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(Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, That lack'd fight only; nought for approbation, But only seeing; all other circumstances

Made up to th' deed) doth push on this proceeding;
Yet for a greater confirmation,

(For, in an act of this importance, 'twere
Moft piteous to be wild) I have dispatch'd in post,
To facred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomines and Dion, whom you know
Of stuff'd sufficiency: Now, from the oracle
They will bring all: whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well?
Lord. Well done, my Lord.

Leo. Tho' I am fatisfy'd, and need no more

Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to th' minds of others; such as he,
Whose ignorant credulity will not

Come up to th' truth. So have we thought it good
From our free person, she should be confin'd;
Left that the treachery of the two, fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us,
We are to speak in publick; for this business
Will raise us all.

Ant. To laughter, as I take it,

If the good truth were known.

Paul.

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SCENE changes to a Prison.

T

Enter Paulina, and a Gentleman.

[Exeunt.

HE keeper of the prison, call to him:

[Exit Gentleman.

Let him have knowledge who I am. Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee;
What doft thou then in prison ? now, good Sir,
You know me, do you not?

Re-enter Gentleman, with the Goaler.

Goa. For a worthy lady,

And one whom much I honour.

Paul. Pray you then,

Conduct me to the Queen.

GOA

Goa. I may not, Madam;

To the contrary I have express commandment.

Paul. Here's ado to lock up honesty and honour from Th' access of gentle visitors! Is't lawful, pray you, To fee her women? any of them? Emilia?

Goa. So please you, Madam,

To put a-part these your attendants, I

Shall bring Emilia forth.

Paul. I pray you now, call her :

Withdraw yourselves.

Goa. And, Madam,

I must be present at your conference.
Paul. Well; be it so, pr'ythee.

Enter Emilia.

[Exeunt Gent. &c.

Here's such ado to make no stain a stain,
As passes colouring. Dear gentlewoman,
How fares our gracious lady ?

Emil. As well, as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together; On her frights and griefs,
(Which never tender lady hath borne greater,)
She is, fomething before her time, deliver'd.
Paul. A boy ?

Emil. A daughter, and a goodly babe, Lufty, and like to live: the Queen receives Much comfort in't: says, My poor prifoner, I'm innocent as you.

Paul. I dare be sworn :

These dangerous, unsafe lunes i'th' King! beshrew

them, (7)

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;

(7) These dang rous, unsafe Lunes i'th' King!] I have no where, but in our Author, observ'd this word adopted in our Tongue, to signify, Frenzy, Lunacy. But it is a Mode of Expreffion with the French. Il y a de la lune: (i.e. Hehas got the Moon in his Head; he is frantick.) Cotgrave. Lune.

folie. Les femmes ont des lunes dans la tête, Richelet.

VOL. III.

M

And

And never to my red-look'd anger be
The trumpet any more! Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the Queen,
If the dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll shew't the King, and undertake to be
Her advocate to th' loud'st. We do not know,
How he may soften at the fight o'th' child :
The filence 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 vifit the next room, I'll prefently

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 deny'd.

Paul. Tell her, Emilia,

I'll use that tongue I have; if wit flow from't,
As boldness from my bosom, let't not be doubted
I shall do good.

Emil. Now be you blest for it!

I'll to the Queen: please you, come something nearer.
Goa. Madam, if't please the Queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur, to pass it,
Having no warrant.

Paul. You need not fear it, Sir;
The child was prifoner to the womb, and is
By law and process of great nature thence
Free'd and enfranchis'd; not a party to
'The anger of the King, nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the Queen.

Goa. I do believe it.

Paul. Do not you fear; upon mine honour, I Will stand 'twixt you and danger.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE changes to the Palace.

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords and other Attendants.

N

Leo.
weakness
To bear the matter thus; meer weakness, if
The cause were not in being; part o'th' cause,
She, the adultress; for the Harlot-King

OR night, nor day, no reft;it is but

Is quite beyond mine arm; out of the blank
And level of my brain; plot-proof; but the
I can hook to me: say, that the were gone,
Given to the fire, a moiety of my reft
Might come to me again. Who's there?

Enter an Attendant.

Atten. My Lord.

Leo. How do's the boy ?

Atten. He took good reft to night; 'tis hop'd,

His fickness is discharg'd.

Leo. To fee his nobleness!

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply;
Fasten'd, and fix'd the shame on't in himself;
Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And down-right languish'd. Leave me folely; go,

:

[Exit Attendant.

See how he fares. - Fie, fie, no thought of him;
The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoyl upon me; in himself too mighty,
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 forrow;
They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor

Shall she, within my power.

M 2

:

Exter Enter Paulina, with a Child.

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 foul,

More free than he is jealous.

Ant. That's enough.

Atten. [within] Madam, he hath not slept to night;

commanded,

None should come at him.

Paul. Not so hot, good Sir;

I come to bring him fleep. 'Tis such as you,
That creep like shadows by him, and do figh
At each his needless heavings; fuch as you
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.

Leo. What noise there, ho?

Paul. No noise, my Lord, but needful conference,

About fome gossips for your Highness.

Leo. How?

Away with that audacious lady. - Antigonus,
I charg'd thee, that she should not come about me;
I knew, the would.

Ant. I told her so, my Lord,

On your difpleasure's peril and on mine,
She should not vifit you.

Leo. What? can'st 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. Lo-you now, you hear,
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 profess
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,

Your

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