Pol.

On, good Camillo.

Cry lost, and so good night!

Cam. I am appointed him to murder you.

Pol. By whom, Camillo?

Cam.

Pol.

By the king.

For what?

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, As he had seen 't, or been an instrument

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

queen Forbiddenly.

Pol.

best blood turn

420

O then, my
To an infected jelly, and my name
Be yoked with his that did betray the Best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to
A savor that may strike the dullest nostril
Where I arrive, and my approach be shunn'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infec-
tion

That e'er was heard or read!

Cam.

Swear his thought over
By each particular star in heaven and
By all their influences, you may as well
Forbid the sea for to obey the moon,

As or by oath remove or counsel shake
The fabric of his folly, whose foundation

Is piled upon his faith, and will continue 430
The standing of his body.

419. "his that did betray the Best"; that is, Judas. A clause in the sentence of excommunicated persons was: "let them have part with Judas that betrayed Christ."-H. N. H.

430. "continue the standing of his body"; i. e. as long as his body stands.-C. H. H.

Pol.

How should this grow?

Cam. I know not: but I am sure 'tis safer to

Pol.

Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis
born.

If therefore you dare trust my honesty,
That lies enclosed in this trunk which you
Shall bear along impawn'd, away to-night!
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will by twos and threes at several posterns,
Clear them o' the city. For myself, I'll put
My fortunes to your service, which are here 440
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;
For, by the honor of my parents, I

Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer
That one condemn'd by the king's own mouth,
thereon

His execution sworn.

I do believe thee:

I saw his heart in 's face.

Give me thy hand:

Be pilot to me and thy places shall

Still neighbor mine. My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure 450
Two days ago. This jealousy

Is for a precious creature: as she's rare,
Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,
Must it be violent; and as he does conceive
He is dishonor'd by a man which ever

Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must
In that be made more bitter.

me:

Fear o'ershades

Good expedition be my friend, and comfort

The gracious queen, part of his theme, but noth-
ing

Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo; 460
I will respect 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 high

ness

To take the urgent hour. Come, sir away.

[Exeunt.

460. "his ill-ta'en suspicion"; an obscure and difficult passage, whereof various conjectural emendations have been proposed. It is quite probable that a line slipped out in the printing. As it stands, the best we can do with it is,-May a speedy departure be my friend, and bring comfort to the queen, who is part of the theme whereon the king dwells, myself being the other part; but who has really done nothing to justify his ill-taken suspicion.-H. N. H.

:

ACT SECOND

SCENE I

A room in Leontes' palace.

Enter Hermione, Mamillius, and Ladies.

Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,
"Tis past enduring.

First Lady. Come, my gracious lord,
Shall I be your playfellow?

Mam.

No, I'll none of you.

First 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.
Sec. Lady. And why so, my 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 semicircle,

Or a half-moon made with a pen.

Who taught you

10

this!

Sec. Lady.
Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces. Pray

now

11. "Who taught you this?"; Rowe's emendation of the reading of Folio 1, "taught 'this" (with an apostrophe before "this," indicating an elision); the later Folios, "taught this."—I. G.

What color are your eyebrows?

First Lady.

Blue, my lord.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's

nose

That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

First 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 'ld wanton
with us,

If we would have you.

Sec. Lady.

She is spread of late

19

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, good 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 churchyard: I will tell it softly; Yond crickets shall not hear it.

Her.

31

Come on, then,

25. "A sad tale's best for winter," hence the title of the play.

I. G.