To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank Leon. How does the boy? 1 Atten. [advancing. He took good rest to-night; To see, 'Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. His nobleness! Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, And down-right languish'd.-Leave me solely: go, of him ; The very thought of my revenges that way Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow: 1 Lord. Enter PAULINA, with a Child. You must not enter. Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me: Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas, Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul; Ant. That's enough. 1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; com manded None should come at him. Paul. Not so hot, good sir; I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,- Do come with words as med'cinal as true; Honest, as either; to purge him of that humour Leon. What noise there, ho? Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference, About some gossips for your highness. Leon. How? Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus, I charg'd thee, that she should not come about me; On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, She should not visit you. VOL. V. Leon. What, canst not rule her? Paul. From all dishonesty, he can: in this, (Unless he take the course that you have done, Commit me, for committing honour,) trust it, He shall not rule me. Ant. Lo you now; you hear! When she will take the rein, I let her run; But she'll not stumble. Paul. Good my liege, I come, And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess Leon. Good queen? Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen: I say, good queen; And would by combat make her good, so were I Leon. Force her hence. Paul. Let him, that makes but trifles of his eyes, First hand me: on mine own accord, I'll off; But, first, I'll do my errand.-The good queen, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. Leon. [Laying down the child. Out! A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' door: A most intelligencing bawd! Paul. Not so: I am as ignorant in that, as you In so entitling me: and no less honest Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, As this world goes, to pass for honest. Traitors! Leon. By thy dame Partlet here,-take up the bastard; Paul. Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou For ever Take'st up the princess, by that forced baseness 24 Leon. He dreads his wife. Paul. So, I would, you did; then, 'twere past all doubt, You'd call your children yours. Leon. A nest of traitors! Nor I; nor any, Ant. I am none, by this good light. But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he The sacred honour of himself, his queen's, His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, Leon. A callat, Of boundless tongue; who late hath beat her hus band, And now baits me!-That brat is none of mine; It is the issue of Polixenes: Hence with it; and, together with the dam, And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge, The trick of his frown, his forehead; nay the valley, The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours No yellow in't 25; lest she suspect, as he does, Her children not her husband's! Leon. And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, A gross hag! |