Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, For thou sett'st on thy wife. Ant. I did not, sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, 1 Lord. We can; my royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. Leon. You are liars all. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better credit: We have always truly serv'd you; and beseech So to esteem of us: And on our knees we beg, (As recompence of our dear services, Past, and to come,) that you do change this purpose; Which, being so horrible, so bloody, must Lead on to some foul issue: We all kneel. Leon. I am a feather for each wind that blows: Shall I live on, to see this bastard kneel Than curse it then. But, be it; let it live: It shall not neither.-You, sir, come you hither; [To Antigonus. You, that have been so tenderly officious With lady Margery, your midwife, there, To save this bastard's life:-for 'tis a bastard, Ant. Any thing, my lord, That my ability may undergo, And nobleness impose: at least, thus much; Ant. I will, my lord. Leon. Mark, and perform it; (seest thou?) for the fail Of any point in't shall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongued wife; Ant. I swear to do this; though a present death In more than this deed does require! and blessing, Against this cruelty, fight on thy side, Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! [Exit, with the child. Leon. Another's issue. 1 Atten. No, I'll not rear Please your highness, posts, From those you sent to the oracle, are come An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, Hasting to the court. 1 Lord. So please you, sir, their speed Twenty-three days Hath been beyond account. Leon. They have been absent: 'Tis good speed; foretels, The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; Leave me; [Exeunt. АСТ III. SCENE I. THE SAME. A STREET IN SOME TOWN. Enter Cleomenes and Dion. Cleo. The climate's delicate; the air most sweet; Fertile the isle; the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears. Dion. I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits, (Methinks, I so should term them,) and the reve rence Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! Cleo. But, of all, the burst And the ear-deafening voice o'the oracle, Dion. If the event o'the journey Prove as successful to the queen,-O, be't so!As it hath been to us, rare, pleasant, speedy, The time is worth the use on't. Cleo. Great Apollo, Turn all to the best! These proclamations, I little like. Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear, or end, the business: When the oracle, (Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up,) Shall the contents discover, something rare, horses; And gracious be the issue! [Exeunt. SCENE II. THE SAME. A COURT OF JUSTICE. Leontes, Lords, and Officers, appear properly seated. Leon. This sessions (to our great grief, we pro nounce, Even pushes 'gainst our heart: The party tried, Offi. It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen Appear in person here in court. - Silence! Hermione is brought in, guarded; Paulina and Ladies, attending. Leon. Read the indictment. Offi. Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia; and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband: the pretence whereof being by circumstances |