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Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

Arch. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, indeed,Cam. 'Beseech you,

Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificencein so rare-I know not what to say.We will give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us.

Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely.

Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utter

ance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seemed to be together, though absent; shook hands, as over a vast; and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: It is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physicks the subject, makes old hearts fresh; they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man.

Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live.

Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same. A Room of State in the Palace.

Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Hermione, Mamillius, Camillo, and Attendants.

Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne Without a burden: time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; And yet we should, for perpetuity, Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, With one we-thank-you, many thousands more That go before it.

Leon.

Stay your thanks awhile; And pay them when you part. Pol.

Leon.

Sir, that's to-morrow.
I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance,
Or breed upon our absence: That may blow
No sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd
To tire your royalty.
We are tougher, brother,
Than you can put us to't.
Pol.
No longer stay.
Leon. One seven-night longer.
Pol.
Very sooth, to-morrow.
Leon. We'll part the time between's then and
I'll no gain-saying.
[in that
Pol.
Press me not, 'beseech you, so;
There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the
world,

So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now,
Were there necessity in your request, although
Twere needful I denied it. My affairs
Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder,
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay,
To you a charge, and trouble: to save both,
Farewell, our brother.

until

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace, [sir, You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure, All in Bohemia's well this satisfaction The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him, He's beat from his best ward.

Leon. Well said, Hermione. Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong. But let him say so then, and let him go; But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.Yet of your royal presence [to Polixenes.] I'l

adventure

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But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you
Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were
boys;
You were pretty lordlings then.

Pol.

We were, fair queen,
Two lads, that thought there was no more behind,
But such a day to-morrow as to-day,
And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two?
Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i'
the sun,

And bleat the one at the other: What we chang'd
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd
That any did: Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd

heaven

Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,
Hereditary ours.

Her.
By this we gather,
You have tripp'd since.
Pol.

O my most sacred lady,
Temptations have since then been born to us: for
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl;
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young play-fellow.

Her.

Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclusion; lest you say,
Your queen and I are devils: Yet, go on;
The offences we have made you do, we'll answer;
If you first sinn'd with us, and that with us
You did continue fault, and that you slipp'd not
With any but with us.

Leon.

Is he won yet?

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make us

and

As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying
tongueless,

Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages: You may ride us,
With one soft kiss, a thousand furlongs, ere
With spur we heat an acre. But to the goal;-
My last good was, to entreat his stay;
What was my first? it was an elder sister,

Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace!!
But once before I spoke to the purpose: When?
Nay, let me hav't; I long.

Leon.
Why, that was when
Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to

death,

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,
And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter,
I am yours for ever.
Her.
It is Grace, indeed.-
Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose
twice;

The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;
The other, for some while a friend.

[Giving her hand to Polixenes.
Leon.
Too hot, too hot : [Aside.
To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods.
I have tremor cordis on me :-my heart dances;
But not for joy,-not joy.-This entertainment
May a free face put on; derive a liberty
From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom,
And well become the agent: it may, I grant.
But to be paddling palms, and pinching fingers,
As now they are; and making practis'd smiles,
As in a looking glass ;-and then to sigh, as 'twere
The mort o' the deer; O, that is entertainment
My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-Mamillius,
Art thou my boy?

Mam.

Leon.

Ay, my good lord.

I'fecks?

Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd
thy nose "

They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain,
We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain:
And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf,
Are all call'd neat.-Still virginalling

[Observing Polixenes and Herinione.
Upon his palm?-How now, you wanton calf ?
Art thou my calf?
Yes, if you will, my lord.
Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots
that I have,

Mam.

To be full like me :-yet, they say we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will say any thing: But were they false
As o'er-died blacks, as wind, as waters; false
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
No bourn 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true
To say this boy were like me.-Come, sir page,
Look on me with your welkin eye: Sweet villain'
Most dear'st! my collop!--Can thy dam ?-may't
be?

Affection! thy intention stabs the centre:
Thou dost make possible, things not so held,
Communicat'st with dreams;-(How can this
be?)-

With what's unreal thou coactive art,

And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent,
Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou
dost;

(And that beyond commission; and I find it,)
And that to the infection of my brains,
And hardening of my brows.

Pol.
What means Sicilia'
Her. He something seems unsettled.
Pol.

How, my lord?
What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?

Her.

You look,

As if you held a brow of much distraction:
Are you mov'd, my lord?
Leon.

No, in good earnest,→
How sometimes nature will betray its folly,
Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime
To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines
Of my boy's face, methoughts, I did recoil
Twenty-three years; and saw myself unbreech'd,
In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled,
Lest it should bite its master, and so prove,
As ornaments oft do, too dangerous.
How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,
This quash, this gentleman :-Mine honest friend,
Will you take eggs for money?

Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.

Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole!-
My brother,

Are you so fond of your young prince, as we
Do seem to be of ours?

Pol.
If at home, sir,
He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter:
Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all:
He makes a July's day short as December;
And, with his varying childness, cures in me
Thoughts that would thick my blood.
So stands this squire
Offic'd with me: We two will walk, my lord,
And leave you to your graver steps.-Hermione,
How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's wel-

Leon.

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We are your's i'the garden: Shall's attend you there?

Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,

Be you beneath the sky :-I am angling now,
Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to!

Aside. Observing Polixenes and Hermione. How she holds up the neb, the bill to him! And arms her with the boldness of a wife To her allowing husband! Gone already; Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd [Exeunt Polixenes, Hermione, and Attendants.

one.

Go, play, boy, play;-thy mother plays, and I
Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and clamour
Will be my knell.-Go, play, boy, play;-There
have been,

Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm,
That little thinks she has been sluic'd in his ab-
sence,

And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour : nay, there's comfort in't,
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates
open'd,

As mine, against their will: Should all despair,
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physick for't there is

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Cam. To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties Of our most gracious mistress. Leon.

Satisfy The entreaties of your mistress ?. -satisfy ?Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo, With all the nearest things to my heart, as well My chamber-councils: wherein, priest-like, thou Hast cleans'd my bosom; I from thee departed Thy penitent reform'd: but we have been Deceiv'd in thy integrity, deceiv'd In that which seems so. Cam. Be it forbid, my lord Leon. To bide upon't;-Thou art not honest: or If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward; Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining From course requir'd: Or else thou must be counted A servant, grafted in my serious trust, And therein negligent: or else a fool, That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn,

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My gracions lord,

I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
Amongst the infinite doings of the world,
Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord,
If ever I were wilful-negligent,
It was my folly; if industriously

I play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord,
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me: let me know my trespass
By its own visage: if I then deny it,
"Tis none of mine.

Leon.

Have not you seen, Camillo, (But that's past doubt: you have; or your eye glass Is thicker than a cuckold's horn ;) or heard, (For, to a vision so apparent, rumour Cannot be mute,) or thought, (for cogitation Resides not in that man, that does not think it,) My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess, (Or else be impudently negative,

To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then say,
My wife's a hobbyhorse; deserves a name
As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say it, and justify it.
Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this; which to reiterate, were sin
As deep as that, though true.
Leon.

Is whispering nothing?
Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible
Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes
blind

With the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only,
That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing?
Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is nothing;
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these no-
If this be nothing.
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Cam. No, no, my lord.
Leon.

Say, it be; 'tis true.

It is; you lie, you lie :
I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee;
Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave;
Or else a hovering temporizer, that
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, she would not live

The running of one glass.

Cam.

Who does infect her?

Pol.

Enter Polixenes.

This is strange! methinks,

My favour here begins to warp. Not speak ?————
Good-day, Camillo.

Cam.

Hail, most royal sir!
Pol. What is the news i' the court?
Cam.
None rare, my lord.
Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance,
As he had lost some province, and a region,
Lov'd as he loves himself: even now I met him
With customary compliment; when he,
Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling
A lip of much contempt, speeds from me; and

Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, So leaves me, to consider what is breeding,

hanging

About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I

Had servants true about me: that bare eyes
To see alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts,-they would do that
Which should undo more doing: Ay, and thou,
His cupbearer,-whom I from meaner form
Have bench'd, and rear'd to worship; who may'st

see

Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees heaven,
How I am galled,-might'st bespice a cup,
To give mine enemy a lasting. wink;
Which draught to me were cordial.
Cam.

That changes thus his manners.
Cam. I dare not know, my lord.
Pol. How! dare not? do not.
and dare not

Do you know

Be intelligent to me? 'Tis thereabouts;
For, to yourself, what you do know, you must,
And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror.
Which shows me mine chang'd too: for I must br
A party in this alteration, finding
Myself thus alter'd with it.

Cam.

There is a sickness
Which puts some of us in distemper; but
I cannot name the disease; and it is caught
Of you that yet are well.

Pol.

How! caught of me?

Sir, my lord,
I could do this; and that with no rash potion,
But with a ling'ring dram, that should not work
Maliciously like poison: But I cannot
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress,
So sovereignly being honourable.
I have lov'd thee,-
Leon.
Dost think, I am so muddy, so unsettled,
To appoint myself in this vexation? sully
The purity and whiteness of my sheets,
Which to preserve, is sleep; which being spotted,
Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps?
Give scandal to the blood o'the prince my son,
Who, I do think is mine, and love as mine;
Without ripe moving to't ?-Would I do this?
Could man so blench?

Make me not sighted like the basilisk:

I have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better

By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,

Make't thy question, and go rot! As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto

Cam.
I must believe you, sir;
I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't:
Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness
Will take again your queen, as yours at first;
Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for sealing
The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms
Known and allied to yours.

Leon.
Thou dost advise me,
Even so as I mine own course have set down:
I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.

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I may not answer.
Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!
I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo,
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man,
Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the
least

Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm

Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if so be;
If not, how best to bear it.
Cam.
Sir, I'll tell
you;
Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him
That I think honourable: Therefore, mark iny
counsel;

Which must be even as swiftly follow'd, as
I mean to utter it, or both yourself and me
Cry, lost, and so good-night.

Pol.

On, good Camillo.
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.

O, 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

A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril
Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection
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 wel.

Forbid the sea for to obey the moon,

As or, by oath, remove, or counsel, shake
The fabrick of his folly; whose foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.

Pol.

How should this grow?
Cam. I know not: but, I am sure, 'tis safer to
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
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;
For, by the honour of my parents, I
Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer
Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth,
His execution sworn.
[thereon

Pol.
I do believe thee;
I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places shall
Still neighbour mine: My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
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 dishonour'd by a man which ever
Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must

In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me:
Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo ;
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 highness
To take the urgent hour: come, sir, away.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-The same.

[Exeunt.

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
What colour are your eye-brows?
[now
1 Lady.
Blue, my lord
Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's
That has been blue, but not her eye-brows. [nose
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

1 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.

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Come on, sit down :-Come on, and do your best
To fright me with your sprites. you're powerful
Mam. There was a man,-
[at it.
Her.
Nay, come, sit down; then on.
Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard ;-I will tell it
Yon crickets shall not hear it.
[softly;
Her.
Come on then,

And give't me in mine ear.

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;

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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 pos-
So easily open ?
[terns
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 cid 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
She's an adultress.
[be,
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.
You have mistook, my lady,
Polixenes for Leontes: 0 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,

Leon.

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