Chapter 34

LINENOTES:Scene I.Antechamber....] Theobald. A Palace. Rowe.[1]Bohemia]BithyniaHanmer (and throughout).[5]coming]commingF1.commonF2 F3 F4.[8]us]us, Theobald,us; Ff.[11]Verily]F3 F4.VerelyF1 F2.[25]have]F2 F3 F4.hathF1.royally]so royallyCollier (Collier MS.).[26]gifts]F1 F3 F4.giftF2.[28]vast]F1.vast seaF2 F3 F4.[30]loves]loveHanmer.[33]Mamillius]MamillusRowe (ed. 2).

LINENOTES:

Scene I.Antechamber....] Theobald. A Palace. Rowe.

[1]Bohemia]BithyniaHanmer (and throughout).

[5]coming]commingF1.commonF2 F3 F4.

[8]us]us, Theobald,us; Ff.

[11]Verily]F3 F4.VerelyF1 F2.

[25]have]F2 F3 F4.hathF1.

royally]so royallyCollier (Collier MS.).

[26]gifts]F1 F3 F4.giftF2.

[28]vast]F1.vast seaF2 F3 F4.

[30]loves]loveHanmer.

[33]Mamillius]MamillusRowe (ed. 2).

EnterLeontes,Hermione,Mamillius,Polixenes,Camillo,andAttendants.Pol.Nine changes of the watery starhathbeenThe shepherd's note since we have left our throneWithout a burthen: time as long againWould be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;5And yet we should, for perpetuity,Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,Yet standing in rich place, I multiplyWith one 'We thank you,' many thousandsmoeThat go before it.Leon.Stay your thanksa while;And pay them when you part.10Pol.Sir, that's to-morrow.I amquestion'd by my fears, of what may chanceOr breed upon ourabsence;that may blowNosneaping winds at home, to make us say'This is put forth tootruly:' besides, I have stay'dTo tire your royalty.15Leon.We are tougher, brother,Than you can put us to't.Pol.No longer stay.Leon.Oneseven-nightlonger.Pol.Very sooth, to-morrow.Leon.We'll part the time between's, then: and in thatI'll no gainsaying.Pol.Press me not,beseech you, so.20There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' theworld,So soon as yours could win me: so it should now,Were there necessity in your request, although'Twere needful I denied it. My affairsDo even drag me homeward: which to hinder25Were in your love a whip to me; my stayTo you a charge and trouble: to save both,Farewell, our brother.Leon.Tongue-tied our queen? speak you.Her.I had thought, sir,to haveheld my peace untilYou haddrawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,30Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sureAll in Bohemia's well; this satisfactionThe 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:35But 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 I'lladventureThe borrow of a week. When at Bohemia40You take my lord, I'llgive himmy commissionTo let him there a monthbehindthegestPrefix'd for's parting: yet,good deed, Leontes,I love thee not a jar o' the clock behindWhatlady sheher lord. You 'll stay?Pol.No, madam.Her.Nay, but you will?45Pol.I may not, verily.Her.Verily!You put me off with limber vows; but I,Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths,Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily,50You shall not go: a lady's'Verily''sAs 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 feesWhen you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?55My 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 offending;Which is for me less easy to commitThan you to punish.Her.Not your gaoler, then,60But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question youOf my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys:You were pretty lordings then?Pol.We were, fair queen,Two lads that thought there was no more behindBut such a day to-morrow as to-day,And to be boy eternal.65Her.Was notmy lordThe verier wag o' the two?Pol.We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun,And bleat the one at the other: what we changedWas innocence for innocence; we knew not70The doctrine of ill-doing,nor dream'dThat any did. Had we pursued that life,And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'dWith stronger blood, we should have answer'd heavenBoldly 'not guilty;' the imposition clear'dHereditary ours.75Her.By this we gatherYou have tripp'd since.Pol.O my most sacred lady!Temptations have since then been bornto's: forIn those unfledged days was my wife a girl;Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyesOf my young play-fellow.80Her.Gracetoboot!Of this make no conclusion,lestyou sayYour queen and I are devils: yet go on;The offences we have made you do we'll answer,If you first sinn'd with us and that with us85You did continue fault and that you slipp'd notWith any but with us.Leon.Is he won yet?Her.He'll stay, my lord.Leon.At my request he would not.Hermione, mydearest, thouneverspokestTo better purpose.Her.Never?Leon.Never, but once.90Her.What! have I twice said well? whenwas'tbefore?I prithee tell me;cram'swith praise, and make'sAs fat as tame things: one good deed dying tonguelessSlaughters a thousand waiting upon that.Our praises are our wages: you may ride's95With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ereWith spur weheat an acre. But to the goal:My last good deed was to entreat his stay:What was my first? it has an elder sister,Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace!100But once before Ispoketo thepurpose: when?Nay, let me have't; I long.Leon.Why, that was whenThree crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,And clapthyself my love: then didst thou utter'I am yours for ever.'105Her.'TisGrace indeed.Why, lo you now,I havespoke to the purpose twice:The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;The other for some while afriend.Leon.[Aside]Too hot, too hot!To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods.110I have tremor cordis on me: my heart dances;But not for joy; not joy. This entertainmentMay a free face put on,derivea libertyFrom heartiness, frombounty, fertile bosom,Andwellbecomethe agent;'t may, I grant;115But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers,As now they are, and making practised smiles,As in alooking-glass, and then to sigh, as 'twereThe mort o' the deer; O, that is entertainmentMy bosom likes not, nor my brows!Mamillius,Art thou my boy?Mam.Ay, my good lord.120Leon.I' fecks!Why, that's my bawcock. What,hastsmutch'd thy nose?Theysayit isa copy out of mine. Come,captain,We must be neat; not neat,butcleanly, captain:And yet the steer, theheiferand the calf125Are all call'd neat.—StillvirginallingUpon his palm!—How now, you wanton calf!Art thou my calf?Mam.Yes, if you will, my lord.Leon.Thou want'st a roughpashand the shoots that I have.To befull likeme: yet they say we are130Almost as like as eggs; women say so,That will say any thing: but were they falseAso'er-dyedblacks, aswind, as waters, falseAs dice are to be wish'd by one that fixesNobourn'twixt his and mine, yet were it true135To say this boywerelike me. Come, sir page,Look on me with yourwelkin eye: sweet villain!Most dear'st! my collop! Can thydam?—may't be?—Affection! thy intention stabs the centre:Thou dost make possible thingsnot soheld,140Communicatest withdreams;—how can this be?—With what's unreal them coactive art,Andfellow'stnothing:then 'tis very credentThou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost,And that beyond commission, and I find it,145And that to the infection of my brainsAnd hardening of my brows.Pol.What means Sicilia?Her.He something seems unsettled.Pol.How, my lord!Whatcheer? howis'twith you,bestbrother?Her.You lookAs if you held a brow of much distraction:Are youmoved, my lord?150Leon.No, in goodearnest.Howsometimes nature will betrayitsfolly,Its tenderness, and make itself a pastimeTo harder bosoms! Looking on the linesOf my boy's face,methoughtsI didrecoil155Twenty-three years, and saw myself unbreech'd,In my green velvet coat, my dagger muzzled,Lest it should biteitsmaster, and so prove,Asornamentsoftdo, too dangerous:How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,160This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest friend,Will you takeeggsfor money?Mam.No,my lord, I'll fight.Leon.Youwill! why, happy manbe'sdole! My brother,Are you so fond of your young prince, as weDo seem to be of ours?165Pol.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;170And with his varyingchildnesscures in meThoughts thatwouldthickmy blood.Leon.So stands this squireOfficed with me: we two will walk, my lord,And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione,How thou lovest us, show in our brother's welcome;175Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap:Next to thyself and my young rover, he'sApparent to my heart.Her.If youwouldseek us,We are yours i' the garden: shall's attend you there?Leon.To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,180Be you beneath the sky.[Aside]I am angling now,Though you perceive me not how I give line.Go to, go to!How she holds up theneb, the bill to him!And arms her with the boldness of a wifeTo her allowing husband![ExeuntPolixenes, Hermione, and Attendants.185Gone already!Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one!Go, play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and IPlay too; but so disgraced a part, whose issueWill hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour190Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play. There have been,Or I am much deceived, 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 sluicedin'sabsence195And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, bySir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in'tWhiles other men have gates and those gates open'd,As mine, against their will. Should all despairThat have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind200Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none;It is a bawdy planet, that will strikeWhere 'tis predominant;and 'tispowerful, think it,From east, west, north and south: be it concluded,No barricado for a belly;know't;205It will let in and out the enemyWith bag and baggage:manythousand on'sHave the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!Mam.I am like you,theysay.Leon.Why, that's some comfort.What, Camillo there?210Cam.Ay, my good lord.Leon.Go play,Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man.[Exit Mamillius.Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.Cam.You had much ado to makehis anchorhold:When you cast out, it still came home.Leon.Didst note it?215Cam.He would not stay at yourpetitions; madeHis business more material.Leon.Didst perceive it?[Aside]They're here with me already;whispering, rounding'Siciliais a so-forth:' 'tis far gone,When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo,That he did stay?220Cam.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 takenBy any understanding pate but thine?For thy conceitis soaking, will draw in225More than the common blocks: not noted, is't,But of the finer natures? by some severalsOf head-piece extraordinary? lower messesPerchance are to this business purblind? say.Cam.Business, my lord! I think most understandBohemia stays here longer.Leon.Ha!230Cam.Stays here longer.Leon.Ay, but why?Cam.Tosatisfyyour highness, and the entreatiesOf our most gracious mistress.Leon.Satisfy!The entreaties of your mistress! satisfy!235Let that suffice.I havetrusted thee, Camillo,With all thenearest things tomy heart,as wellMy chamber-councils; wherein, priest-like, thouHast cleansed my bosom, I from thee departedThy penitent reform'd: but we have been240Deceived in thy integrity, deceivedIn that which seems so.Cam.Be it forbid,my lord!Leon.To bide upon't, thou art not honest; or,If thou inclinest that way, thou art a coward,Whichhoxeshonesty behind, restraining245From course required; or else thou must be countedA servant grafted in my serious trustAnd therein negligent; or else a foolThat seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn,And takest it all for jest.Cam.My gracious lord,250I may be negligent, foolish and fearful;In every one of these no man is free,But that his negligence, his folly, fear,Amongthe infinitedoingsof the world,Sometime putsforth.In your affairs,my lord,255If ever I were wilful-negligent,It was my folly; ifindustriouslyI play'd the fool, it was my negligence,Not weighing well the end; if ever fearfulTo do a thing, where I the issue doubted,260Whereof the execution did cry outAgainst thenon-performance, 'twas a fearWhich oft infects the wisest: these, my lord,Are such allow'd infirmities that honestyIs never free of. But, beseech your Grace,265Be plainer with me; let me know my trespassByitsown visage: if I then deny it,'Tis none of mine.Leon.Ha'not you seen, Camillo,—But that's past doubt, you have, or your eye-glassIs thicker than a cuckold's horn,—or heard,—270For to a vision so apparent rumourCannot be mute,—or thought,—for cogitationResides not in that man that does notthink,—My wife is slippery? If thouwiltconfess,Or else be impudently negative,275To have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then sayMy wife's ahobby-horse; deserves a nameAs rank as any flax-wench thatputs toBefore her troth-plight: say't and justify't.Cam.I would not be a stander-by to hear280My sovereign mistress clouded so, withoutMy present vengeance taken: 'shrew my heart,You never spoke what did become you lessThan this; which to reiterate were sinAs deep as that, though true.Leon.Is whispering nothing?285Is leaning cheek to cheek? ismeetingnoses?Kissing with inside lip? stopping the careerOf laughter with a sigh?—a note infallibleOf breaking honesty;—horsing foot on foot?Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?290Hours, minutes?noon, midnight? and alleyesBlind 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;295My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,If this be nothing.Cam.Good my lord, be curedOf this diseased opinion, and betimes;For 'tis most dangerous.Leon.Say it be, 'tis true.Cam.No, no, my lord.Leon.It is; you lie, you lie:300I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee,Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave,Or else a hovering temporizer, thatCanst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,Inclining to them both: were mywife'sliver305Infected as her life, she would not liveThe running of one glass.Cam.Who does infect her?Leon.Why, he that wears her likeher medal, hangingAbout his neck, Bohemia: who, if IHad servants true about me, thatbareeyes310To see alike mine honour as their profits,Their own particular thrifts, they would do thatWhich should undo more doing:ay, and thou,His cup-bearer,—whom I from meaner formHave bench'd and rear'd to worship, who mayst see315Plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven,How I amgall'd,—mightstbespice a cup,To give mine enemy a lasting wink;Which draught to me were cordial.Cam.Sir, my lord,I could do this, and that with no rash potion,320But with a lingering dram, that should not workMaliciously likepoison: but I cannotBelieve this crack to be in my dread mistress,Sosovereignly being honourable.I have loved thee,—Leon.Make that thy question, and go rot!325Dost think I am so muddy, sounsettled,To appoint myself in thisvexation; sullyThe purity and whiteness of my sheets,Which to preserve is sleep, which being spottedIs goads,thorns,nettles, tails ofwasps;330Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son,Who I do think is mine and love as mine,Without ripe movingto't?Would I do this?Couldmanso blench?Cam.I must believe you, sir:I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't;335Provided that, when he's removed, your highnessWill take again your queen as yours at first,Even for your son's sake; and therebyfor sealingThe injury of tongues in courts and kingdomsKnown and allied to yours.Leon.Thou dost advise me340Even so as I mine own course have set down:I'll give noblemish to herhonour, none.Cam.My lord,Go then; and with a countenance as clearAs friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia345And with your queen. I am his cup-bearer:If from me he have wholesome beverage,Account me not your servant.Leon.This is all:Do't and thou hast the one half of my heart;Do't not, thou splitt'st thine own.Cam.I'll do't, my lord.350Leon.I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me.[Exit.Cam.O miserable lady! But, for me,What case stand I in? I must be the poisonerOf good Polixenes: and my ground to do'tIs the obedience to a master, one355Who, in rebellion with himself, will haveAll that are his so too. To do this deed,Promotion follows. If I could find exampleOf thousands that had struck anointed kingsAnd flourish'd after, I'ld not do't; but since360Nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one,Let villany itself forswear't. I mustForsake the court: to do't, or no, is certainTo me a break-neck. Happy star reign now!Here comes Bohemia.Re-enterPolixenes.Pol.This is strange:methinks365Myfavour 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 countenanceAs he had lost some province and a region370Loved as he loves himself: even now I met himWith customary compliment; when he,Wafting his eyes to the contrary and fallingA lip of much contempt, speeds from me andSo leaves me, to consider what is breeding375That changes thus his manners.Cam.I dare not know,my lord.Pol.How! dare not!do not.Do youknow, and dare not?Be intelligent to me: 'tis thereabouts;For, to yourself, whatyou doknow, you must,380And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,Your changed complexions are to me a mirrorWhich shows me mine changed too; for I must beA party in this alteration, findingMyself thus alter'dwith't.Cam.There is a sickness385Which puts some of us in distemper; butI cannot name the disease; and it is caughtOf you that yet are well.Pol.How! caught of me!Make me not sighted like the basilisk:I havelook'd on thousands, who have sped the better390By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,—As youare certainly agentleman;theretoClerk-likeexperienced, which no less adornsOur gentry than our parents' noble names,In whose success we are gentle,—I beseech you,395If you know aught which does behove my knowledgeThereof to be inform'd, imprison't notIn ignorant concealment.Cam.I may not answer.Pol.A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!I must be answer'd. Dost thou hear, Camillo,400I conjure thee, by all the parts of manWhich honour does acknowledge, whereof the leastIs not this suit of mine, that thou declareWhat incidency thou dost guess of harmIs creepingtowardme; how far off, how near;405Which way to be prevented, ifto be;If not, how best to bear it.Cam.Sir,I willtell you;Since I am charged in honour and by himThat I think honourable: therefore mark my counsel,Which must be ev'n as swiftly follow'd as410I mean toutter it, or both yourself andmeCry lost, and so good night!Pol.On, good Camillo.Cam.I am appointed himto murder you.Pol.By whom, Camillo?Cam.By the king.Pol.For what?Cam.He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears,415As he had seen't, or been an instrumentTo viceyou to't, that you have touch'd his queenForbiddenly.Pol.O, then my best blood turnTo an infected jelly and my nameBe yoked with his that did betray the Best!420Turn then my freshest reputation toA savour that may strike the dullest nostrilWhere I arrive, and my approach beshunn'd,Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infectionThat e'er was heard or read!Cam.Swearhis thoughtover425By each particular star in heaven andBy all their influences, you may as wellForbid the sea for to obey the moon,As or by oath remove or counsel shakeThe fabric of his folly, whose foundation430Is piled upon his faith and will continueThe standing of his body.Pol.How should this grow?Cam.I know not: butI amsure 'tis safer toAvoid what's grown than question how'tisborn.If therefore you dare trust my honesty,435That lies enclosed in this trunk which youShall 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 put440My fortunes to your service, which are hereBy this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;For, by the honour of my parents, IHave utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,I dare not standby; nor shall you be safer445Than one condemn'd by the king's ownmouth, thereonHis execution sworn.Pol.I do believe thee:I saw his heart in's face. Give me thy hand:Be pilot to me and thyplacesshallStill neighbour mine. My ships are ready and450My people did expect my hence departureTwo days ago. ThisjealousyIs for a precious creature: as she's rare,Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,Must it be violent; and as he does conceive455He is dishonour'd by a man which everProfess'd to him, why, his revenges mustIn that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me:Good expedition be my friend,andcomfortThe graciousqueen, part of histheme, but nothing460Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo;I will respect thee as a father ifThou bear'st my life off hence: let us avoid.Cam.It is in mine authority to commandThe keys of all the posterns: please your highness465To take the urgenthour. Come, sir, away.[Exeunt.

EnterLeontes,Hermione,Mamillius,Polixenes,Camillo,andAttendants.

Pol.Nine changes of the watery starhathbeenThe shepherd's note since we have left our throneWithout a burthen: time as long againWould be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;5And yet we should, for perpetuity,Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,Yet standing in rich place, I multiplyWith one 'We thank you,' many thousandsmoeThat go before it.

Pol.Nine changes of the watery starhathbeen

The shepherd's note since we have left our throne

Without a burthen: time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;

And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,

Yet standing in rich place, I multiply

With one 'We thank you,' many thousandsmoe

That go before it.

Leon.Stay your thanksa while;And pay them when you part.

Leon.Stay your thanksa while;

And pay them when you part.

10Pol.Sir, that's to-morrow.I amquestion'd by my fears, of what may chanceOr breed upon ourabsence;that may blowNosneaping winds at home, to make us say'This is put forth tootruly:' besides, I have stay'dTo tire your royalty.

Pol.Sir, that's to-morrow.

I amquestion'd by my fears, of what may chance

Or breed upon ourabsence;that may blow

Nosneaping winds at home, to make us say

'This is put forth tootruly:' besides, I have stay'd

To tire your royalty.

15Leon.We are tougher, brother,Than you can put us to't.

Leon.We are tougher, brother,

Than you can put us to't.

Pol.No longer stay.

Leon.Oneseven-nightlonger.

Pol.Very sooth, to-morrow.

Leon.We'll part the time between's, then: and in thatI'll no gainsaying.

Leon.We'll part the time between's, then: and in that

I'll no gainsaying.

Pol.Press me not,beseech you, so.20There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' theworld,So soon as yours could win me: so it should now,Were there necessity in your request, although'Twere needful I denied it. My affairsDo even drag me homeward: which to hinder25Were in your love a whip to me; my stayTo you a charge and trouble: to save both,Farewell, our brother.

Pol.Press me not,beseech you, so.

There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' theworld,

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 haveheld my peace untilYou haddrawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,30Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sureAll in Bohemia's well; this satisfactionThe by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him,He's beat from his best ward.

Her.I had thought, sir,to haveheld my peace until

You haddrawn 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.

Leon.Well said,Hermione.

Her.To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong:35But 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 I'lladventureThe borrow of a week. When at Bohemia40You take my lord, I'llgive himmy commissionTo let him there a monthbehindthegestPrefix'd for's parting: yet,good deed, Leontes,I love thee not a jar o' the clock behindWhatlady sheher lord. You 'll stay?

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 I'lladventure

The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia

You take my lord, I'llgive himmy commission

To let him there a monthbehindthegest

Prefix'd for's parting: yet,good deed, Leontes,

I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind

Whatlady sheher lord. You 'll stay?

Pol.No, madam.

Her.Nay, but you will?

45Pol.I may not, verily.

Pol.I may not, verily.

Her.Verily!You put me off with limber vows; but I,Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths,Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily,50You shall not go: a lady's'Verily''sAs 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 feesWhen you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?55My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread 'Verily,'One of them you shall be.

Her.Verily!

You put me off with limber vows; but I,

Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths,

Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily,

You shall not go: a lady's'Verily''s

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 offending;Which is for me less easy to commitThan you to punish.

Pol.Your guest, then, madam:

To be your prisoner should import offending;

Which is for me less easy to commit

Than you to punish.

Her.Not your gaoler, then,60But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question youOf my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys:You were pretty lordings then?

Her.Not your gaoler, then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you

Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys:

You were pretty lordings then?

Pol.We were, fair queen,Two lads that thought there was no more behindBut such a day to-morrow as to-day,And to be boy eternal.

Pol.We were, fair queen,

Two lads that thought there was no more behind

But such a day to-morrow as to-day,

And to be boy eternal.

65Her.Was notmy lordThe verier wag o' the two?

Her.Was notmy lord

The verier wag o' the two?

Pol.We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun,And bleat the one at the other: what we changedWas innocence for innocence; we knew not70The doctrine of ill-doing,nor dream'dThat any did. Had we pursued that life,And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'dWith stronger blood, we should have answer'd heavenBoldly 'not guilty;' the imposition clear'dHereditary ours.

Pol.We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun,

And bleat the one at the other: what we changed

Was innocence for innocence; we knew not

The doctrine of ill-doing,nor dream'd

That any did. Had we pursued that life,

And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd

With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven

Boldly 'not guilty;' the imposition clear'd

Hereditary ours.

75Her.By this we gatherYou have tripp'd since.

Her.By this we gather

You have tripp'd since.

Pol.O my most sacred lady!Temptations have since then been bornto's: forIn those unfledged days was my wife a girl;Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyesOf my young play-fellow.

Pol.O my most sacred lady!

Temptations have since then been bornto's: for

In those unfledged days was my wife a girl;

Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes

Of my young play-fellow.

80Her.Gracetoboot!Of this make no conclusion,lestyou sayYour queen and I are devils: yet go on;The offences we have made you do we'll answer,If you first sinn'd with us and that with us85You did continue fault and that you slipp'd notWith any but with us.

Her.Gracetoboot!

Of this make no conclusion,lestyou say

Your queen and I are devils: yet go on;

The offences we have made you do we'll answer,

If you first sinn'd with us and that with us

You did continue fault and that you slipp'd not

With any but with us.

Leon.Is he won yet?

Her.He'll stay, my lord.

Leon.At my request he would not.Hermione, mydearest, thouneverspokestTo better purpose.

Leon.At my request he would not.

Hermione, mydearest, thouneverspokest

To better purpose.

Her.Never?

Leon.Never, but once.

90Her.What! have I twice said well? whenwas'tbefore?I prithee tell me;cram'swith praise, and make'sAs fat as tame things: one good deed dying tonguelessSlaughters a thousand waiting upon that.Our praises are our wages: you may ride's95With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ereWith spur weheat an acre. But to the goal:My last good deed was to entreat his stay:What was my first? it has an elder sister,Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace!100But once before Ispoketo thepurpose: when?Nay, let me have't; I long.

Her.What! have I twice said well? whenwas'tbefore?

I prithee tell me;cram'swith praise, and make's

As fat as tame things: one good deed dying tongueless

Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that.

Our praises are our wages: you may ride's

With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere

With spur weheat an acre. But to the goal:

My last good deed 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 Ispoketo thepurpose: when?

Nay, let me have't; I long.

Leon.Why, that was whenThree crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,And clapthyself my love: then didst thou utter'I am yours for ever.'

Leon.Why, that was when

Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,

And clapthyself my love: then didst thou utter

'I am yours for ever.'

105Her.'TisGrace indeed.Why, lo you now,I havespoke to the purpose twice:The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;The other for some while afriend.

Her.'TisGrace indeed.

Why, lo you now,I havespoke to the purpose twice:

The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;

The other for some while afriend.

Leon.[Aside]Too hot, too hot!To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods.110I have tremor cordis on me: my heart dances;But not for joy; not joy. This entertainmentMay a free face put on,derivea libertyFrom heartiness, frombounty, fertile bosom,Andwellbecomethe agent;'t may, I grant;115But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers,As now they are, and making practised smiles,As in alooking-glass, and then to sigh, as 'twereThe mort o' the deer; O, that is entertainmentMy bosom likes not, nor my brows!Mamillius,Art thou my boy?

Leon.[Aside]Too hot, too hot!

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,derivea liberty

From heartiness, frombounty, fertile bosom,

Andwellbecomethe agent;'t may, I grant;

But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers,

As now they are, and making practised smiles,

As in alooking-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.Ay, my good lord.

120Leon.I' fecks!Why, that's my bawcock. What,hastsmutch'd thy nose?Theysayit isa copy out of mine. Come,captain,We must be neat; not neat,butcleanly, captain:And yet the steer, theheiferand the calf125Are all call'd neat.—StillvirginallingUpon his palm!—How now, you wanton calf!Art thou my calf?

Leon.I' fecks!

Why, that's my bawcock. What,hastsmutch'd thy nose?

Theysayit isa copy out of mine. Come,captain,

We must be neat; not neat,butcleanly, captain:

And yet the steer, theheiferand the calf

Are all call'd neat.—Stillvirginalling

Upon his palm!—How now, you wanton calf!

Art thou my calf?

Mam.Yes, if you will, my lord.

Leon.Thou want'st a roughpashand the shoots that I have.To befull likeme: yet they say we are130Almost as like as eggs; women say so,That will say any thing: but were they falseAso'er-dyedblacks, aswind, as waters, falseAs dice are to be wish'd by one that fixesNobourn'twixt his and mine, yet were it true135To say this boywerelike me. Come, sir page,Look on me with yourwelkin eye: sweet villain!Most dear'st! my collop! Can thydam?—may't be?—Affection! thy intention stabs the centre:Thou dost make possible thingsnot soheld,140Communicatest withdreams;—how can this be?—With what's unreal them coactive art,Andfellow'stnothing:then 'tis very credentThou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost,And that beyond commission, and I find it,145And that to the infection of my brainsAnd hardening of my brows.

Leon.Thou want'st a roughpashand the shoots that I have.

To befull likeme: yet they say we are

Almost as like as eggs; women say so,

That will say any thing: but were they false

Aso'er-dyedblacks, aswind, as waters, false

As dice are to be wish'd by one that fixes

Nobourn'twixt his and mine, yet were it true

To say this boywerelike me. Come, sir page,

Look on me with yourwelkin eye: sweet villain!

Most dear'st! my collop! Can thydam?—may't be?—

Affection! thy intention stabs the centre:

Thou dost make possible thingsnot soheld,

Communicatest withdreams;—how can this be?—

With what's unreal them coactive art,

Andfellow'stnothing:then 'tis very credent

Thou mayst 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!Whatcheer? howis'twith you,bestbrother?

Pol.How, my lord!

Whatcheer? howis'twith you,bestbrother?

Her.You lookAs if you held a brow of much distraction:Are youmoved, my lord?

Her.You look

As if you held a brow of much distraction:

Are youmoved, my lord?

150Leon.No, in goodearnest.Howsometimes nature will betrayitsfolly,Its tenderness, and make itself a pastimeTo harder bosoms! Looking on the linesOf my boy's face,methoughtsI didrecoil155Twenty-three years, and saw myself unbreech'd,In my green velvet coat, my dagger muzzled,Lest it should biteitsmaster, and so prove,Asornamentsoftdo, too dangerous:How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,160This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest friend,Will you takeeggsfor money?

Leon.No, in goodearnest.

Howsometimes nature will betrayitsfolly,

Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime

To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines

Of my boy's face,methoughtsI didrecoil

Twenty-three years, and saw myself unbreech'd,

In my green velvet coat, my dagger muzzled,

Lest it should biteitsmaster, and so prove,

Asornamentsoftdo, too dangerous:

How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,

This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest friend,

Will you takeeggsfor money?

Mam.No,my lord, I'll fight.

Leon.Youwill! why, happy manbe'sdole! My brother,Are you so fond of your young prince, as weDo seem to be of ours?

Leon.Youwill! why, happy manbe'sdole! My brother,

Are you so fond of your young prince, as we

Do seem to be of ours?

165Pol.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;170And with his varyingchildnesscures in meThoughts thatwouldthickmy blood.

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 varyingchildnesscures in me

Thoughts thatwouldthickmy blood.

Leon.So stands this squireOfficed with me: we two will walk, my lord,And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione,How thou lovest us, show in our brother's welcome;175Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap:Next to thyself and my young rover, he'sApparent to my heart.

Leon.So stands this squire

Officed with me: we two will walk, my lord,

And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione,

How thou lovest 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 youwouldseek us,We are yours i' the garden: shall's attend you there?

Her.If youwouldseek us,

We are yours i' the garden: shall's attend you there?

Leon.To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,180Be you beneath the sky.[Aside]I am angling now,Though you perceive me not how I give line.Go to, go to!How she holds up theneb, the bill to him!And arms her with the boldness of a wifeTo her allowing husband![ExeuntPolixenes, Hermione, and Attendants.185Gone already!Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one!Go, play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and IPlay too; but so disgraced a part, whose issueWill hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour190Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play. There have been,Or I am much deceived, 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 sluicedin'sabsence195And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, bySir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in'tWhiles other men have gates and those gates open'd,As mine, against their will. Should all despairThat have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind200Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none;It is a bawdy planet, that will strikeWhere 'tis predominant;and 'tispowerful, think it,From east, west, north and south: be it concluded,No barricado for a belly;know't;205It will let in and out the enemyWith bag and baggage:manythousand on'sHave the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!

Leon.To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,

Be you beneath the sky.[Aside]I am angling now,

Though you perceive me not how I give line.

Go to, go to!

How she holds up theneb, the bill to him!

And arms her with the boldness of a wife

To her allowing husband!

[ExeuntPolixenes, Hermione, and Attendants.

Gone already!

Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one!

Go, play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and I

Play too; but so disgraced a part, whose issue

Will hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour

Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play. There have been,

Or I am much deceived, 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 sluicedin'sabsence

And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by

Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't

Whiles other men have gates and those gates open'd,

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 'tispowerful, think it,

From east, west, north and south: be it concluded,

No barricado for a belly;know't;

It will let in and out the enemy

With bag and baggage:manythousand on's

Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!

Mam.I am like you,theysay.

Leon.Why, that's some comfort.What, Camillo there?

Leon.Why, that's some comfort.

What, Camillo there?

210Cam.Ay, my good lord.

Cam.Ay, my good lord.

Leon.Go play,Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man.[Exit Mamillius.

Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.

Cam.You had much ado to makehis anchorhold:When you cast out, it still came home.

Cam.You had much ado to makehis anchorhold:

When you cast out, it still came home.

Leon.Didst note it?

215Cam.He would not stay at yourpetitions; madeHis business more material.

Cam.He would not stay at yourpetitions; made

His business more material.

Leon.Didst perceive it?[Aside]They're here with me already;whispering, rounding'Siciliais a so-forth:' 'tis far gone,When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo,That he did stay?

Leon.Didst perceive it?

[Aside]They're here with me already;whispering, rounding

'Siciliais a so-forth:' 'tis far gone,

When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo,

That he did stay?

220Cam.At the good queen's entreaty.

Cam.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 takenBy any understanding pate but thine?For thy conceitis soaking, will draw in225More than the common blocks: not noted, is't,But of the finer natures? by some severalsOf head-piece extraordinary? lower messesPerchance are to this business purblind? say.

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 conceitis 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 understandBohemia stays here longer.

Cam.Business, my lord! I think most understand

Bohemia stays here longer.

Leon.Ha!

230Cam.Stays here longer.

Cam.Stays here longer.

Leon.Ay, but why?

Cam.Tosatisfyyour highness, and the entreatiesOf our most gracious mistress.

Cam.Tosatisfyyour highness, and the entreaties

Of our most gracious mistress.

Leon.Satisfy!The entreaties of your mistress! satisfy!235Let that suffice.I havetrusted thee, Camillo,With all thenearest things tomy heart,as wellMy chamber-councils; wherein, priest-like, thouHast cleansed my bosom, I from thee departedThy penitent reform'd: but we have been240Deceived in thy integrity, deceivedIn that which seems so.

Leon.Satisfy!

The entreaties of your mistress! satisfy!

Let that suffice.I havetrusted thee, Camillo,

With all thenearest things tomy heart,as well

My chamber-councils; wherein, priest-like, thou

Hast cleansed my bosom, I from thee departed

Thy penitent reform'd: but we have been

Deceived in thy integrity, deceived

In that which seems so.

Cam.Be it forbid,my lord!

Leon.To bide upon't, thou art not honest; or,If thou inclinest that way, thou art a coward,Whichhoxeshonesty behind, restraining245From course required; or else thou must be countedA servant grafted in my serious trustAnd therein negligent; or else a foolThat seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn,And takest it all for jest.

Leon.To bide upon't, thou art not honest; or,

If thou inclinest that way, thou art a coward,

Whichhoxeshonesty behind, restraining

From course required; 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 takest it all for jest.

Cam.My gracious lord,250I may be negligent, foolish and fearful;In every one of these no man is free,But that his negligence, his folly, fear,Amongthe infinitedoingsof the world,Sometime putsforth.In your affairs,my lord,255If ever I were wilful-negligent,It was my folly; ifindustriouslyI play'd the fool, it was my negligence,Not weighing well the end; if ever fearfulTo do a thing, where I the issue doubted,260Whereof the execution did cry outAgainst thenon-performance, 'twas a fearWhich oft infects the wisest: these, my lord,Are such allow'd infirmities that honestyIs never free of. But, beseech your Grace,265Be plainer with me; let me know my trespassByitsown visage: if I then deny it,'Tis none of mine.

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,

Amongthe infinitedoingsof the world,

Sometime putsforth.In your affairs,my lord,

If ever I were wilful-negligent,

It was my folly; ifindustriously

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 thenon-performance, 'twas a fear

Which oft infects 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

Byitsown visage: if I then deny it,

'Tis none of mine.

Leon.Ha'not you seen, Camillo,—But that's past doubt, you have, or your eye-glassIs thicker than a cuckold's horn,—or heard,—270For to a vision so apparent rumourCannot be mute,—or thought,—for cogitationResides not in that man that does notthink,—My wife is slippery? If thouwiltconfess,Or else be impudently negative,275To have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then sayMy wife's ahobby-horse; deserves a nameAs rank as any flax-wench thatputs toBefore her troth-plight: say't and justify't.

Leon.Ha'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 notthink,—

My wife is slippery? If thouwiltconfess,

Or else be impudently negative,

To have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then say

My wife's ahobby-horse; deserves a name

As rank as any flax-wench thatputs to

Before her troth-plight: say't and justify't.

Cam.I would not be a stander-by to hear280My sovereign mistress clouded so, withoutMy present vengeance taken: 'shrew my heart,You never spoke what did become you lessThan this; which to reiterate were sinAs deep as that, though true.

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.

Leon.Is whispering nothing?285Is leaning cheek to cheek? ismeetingnoses?Kissing with inside lip? stopping the careerOf laughter with a sigh?—a note infallibleOf breaking honesty;—horsing foot on foot?Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?290Hours, minutes?noon, midnight? and alleyesBlind 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;295My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,If this be nothing.

Leon.Is whispering nothing?

Is leaning cheek to cheek? ismeetingnoses?

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 alleyes

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.

Cam.Good my lord, be curedOf this diseased opinion, and betimes;For 'tis most dangerous.

Cam.Good my lord, be cured

Of this diseased opinion, and betimes;

For 'tis most dangerous.

Leon.Say it be, 'tis true.

Cam.No, no, my lord.

Leon.It is; you lie, you lie:300I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee,Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave,Or else a hovering temporizer, thatCanst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,Inclining to them both: were mywife'sliver305Infected as her life, she would not liveThe running of one glass.

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 mywife'sliver

Infected as her life, she would not live

The running of one glass.

Cam.Who does infect her?

Leon.Why, he that wears her likeher medal, hangingAbout his neck, Bohemia: who, if IHad servants true about me, thatbareeyes310To see alike mine honour as their profits,Their own particular thrifts, they would do thatWhich should undo more doing:ay, and thou,His cup-bearer,—whom I from meaner formHave bench'd and rear'd to worship, who mayst see315Plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven,How I amgall'd,—mightstbespice a cup,To give mine enemy a lasting wink;Which draught to me were cordial.

Leon.Why, he that wears her likeher medal, hanging

About his neck, Bohemia: who, if I

Had servants true about me, thatbareeyes

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 cup-bearer,—whom I from meaner form

Have bench'd and rear'd to worship, who mayst see

Plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven,

How I amgall'd,—mightstbespice a cup,

To give mine enemy a lasting wink;

Which draught to me were cordial.

Cam.Sir, my lord,I could do this, and that with no rash potion,320But with a lingering dram, that should not workMaliciously likepoison: but I cannotBelieve this crack to be in my dread mistress,Sosovereignly being honourable.I have loved thee,—

Cam.Sir, my lord,

I could do this, and that with no rash potion,

But with a lingering dram, that should not work

Maliciously likepoison: but I cannot

Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress,

Sosovereignly being honourable.

I have loved thee,—

Leon.Make that thy question, and go rot!325Dost think I am so muddy, sounsettled,To appoint myself in thisvexation; sullyThe purity and whiteness of my sheets,Which to preserve is sleep, which being spottedIs goads,thorns,nettles, tails ofwasps;330Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son,Who I do think is mine and love as mine,Without ripe movingto't?Would I do this?Couldmanso blench?

Leon.Make that thy question, and go rot!

Dost think I am so muddy, sounsettled,

To appoint myself in thisvexation; sully

The purity and whiteness of my sheets,

Which to preserve is sleep, which being spotted

Is goads,thorns,nettles, tails ofwasps;

Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son,

Who I do think is mine and love as mine,

Without ripe movingto't?Would I do this?

Couldmanso blench?

Cam.I must believe you, sir:I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't;335Provided that, when he's removed, your highnessWill take again your queen as yours at first,Even for your son's sake; and therebyfor sealingThe injury of tongues in courts and kingdomsKnown and allied to yours.

Cam.I must believe you, sir:

I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't;

Provided that, when he's removed, your highness

Will take again your queen as yours at first,

Even for your son's sake; and therebyfor sealing

The injury of tongues in courts and kingdoms

Known and allied to yours.

Leon.Thou dost advise me340Even so as I mine own course have set down:I'll give noblemish to herhonour, none.

Leon.Thou dost advise me

Even so as I mine own course have set down:

I'll give noblemish to herhonour, none.

Cam.My lord,Go then; and with a countenance as clearAs friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia345And with your queen. I am his cup-bearer:If from me he have wholesome beverage,Account me not your servant.

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 cup-bearer:

If from me he have wholesome beverage,

Account me not your servant.

Leon.This is all:Do't and thou hast the one half of my heart;Do't not, thou splitt'st thine own.

Leon.This is all:

Do't and thou hast the one half of my heart;

Do't not, thou splitt'st thine own.

Cam.I'll do't, my lord.

350Leon.I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me.[Exit.

Leon.I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me.[Exit.

Cam.O miserable lady! But, for me,What case stand I in? I must be the poisonerOf good Polixenes: and my ground to do'tIs the obedience to a master, one355Who, in rebellion with himself, will haveAll that are his so too. To do this deed,Promotion follows. If I could find exampleOf thousands that had struck anointed kingsAnd flourish'd after, I'ld not do't; but since360Nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one,Let villany itself forswear't. I mustForsake the court: to do't, or no, is certainTo me a break-neck. Happy star reign now!Here comes Bohemia.

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'ld 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.

Re-enterPolixenes.

Pol.This is strange:methinks365Myfavour here begins to warp. Not speak?Good day, Camillo.

Pol.This is strange:methinks

Myfavour 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 countenanceAs he had lost some province and a region370Loved as he loves himself: even now I met himWith customary compliment; when he,Wafting his eyes to the contrary and fallingA lip of much contempt, speeds from me andSo leaves me, to consider what is breeding375That changes thus his manners.

Pol.The king hath on him such a countenance

As he had lost some province and a region

Loved 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 youknow, and dare not?Be intelligent to me: 'tis thereabouts;For, to yourself, whatyou doknow, you must,380And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,Your changed complexions are to me a mirrorWhich shows me mine changed too; for I must beA party in this alteration, findingMyself thus alter'dwith't.

Pol.How! dare not!do not.Do youknow, and dare not?

Be intelligent to me: 'tis thereabouts;

For, to yourself, whatyou doknow, you must,

And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,

Your changed complexions are to me a mirror

Which shows me mine changed too; for I must be

A party in this alteration, finding

Myself thus alter'dwith't.

Cam.There is a sickness385Which puts some of us in distemper; butI cannot name the disease; and it is caughtOf you that yet are well.

Cam.There is a sickness

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 havelook'd on thousands, who have sped the better390By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,—As youare certainly agentleman;theretoClerk-likeexperienced, which no less adornsOur gentry than our parents' noble names,In whose success we are gentle,—I beseech you,395If you know aught which does behove my knowledgeThereof to be inform'd, imprison't notIn ignorant concealment.

Pol.How! caught of me!

Make me not sighted like the basilisk:

I havelook'd on thousands, who have sped the better

By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,—

As youare certainly agentleman;thereto

Clerk-likeexperienced, which no less adorns

Our gentry than our parents' noble names,

In whose success we are gentle,—I beseech you,

If you know aught which does behove my knowledge

Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not

In ignorant concealment.

Cam.I may not answer.

Pol.A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!I must be answer'd. Dost thou hear, Camillo,400I conjure thee, by all the parts of manWhich honour does acknowledge, whereof the leastIs not this suit of mine, that thou declareWhat incidency thou dost guess of harmIs creepingtowardme; how far off, how near;405Which way to be prevented, ifto be;If not, how best to bear it.

Pol.A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!

I must be answer'd. Dost thou hear, Camillo,

I conjure thee, by all the parts of man

Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the least

Is not this suit of mine, that thou declare

What incidency thou dost guess of harm

Is creepingtowardme; how far off, how near;

Which way to be prevented, ifto be;

If not, how best to bear it.

Cam.Sir,I willtell you;Since I am charged in honour and by himThat I think honourable: therefore mark my counsel,Which must be ev'n as swiftly follow'd as410I mean toutter it, or both yourself andmeCry lost, and so good night!

Cam.Sir,I willtell you;

Since I am charged in honour and by him

That I think honourable: therefore mark my counsel,

Which must be ev'n as swiftly follow'd as

I mean toutter it, or both yourself andme

Cry lost, and so good night!

Pol.On, good Camillo.

Cam.I am appointed himto murder you.

Pol.By whom, Camillo?

Cam.By the king.

Pol.For what?

Cam.He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears,415As he had seen't, or been an instrumentTo viceyou to't, that you have touch'd his queenForbiddenly.

Cam.He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears,

As he had seen't, or been an instrument

To viceyou to't, that you have touch'd his queen

Forbiddenly.

Pol.O, then my best blood turnTo an infected jelly and my nameBe yoked with his that did betray the Best!420Turn then my freshest reputation toA savour that may strike the dullest nostrilWhere I arrive, and my approach beshunn'd,Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infectionThat e'er was heard or read!

Pol.O, then my best blood turn

To an infected jelly and my name

Be yoked 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 beshunn'd,

Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection

That e'er was heard or read!

Cam.Swearhis thoughtover425By each particular star in heaven andBy all their influences, you may as wellForbid the sea for to obey the moon,As or by oath remove or counsel shakeThe fabric of his folly, whose foundation430Is piled upon his faith and will continueThe standing of his body.

Cam.Swearhis thoughtover

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 piled upon his faith and will continue

The standing of his body.

Pol.How should this grow?

Cam.I know not: butI amsure 'tis safer toAvoid what's grown than question how'tisborn.If therefore you dare trust my honesty,435That lies enclosed in this trunk which youShall 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 put440My fortunes to your service, which are hereBy this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;For, by the honour of my parents, IHave utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,I dare not standby; nor shall you be safer445Than one condemn'd by the king's ownmouth, thereonHis execution sworn.

Cam.I know not: butI amsure 'tis safer to

Avoid what's grown than question how'tisborn.

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 honour of my parents, I

Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,

I dare not standby; nor shall you be safer

Than one condemn'd by the king's ownmouth, thereon

His execution sworn.

Pol.I do believe thee:I saw his heart in's face. Give me thy hand:Be pilot to me and thyplacesshallStill neighbour mine. My ships are ready and450My people did expect my hence departureTwo days ago. ThisjealousyIs for a precious creature: as she's rare,Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,Must it be violent; and as he does conceive455He is dishonour'd by a man which everProfess'd to him, why, his revenges mustIn that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me:Good expedition be my friend,andcomfortThe graciousqueen, part of histheme, but nothing460Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo;I will respect thee as a father ifThou bear'st my life off hence: let us avoid.

Pol.I do believe thee:

I saw his heart in's face. Give me thy hand:

Be pilot to me and thyplacesshall

Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready and

My people did expect my hence departure

Two days ago. Thisjealousy

Is for a precious creature: as she's rare,

Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,

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 be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me:

Good expedition be my friend,andcomfort

The graciousqueen, part of histheme, 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 commandThe keys of all the posterns: please your highness465To take the urgenthour. Come, sir, away.[Exeunt.

Cam.It is in mine authority to command

The keys of all the posterns: please your highness

To take the urgenthour. Come, sir, away.[Exeunt.

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