I'll no gain-saying.
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.

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace, until

You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, sir,
Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure,
All in Bohemia's well: this satisfac ion
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'll ad

You put me off with limber vows: But I,

Never, but once.

Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't before?

I pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and make us

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 has an elder sister,

oaths,

Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily,

You shall not go; a lady's verily is

As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?

Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees,

When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?

My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread verily, One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your guest then, madam: To be your prisoner, should import oflending; Which is for me less easy to commit,

Than you to punish.

But once before I spoke to the purpose. When? Nay, let me have'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, am yours for ever.

I

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,

(6) Setting aside original sin.

(7) Trembling of the heart.

(8) The tune played at the death of the deer, (9) Hearty fellow,

there?

[Observing Polixeues and Hermione. Upon his palm?-How now, you wanton calf? Art thou my calf? Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots that I have,2

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 infection stabs the centre: Thou dost make possible, things not so held, Communicat'st with dreams;--(How can this With what's unreal thou coactive art,

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, 10 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

one. 12

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 squash, 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.
Leon.
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 welcome;
Let what is dear in Sicily, be cheap:
Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's
Apparent to my heart.
Her.

If you would seek us,

As mine, against their will: Should all despair That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none; It is a bawdy planet, that will strike

Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it, From east, west, north, and south: Be it concluded, No barricado for a belly; know it;

It will let in and out the enemy,

now; ke

With bag and baggage: many a thousand of us
Have the disease, and feel't not.-How now, boy 2
Mam. I am like you, they say. looks.
Why, that's some comfort.-

Leon.

What! Camillo there?

Cam. Ay, my good lord.

man.

Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest [Exit Mamillius. Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer. Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold: When you cast out, it still came home.

Leon. Didst note it? Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made His business more material.

Leon.
Didst perceive it ?—
They're here with me already; whispering, round-
ing, 13

Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone,
When I shall gust14 it last.-How came't, Camillo,
That he did stay?

Cam.
At the good queen's entreaty.
Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be
per tinent;

But so it is, it is not. Was this taken
By any understanding pate but thine?
For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in
More than the common blocks:-Not noted, is't,
But of the finer natures? by some severals,
Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes, 15
Perchance, are to this business purblind: say.
Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most under-
stand
Bohemia stays here longer.

(8) May his share of life be a happy one!
(9) Heir apparent, next claimant. (10) Mouth.
(11) Approving. (12) A horned one, a cuckold.
(13) To round in the ear was to tell secretly,
(14) Taste.
(15) Inferiors in rank.

ear

class

me.

Cam. O miserable lady!-But, for me,

Puson What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner

J

like

Lion

Of good Polixenes: and my ground to do't
Is the obedience to a master; one,
Who, in rebellion with himself, will have
All that are his, so too.-To do this deed,
Promotion follows: If I could find example
Of thousands, that had struck anointed kings,
And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since
Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one,
Let villany itself forswear't. I must
Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain
To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now!
Here comes Bohemia.

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
So leaves me to consider what is breeding,
That changes thus his manners.

Cam. I dare not know, my lord.

Pol. How dare not? do not. Do you know, and dare not

Be intelligent to me? 'Tis thereabouts;
For, to yoursel, what you do know, you must;
And cannot say, you dare not. Gold Camillo,
Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror

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 well Forbid the sea for to obey the moon, As or, by oath, remove, or counsel, shake The fabric 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. I 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;

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?
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,-
As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienc'd, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whose success' we are gentle,2-I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my know-
ledge

Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.

Is for a precious creature: as she's rare,
gendered
Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty, True
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 he made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me: True
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 bour: come, sir, away.,

[Exeunt.

(3) i. e. I am the person appointed, &c. (4) Draw. (5) Settled belief.

Mam.

No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord? Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me as 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.

Who taught you this?

2 Lady. Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces.-Pray

now

Blue, my lord.

What colour are your eye-brows? 1 Lady. Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's

nose

That has been blue, but not her eye-brows. 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

I 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.
Mam.

A sad tale's best for winter:
I have one of sprites and goblins.
Her.
Let's have that, sir.
Come on, sit down :-Come on, and do your best
To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful

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 posterns
So easily open?
By his great authority;
Which often hath no less prevail'd than so,
On your Command.

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 Polisenes!
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 pily 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:-0, 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 be,
She's an adultress.
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.

Leon.

You have mistook, my lady, Polixenes for Leontes: O 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, She's an adultress; I have said with whom: More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is A federary with her; and one that knows What she should shame to know herself, But with her most vile principal, that she's A bed-swerver, even as bad as those That vulgars give bold titles; ay, and privy To this their late escape.

(1) Judgment.

(2) O that my knowledge were less!

(3) Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's time.