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; How bless'd am I Leon. The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known spider. Camillo was his help in this, his pander :- 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, 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. You, my lords, Leon. 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 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 it be 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, Leon. You have mistook, my lady, A federary with her; and one that knows No, by my life, Her. 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 me throughly then, to say You did mistake. Leon. No, no; if I mistake In those foundations which I build upon, The center is not big enough to bear A schoolboy'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 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 highness, My women may be with me; for, you see, My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools; [To her Ladies. There is no cause; when you shall know, your mis tress Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears, As I come out; this action 's, 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 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; Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false, If she be. Leon. Hold your peaces. 2 Lord. Good my lord, Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the villain, Leon. |