Leon. Hold your peaces.
i Lord.

Good my lord,
Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves :
You are abus'd, and by some putter-on,3
That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the vil-

lain,
I would land-damn him:4 Be she honour-flaw'd,
I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven;
The second, and the third, nine, and some five;
If this prove true, they'll pay for’t: by mine ho

nour,
I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations: they are co-heirs;
And I had rather glib myself, than they
Should not produce fair issue.
Leon.

Cease; no more.
You smell this business with a sense as cold
As is a dead man's nose: I see't, and feel't,
As you feel doing thus; and see withal
The instruments that feel.
Ant.

If it be so,
We need no grave to bury honesty;
There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten

3- putter-on,] i. e, one who instigates.

4 land-damn him:] Mr. Steevens, after giving various opinions on this expression, says, After all these aukward struggles to obtain a meaning, we might, I think, not unsafely read

“I'd laudanum him," i. e. poison him with laudanum. 5- I see't and feelt,

As you feel doing thus; and see withal

The instruments that feel.] Some stage direction seems necessary in this place; but what that direction should be, it is not easy to decide. Sir T. Hanmer gives—Laying hold of his arm; Dr. Johnson-striking his brows. Mr. Henley thinks that Leontes, perhaps, touches the forehead of Antigonus with his fore and middle fingers forked in imitation of a Snail's HORNS; for these, or imaginary horns of his own like them, are the instruments that feel, to which he alluded.

Of the whole dungy earth.
Leon.

What! lack I credit ?
i 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 suspicion ;
Be blam'd for't how you might.
Leon.

Why, what need we
Commune with you of this? but rather follow
Our forceful instigation ? Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels; but our natural goodness
Imparts this: which,-if you (or stupified,
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 loss, the gain, the ordering on't, is all
Properly ours.
Ant.

And I wish, my liege,
You had only in your silent judgment tried it,
Without more overture.
Leon.

How could that be ?
Either thou art most ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,
(Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation,
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to the deed,) doth push on this proceed-

ing: Yet, for a greater confirmation, (For, in an act of this importance, 'twere Most piteous to be wild,) I have despatch'd in post, To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple, Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know Of stuff'd sufficiency:' Now, from the oracle

They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop, or spur me. Have I done well ?

i Lord. Well done, my lord.
Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no

more
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,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in publick: for this business
Will raise us all.

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

(Exeunt.

SCENE II.
The outer Room of a Prison.

The same.

Enter Paulina and Attendants.
Paul. The keeper of the prison,-call to him;

[Exit an Attendant.
Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady!
No court in Europe is too good for thee,
What dost thou then in prison ?-Now, good sir,

Re-enter Attendant, with the Keeper.
You know me, do you not?
Keep.

For a worthy lady,
And one whom much I honour.
Paul.

Pray you then, Conduct me to the queen.

Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary

I have express commandment.
Paul.

Here's ado,
To lock up honesty and honour from
The access of gentle visitors !— Is it lawful,
Pray you, to see her women? any of them?
Emilia?

Keep. So please you, madam, to put
Apart these your attendants, I shall bring
Emilia forth.

Paul. I pray now, call her. Withdraw yourselves.

[Exeunt Attend. Keep.

And, madam, I must be present at your conference.

Paul. Well, be it so, pr’ythee. [E xit Keeper. Here's such ado to make no stain a stain, As passes colouring.

Re-enter Keeper, with EMILIA.
Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?

Emil. As well as one so great, and so forlorn,
May hold together: On her frights, and griefs,

(Which never tender lady hath borne greater) · She is, something before her timne, deliver'd.

Paul. A boy?
Emil.

A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lusty, and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in't: says, My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.
Paul.

I dare be sworn :These dangerous unsafe lunes o' the king !8 beshrew

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 th' loudest: We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o' the child ;
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
A thriving issue; there is no lady living,
So meet for this great errand: Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I'll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer ;
Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this design;
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.
Paul.

Tell her, Emilia, I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it, As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted I shall do good.

Now be you blest for it! I'll to the queen: Please you, come something

nearer. Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to send the

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

Paul. You need not fear it, sir:
The child was prisoner to the womb; and is,
By law and process of great nature, thence
Free'd and enfranchis'd: not a party to