I am for you again: Pray you, sit by us, And tell 's a tale. Mam. Merry, or sad, shall 't be ? Her. As merry as you will. A sad fale's best for winter; I have one of sprites and goblins. Let's have that, sir. Come on, sit down :-Come on, and do your best Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on. Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard--I will tell it softly; Yon crickets shall not hear it. Her. And give 't me in mine ear. Come on then, Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and others. Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? 1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men scour so on their way: I eyed them Even to their ships. Leon. The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known With violent hefts :-I have drank, and seen the spider. 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: Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick 1 Lord. By his great authority; Which often hath no less prevail'd than so, your command. Leon. I know 't too well. Give me the boy; I am glad, you did not nurse him: Her. What is this? sport? Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come about Away with him :-and let her sport herself With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes Her. [her: But I'd say, he had not, And, I'll be sworn, you would believe my saying, Leon. You, my lords, Look on her, mark her well; be but about The justice of your hearts will thereto add, Praise her but for this her without-door form, (Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and straight The shrug, the hum, or ha; these petty brands, That calumny doth use:-0, I am out, That mercy does; for calumny will sear Virtue itself:-these shrugs, these hums, and ha's, When you have said, she's goodly, come between, Ere you can say, she's honest: But be it known From him, that has most cause to grieve it should be, She's an adultress. Her. Should a villain say so, Leon. You have mistook, my lady, Her. Leon. No, no; if I mistake In those foundations which I build upon, A school-hoy's top.-Away with her to prison: Her. There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient, till the heavens look With an aspéct more favourable.-Good my lords, Commonly are; the want of which rain dew, Shall best instruct you, measure me ;-and so Leon. Shall I be heard? Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord: I trust, I shall.-My women, come; you have leave. [Exeunt Queen and Ladies. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, call the queen again. Ant. Be certain what you do, sir: lest your justice Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer,Yourself, your queen, your son. 1 Lord. For her, my lord,I dare my life lay down, and will do 't, sir, Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless I' the eyes of Heaven, and to you; I mean, In this which you accuse her. If it prove Ant. I lodge my wife: I'll go in couples with her; Than when I feel, and see her, no farther trust her; For every inch of woman in the world, Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false, If she be. Leon. Hold your peaces. 1 Lord. Good my lord, Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: You are abused, and by some putter-on, That will be damn'd for 't; 'would I knew the villain, I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven ; Should not produce fair issue. Leon. Cease; no more. The instruments that feel. Ant. If it be so, We need no grave to bury honesty ; There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten Leon. What! lack I credit? 1 Lord. I had rather you did lack, than I, my lord, Upon this ground: and more it would content me To have her honour true, than your suspicion; Be blamed for 't how you might. Leon. Why, what need we Commune with you of this? but rather follow Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative Calls not your counsels; but our natural goodness Imparts this: which,-if you, (or stupified, Or seeming so in skill,) cannot, or will not, Relish as truth, like us; inform yourselves, We need no more of your advice: the matter, The loss, the gain, the ordering on 't, is all Properly ours. Ant. And I wish, my liege, Leon. How could that be? Either thou art most ignorant by age, Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight, Added to their familiarity, (Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation, But only seeing, all other circumstances Made up to the deed,) doth push on this proceeding: Yet, for a greater confirmation, (For in an act of this importance, 'twere Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatch'd in post, Of stuff'd sufficiency: Now, from the oracle Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good, Ant. (Aside.) To laughter, as I take it, [Excunt. SCENE II. The same. The outer Room of a Prison. Enter PAULINA and Attendants. Paul. The keeper of the prison,-call to him; [Exit an Attendant. Let him have knowledge who I am. Good lady! No court in Europe is too good for thee, What dost thou then in prison ?-Now, good sir, Re-enter Attendant with the Keeper. You know me, do you not? Keep. And one whom I much honour. Paul. Conduct me to the queen. For a worthy lady, Pray you then, Keep. I may not, madam: to the contrary I have express commandment. Paul. Here's ado, To lock up honesty and honour from The access of gentle visitors!-Is it lawful, Keep. So please you, madam, to put I pray now, call her. Paul. D [Exeunt Attend. |