SCENE II. — The same. A Room of State in the
Palace.
Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS,
CAMILLO, and Attendants.
Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been
The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne
Without a burden: time as long again
Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should,fo r perpetuity,
Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply,
With one we-thank-you, many thousands more
That go before it.
And pay them when you part.
Sir, that's to-morrow.
I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance,
Or breed upon our absence: That may blow
No sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd
To tire your royalty.
Than you can put us to't.
Pol.
Leon. One seven-night longer.
Pol.
Very sooth, to-morrow. Leon. We'll part the time between's then: and in that
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 satisfaction
The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.
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
adventure
The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commission,
To let him there a month, behind the gest
Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind
What lady she her lord. - You'll stay?
Pol.
Her. Nay, but you will?
You put me off with imber vows: But I,
As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongue-
less,
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,
Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace
But once before I spoke to the purpose: When?
Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with Nay, let me hav't; I long.
Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily,
You shall not go; a lady's verily is
Leon.
Why, that was wher
Three crabbed months had sourd themselves T
death,
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.
Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd thy
nose? -
They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain,
We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain:
And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf,
Are all call'd neat. Still virginalling
[Observing POLIXENES 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,
As ornaments oft do, too dangerous.
How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,
This quash, 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.
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,
We are your's i'the garden: Shall's attend you there?
Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be
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, 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. [Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE,
and Attendants.
Go, play, boy, play; thy mother plays, and I
Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and clamour
Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play; — There
have been,
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 intention stabs the centre:
Thou dost make possible, things not so held,
Communicat'st with dreams;-(How can this Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't,
With what's unreal thou coactive art,
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.
Pel.
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 barder 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,
Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm,
That little thinks she has been sluic'd in his absence,
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates
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.
Didst note it? | My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess, (Or else be impudently negative,
Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made His business more material.
Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone,
When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo,
That he did stay?
At the good queen's entreaty. Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be pertinent?
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,
Perchance are to this business purblind: say.
Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most under-
stand.
Bohemia stays here longer.
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Leon. To bide upon't;- Thou art not honest: or, If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward; Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining From course requir'd: Or else thou must be counted A servant, grafted in my serious trust, And therein negligent: or else a fool,
That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn,
And tak'st it all for jest.
Cam.
My gracious lord,
I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
Amongst the infinite doings of the world,
Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord,
If ever I were wilful-negligent,
It was my folly; if industriously
I play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord,
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me: let me know my trespass
By its own visage: if I then deny it,
'Tis none of mine.
Leon. Have not you seen, Camillo, (But that's past doubt: you have; or your eye-glass Is thicker than a cuckold's horn ;) or heard, (For, to a vision so apparent, rumour Cannot be mute,) or thought, (for cogitation Resides not in that man, that does not think it,)
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then say,
My wife's a hobbyhorse; deserves a name
As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say it, and justify it.
Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this; which to reiterate, were sin
As deep as that, though true.
Is whispering nothing?
Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible
Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes
blind
With the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only,
That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing?
Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is nothing;
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,
If this be nothing.
Good my lord, be cur'd Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes; For 'tis most dangerous.
Cam. No, no, my lord. Leon.
It is; you lie, you lie :
I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee;
Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave;
Or else a hovering temporizer, that
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, she would not live
The running of one glass.
Cam.
Who does infect her?
Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal,
hanging
About his neck, Bohemia: Who- if I
Had servants true about me: that bare eyes
To see alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts, they would do that
Which should undo more doing: Ay, and thou,
His cupbearer, whom I from meaner form
Have bench'd and rear'd to worship; who may'st see
Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees heaven,
How I am galled, - might'st bespice a cup,
To give mine enemy a lasting wink;
Which draught to me were cordial.
Sir, my lord, I could do this; and that with no rash potion, But with a ling'ring dram, that should not work Maliciously like poison: But I cannot Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress, So sovereignly being honourable.
Leon. Make't thy question, and go rot Dost think, I am so muddy, so unsettled, To appoint myself in this vexation? sully The purity and whiteness of my sheets, Which to preserve, is sleep; which being spotted, Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps? Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son, Who, I do think is mine, and love as mine; Without ripe moving to't?- Would I do this? Could man so blench?
I must believe you, sir; I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't: Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness Will take again your queen, as yours at first; Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for sealing The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms Known and allied to yours.
Leon. Thou dost advise me, Even so as I mine own course have set down: I'll give no blemish to her honour, none. Cam. My lord,
Go then; and with a countenance as clear
As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia,
And with your queen: I am his cupbearer;
If from me he have wholesome beverage,
Account me not your servant.
Do't, and thou hast the one half of my heart;
Do't not, thou split'st thine own.
Cam.
I'll do't, my lord.
Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd
[Exit.
Cam. O miserable lady! But, for me,
What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner
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 villainy 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.
My favour here begins to warp. Good-day, Camillo.
Hail, most royal sir! Pal. What is the news i' the court? Cam. None rare, my lord. Pal. 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.
Is not this suit of mine, that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm
Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;
If not, how best to bear it.
Cam.
Sir, I'll tell you;
Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him
That I think honourable: Therefore, mark my
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?
Cum. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he
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 fabrick 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
Pol. How! dare not? do not. Do you know, Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born.
If 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:
And will, by twos, and threes, at several posterns,
Clear them o' the city: For myself, I'll put
My fortunes to your service, which are here
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain ;
For, by the honor of my parents, I
Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prové,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer
Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth,
Shall I be your play-fellow ?
No, I'll none of you. 1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord? Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me as if 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.
2 Lady. Who taught you this? Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces. Pray
What colour are your eye-brows?
Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's
1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them;
Saw I men scour so on their way: I ey'd them Even to their ships.
In my just censure! in my true opinion! -
Alack, for lesser knowledge! -How accurs'd,
In being so blest! - There may be in the cup
A spider steep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present
The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drank, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
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
By his great authority; Which often hath no less prevail'd than so, On your command.
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 pty, 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: -O, 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,
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