I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry, loft, and fo good night.

POL. On, good Camillo.

CAM. I am appointed, fir, to murther you.
PoL. By whom, Camillo?

CAM. By the king.

POL. For what?

CAM. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he fwears,As he had feen't, or been an instrument

To vice you to't, that you have touch'd his queen Forbiddenly.

POL. O, then my best blood turn

To an infected gelly; and my name
Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to

A favour, that may ftrike the dullest noftril
Where I arrive; and my approach be fhun'd,
Nay, hated too, worfe than the great'st infection
That e'er was heard, or read!

CAM. Swear his thought over

By each particular ftar in heaven, 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; whose foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The ftanding of his body.

POL. How fhould this grow?

CAM. I know not: but, I am fure, 'tis fafer to Avoid what's grown, than queftion how 'tis born.

If therefore you dare truft my honefty,

That lies enclosed in this trunk, which you

4 appointed him to

Shall bear along impawn'd, -away to night.
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will, by twoes, and threes, at several posterns,
Clear them o'the city: For myself, 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 feek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor fhall you be safer

Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, thereon His execution fworn.

POL. I do believe thee:

I faw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places fhall

Still neighbour mine: My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure

Two days ago. This jealousy

Is for a precious creature: as fhe's rare,
Muft it be great; and, as his perfon's mighty,
Muft it be violent; and, as he does conceive
He is difhonour'd by a man which ever
Profeff'd to him, why, his revenges muft

In that be made more bitter. Fear o'er-fhades me:
Good expedition be my friend! Heaven comfort
The gracious queen! part of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en fufpicion. Come, Camillo ;

I will respect thee as a father, if

Thou bear'it my life off hence : let us avoid.

CAM. It is in mine authority, to command

The keys of all the pofterns: Please your highness
To take the urgent hour: come, fir, away.

[Exeunt.

24 friend, and comfort

ACT II.

SCENEI. The fame.

Enter HERMIONE, and Ladies,
MAMILLIUS with them.

HER, Take the boy to you: he fo troubles me, 'Tis paft enduring.

1. L. Come, my gracious lord, Shall I be your play-fellow ?

MAM. No, I'll none of

you.

1. L. Why, my fweet lord?

MAM. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me, As if I were a baby still: - I love

You better.

2. L. And why fo, my lord?

MAM. Not for because

Your brows are blacker;-yet black brows, they fay, Become fome women beft; so that there be not

Too much hair there, but in a femi-circle,

Or a half-moon made with a pen,

2. L. Who taught you this?

MAM. I learn'd it out of women's faces. Pray now What colour are your eye-brows?

1. L. Blue, my lord.

MAM. Nay, that's a mock; I have feen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.

1. L. Hark ye;

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

One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us,

If we would have you.

2. L. She is fpred of late

Into a goodly bulk; Good time encounter her! [now HER. What wisdom ftirs among'ft you? Come, fir, I am for you again: 'Pray you, fit by us,

And tell us 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 fprites and goblins.
HER. Let's have that, good fir:
Come on, fit down,

come on, and do your best

To fright me with your sprites; 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, Yon' crickets fhall not hear it.

HER. Come on then,

And give't me in mine ear.

Enter LEONTES; with ANTIGONUS,

Lords, and Others.

LEO. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? 1. L. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men fcour fo on their way: I ey'd them Even to their fhips.

LEO. How bleft am I

In my just cenfure? in my true opinion?
Alack, for leffer knowledge! how accurft,
In being fo bleft? There may be in the cup
A fpider steep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present

The abhor'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his fides,
With violent hefts: I have drunk, and feen the fpider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander :→
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true, that is mistrusted:-that false villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him:
He has difcover'd my defign, and I
Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick,

For them to play at will: How came the posterns
So easily open'd?

1. L. 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 am glad, you did not nurse him : Though he does bear fome figns of me, yet you

Have too much blood in him.

HER. What is this? fport?

LEO. Bear the boy hence, he fhall not come about her;

Away with him: and let her sport herself

[Jome bear off MAMILLIUS.

With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes,
Has made thee fwell thus.

HER. But I'd fay, he had not,

And, I'll be fworn, you would believe my saying,

Howe'er you lean to the nayward.

LEO. You, my lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about

To fay, She is a goodly lady, and

The juftice of your hearts will thereto add,

'Tis pity, he's not honeft, honcurable: