F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.

[130] [reads] Capell.

_chaste_] _cast_ F2.

[135, 136] _Ay ... down_] Arranged as in Capell; as one line in Ff.

[136] _it is_] om. Hanmer.

[137] _truth_] _the truth_ Hanmer. _true_ Jervis conj.

[138] _sessions_] _session_ Theobald.

Enter Servant.] Rowe. om. Ff. Enter a Gentleman, hastily. Capell.

[144] H. faints.] Rowe.

_How now there!_] _How now there?_ Ff. _How now? there!_Johnson.

[148] SCENE IV. Pope.

[150] [Exeunt....] Malone. Exeunt.... Rowe (after line 148). om. Ff.

[165] _great_] _to be great_ Anon. conj.

_hazard_] F1. _certain hazard_ F2 F3 F4. _fearful hazard_ Rann conj. _doubtful hazard_ Malone conj. _hazarding_ Anon. conj.

[168] _Thorough my_] Malone. _Through my_ F1. _Through my dark_ F2 F3 F4.

[169] SCENE V. Pope.

Re-enter P.] Re-enter P., hastily. Capell. Enter P. Rowe. om. Ff.

[170] _lest_] F3 F4. _least_ F1 F2.

[171, 193, 213] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff.

[173] _racks? fires?_] _what racks? what fires?_ Keightley conj.

_flaying? boiling?_] F1. _flaying?_] _boyling? burning,_ F2 F3 F4. _flaying, rather! boiling_ Capell. _flaying, burning, boiling_ Collier MS.

[174] _leads or oils_] _lead or oil_ S. Walker conj.

_newer_] F1. _new_ F2 F3 F4.

[175] _every_] F1. _very_ F2 F3 F4.

[181] _but_] om. Theobald.

_of_] F1. _for_ F2 F3 F4.

[183] _thee, of a fool,_] Ff. _thee of a soul_ Theobald. _thee off, a fool,_ Warburton.

[184] _damnable_] _damnably_ Long MS.

_ingrateful_] _ungrateful_ Rann.

[188] _to crows_] _of crows_ F4.

_thy_] F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.

[198] _sweet'st, dear'st_] _sweetest_ Hanmer.

[205] _Do_] F1. _Dot_ F2. _Dost_ F3 F4.

[205, 206] _Do ... stir:_] _Dost ... stir?_ Pope.

[206] _woes_] _vows_ Hanmer.

[217] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[220] _receive_] _revive_ Staunton conj.

[221] _my petition_] _my relation_ Singer conj. _repetition_ Collier (Collier MS.).

_petition; ... you,_] F1. _petition ... you,_ F2 F3 F4. _petition,... you;_ Rowe.

[228] _Who is_] _Who's_ S. Walker conj.

_take your_] _take you your_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[228, 229] _to you, And I'll_] _to you, and I will_ S. Walker conj. _to you, sir, And I'll_ Keightley conj.

[238-240] _Will ... sorrows_] Johnson ends these lines at _exercise ... come, ... sorrows._

[240] _To_] _Unto_ S. Walker conj.

_sorrows_] _my sorrows_ Hanmer.

## SCENE III. _Bohemia. A desert country near the sea._

_Enter_ ANTIGONUS _with a Child, and a_ Mariner.

_Ant._ Thou art perfect, then, our ship hath touch'd upon The deserts of Bohemia?

_Mar._ Ay, my lord; and fear We have landed in ill time: the skies look grimly And threaten present blusters. In my conscience, The heavens with that we have in hand are angry 5 And frown upon's.

_Ant._ Their sacred wills be done! Go, get aboard; Look to thy bark: I'll not be long before I call upon thee.

_Mar._ Make your best haste, and go not 10 Too far i' the land: 'tis like to be loud weather; Besides, this place is famous for the creatures Of prey that keep upon't.

_Ant._ Go thou away: I'll follow instantly.

_Mar._ I am glad at heart To be so rid o' the business. [_Exit._

_Ant._ Come, poor babe: 15 I have heard, but not believed, the spirits o' the dead May walk again: if such thing be, thy mother Appear'd to me last night, for ne'er was dream So like a waking. To me comes a creature, Sometimes her head on one side, some another; 20 I never saw a vessel of like sorrow, So fill'd and so becoming: in pure white robes, Like very sanctity, she did approach My cabin where I lay; thrice bow'd before me, And gasping to begin some speech, her eyes 25 Became two spouts: the fury spent, anon Did this break from her: 'Good Antigonus, Since fate, against thy better disposition, Hath made thy person for the thrower-out Of my poor babe, according to thine oath, 30 Places remote enough are in Bohemia, There weep and leave it crying; and, for the babe Is counted lost for ever, Perdita, I prithee, call't. For this ungentle business, Put on thee by my lord, thou ne'er shalt see 35 Thy wife Paulina more.' And so, with shrieks, She melted into air. Affrighted much, I did in time collect myself, and thought This was so and no slumber. Dreams are toys: Yet for this once, yea, superstitiously, 40 I will be squared by this. I do believe Hermione hath suffer'd death; and that Apollo would, this being indeed the issue Of King Polixenes, it should here be laid, Either for life or death, upon the earth 45 Of its right father. Blossom, speed thee well! There lie, and there thy character: there these; Which may, if fortune please, both breed thee, pretty, And still rest thine. The storm begins: poor wretch, That for thy mother's fault art thus exposed 50 To loss and what may follow! Weep I cannot, But my heart bleeds; and most accursed am I To be by oath enjoin'd to this. Farewell! The day frowns more and more: thou'rt like to have A lullaby too rough: I never saw 55 The heavens so dim by day. A savage clamour! Well may I get aboard! This is the chase: I am gone for ever. [_Exit, pursued by a bear._

_Enter a_ Shepherd.

_Shep._ I would there were no age between ten and three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there 60 is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting--Hark you now! Would any but these boiled brains of nineteen and two-and-twenty hunt this weather? They have scared away two of my best sheep, which I fear the wolf will sooner find 65 than the master: if any where I have them, 'tis by the sea-side, browzing of ivy. Good luck, an't be thy will! what have we here? Mercy on's, a barne; a very pretty barne! A boy or a child, I wonder? A pretty one; a very pretty one: sure, some scape: though I am not bookish, yet I 70 can read waiting-gentlewoman in the scape. This has been some stair-work, some trunk-work, some behind-door-work: they were warmer that got this than the poor thing is here. I'll take it up for pity: yet I'll tarry till my son come; he hallooed but even now. Whoa, ho, hoa! 75

_Enter_ Clown.

_Clo._ Hilloa, loa!

_Shep._ What, art so near? If thou'lt see a thing to talk on when thou art dead and rotten, come hither. What ailest thou, man?

_Clo._ I have seen two such sights, by sea and by land! 80 but I am not to say it is a sea, for it is now the sky: betwixt the firmament and it you cannot thrust a bodkin's point.

_Shep._ Why, boy, how is it?

_Clo._ I would you did but see how it chafes, how it rages, how it takes up the shore! but that's not to the point. O, 85 the most piteous cry of the poor souls! sometimes to see 'em, and not to see 'em; now the ship boring the moon with her main-mast, and anon swallowed with yest and froth, as you'ld thrust a cork into a hogshead. And then for the land-service, to see how the bear tore out his shoulder-bone; 90 how he cried to me for help and said his name was Antigonus, a nobleman. But to make an end of the ship, to see how the sea flap-dragoned it: but, first, how the poor souls roared, and the sea mocked them; and how the poor gentleman roared and the bear mocked him, both roaring louder 95 than the sea or weather.

_Shep._ Name of mercy, when was this, boy?

_Clo._ Now, now: I have not winked since I saw these sights: the men are not yet cold under water, nor the bear half dined on the gentleman: he's at it now. 100

_Shep._ Would I had been by, to have helped the old man!

_Clo._ I would you had been by the ship side, to have helped her: there your charity would have lacked footing.

_Shep._ Heavy matters! heavy matters! but look thee here, boy. Now bless thyself: thou mettest with things dying, I 105 with things new-born. Here's a sight for thee; look thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire's child! look thee here; take up, take up, boy; open't. So, let's see: it was told me I should be rich by the fairies. This is some changeling: open't. What's within, boy? 110

_Clo._ You're a made old man: if the sins of your youth are forgiven you, you're well to live. Gold! all gold!

_Shep._ This is fairy gold, boy, and 'twill prove so: up with't, keep it close: home, home, the next way. We are lucky, boy; and to be so still requires nothing but secrecy. 115 Let my sheep go: come, good boy, the next way home.

_Clo._ Go you the next way with your findings. I'll go see if the bear be gone from the gentleman and how much he hath eaten: they are never curst but when they are hungry: if there be any of him left, I'll bury it. 120

_Shep._ That's a good deed. If thou mayest discern by that which is left of him what he is, fetch me to the sight of him.

_Clo._ Marry, will I; and you shall help to put him i'the ground.

_Shep._'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't. 125 [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

## SCENE III.] SCENE VI. Pope.

Bohemia. A desert.... ] Malone. om. Ff. A desert Country; the Sea at a little distance. Rowe.

[Enter A.... ] Rowe. Enter Antigonus, a Mariner, Babe, Shepherd, and Clown. Ff.

[2] _my lord_] om. Hanmer.

[3] _We have_] _We've_ Pope.

[6] _upon's_] _upon us_ Capell.

_Go, get_] _go get_ F1. _get_ F2 F3 F4. _get thee_ Rowe.

[9] _upon_] _on_ Hanmer.

[14] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[19] _a waking_] _awaking_ Anon. conj.

[20] _on_] F1. _is on_ F2 F3 F4.

_some_] _some'_ Capell.

_another_] _on other_ Anon. conj.

[22] _becoming_] _becomming_ F1. _o'er-running_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[29] _thrower-out_] _thower-out_ F1.

[32] _weep_] _wend_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[39] _so_] _sooth_ Warburton conj.

[44] _Polixenes_] _Polexenus_ F2.

[46] _its_] _it's_ Ff.

[Laying down the child. Rowe.

[47] [Laying down a bundle. Johnson.

[48] _please ... pretty_] _please, both breed thee (pretty)_ Ff. _please, both breed thee pretty,_ Reed (1813). _please both breed thee, (pretty!)_ Staunton.

_pretty_] _pretty one_ Rowe.

[54] _thou'rt_] _thou art_ F4.

[58] Enter....] Ff. Enter an old Shepherd. Rowe. Enter a Shepherd. Crooke. Collier MS.

[59] SCENE VII. Pope.

_ten_] _thirteen_ Hanmer. _sixteen_ Edd. conj. See note (X).

[64] _scared_] _scarr'd_ Ff.

[67] _an't_] Pope (ed. 2). _and't_ Ff.

_thy will_] F1. _the will_ F2 F3 F4.

[68] _here?_] _here?_ [taking up the child. Rowe.

[69] _boy_] _god_ Grant White.

_child_] _maid child_ Keightley conj.

[75] _hallooed_] _hallow'd_ F1 F2 F3. hollow'd F4.

[76] Enter Clown.] Ff. Dyce puts it after _hither_, line 78.

Clo.] Clo. [within. Dyce. Clo. [without. Staunton.

[85] _takes_] _rakes_ Hanmer.

[87] _and not_] _and then not_ Capell.

[89] _for_] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

[89, 90] _for the land-service_] _the land-service Rowe_ (ed. 2). _the land-sight_ Hanmer.

[100] _gentleman_] _old gentleman_ Malone conj.

[101] _the old man_] _the nobleman_ Theobald. _tho' old man_ Jackson conj.

[102] _would_] _would not_ Theobald conj.

_ship_] _ship's_ Collier.

[103] [Aside. Theobald.

[105] _mettest_] _met'st_ F1 F2 F3. _meet'st_ F4.

[111] _made_] Theobald (L. H. conj.). _mad_ Ff.

[112] _you're_] _you are_ F4.

[113] _'twill_] _will_ Theobald.

[114] _with't_] _with it_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[122] _sight_] _fight_ F1. See note (XI).

## ACT IV. SCENE I.

_Enter_ TIME, _the_ Chorus.

_Time._ I, that please some, try all, both joy and terror Of good and bad, that makes and unfolds error, Now take upon me, in the name of Time, To use my wings. Impute it not a crime To me or my swift passage, that I slide 5 O'er sixteen years and leave the growth untried Of that wide gap, since it is in my power To o'erthrow law and in one self-born hour To plant and o'erwhelm custom. Let me pass The same I am, ere ancient'st order was 10 Or what is now received: I witness to The times that brought them in; so shall I do To the freshest things now reigning and make stale The glistering of this present, as my tale Now seems to it. Your patience this allowing, 15 I turn my glass and give my scene such growing As you had slept between: Leontes leaving, The effects of his fond jealousies so grieving That he shuts up himself, imagine me, Gentle spectators, that I now may be 20 In fair Bohemia; and remember well, I mentioned a son o' the king's, which Florizel I now name to you; and with speed so pace To speak of Perdita, now grown in grace Equal with wondering: what of her ensues 25 I list not prophesy; but let Time's news Be known when 'tis brought forth. A shepherd's daughter, And what to her adheres, which follows after, Is the argument of Time. Of this allow, If ever you have spent time worse ere now; 30 If never, yet that Time himself doth say He wishes earnestly you never may. [_Exit._

LINENOTES:

## ACT IV. SCENE I] Actus Quartus, Scena Prima. Ff. om. Warburton. ACT

IV. Capell. See note (XII).

[1-32] Spurious. Heath conj.

[2] _makes and unfolds_] Ff. _make and unfold_ Rowe. _mask and unfold_ Theobald.

[6] _growth_] _gulf_ Warburton.

[7-9] _gap, since ... custom. Let_] _gap. Since ... custom, let_ Lloyd conj.

[11] _witness_] _witness'd_ Capell.

[17, 18, 19] _leaving, ... jealousies ... himself, imagine_] _leaving,--jealousies ... himself;--imagine_ Staunton. _leaving ... jealousies, ... himself. Imagine_ F1. _leaving ... jealousies, ... himself, imagine_ F2 F3 F4.

[18] _The_] _To the_ Keightley conj.

[19, 20] _imagine me, ... that I_] _imagine we ... that you_ Johnson conj.

[22] _I mentioned_] F1. _I mention here_ F2 F3 F4. _There is_ Hanmer. _I mention'd_ Capell.

_which_] _whom_ Pope.

## SCENE II. _Bohemia._ _The palace of_ POLIXENES.

_Enter_ POLIXENES _and_ CAMILLO.

_Pol._ I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate: 'tis a sickness denying thee any thing; a death to grant this.

_Cam._ It is fifteen years since I saw my country: though I have for the most part been aired abroad, I desire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent king, my 5 master, hath sent for me; to whose feeling sorrows I might be some allay, or I o'erween to think so, which is another spur to my departure.

_Pol._ As thou lovest me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest of thy services by leaving me now: the need I have of thee, 10 thine own goodness hath made; better not to have had thee than thus to want thee: thou, having made me businesses, which none without thee can sufficiently manage, must either stay to execute them thyself, or take away with thee the very services thou hast done; which if I have not enough 15 considered, as too much I cannot, to be more thankful to thee shall be my study; and my profit therein, the heaping friendships. Of that fatal country, Sicilia, prithee speak no more; whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance of that penitent, as thou callest him, and reconciled 20 king, my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and children are even now to be afresh lamented. Say to me, when sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Kings are no less unhappy, their issue not being gracious, than they are in losing them when they have approved their virtues. 25

_Cam._ Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince. What his happier affairs may be, are to me unknown: but I have missingly noted, he is of late much retired from court and is less frequent to his princely exercises than formerly he hath appeared. 30