As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: fay it, and justify it.
Cam. I would not be a ftander-by, to hear
My fovereign miftrefs cheaded fo, without
My prefent vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never fpoke what did become you lefs
Than this; which to reiterate, were fin
As deep as that, though true 1.

Leo. Is whifpering nothing

Is leaning cheek to check? is meeting nofes?
Kiffing with infide lip flopping the career
Of laughter with a figh? (a note infallible
Of breaking honefty :) horfing foot on foot ?
Skulking in corners? wifhing clocks more fwift;
Hours minutes? the noon, midnight? and all eyes
Blind with the pin and web 2, but theirs,theirs only,
That would unfeen be wicked? is this nothing?
Why, then the world, and all that's in 't, is nothing;
The covering fky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have thefe no-
If this be nothing.

Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd

Of this difeas'd opinion, and betimes;

For 'tis molt dangerous.

Leo. Say, it be; 'tis true.

Cam. No, no, my lord.

Leo. It is; you lie, you lie:

[things,

I fay, thou lief, Camillo, and I hate thee;
Pronounce thee a groß lowt, a mindlefs flave;
Or elfe a hovering temporizer, that

Can't with thine eyes at once fee good and evil,
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, fhe would not live
The running of one glafs.

Cam. Who does infect her?

[hanging

Lào. Why he, that wears her like her medal,
About his neck, Bohemia :-Who,——if I
Had fervants true about me; that bare eyes
To fes alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts,-they would do that
Which thould undo more doing: Ay, and thou,
His cup bearer, whom I, from meaner form [fee
Have bench'd and rear'd to worship; who may'ft
Plainly, as heaven fees earth, and earth fees heaven,
How I am gall'd,—thou might'st be-spice a cup,
To give mine enemy a lafting 3 wink;

Which draught to me were cordial.

Cam. Sir, my lord,

I could do this; and that with no rash 4 potion,
But with a ling ring dram, that should not work
Malicioufly 5, like poifon : But I cannot
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress,
So fovereignly being honourable.

I have lov'd thee

Leo. Make that thy queftion, and go rot!
Doft think, I am fo muddy, fo unfettled,
To appoint myself in this vexation? fully
The purity and whiteness of my sheets,
Which to preferve, is fleep; which being spotted,
Is goads, thorns, netties, tails of wafps?
Give fcandal to the blood o' the prince my fon,

[Exit.

Cam. O miferable lady !-But, for me,
What cafe ftand I in? I muft be the poifoner
Of good Polixenes: and my ground to do 't
Is the obedience to a mafter; one,
Who, in rebellion with himfelf, will have
All that are his, fo too.-To do this deed,
Promotion follows: If I could find example
Of thoufands, that had ftruck anointed kings,
And flourish'd after, I'd not do 't: but fince
Nor brafs, nor flone, nor parchment, bears not one,
Let villainy itself forfwear't. I muft
Forfake the court: to do 't, or no, is certain
To me a break-neck. Happy itar, reign now!
Here comes Bohemia.

Enter Polixenes.
Pol. This is ftrange! methinks,
My favour here begins to warp. Not speak ?—
Good-day, Camillo.

Cam. Hail, most royal fir!

Pol. What is the news i' the court?
Cam. None rare, my lord.

Pol. The king hath on him fuch a countenance,
As he had loft fome province, and a region,
Lov'd as he loves himfelf: even now I met him
With cuftomary compliment; when he,
Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling
A lip of much contempt, fpeeds from me; and
So leaves me, to confider what is breeding,
That changes thus his manners.

Cam. I dare not know, my lord.

Pol. How dare not? do not? do you know,
and dare not

Be intelligent to me? 'Tis thereabouts;
For, to yourself, what you do know, you must ;
And cannot fay, you dare not. Good Camillo,
Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror,

1 i.e your fufpicion is as great a fin as would be that (if committed) for which you fufpect her. 2 Dilorders in the eye. 3 i. e. perpetual.

fart off, to shrink.

4 i. e. hally. $ e. malignantly. To bench is to

Which fhews me mine chang'd too: for I must be A favour, that may ftrike the dulleft noftrif

A party in this alteration, finding
Myfelf thus alter'd with it.

Cam. There is a fickness

Which puts fome of us in diftemper; but
I cannot name the difeafe; and it is caught
Of you, that yet are well.

Pol. How! caught of me?
Make me not fighted like the bafilisk:

Where I arrive; and my approach be fhun'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'ft 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 counfel, fhake
The fabrick of his folly; whofe foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The ftanding of his body.

Pol. How fhould this grow?

I have look'd on thousands, who have fped the better
By my regard, but kill'd none fo. Camillo,-
As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienc'd, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whofe fuccefis we are gentle '--I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my know-If therefore you dare truft my honesty,-

Thereof to be inform'd; imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.

Cam. I may not answer.

[ledge

Pol. A ficknefs caught of me, and yet I well!
I must be anfwer'd.-Doft thou hear, Camillo,'
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man, [leaft
Which honour does acknowledge,-whereof the
Is not this fuit of mine,-that thou declare
What incidency thou doft guess of harm

Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;

If not, how best to bear it.

Cam. Sir, I'll tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him

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

That lies inclosed 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 feveral poîterns,
Clear them o' the city: For myfelf, I'll put
My fortunes to your fervice, which are here
By this difcovery lost. Be not uncertain;
For, by the honour of my parents, 1
Have utter'd truth: which if you feek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor thall you be safer [thercon,
Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth,
His execution fworn.

Pel. I do believe thee:

I faw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;

That I think honourable: Therefore, mark my Be pilot to me, and thy places fhall

counfel;

Which must be even as swiftly follow'd, as

I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me

Cry, left, and fo good-night.

Pol. On, good Camillo.

Cam. I am appointed Him to murder you.
Pol. By whom, Camillo ?

Cam. By the king.

Pol. For what?

Still neighbour mine: My thips are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago.- -This jealoufy

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 dishonour'd by a man which ever
Profeis'd to him, why, his revenges must

[fwears In that be made more bitter. Fear o'er-fhades me:

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he Good expedition be my friend, and comfort As he had feen't, or been an inftrument

[queen The gracious queen, part of his theam, but nothing

To vice you to't 2,-that you have touch'd his Of his ill-ta'en fufpicion! Come, Camillo;
Forbiddenly.

Pol. Oh, then my best blood turn

To an infected jelly; and my name

Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to

I will refpect 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 poíterns: Please your highness
To take the urgent hour: come, fir, away. [Exeunt.

1 Gentle is evidently opposed to fuple; alluding to the diftinction between the gentry and yeo21. e. to draw, perfuade you. The character called the Vice in the old plays, was the

mamy.

to evil.

Mam

2 Lady. Hark ye:

The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we fhall
Prefent our fervices to a fine new prince,
One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us,
If we would have you.

2 Lady. She is fpread of late

Into a goodly bulk; Good time encounter her!
Her. What wildom ftirs amongst you? Come
fir, now

I am for you again: Pray you, fit by us,
And tell us a tale.

Mam. Merry, or fad, shall it be?
Her. As merry as you will.

Mam. A fad tale's bett for winter:

I have one of fprights and goblins.

Her. Let's have that, good fir.

Come on, fit down :-Come on, and do your best
To fright me with your fprights; you're powerful
Mam. There was a man

Her. Nay, come, fit down; then on.
Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard;-I will
Yon crickets fhall not hear it.

Her. Come on then,

And give 't me in mine ear.

[at it. [foftly; tell it

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and others. Leo. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

Lord. 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 accurs'd,
In being fo bleft!-There may be in the cap
A fpider fteep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one prefent

The abhor'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his fides,
With violent hefts:1 have drunk, and feen
the fpider-

Camillo was his help in this, his pandar :-
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true, that is miftrufted :-that falfe villain,
Whom I employed, was pre-employed by him:
He hath difcover'd my defign, and 1
Remain a pinch'd thing 2; yea, a very trick
For them to play at will:-How came the posterns
So eafily open ?

Lord. By his great authority;
Which often hath no lefs prevail'd than fo,
On your command.

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

The juftice of your hearts will thereto add,
'Tis pity, fhe's not bonest, bonourable:
Praife her but for this her without-door form,
(Which, on my faith, deferves high speech) and
ftraight

The fhrug, the hum, or ha; these petty brands,
That calumny doth use :—Oh, I am out,
That mercy does; for calumny will fear
Virtue itfelf:-thefe fhrugs, thefe hums, and ha's,
When you have faid, fhe's goodly, come between,
Ere you can fay fhe's honeft': But be it known,
From him that has moft caufe to grieve it should be,
She's an adultrefs.

Her. Should a villain fay fo,
The moft replenish'd villain in the world,
He were as much more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.

Leo. You have miftook, my lady,
Polixenes for Leontes. O thou thing,
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
Left barbarifm, making me the precedent,
Should a like language ufe to all degrees,
And mannerly diftinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar !-I have faid,
She's an adultrefs; I have faid, with whom :
More, the's a traitor; and Camillo is

A federary 3 with her; and one that knows
What the should shame to know herself,
But 4 with her molt vile principal, that the's
A bed-fwerver, even as bad as thofe
That vulgars give bold'it titles; ay, and privy
To this their late efcape.

Her. No, by my life,

Privy to none of this: How will this grieve you,
When you fhall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have publish'd me? Gentle my lord,
You fcarce can right me throughly then, to fay
You did miftake.

Leo. No; if I mistake

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

A fchool-boy's top.-Away with her to prison:
He, who shall speak for her, is afar off guilty,
But that he fpeaks.

Her. There's fome ill planet reigns:

I must be patient, till the heavens look
With an afpect more favourable.-Good my lords,

1 Hefts are what is heaved up. 2 i. e. I am treated as a mere child's baby, a thing pinched out

of clouts, a puppet for them to move and actuate as they pleafe.

here ufe for except.

Z 2

3 i. e. a confederate. 4 But is I am

I am not prone to weeping, as our fex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew,
Perchance, fhall dry your pities: but I have
That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns
Worfe than tears drown: 'Beseech you all, my lords,
With thoughts fo qualified as your charities
Shall beft inftru&t you, measure me; and fo
The king's will be perform'd!--

Leo. Shall I be heard?

[To the Guards. Her. Who is't, that goes with me?-'befeech your highness,

My women may be with me; for, you fee,
My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;
[To ber Ladies.
There is no caufe: when you shall know, your
Has deferv'd prifon, then abound in tears, [miftrefs
As I come out; this action, I now go on,
Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord:
I never with'd to fee you forry; now,

There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.

Leo. What? lack I credit?

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 fufpicion;
Be blam'd for 't how you might.

Leo. Why, what need we
Commune with you of this? but rather follow
Our forceful inftigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counfels; but our natural goodnes
Imparts this: which, if you (or ftupified;
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 lofs, the gain, the ord'ring on 't, is all
Properly ours.

Ant. And I with, my liege,

You had only in your filent judgment try'd it,

I truft, Ifhall.-My women, come; you have leave. Without more overture.
Leo. Go, do our bidding; hence.

[Exeunt Queen and Ladies. Lord. 'Befeech your highnefs, call the queen again.

Aut. Be certain what you do, fir; left your
justice

Prove violence; in the which three great ones fuffer,
Yourfelf, your queen, your fon.

Lord. For her, my lord,——

I dare my life lay down, and will do't, fir,
Pleafe you to accept it, that the queen is fpotlefs
I' the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean,
In this which you accufe her.

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves:
You are abus'd, and by fome putter-on,
That will be damn'd for't: 'would I knew the villain,
I would land-damn him: Be the honour-flaw'd,-
I have three daughters; the eldcft is eleven ;
The fecond, and the third, nine, and fome five;
If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour,
I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not fee,
To bring falfe generations: they are co-heirs ;
And I had rather glib 3 myself, than they
Should not produce fair illue.

Leo. Ceate; no more.

You fmell this bufinefs with a fenfe as cold

As is a dead man's note: but I do fee't, and feel't;
As you feel doing thus, and fee withal
The inftruments that feel.

Ant. If it be fo,

Leo. How could that be?

Either thou art mott ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,

(Which was as grofs as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd fight only, nought for approbation,
But only feeing, all other circumstances
Made up to the deed) do push on this proceeding:
Yet, for a greater confirmation,

(For, in an act of this importance, 'twere
Moft piteous to be wild) I have dispatch'd in post,
To facred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
Of stuff'd fufficiency 5: Now, from the oracle
They will bring all; whofe fpiritual counsel had,
Shall ftop, or pur me. Have I done well?
Lord. Well done, my lord.

Lo. Though I am fatisfy'd, and need no more
Than what I know, yet thall the oracle
Give rett to the minds of others; fuch as he,
Whofe ignorant credulity will not
Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good,
From our free perfon the should be confin'd;
Left that the treachery of the two, fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in publick: for this business
Will raife us all.

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

[Exeunt.

Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady!
No court in Europe is too good for thee,

[Striking his brows. What doft thou then in prifon-Now, good fir,
Re-enter Gentleman, with the Keeper.
You know me, do you not?

We need no grave to bury honesty;

1 Allion is here applied in the legal fenfe, for charge, or accufation. 2 Meaning, perhaps, I would rid the country of him; condemn him to quit the lard. 3 To glib, or to lib, means the fame as 4 Approbation here meaus proef. 5 Meaning, of abilities more than enough.

10 geld.

Kef

[Exeunt Gent. Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and other At

Thefe dangerous unfafe lunes o' the king! be- Conceiving the difhonour of his mother,

I'll to the queen: ploufe you, come fomething nearer. Do come with words as med'çinal as true;

2 Blank and level are terms of archery

73