Leon. Shall I be heard? Her. Who is't, that goes with me?'Beseech your My women may be with me; for, you see, [higliness, My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools; There is no cause: when you shall know, your mistress Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears, As I come out: this action, 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 I'the eyes of heaven, and to you; I mean, In this which you accuse her. Ant. If it prove I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her; Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false, If she be. Leon. 1 Lord. Hold your peaces. Good my lord, Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves : You are abus'd, and by some putter-on, That will be damn'd for't; 'would I knew the villain, I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven; And I had rather glib myself, than they 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, feel doing thus; and see withal As you 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 Leon. What! lack I credit? 1 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, 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 proceeding: 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, Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good, Ant. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it, If the good truth were known. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. The outer Room of a Prison. 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. And one whom much I honour. Paul. Conduct me to the queen. For a worthy lady, Pray you, then, 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, C Emilia? Keep. So please you, madam, to put Paul. Keep. I pray now, call her. [Exeunt Attend. And, madam, [Exit Keeper. I must be present at your conference. 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. I am innocent as you. Paul. I dare be sworn: These dangerous unsafe lunes o'the king! beshrew them! Persuades, when speaking fails. Emil. Most worthy madam, Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident, A thriving issue; there is no lady living, So meet for this great errand: Please your ladyship Paul. Emil. 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 anger of the king; nor guilty of, Paul. Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger. Do not you fear: upon [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and other At tendants. Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but weakness To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if The cause were not in being;-part o'the cause, |