SCENE I. The same.

Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies.

Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,

"Tis past 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 speak to me as if

I were a baby still. -I love you better.

2 Lady. And why so, my good lord? Mam.

Not for because

Your brows are blacker: yet black brows, they say,
Become some women best; so that there be not
Too much hair there, but in a semi-circle,

Or 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 are your eye-brows?

1 Lady.

Blue, my lord.

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

2 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'd wanton with us,

If we would have you.

1 Lady.

She is spread of late

Into a goodly bulk: Good time encounter her!

Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now

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.
Mam.

A sad tale's best for winter :

I have one of sprites and goblins.
Her.

Let's have that, sir.

Come on, sit 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, 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 ey'd them Even to their ships.

Leon.

How bless'd am I

In my just censure? in my true opinion?-
Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accurs'd,
In being so blest!-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 present
The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drank, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts :-I have drank, and seen the spider.
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 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?

1 Lord.

By his great authority;

Which often hath no less prevail'd than so,

On your command.

Leon.

I know't too well.

Give me the boy; I am glad, you did not nurse him: Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you

Have too much blood in him.

Her.

What is this? sport?

Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come about her; Away with him:-and let her sport herself With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes

Has made thee swell thus.

Her.

But I'd say, he had not,

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

Howe'er you lean to the nayward.

Leon.

You, my lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about
To say, she is a goodly lady, and

The justice of your hearts will thereto add,
'Tis pity she's not honest, honourable:
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:-O, 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,

The most replenish'd villain in the world,

He were as much more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.

Leon.

You have mistook, my lady,

Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing,
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,
Should a like language use to all degrees,
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar! I have said,
She's an adultress; I have said with whom:
More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is
A federary with her; and one that knows
What she should shame to know herself,
But with her most vile principal, that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold titles; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.

Her.

No, by my life,
Privy to none of this: How will this grieve you,
When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord,
You scarce can right ine throughly then, to say
You did mistake.

Leon.

No, no; if I mistake

In those foundations which I build upon,
The centre is not big enough to bear

A school-boy's top.--Away with her to prison:
He, who shall speak for her, is afar off guilty,

But that he speaks.

Her.

There's some ill planet reigns:

I must be patient, till the heavens look
With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew,
Perchance, shall dry your pities: but I have
That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns
Worse than tears drown: 'Beseech you all, my lords,
With thoughts so qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, measure me;--and so
The king's will be perform'd!

Leon.

Shall I be heard?

[To the Guards. Her. Who is't, that goes with me?-'Beseech your My women may be with me; for, you see, [highness, My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools; There is no cause: when you shall know, your mistress Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears, As I come out: this action, I now go on, Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord: I never wish'd to see you sorry; now, I trust, I shall. - My women, come; you have leave. Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence.

[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.

Ant.

If it prove

She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where
I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her;
Than when I feel, and see her, no further trust her;
For every inch of woman in the world,

Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,

If she be.

Leon.

1 Lord.

Hold your peaces.

Good my lord,

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: You are abus'd, and by some putter-on, That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the villain, I would land-damn him: Be she honour-flaw'd,I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven; The second, and the third, nine, and some five; If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour, I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see, To bring false generations: they are co-heirs;