Leontes' Palace.

Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS. Arch. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia.

Cam. think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, indeed,

Cam. 'Beseech you,

Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence-in so rare-I know not what to say.We will give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us. Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely.

Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty pats it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such au affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters,

nied, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seemed to be together, though absent; shook hands as over a, vast; and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man.

Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live.

Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one.

[Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A Room of State in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the watery star have been

[throne The shepherd's note, since we have left our Without a burden: time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our And yet we should, for perpetuity, [thanks; ↑ Wide waste of country.

Stay your thanks awhile; And pay them when you part. Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow. [chance, I am question'd by my fears, of what may 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 To tire your royalty. [stay'd Leon. We are tougher, brother, Than you can put us to't. Pol.

No longer stay.

Leon. One seven-night longer. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. Leon. We'll part the time between's then: I'll no gain-saying. [and in that Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so; There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, [now, So soon as yours, could win me: so it should 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, sir, You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. 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:

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 POLIX.] 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 jars o' the clock behind
What lady she her lord.-You'll stay?
Pol.
No, madam.

Her. Nay, but you will?
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,
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?
[verily,
My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread
One of them you shall be.

Pol.
Your gnest 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, But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you Of my Lord's tricks, and yours, when you You were pretty lordings then. [were boys; Pol. We were, fair queen, [behind, Two lads, that thought there was no more But such a day to-morrow as to-day, And to be boy eternal.

[two! Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i' the sun, [changed, And bleat the one at the other: what we Was innocence for innocence; we knew not The doctrine of ill-doing, no, 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**.

Her.

You have tripp'd since.

By this we gather,

Pol. O my most sacred lady, [for Temptations have since then been born to us: In those unfledged days was my wife a girl: Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes Of my young play-fellow.

Her.

Grace to boot!

[make us

Her. What? have I twice said well? when

was't before?

I pr'ythee, tell me : Cram us with praise, and 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,
Or I mistake you: O, would her name were
Grace!

Flimsy.

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 practised smiles,
As in a looking-glass;-and then to sigh, as
'twere

Mam.

[ment he mort o' the deert; 0, that is entertain. My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-MamilArt thou my boy? [lius, Ay, my good lord. Leon. I'fecks? Why that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd thy nose?[captain, They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, 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. Thon want'st a rough pash, and the
shoots that I have,

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 [page, To say this boy were like me.-Come, sir Look on me with your welkin ** eye: Sweet villain! [may't be? Most dear'st! my collop!-Can thy dam?Affection! thy intention 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, [be?) And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent tt. [thou dost ; Thou may'st co-join with something; and

Trembling of the heart.

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 moved, 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 un-
breech'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 I, this gentleman:-Mine honest
Will you take eggs for money? [friend,

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
Officed with me: We two will walk, my lord,
And leave you to your graver steps.-Her-
mione,
[welcome;
How thou lovest us, show in our brother's
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 yours i'the garden: Shall's attend you
there?
[you'll be found,
Leon. To your own bents dispose you:
Be you beneath the sky :-I am angling now,
Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to!

[Aside. Observing POL. and HER. How she holds up the neb ***, the bill to him! And arms her with the boldness of a wife To her allowing ttt husband! Gone already; Inch-thick, knee-deep; o'er head and ears a

fork'd one .

Hearty fellow.

next claimant.

I Pea-cod. ¶¶ Heir apparent. A horned one, a cuckold.

*** Mouth.

the arm,

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
[absence,
That little thinks she has been sluiced in his
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's com-
fort in't,
[open'd,
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates
As mine, against their will: Should all despair,
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is

man.

Cam. Ay, my good lord.
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
When you cast out, it still came home. [hold:
Leon.
Didst note it?
Cam. He would not stay at your petitions;
His business more material.
[made
Leon.
Didst perceive it?
They're here with me already; whispering,
Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone, [rounding
When I shall gust† it last.-How came't, Ca
That he did stay?
[millo,
Cam.
At the good queen's entreaty.
Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be
But so it is, it is not. Was this taken [pertinent;
By any understanding pate but thine?
For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in [is't,
More than the common blocks:-Not noted
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, inost un-
derstand

Bohemia stays here longer.
Leon.
Cam.

Ha?
Stays here longer.
Leon. Ay, but why?
[treaties
Cam. To satisfy your highness, and the en-
Of our most gracious mistress.
Leon.

Satisfy

The entreaties of your mistress?- - satisfy?— Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo, With all the nearest things to my 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

To round in the ear was to tell secretly.
To hox is to hamstring.

In that which seems so.
Cam.
Be it forbid, my lord!
Leon. To bide upon't;-Thou art not ho

nest: or,

If thou inclinest that way, thou art a coward;
Which hoxesy honesty 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, [drawn,
That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake
And takest 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, My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess, (Or else be impudently negative, [say To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then My wife's a hobby-horse; 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.

Leon.

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? [blind

Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes 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,

+ Taste. Inferiors in rank. || Disorders of the eye.

If this be nothing.

Cam. Good my lord, be cured Of this diseased opinion, and betimes;

For 'tis most dangerous.

I

Cam. No, no, my lord.
Leon.

It is; you lie, you lie:
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, [that
Their own particular thrifts,-they would do
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
may'st see
[heaven,

Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees
How I am galled,-might'st bespice 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,
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.
I have loved thee,-

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,[spotted, Which to preserve is sleep; which being Is goads, thorns, nertles, 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?

Cam.
I must believe you, sir;
I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't: [ness
Provided, that when he's removed your high-
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 [mia,
As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohe-
And with your queen: I am his cupbearer;
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;

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 [one, Nor brass nor stone, nor parchment, bears not 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. Enter POLIXENES.

Pol.
This is strange ! methinks,
My favour here begins to warp. Not speak?-
Good-day, Camilio.
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 counte-

nance,

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.
know, and dare not

Do you

Be intelligent to me? 'Tis thereabouts;
For, to yourself, what you do know, 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'd with it
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: [better
I have look'd on thousands, who have sped the
By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,-
As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienced, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whose success || we are gentle ¶,-1 beseech
you,
[knowledge
If you know aught which does behove my
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.

Cam.