If you know ought which does behove my knowledge
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not
In ignorant concealment.

Cam. I may not answer.

Pol. A fickness caught of me, and yet I well?
I must be answer'd. Doft thou hear, Camillo,
I conjure thee by all the parts of man,

Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the leaft
Is not this fuit of mine, that thou declare
What Incidency thou doft guess of harm
Is creeping towards me; how far off, how near,
Which way to be prevented, if to be;
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 ev'n as fwiftly follow'd as

I mean to utter it; or both your felf and me

Cry loft, and fo good night.

Pol. On, good Camillo.

Cam. I am appointed 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 feen't, or been an inftrument

To vice you to't, that you have toucht his Queen
Forbiddenly.

Pol. Oh then, my best blood turṇ

To an infected gelly, and my name

Be yoak'd with his that did betray the best:
Turn then my fresheft reputation to

A favour, that may ftrike the dulleft nostril

Where

Where I arrive; and my approach be fhun'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 heav'n, and
By all their influences; you may as well
Forbid the fea for to obey the moon,
As or by oath remove, or counsel shake
The fabrick of his folly, whofe foundation
́Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.

Pol. How fhould this grow?

Cam. I know not; but I'm fure 'tis fafer to Avoid what's grown, than queftion how 'tis born. If therefore you dare truft my honesty, That lies inclosed in this trunk, which you Shall bear along impawn'd, away to-night; Your followers I will whisper to the business, And will by twoes, and threes, at feveral posterns, Clear them o'th' city. For my felf, I'll put My fortunes to your fervice, which are here By this discovery loft. 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 fhall you be fafer Than one condemned by the King's own mouth: Thereon his execution fworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:

I faw his heart in's face.

Be pilot to me, and thy

Give me thy hand;

places fhall

Still neighbour mine. My fhips are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure

Two days ago. This jealousie

as fhe's rare,

Is for a precious creature;
Muft it be great; and, as his person's mighty,
Muft 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'er-fhades me:

Good expedition be my friend, and comfort

The gracious Queen, part of his theam; but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en fufpicion. Come, Camillo,

I will refpect 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.

T

ACT II. SCENE I.

The SCENE Continues.

Enter Hermione, Mamillus, and Ladies.

HERMIONE.

AKE the boy to you; he fo troubles me,
'Tis paft enduring.

1 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. You'll kiss me hard, and fpeak to me as if

I were a baby still; I love you better.

2 Lady. And why fo, my lord?

VOL. II.

Cccc

Mam.

Mam. Not for because

Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they fay,
Become fome women beft, fo that there be not
Too much hair there, but in a femicircle,
Or a half-moon made with a pen.

2 Lady. Who taught you this?

Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces: pray now, What colour be your eye-brows?

1 Lady. Blue, my lord.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I've seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.

1 Lady. Hark ye,

The Queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall
Present our services to a fine new prince

One of these days, and then you'll wanton with us,
If we would have you.

2 Lady. She is fpread of late

Into a goodly bulk, good time encounter her.

Her. What wisdom ftirs amongst you? come, Sir, now

I am for you again. Pray you fit by us,

And tell's a tale.

Mam. Merry, or fad, fhall't be?
Her. As merry as you will.

Mam. A fad tale's best for winter.

I have one of sprights and goblins.
Her. Let's have that, good Sir.

Come on, fit down. Come on, and do your best,
To fright me with your fprights: you're powerful at it.
Mam. There was a man-----

Her. Nay, come fit down; then on.

Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard: I will tell it foftly: Yond crickets fhall not hear it.

Her. Come on then, and give't me in mine car.

SCENE

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, and Lords.

Leo. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?
Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never

Saw I men scowr fo on their way: I ey'd them
Even to their ships.

Leo. How blest am I

In my just cenfure! in my true opinion!
Alack, for leffer knowledge, how accurs'd,
In being so bleft! 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 prefent

Th' abhorr❜d ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his fides
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pandar:

There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true that is mistrusted: that falfe villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him:
He hath 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?

Lord. By his great authority,

Which often hath no less prevail'd than fo
On your command.

Leo. I know't too well.

Give me the boy, I'm glad you did not nurse him:
Though he does bear fome figns of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.

Cccc 2

Her.