190

Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to the minds of others, such as he
Whose ignorant credulity will not
Come up to the truth. So have we thought it
good

From our free person she should be confin'd,
Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence 195
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in public, for this business
Will raise us all.

Ant. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known. [Exeunt. 200

35

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
And never to my red-look'd anger be
The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the Queen.
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll show 't the King and undertake to be
Her advocate to the loud'st. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o' the child. 40
The silence 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

I know not what I shall incur to pass it, Having no warrant.

Paul.

You need not fear it, sir. This child was prisoner to the womb and is By law and process of great Nature thence Freed and enfranchis'd, not a party to The anger of the King nor guilty of, If any be, the trespass of the Queen. Gaol. I do believe it.

Paul. Do not you fear. Upon mine honour, I Will stand betwixt you and danger. [Exeunt. 6

SCENE III. [A room in Leontes' palace.] Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and SER

VANTS.

Leon. Nor night nor day no rest. It is but weakness

To bear the matter thus; mere weakness. If The cause were not in being, part o' the

cause,

She the adulteress; for the harlot king
Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank
And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she
I can hook to me: say that she were gone,
Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest
Might come to me again. Who's there?
[1.] Serv.

Leon. How does the boy?

My lord?

11

[1.] Serv. He took good rest to-night; 'Tis hop'd his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. To see 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 downright languish'd. Leave me solely;

go,

16

See how he fares. [Exit Serv.] Fie, fie! no

thought of him;

20

The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil 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 sorrow.
They should not laugh if I could reach them,

The daughter of a king, our wife, and one
Of us too much belov'd. Let us be clear'd
Of being tyrannous, since we so openly
Proceed in justice, which shall have due course
Even to the guilt or the purgation.
Produce the prisoner.

10

Off. It is his Highness' pleasure that the Queen Appear in person here in court. Silence! [Enter HERMIONE (as to her trial); PAULINA and LADIES attending.]

Leon. Read the indictment.

Off. [Reads.] "Hermione, Queen to the worthy Leontes, King of Sicilia, thou art here acensed and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, King of Bohemia, and conspiring with Camillo to take [15 away the life of our sovereign lord the King, thy royal husband: the pretence whereof being by eircumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night."

22