Do strike at my injustice. [HERMIONE faints.] How now there? Paul. This news is mortal to the queen :-Look down, And see what death is doing. Take her hence: Leon. Some remedies for life.-Apollo, pardon [Exeunt PAULINA and Ladies, with HERM. My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle!I'll reconcile me to Polixenes; New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo; My friend Polixenes: which had been done, Reward, did threaten and encourage him, "Of the queen's speed,] Of the event of the queen's trial: so we still say, he sped well or ill. JOHNSON. 6 commended,] i. e. committed. Thorough my rust! and how his piety Paul. Re-enter PAULINA. Woe the while! O, cut my lace; lest my heart, cracking it, 1 Lord. What fit is this, good lady? Paul. What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? What wheels? racks? fires? What flaying? boiling, Thou would'st have poison'd good Camillo's ho To have him kill a king; poor trespasses, More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon 7 Does my deeds make the blacker!] This vehement retraction of Leontes, accompanied with the confession of more crimes than he was suspected of, is agreeable to our daily experience of the vicissitudes of violent tempers, and the eruptions of minds oppressed with guilt. JOHNSON. Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's honour,] How should Paulina know this? No one had charged the King with this crime except himself, while Paulina was absent, attending on Hermione. The poet seems to have forgotten this. Would have shed water out of fire, ere don't:" Of the young prince; whose honourable thoughts That could conceive, a gross and foolish sire queen, The sweetest, dearest, geance for't Not dropp'd down yet. 1 Lord. creature's dead; and ven The higher powers forbid ! Paul. I say, she's dead: I'll swear't if word, nor oath, Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring Leon. 1 Lord. Say no more; Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault though a devil Would have shed water out of fire, ere don't:] i. e. a devil would have shed tears of pity o'er the damned, ere he would have committed such an action. Paul. I am sorry for't;' All faults I make, when I shall come to know them, I do repent: Alas, I have show'd too much The rashness of a woman: he is touch'd To the noble heart.-What's gone, and what's past help, Should be past grief: Do not receive affliction Let me be punish'd, that have minded you Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege, The love I bore your queen,-lo, fool again!- your children; Leon. When most the truth; Thou didst speak but well, Than to be pitied of thee. Pr'ythee, bring me Nature will bear up with this exercise, [Exeunt. 9 I am sorry for't;] This is another instance of the sudden changes incident to vehement and ungovernable minds. SCENE III. Bohemia. A desert Country near the Sea. Enter ANTIGONUS, with the Child; and a Mariner. Ant. Thou art perfect then,' our ship hath touch'd upon The deserts of Bohemia? Mar. Ay, my lord; and fear We have landed in ill time: the skies look grimly, And threaten present blusters. In my conscience, The heavens with that we have in hand are angry, And frown upon us. Ant. Their sacred wills be done!-Go, get aboard; Look to thy bark; I'll not be long, before I call upon thee. Mar. Make your best haste; and go not Too far i'the land: 'tis like to be loud weather; Besides, this place is famous for the creatures Of prey, that keep upon't. Ant. I'll follow instantly. Mar. Go thou away: To be so rid o'the business. Ant. I have heard, (but not believ'd,) the spirits of the dead May walk again: if such thing be, thy mother 1 Thou art perfect then,] Perfect is often used for certain, well assured, or well informed, by almost all our ancient writers. |