[337] _presupposed_] _preimpos'd_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[342] _hear_] _here_ F2.

[346] _confess, myself_] Theobald. _confess myself,_ Ff.

_Toby_] _Sir Toby_ Theobald.

[349] _against_] _in_ Rann (Tyrwhitt conj.).

[355, 356] S. Walker would end line 355 at _fool_.

[356] _fool_] _Foole_ F1 F2 F3. _Fool_ F4. _soul_ Collier (Collier

MS.). _tool_ Anon. conj.

_thee!_] Capell. _thee?_ Ff.

[358] _thrown_] _thrust_ Theobald.

[360, 361] _remember? 'Madam, why_] Malone (Tyrwhitt conj.).

_remember, Madam, why_ Ff. _remember, Madam,--'why_ Theobald.

[362] _an_] Pope. _and_ Ff.

_whirligig_] Capell. _whirlegigge_ F1. _whirle-gigge_ F2 F3.

_whirl-gigg_ F4.

[364] [Exit.] Rowe.

[368] _convents_] _consents_ Steevens conj. _convenes_ Anon. MS. apud

Halliwell.

[370] _Meantime_] _In the mean time_ Hanmer.

[374] [Exeunt...] Dyce and Staunton. Exeunt. Ff.

[375-394] Farmer would omit as spurious.

[375] _and_] _an_ Theobald.

_tiny_] Rowe (ed. 2). _tine_ Ff.

[381] _knaves and thieves_] _knave and thief_ Steevens (Farmer conj.).

[387-389] _beds ... heads_] Ff. _bed ... head_ Hanmer.

[389] _toss-pots_] _tospottes_ F1.

_still had_] _I had_ Hanmer. _still I had_ Collier.

_drunken_] _broken_ Anon. conj.

[391] _begun_] Rowe. _begon_ F1 F2. _be gon_ F3. _be gone_ F4.

[392] _With hey, ho_] F2 F3 F4. _hey, ho_ F1.

[394] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

In our enumeration of the Dramatis Personæ we have omitted what Johnson

calls 'the cant of the modern stage,' i.e. the unnecessary descriptions

given by Rowe.

NOTE II.

I. I. 26. Mr Knight reads 'years' heat,' but follows Malone in

interpreting 'heat' as a participle. It is more probably a substantive.

NOTE III.

I. 3. 48. Sidney Walker supposed that as the first Folio has no stop

after 'acquaintance' it was intended that the sentence should be

regarded as incomplete, and he therefore would read 'acquaintance--'.

The real reason of the omission of the stop in F1 is that the word

occurs so near the end of the line that there was no room for its

insertion. It is found in all the other Folios.

NOTE IV.

I. 5. 192. Mr Dyce conjectures that something more than the speaker's

name has been omitted in the Folios before 'Tell me your mind.' Capell

proposed to omit these words, on the ground that, in addition to other

objections against them, they cause the speech to end metrically. We

leave the text undisturbed, because we think that there is some

corruption which Hanmer's plausible emendation does not remove.

NOTE V.

I. 5. 237. Sidney Walker conjectures that 'a word or words are lost

before _adorations_, involving the same metaphor as the rest of the two

lines.' Perhaps the lost word may have been 'earthward' or 'earthly,' so

that all the four elements 'of which our life consists' (II. 3. 9) would

be represented in the symptoms of Orsino's passion.

NOTE VI.

II. 2. 30. Johnson would transpose lines 28 and 29, and retain the

reading of the Folios 'if':

'For such as we are made, if such we be,

Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we.'

NOTE VII.

II. 3. 33. The first Folio reads simply 'give a' without any stop at

all, perhaps as before, because there was no room to insert it. More

probably however a line has been omitted. The other Folios have 'give

a--'. Mr Singer suggests that the hiatus may either have been

intentional, or may have been filled up with the words 'another should.'

Mr Collier's MS. corrector inserts a whole clause; reading, 'if one

knight give a-way sixpence, so will I give another: go to.'

NOTE VIII.

II. 3. 97, 99, 101, 102. These lines are printed in the Folios in Roman

type, while all the other songs and snatches of songs in the scene are

in italics. It is evident, however, that they are intended to be sung.

NOTE IX.

II. 4. 17. Warburton says, 'The Folio reads _notions_, which is right.'

This is incorrect: all the Folios have 'motions.'

NOTE X.

II. 5. 129. The first Folio here reads 'atcheeues,' but as it has

'atcheeue' in III. 4. 41, and 'atchieue' in V. 1. 357, it is plain that

the first is a mere misprint. In many other passages, doubtless, the

incorrect grammar found in the oldest editions is due to the printer,

not to the author.

NOTE XI.

III. 4. 110. Mr Ritson suggested that 'Ay, Biddy, come with me,' is a

fragment of an old song, and should be printed as such.

NOTE XII.

III. 4. 260. Mr Dyce and Mr Staunton make Scene V. to commence here in

'The street adjoining Olivia's garden.' The fourth scene is continued in

the Folios, and, as in all other instances throughout the play, the

beginning of each scene is accurately marked, we have thought it better

to follow them in this. According to the Folios, Fabian and Viola leave

the stage just as Sir Toby and Sir Andrew enter, and, not meeting them,

may be supposed to return to the place appointed in lines 239, 240.

Capell, contrary to the directions in the Folios, keeps Fabian and Viola

on the stage. They are indeed all the while within sight of Sir Toby, as

appears from lines 268, 269, but not necessarily visible to the

audience. The comic effect would, no doubt, be heightened if Fabian were

seen using all his efforts to prevent Viola from running away, but this

is scarcely a sufficient reason for deserting our only authority.

NOTE XIII.

IV. 1. 13. Mr Knight suggests that this may be intended to be spoken

aside, as if the meaning were, 'I am afraid the world will prove this

great lubber (Sebastian) a cockney.'

NOTE XIV.

V. 1. 18. The meaning seems to be nothing more recondite than this: as

in the syllogism it takes two premisses to make one conclusion, so it

takes two people to make one kiss.

NOTE XV.

V. 1. 159. In Mr Foss's copy of the first Folio, Sir Frederic Madden

says the reading is 'cafe' instead of 'case,' and this leads him to

conjecture that 'face' is the true reading. But in Capell's copy the

reading is plainly 'case,' and as there is abundant authority to prove

that 'case' was a sportsman's term for the skin of an animal, we retain

it.

THE WINTER'S TALE.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[10].

LEONTES, king of Sicilia.

MAMILLIUS[11], young prince of Sicilia.

CAMILLO, }

ANTIGONUS, } Four Lords of Sicilia.

CLEOMENES, }

DION, }

POLIXENES, king of Bohemia[12].

FLORIZEL, prince of Bohemia[12].

ARCHIDAMUS, a Lord of Bohemia[12].

Old Shepherd, reputed father of Perdita.

Clown, his son.

AUTOLYCUS, a rogue.

A Mariner[13].

A Gaoler[13].

HERMIONE, queen to Leontes.

PERDITA, daughter to Leontes and Hermione.

PAULINA, wife to Antigonus.

EMILIA, a lady attending on Hermione[14].

MOPSA[13], }

DORCAS[13],} Shepherdesses.

Other Lords and Gentlemen, Ladies[13], Officers[13], and Servants,

Shepherds, and Shepherdesses.

Time[13], as Chorus[13].

SCENE: _Partly in Sicilia, and partly in Bohemia_[15].

FOOTNOTES:

[10] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Given imperfectly as 'The Names of the Actors'

in Ff.

[11] MAMILLIUS] Mamillus. Rowe (ed. 2).

[12] Bohemia] Bithynia. Hanmer.

[13] Words and clauses omitted in Ff.

[14] a lady ... Hermione.] Rowe. a Lady. Ff.

[15] SCENE...] Rowe. om. Ff.

THE WINTER'S TALE.

ACT I.

SCENE I. _Antechamber in_ 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._ I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia 5

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,-- 10

_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. 15

_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 puts it to utterance.

_Cam._ Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. 20

They were trained together in their childhoods; and there

rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot

choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities

and royal necessities made separation of their society,

their encounters, though not personal, have been royally 25

attorneyed 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! 30

_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: 35

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 40

should desire to live.

_Arch._ If the king had no son, they would desire to

live on crutches till he had one. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

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

[1] _Bohemia_] _Bithynia_ Hanmer (and throughout).

[5] _coming_] _comming_ F1. _common_ F2 F3 F4.

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

[11] _Verily_] F3 F4. _Verely_ F1 F2.

[25] _have_] F2 F3 F4. _hath_ F1.

_royally_] _so royally_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[26] _gifts_] F1 F3 F4. _gift_ F2.

[28] _vast_] F1. _vast sea_ F2 F3 F4.

[30] _loves_] _love_ Hanmer.

[33] _Mamillius_] _Mamillus_ Rowe (ed. 2).

SCENE II. _A room of state in the same._

_Enter_ LEONTES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, POLIXENES, CAMILLO,

_and_ Attendants.

_Pol._ Nine changes of the watery star hath been

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, 5

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

Yet standing in rich place, I multiply

With one 'We thank you,' many thousands moe

That go before it.

_Leon._ Stay your thanks a while;

And pay them when you part.

_Pol._ Sir, that's to-morrow. 10

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.

_Leon._ We are tougher, brother, 15

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: and in that

I'll no gainsaying.

_Pol._ Press me not, beseech you, so.

There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, 20

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 25

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 30

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; 35

But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,

We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure

The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia

You take my lord, I'll give him my commission 40

To let him there a month behind the gest

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

I love thee not a jar 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. 45

_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 50

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,' 55

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 commit

Than you to punish.

_Her._ Not your gaoler, then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you 60

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 behind

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

And to be boy eternal.

_Her._ Was not my lord 65

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 changed

Was innocence for innocence; we knew not

The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd 70

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._ By this we gather 75

You have tripp'd since.

_Pol._ O my most sacred lady!

Temptations have since then been born to'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.

_Her._ Grace to boot! 80

Of this make no conclusion, lest you 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 85

With any but with us.

_Leon._ Is he won yet?

_Her._ He'll stay, my lord.

_Leon._ At my request he would not.

Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest

To better purpose.

_Her._ Never?

_Leon._ Never, but once.

_Her._ What! have I twice said well? when was't before? 90

I prithee tell me; cram's with 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 95

With spur we heat 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 I spoke to the purpose: when? 100

Nay, let me have't; I long.

_Leon._ Why, that was when

Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,

And clap thyself my love: then didst thou utter

'I am yours for ever.'

_Her._ 'Tis Grace indeed. 105

Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice:

The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;

The other for some while a friend.

_Leon._ [_Aside_] Too hot, too hot!

To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods.

I have tremor cordis on me: my heart dances; 110

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; 't may, I grant;

But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers, 115

As now they are, and making practised 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._ Ay, my good lord.

_Leon._ I' fecks! 120

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

They say it is 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 125

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.

To be full like me: yet they say we are

Almost as like as eggs; women say so, 130

That will say any thing: but were they false

As o'er-dyed 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, 135

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,

Communicatest with dreams;--how can this be?-- 140

With what's unreal them coactive art,

And fellow'st nothing: 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 145

And hardening of my brows.

_Pol._ 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 moved, my lord?

_Leon._ No, in good earnest. 150

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 unbreech'd, 155

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, this gentleman. Mine honest friend, 160

Will you take eggs for money?

_Mam._ No, my lord, I'll fight.

_Leon._ You will! why, happy man be's dole! My brother,

Are you so fond of your young prince, as we

Do seem to be of ours?

_Pol._ If at home, sir, 165

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 170

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. Hermione,

How thou lovest us, show in our brother's welcome;

Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap: 175

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?

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

Be you beneath the sky. [_Aside_] I am angling now, 180

Though you perceive me not how I give line.

Go to, go to!

How she holds up the neb, the bill to him!

And arms her with the boldness of a wife

To her allowing husband!

[_Exeunt Polixenes, Hermione, and Attendants._

Gone already! 185

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, 190

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 sluiced in's absence

And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by 195

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; 200

It is a bawdy planet, that will strike

Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, 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 205

With bag and baggage: many thousand on's

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

_Mam._ I am like you, they say.

_Leon._ Why, that's some comfort.

What, Camillo there?

_Cam._ Ay, my good lord. 210

_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 make his anchor hold:

When you cast out, it still came home.

_Leon._ Didst note it?

_Cam._ He would not stay at your petitions; made 215

His business more material.

_Leon._ Didst perceive it?

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

'Sicilia is a so-forth:' 'tis far gone,

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

That he did stay?

_Cam._ At the good queen's entreaty. 220

_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, 225

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 understand

Bohemia stays here longer.

_Leon._ Ha!

_Cam._ Stays here longer. 230

_Leon._ Ay, but why?

_Cam._ To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties

Of our most gracious mistress.

_Leon._ Satisfy!

The entreaties of your mistress! satisfy!

Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo, 235

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 240

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,

Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining

From course required; or else thou must be counted 245

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,

I may be negligent, foolish and fearful; 250

In every one of these no man is free,

But that his negligence, his folly, fear,

Among the infinite doings of the world,

Sometime puts forth. In your affairs, my lord,

If ever I were wilful-negligent, 255

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 260

Against the non-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 265

By its own 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-glass

Is thicker than a cuckold's horn,--or heard,--

For to a vision so apparent rumour 270

Cannot be mute,--or thought,--for cogitation

Resides not in that man that does not think,--

My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,

Or else be impudently negative,

To have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then say 275

My wife's a hobby-horse; deserves a name

As rank as any flax-wench that puts to

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

_Cam._ I would not be a stander-by to hear

My sovereign mistress clouded so, without 280

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? 285

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 290

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, 295

If this be nothing.

_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:

I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee, 300

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 305

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, 310

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, 315

How I am gall'd,--mightst 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 lingering dram, that should not work 320

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 that thy question, and go rot!

Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled, 325

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, 330

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;

Provided that, when he's removed, your highness 335

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: 340

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 cup-bearer: 345

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.

_Leon._ I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me. 350

[_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 355

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, 360

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-enter_ POLIXENES.

_Pol._ This is strange: methinks

My favour here begins to warp. Not speak? 365

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 countenance

As he had lost some province and a region

Loved as he loves himself: even now I met him 370

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. 375

_Cam._ I dare not know, my lord.

_Pol._ How! dare not! do not. Do you know, and dare not?

Be intelligent to me: 'tis thereabouts;

For, to yourself, what you do know, you must,

And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo, 380

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't.

_Cam._ There is a sickness

Which puts some of us in distemper; but 385

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 have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better

By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,-- 390

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,--I beseech you,

If you know aught which does behove my knowledge 395

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,

I conjure thee, by all the parts of man 400

Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the least

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; 405

If not, how best to bear it.

_Cam._ Sir, I will tell 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 to utter it, or both yourself and me 410

Cry lost, and so good night!

_Pol._ On, good Camillo.

_Cam._ I am appointed him to murder you.

_Pol._ By whom, Camillo?

_Cam._ By the king.

_Pol._ For what?

_Cam._ He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears,

As he had seen't, or been an instrument 415

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 yoked with his that did betray the Best!

Turn then my freshest reputation to 420

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 425

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 430

The standing of his body.

_Pol._ How should this grow?

_Cam._ I know not: but I am sure 'tis safer to

Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis born.

If therefore you dare trust my honesty,

That lies enclosed in this trunk which you 435

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 440

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 stand by; nor shall you be safer

Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, thereon 445

His execution sworn.

_Pol._ I do believe thee:

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

Be pilot to me and thy places shall

Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready and

My people did expect my hence departure 450

Two days ago. This jealousy

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 455

Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must

In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me:

Good expedition be my friend, and comfort

The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing

Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo; 460

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 command

The keys of all the posterns: please your highness

To take the urgent hour. Come, sir, away. [_Exeunt._ 465

LINENOTES:

SCENE II. A room....] Capell. Scene opens to the Presence. Theobald.

Camillo] om. Theobald.

and Attendants] Theobald, om. Ff.

[1] _hath_] _have_ Capell.

[1, 2] _been ... note_] _been_ (_The shepherd's note_,) Warburton.

[8] _moe_] _more_ Rowe.

[9] _a while_] _awhile_ Reed.

[11] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[12] _absence_;] _absence_, Ff.

[12, 13] _that may blow No_] _there may blow Some_ Hanmer. _may there

blow No_ Warburton.

[12-14] _that ... truly_:] _that ... truly!_ Steevens (Farmer conj.).

[14] _truly_] _early_ Hanmer. _tardily_ Capell.

[17] _seven-night_] _seve'night_ F1 F2 F3. _sev'night_ F4.

[19] _beseech you, so._] _'beseech you!_ Hanmer. _so, beseech you_:

Capell.

[20] _world_] F1 F3 F4. _would_ F2.

[28] _to have_] _to've_ Pope.

[29] _You had_] _You 'ad_ Theobald.

[33] [He walks apart. Collier (Collier MS.).

[38] [To Polixenes. Rowe.

[40] _give him_] _give you_ Hanmer (Warburton).

[41] _behind_] _beyond_ Heath conj.

_gest_] F1 F2. _guest_ F3 F4. _just_ Theobald conj. _geste_ Hanmer.

_list_ Heath conj.

[42] _good deed,_] (_good-deed_) F1. (_good-heed_) F2. (_good heed_)

F3 F4. See note (i).

[44] _lady she_] _lady should_ Collier (Egerton and Collier MSS.).

_lady-she_ Staunton.

[50] _'Verily''s_] Staunton and Grant White. _Verely 'is_ F1 F2.

_verily is_ F3 F4.

[65, 66] _Was ... two?_] As in Ff. In one line. Hanmer.

[70] _nor dream'd_] F1. _no nor dream'd_ F2 F3 F4. _neither dream'd_

Spedding conj.

[77] _to's_] _to us_ Capell.

[80] _Grace_] _Oh! Grace_ Hanmer. _God's grace_ S. Walker conj.

_boot_] _both_ Heath conj.

[81] _lest_] F4. _least_ F1 F2 F3.

[88] _dearest_] _dear'st_ S. Walker conj.

_never_] _ne'er_ Pope.

[90] _was't_] _'twas_ Steevens (1778). _was it_ Mason conj.

[91] _cram's ... make's_] _cram us ... make us_ Capell.

[96] _heat an acre. But to the goal_;--] _heat an Acre. But to th'

Goale_: Ff. (_Goal_ F3 F4). _heat an acre, but to th' goal._

Warburton. _clear an acre. But to the good_: Collier (Collier MS.).

[100] _spoke_] F1 F2. _spake_ F3 F4.

_purpose:_] Capell. _purpose?_ Ff.

[104] _And clap_] F2} F3 F4. _A clap_ F1. _And clepe_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[105] _'Tis_] Ff. _This is_ Hanmer. _It is_ Capell.

[106] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[108] [Giving her hand to Pol. Capell.

[Aside.] Rowe.

[112] _derive_] F1. _derives_ F2 F3 F4.

[113] _bounty, fertile bosom_] _bounty's fertile bosom_ Hanmer.

_bounty:--fertile become_ Jackson conj.

[114] _well_] F1. _we'l_ F2 F4. _wee'l_ F3.

_become_] _becomes_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_'t may_] _it may_ Steevens.

[117] _looking-glass_] _glass_ S. Walker conj.

[119] _Mamillius_] _Mamillus_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[121] _hast_] Capell. _has't_ Ff.

[122] _They ... captain,_] As two lines in Capell, ending _mine ...

captain._

_it is_] _it's_ Warburton. _'t's_ Anon. conj.

[Wipes the boy's face, Hanmer. [Pulling the boy to him and wiping him.

Capell.

[123] _but_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[124] _heifer_] _heycfer_ F1 F2.

[125] [Observing Polixenes and Hermione. Rowe.

[128] _pash_] _bush_ Becket conj.

[129] _full like_] _full, like_ Ff.

[132] _o'er-dyed_] _o're-dy'd_ F1 F2 F3. _o're di'd_ F4. _our dead_

Collier (Collier MS.), _oft dyed_ Staunton conj.

_wind_] _winds_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[134] _bourn_] Capell. _bourne_ Rowe. _borne_ F1 F2. _born_ F3 F4.

[135] _were_] _is_ Hanmer.

[136] _welkin eye_] _welking eye_ Rowe (ed. 2). _welkin-eye_ Theobald.

[137] _dam?_--] _dam?_ Rowe. _dam_, Ff.

[137, 138] _may't be?--Affection, ... centre_] Steevens. _may't be?

Affection, thy intention stabs to the center_ Capell. _may't be

Affection? ... centre_ Ff. _may't be--Imagination! thou dost stab to

th' center_ Rowe.

[138-146] _Affection ... brows._] Erased in Collier MS.

[139] _not so_] F1. _not be so_ F2 F3 F4. _not to be so_ Hanmer.

_held,_] _held?_ Staunton.

[140, 141] _dreams;--how ... be?--With ... unreal_] Rann (Theobald

conj.). _dreames (how ... be?) With ... unreal_: F1 F2. _dreams (how

... be?) With ... unreal_, F3 F4. _dreams--how ... be With ...

unreal_? Pope. _dreams?--how! can this be?--With ... unreal_ Staunton.

[142] _fellow'st_] _follow'st_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_nothing_] _nothings_ Hanmer.

[147, 148] _How, my lord! What ... brother?_] Rann (Steevens). _How?

my lord?_ Leo. _What ... brother?_ Ff. _How? my lord?_ Leo. _What ...

my best brother?_ Rowe. _How? my lord? What ... my best brother?_

Hanmer. _Now, my lord? What ... brother?_ Capell. _How is't, my lord?

What ... brother?_ Long MS. _How now, my lord?_ Leo. _What ...

brother?_ Singer MS. _Ho, my lord! What ... brother?_ Dyce conj.

[148-150] _What ... lord?_] S. Walker arranges as three lines, ending

_with you, ... brow ... lord?_

[148] _is't_] _is it_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_best_] _my best_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[150] _Are you_] _Are not you_ Theobald. _Are you not_ Hanmer.

_earnest._] _earnest, no.--_ Capell.

[151] [Aside. Capell.

[151, 152] _its ... Its_] _it's ... It's_ F1 F2. _its ... It's_ F3 F4.

[154] _methoughts_] F4. _me thoughts_ F1 F2 F3. _my thoughts_ Collier

(Egerton MS.), _methought_ Staunton. See note (II).

_recoil_] F4. _requoyle_ F1 F2. _recoyl_ F3. _recall_ Grey conj.

[157] _its_] _it's_ Ff.

[158] _ornaments ... do_] Rowe. _ornaments ... do's_ Ff (_does_ F4).

_ornament ... does_ Capell.

_do_] Rowe. _do's_ F1 F2 F3. _does_ F4.

[161] _eggs_] _ayes_ Becket conj.

[162] _my lord_] om. Hanmer.

[163] _will!_] Rowe. _will:_ Ff.

_be's_] _be his_ Capell.

[170] _childness_] _childishness_ Pope.

[171] _would_] F1. _should_ F2 F3 F4.

_thick_] _think_ F4.

[177] _would_] _will_ Theobald.

[180] [Aside] Aside, observing Her. Rowe (after line 182).

[183] _neb_] _nib_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[185] [Exeunt....] Rowe.

[194] _in's_] _in his_ Capell

[202-206] _and 'tis ... baggage._] Put in the margin as spurious by

Hanmer.

[202, 203] _powerful, think it, From ... south:_] Capell. _powrefull:

thinke it: From ... south,_ Ff.

[203-206] _From east ... baggage._] Omitted by Warburton.

[204] _know't_] _know it_ Capell (corrected in MS.).

[206] _many ... on's_] F1 F2 F3. _many a ... one's_ F4. _many a ...

of's_ Rowe.

[208, 209] _Why ... there?_] S. Walker arranges as one line.

[208] _they_] F2 F3 F4. om. F1.

[209] _What._] _What? is_ Hanmer.

[211] _Mamillius_] _Mamillus_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[Exit M.] Rowe.

[212] SCENE III. Pope.

[213] _his anchor_] _the anchor_ Hanmer.

[215] _petitions; made_] _petitions made;_ Pope.

[217] [Aside] Hanmer.

_whispering, rounding_] _whisp'ring round_ Hanmer.

[218] _is a so-forth_] _is a--so forth_ Rann (Mason conj.). _is--and

so forth_ Malone conj. _is a sea-froth_ Jackson conj.

[224] _is soaking_] _in soaking_ Grey conj.

[230, 231] Leon. _Ha!_ Cam. _Stays here longer._ Leon. _Ay_] Leo. _Ha?

stays here, longer. Ay_ Hanmer. Leo. _Ha?_ Cam. _Bohemia stays here

longer._ Leo. _Ay_ Capell.

[233] _Satisfy!_] _Satisfie?_ Ff. _Satisfie_ Theobald.

[235] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[236] _nearest things to_] Ff. _things nearest_ Pope, _nearest things

to_ S. Walker conj.

_as well_] _with all_ Hanmer. _as well as_ Capell conj.

[241] _my lord!_] Hanmer. (_my Lord._) Ff. _my lord._ Pope. _my

lord--_ Theobald.

[244] _hoxes_] Ff. _hockles_ Hanmer.

[253] _Among_] F1. _Amongst_ F2 F3 F4.

_doings_] F1. _doing_ F2 F3 F4.

[254] _forth. In_] Theobald. _forth in_ Ff.

_my lord,_] Theobald. (_my Lord._) Ff. _my Lord._ Rowe.

[256] _industriously_] _injuriously_ Hanmer.

[261] _non-performance_] Ff. _now-performance_ Heath conj.

[266] _its_] _it's_ Ff.

[267] _Ha'_] Ff. _Have_ Capell.

[272] _think_] _think it_ Theobald. _think 't_ Hanmer. See note (III).

[273] _wilt_] Ff. _wilt,_ Rowe.

[276] _hobby-horse_] Rowe (ed. 2). _holy-horse_ Ff. _hoby-horse_

Capell.

[277] _puts to_] _buts tow_ Jackson conj.

[285] _meeting_] F4 _meating_ F1 F2 F3. _meting_ Thirlby conj.

[290] _noon_] F1. _the noon_ F2 F3 F4. _noon-day_ or _high noon_ Anon.

conj.

_eyes_] _eyes else_ S. Walker conj.

[304] _wife's_] Rowe. _wives_ Ff.

[307] _her medal_] Rowe. _her medull_ F1 F2 F3. _her medul_ F4. _his

medal_ Theobald. _a medal_ Collier MS.

[309] _bare_] Theobald. _bear_ Ff.

[312] _ay_] Capell. _I_ Ff.

[316] _gall'd_] Ff. _galled_ Steevens. _gull'd_ Rann.

_mightst_] F1. _thou mightst_ F2 F3 F4.

[318] _Sir_] _Sure_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[321] _Maliciously like_] _Maliciously, like_ F4. _Maliciously, like

a_ Rowe. _Like a malicious_ Hanmer.

[323] _So ... honourable._] _So sovereignly_ (_being honourable_)

Malone conj.

[323-325] _So ... unsettled_] S. Walker arranges as three lines,

ending _lov'd thee ... think ... unsettled._ End 323 _I have_ Spedding

conj.]

[324] _I have loved thee,--_ Leon. _Make that ... rot!_] _I haue lou'd

thee,_ Leo. _Make that ... rot:_ F1. _I have lov'd thee._ Leo. _Make

that ... rot:_ F2 F3 F4. Leo. _I've lov'd thee.--Make 't ... rot:_

Theobald. _So lov'd._ Leo. _Make that ... rot:_ Hanmer. Leo. _I've

lov'd thee. Mark this question, and go do't_ Heath conj. Leo. _Make

that thy question, and go rot! I have lov'd thee._ Capell (Tyrwhitt

conj.). Leo. _Have I lov'd thee? Make that ... rot._ Long MS.

[326, 327] _vexation; sully The_] _vexation? sully The_ Theobald,

_vexation? Sully the_ Ff.

[329] _thorns ... tails_] _and thorns ... and tails_ Hanmer.

_nettles_] _nettles, pismires_ Anon. conj.

_wasps;_] _wasps? or would I_ Capell.

[332] _to't? ... this?_] _to't ... this?_ Hanmer.

[333] _man_] _any man_ Long MS.

[337] _for sealing_] _forsealing_ Anon. conj.

[341] _blemish to her_] _blemish t' her_ S. Walker conj. reading lines

341, 342 as one line.

[364] Re-enter P.] Enter P. Ff.

SCENE IV. Pope.

[365] _My_] _Me_ F2.

[366] _Hail_] _Hoyle_ F2.

[376] _my lord_] om. Hanmer.

[377] _do not_] _dare not_ Hanmer. om. Long MS.

_Do you ... dare not? ... me:_] _do you ... dare not? ... me,_ Ff.

_You do ... dare not ... me:_ Hanmer. _Do you ... dare not ... me?_

Capell.

[379] _you do_] F1 F2. _do you_ F3 F4.

[384] _with't_] _with it_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[389] _I have_] F1 F4. _I_ F2 F3. _I've_ Pope.

[391] _are certainly a_] Ff. _are, certain,_ Capell.

_thereto_] om. Pope.

[392] _Clerk-like_] Ff. _Clerk-like,_ Capell.

_experienced_] _experienc'd_ F1. _expedienc'd_ F2 F3 F4.

[404] _toward_] _towards_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[405] _to be_] Ff. _it be_ Theobald.

[406] _I will_] _I'll_ Pope.

[410] _utter it_] _utter't_ S. Walker conj.

_me_] _I_ Collier MS.

[412] _I am appointed him_] F1 _I appointed him_ F2 F3 F4. _I am

appointed_ Rowe. _I am appointed, sir_ Hanmer. _I am appointed by him_

Long MS. _I appointed am_ Anon. MS. apud Halliwell.

[416] _To vice_] _To 'ntice_ Heath conj.

[422, 424] _shunn'd ... read_] _fear'd ... read of_ Anon. MS. apud

Halliwell.

[424] _his thought_] _this though_ Theobald. _this thought_ Id. conj.

_over_] _over!_ Jackson conj.

[432] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[433] _'tis_] _it is_ S. Walker conj., reading lines 431-433 as four

lines, ending _body ... sure ... question ... born._

[444] _by_] _by't_ Hanmer.

[445, 446] _mouth, thereon His_] Capell. _mouth; Thereon his_ Ff.

_mouth, His_ Hanmer. _mouth, and thereon His_ S. Walker conj.

[448] _places_] _paces_ Malone conj.

[451] _jealousy_] _jealousy of his_ S. Walker conj.

[458] _and_] _Heav'n_ Hanmer. _God_ Singer conj.

[458, 459] _comfort ... theme_] _consort ... throne_ Jackson conj. See

note (IV).

[459] _queen,_] _queen's;_ Warburton.

_theme_] _theame_ F1 F2. _theam_ F3 F4. _dream_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[465] _hour. Come_] _hour._ Pol. _Come_ Long MS.

ACT II.

SCENE I. _A room in_ LEONTES' _palace_

_Enter_ HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, _and_ Ladies.

_Her._ Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,

'Tis past enduring.

_First Lady._ Come, my gracious lord,

Shall I be your play-fellow?

_Mam._ No, I 'll none of you.

_First Lady._ Why, my sweet lord?

_Mam._ You'll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if 5

I were a baby still. I love you better.

_Sec. Lady._ And why so, my 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 semicircle, 10

Or a half-moon made with a pen.

_Sec. Lady._ Who taught you this?

_Mam._ I learn d it out of women's faces. Pray now

What colour are your eyebrows?

_First Lady._ Blue, my lord.

_Mam._ Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose

That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

_First Lady._ Hark ye; 15

The queen your mother rounds apace: we shall

Present our services to a fine new prince

One of these days; and then you'ld wanton with us,

If we would have you.

_Sec. Lady._ She is spread of late

Into a goodly bulk: good time encounter her! 20

_Her._ What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now

I am for you again: pray you, sit by us,

And tell's a tale.

_Mam._ Merry or sad shall't be?

_Her._ As merry as you will.

_Mam._ A sad tale's best for winter: I have one 25

Of sprites and goblins.

_Her._ Let's have that, good sir.

Come on, sit down: come on, and do your best

To fright me with your sprites; you're powerful at it.

_Mam._ There was a man--

_Her._ Nay, come, sit down; then on.

_Mam._ Dwelt by a churchyard: I will tell it softly; 30

Yond crickets shall not hear it.

_Her._ Come on, then,

And give't me in mine ear.

_Enter_ LEONTES, _with_ ANTIGONUS, Lords, _and_ others.

_Leon._ Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

_First Lord._ Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never

Saw I men scour so on their way: I eyed them 35

Even to their ships.

_Leon._ How blest am I

In my just censure, in my true opinion!

Alack, for lesser knowledge! how accursed

In being so blest! There may be in the cup

A spider steep'd, and one may drink, depart, 40

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 drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides,

With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider. 45

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 50

Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick

For them to play at will. How came the posterns

So easily open?

_First Lord._ By his great authority;

Which often hath no less prevail'd than so

On your command.

_Leon._ I know't too well. 55

Give me the boy: I am glad you did not nurse him:

Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you

Have too much blood in him.

_Her._ What is this? sport?

_Leon._ Bear the boy hence; he shall not come about her;

Away with him! and let her sport herself 60

With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes

Has made thee swell thus.

_Her._ But I'ld 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 65

To say 'she is a goodly lady,' and

The justice of your hearts will thereto add

''Tis pity she's not honest, honourable:'

Praise her but for this her without-door form,

Which on my faith deserves high speech, and straight 70

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 75

Ere you can say 'she's honest:' but be't known,

From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,

She's an adulteress.

_Her._ Should a villain say so,

The most replenish'd villain in the world,

He were as much more villain: you, my lord, 80

Do but mistake.

_Leon._ You have mistook, my lady,

Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing!

Which I 'll not call a creature of thy place,

Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,

Should a like language use to all degrees 85

And mannerly distinguishment leave out

Betwixt the prince and beggar: I have said

She's an adulteress; I have said with whom:

More, she's a traitor and Camillo is

A federary with her; and one that knows, 90

What she should shame to know herself

But with her most vile principal, that she's

A bed-swerver, even as bad as those

That vulgars give bold'st titles; ay, and privy

To this their late escape.

_Her._ No, by my life, 95

Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you,

When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that

You thus have publish'd me! Gentle my lord,

You scarce can right me throughly then to say

You did mistake.

_Leon._ No; if I mistake 100

In those foundations which I build upon,

The centre is not big enough to bear

A school-boy's top. Away with her, to prison!

He who shall speak for her is afar off guilty

But that he speaks.

_Her._ There's some ill planet reigns: 105

I must be patient till the heavens look

With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,

I am not prone to weeping, as our sex

Commonly are; the want of which vain dew

Perchance shall dry your pities: but I have 110

That honourable grief lodged here which burns

Worse than tears drown: beseech you all, my lords,

With thoughts so qualified as your charities

Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so

The king's will be perform'd!

_Leon._ Shall I be heard? 115

_Her._ Who is't that goes with me? Beseech your highness,

My women may be with me; for you see

My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;

There is no cause: when you shall know your mistress

Has deserved prison, then abound in tears 120

As I come out: this action I now go on

Is for my better grace. Adieu, my lord:

I never wish'd to see you sorry; now

I trust I shall. My women, come; you have leave.

_Leon._ Go, do our bidding; hence! 125

[Exit Queen, guarded; with Ladies.

_First Lord._ Beseech your highness, call the queen again.

_Ant._ Be certain what you do, sir, lest your justice

Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer,

Yourself, your queen, your son.

_First Lord._ For her, my lord,

I dare my life lay down and will do't, sir, 130

Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless

I' the eyes of heaven and to you; I mean,

In this which you accuse her.

_Ant._ I fit prove

She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where

I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her; 135

Than when I feel and see her no farther trust her;

For every inch of woman in the world,

Ay, every dram of woman's flesh is false,

If she be.

_Leon._ Hold your peaces.

_First Lord._ Good my lord,--

_Ant._ It is for you we speak, not for ourselves: 140

You are abused and by some putter-on

That will be damn'd for't; would I knew the villain,

I would land-damn him. Be she honour-flaw'd,

I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven;

The second and the third, nine, and some five; 145

If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour,

I'll geld 'em all; fourteen they shall not see,

To bring false generations: they are co-heirs;

And I had rather glib myself than they

Should not produce fair issue.

_Leon._ Cease; no more. 150

You smell this business with a sense as cold

As is a dead man's nose: but I do see't and feel't,

As you feel doing thus; and see withal

The instruments that feel.

_Ant._ I fit be so,

We need no grave to bury honesty: 155

There's not a grain of it the face to sweeten

Of the whole dungy earth.

_Leon._ What! lack I credit?

_First Lord._ I had rather you did lack than I, my lord,

Upon this ground; and more it would content me

To have her honour true than your suspicion, 160

Be blamed for't how you might.

_Leon._ Why, what need we

Commune with you of this, but rather follow

Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative

Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness

Imparts this; which if you, or stupified 165

Or seeming so in skill, cannot or will not

Relish a truth like us, inform yourselves

We need no more of your advice: the matter,

The loss, the gain, the ordering on't, is all

Properly ours.

_Ant._ And I wish, my liege, 170

You had only in your silent judgement tried it,

Without more overture.

_Leon._ How could that be?

Either thou art most ignorant by age,

Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,

Added to their familiarity, 175

Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,

That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation

But only seeing, all other circumstances

Made up to the deed,--doth push on this proceeding:

Yet, for a greater confirmation, 180

For in an act of this importance 'twere

Most piteous to be wild, I have dispatch'd in post

To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,

Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuff'd sufficiency: now from the oracle 185

They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,

Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?

_First Lord._ Well done, my lord.

_Leon._ Though I am satisfied and need no more

Than what I know, yet shall the oracle 190

Give rest to the minds of others, such as he

Whose ignorant credulity will not

Come up to the truth. So have we thought it good

From our free person she should be confined,

Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence 195

Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;

We are to speak in public; for this business

Will raise us all.

_Ant._ [_Aside_] To laughter, as I take it,

If the good truth were known. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE I. A room....] The Palace. Theobald. The Scene continues. Pope.

Enter....] Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, Ladies: LEONTES, ANTIGONUS,

Lords. Ff. (Lord. F2 F3 F4).

[6,7] _love ... lord?_] As one line by S. Walker.

[7] _my lord_] _pray, my lord_ Hanmer _my good lord_ Steevens.

[10] _semicircle_] _cemicircle_ F1

[11] _Or_] _Like_ Hanmer. _taught you this_] Rowe. _taught

this_ F1. _taught this_ F2 F3 F4.

[13] _are_] F1. _be_ F2 F3 F4.

[18] _you'ld_] F3. _you'ld_ F1 F2. _you'l_ F4. _you'll_

Rowe.

[23] _shall't_] _shall it_ Steevens.

[25, 26.] _for winter ... goblins_] As one line in Hanmer.

_I have ... goblins_] Arranged as by Dyce; as one line in Ff.

[26] _good sir_] _sir_ Steevens.

[26, 28.] _sprites_] Capell. _sprights_ Ff.

[31] _Yond_] Ff. _Yon'_ Capell.

[31, 32.] _Come ... ear_] Arranged as in Capell; as one line in Ff.

[32] _give't_] _give it_ Hanmer.

[32] Enter....] Capell. Enter L., A., and Lords. Rowe. om. F1. Enter

L. F2 F3 F4.

[33] SCENE II. Pope.

[34] First Lord] Capell (and throughout the Scene). Lord. Ff.

[36] _Even_] _On even_ Hanmer.] _blest_] _blessed then_ Steevens conj.

[40] _drink, depart_] _drink; depart_ Ff. _drink a part_ Collier MS.

_deep o't_ Staunton conj. _drain if deep_ Jervis conj.

[50] _has_] _hath_ Rowe.

[51] _pinch'd_] _perch'd_ Jackson conj.

[54] _often hath no less prevail'd than so_] _hath prevailed

oftentimes no less Than so_ Hanmer.

[55] _command_] _commandement_ S. Walker conj.

_too well._] _too well, too well._ Anon. conj.

[56] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[61] [Some bear off Mamillius. Capell.

[62] _But I'ld_] F4. _But Il'd_ F1 F2 F3. _I'd but_ Hanmer.

[68] _honest, honourable_] _honest: honourable_ Ff.

_honest-honourable_ S. Walker conj.

[73] _does_] _do's_ Ff. _doth_ Hanmer.

_sear_] _fear_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[76] _be't_] Ff. _be it_ Steevens. _it be_ Id. (1793), corrected in

MS.

[84] _Lest_] _Least_ Ff.

[90.: _federary_] _feodary_ Collier (ed. 2. Malone conj.).

_and one_] one Hanmer. _ay, and one_ S. Walker conj.

[91] _shame_] _be asham'd_ Hanmer.

_herself_] _herself with none_ Anon. conj.

[92] _But ... principal_] omitted by Capell.

_vile_] Pope. _vild_ Ff.

[92, 93] _she's A bed-swerver_] _she Is a bed-swerver_ S. Walker conj.

ending lines 90-93 at _one ... herself ... she._

[93] _bed-swerver_] _bed-swarver_ Ff.

_even_] _e'en_ S. Walker conj.

[94] _That vulgars_] _That vulgar_ Rowe. _The vulgar_ Hanmer.

_bold'st_] _bold_ Steevens (1793).

[99] _then to_] _than to_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[100] _No_] _No, no_ Steevens (1793).

_I mistake_] _I do mistake_ Hanmer.

[103] _her, to_] Ff. _her to_ Pope.

[104] _her is_] _her's_ S. Walker conj.

_afar off_] F4. _a farre-off_ F1 F2. _afar-off_ F3. _far off Pope._

_far of_ Theobald.

[105] _But_] _In_ Hanmer.

[107] _an aspect more favourable_] _aspect of more favour_ Hanmer.

[115] [To the Guard. Capell.

[124] _you have_] _you've_ Pope.

[125] Exit....] Theobald, om. Ff.

[127] _lest_] F3 F4. _least_ F1 F2.

[134] _my stables_] _my stable-stand_ Hanmer. _my stable_ Rann. _me

stables_ Collier (Collier MS.), _my stabler_ or _my stablers_ Edd.

conj.

[136] _Than_] Pope (ed. 2). _Then_ Ff. See note (v).

_farther_] F1. _further_ F2 F3 F4.

[141] _abused and by_] _abus'd and by_ F1. _abus'd by_ F2 F3 F4.

_abused by_ Rowe.

[143] _I would ... him._] _And I would--damn him;--_ Mitford conj.

[143] _land-damn_] _Land-damne_ F1. _land-damm_ Hanmer. _laudanum_

Farmer conj. _lamback_ Collier (ed. 2) (Collier MS.), _half-damn_

Heath conj. _live-damn_ S. Walker conj. _landan_ or _lantam_ or

_rantan_ Halliwell conj. See note (vi).

[145] _nine, and some five_] Theobald. _nine: and some fiue_ F1.

_nine: and sonnes five_ F2 F3. _nine: and sons five_ F4.

[147] _'em_] F3 F4. _em_ F1 F2. _them_ Capell.

[149] _glib_] _lib_ Grey conj. _unsib_ Heath conj.

[152] _but I do_] _I_ Pope.

[153] [Laying hold of his arm. Hanmer. Sinking his brows. Johnson.

Striking his brows. Steevens.

[154] _The ... so_] _The instruments of that you feel._ Ant. _If so_

Heath conj.

_that_] _I_ Hanmer.

[160] _her_] _your_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[162] _of_] F1. _for_ F2 F3 F4.

_but_] _not_ Hanmer.

[167] _a truth_] _as truth_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[169, 170] _on't, is all Properly_] Theobald. _on't, Is all properly_

Ff. _on't, Is properly all_ Pope. _on't are all Properly_ Hanmer.

[177] _lack'd_] _lack'd,_ Staunton.

[182] _I have_] _I haue_ F1. _I've_ Hanmer.

[184] _Cleomenes_] Capell. _Cleomines_ Ff (and throughout).

_Dion_] F1. _Deon_ F2 F3 F4.

[187] _me_] _me on_ Hanmer.

[193] _have we_] F1 F2. _we have_ F3 F4.

[195] _Lest_] F4. _Least_ F1 F2 F3.

[198] [Aside] Hanmer.

SCENE II. _A prison._

_Enter_ PAULINA, _a_ Gentleman, _and_ Attendants.

_Paul._ The keeper of the prison, call to him;

Let him have knowledge who I am.

[_Exit Gent._

Good lady,

No court in Europe is too good for thee;

What dost thou then in prison?

_Re-enter_ Gentleman, _with the_ Gaoler.

Now, good sir,

You know me, do you not?

_Gaol._ For a worthy lady 5

And one who much I honour.

_Paul._ Pray you, then,

Conduct me to the queen.

_Gaol._ I may not, madam:

To the contrary I have express commandment.

_Paul._ Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from 10

The access of gentle visitors! Is't lawful, pray you.

To see her women? any of them? Emilia?

_Gaol._ So please you, madam,

To put apart these your attendants, I

Shall bring Emilia forth.

_Paul._ I pray now, call her. 15

Withdraw yourselves. [_Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants._

_Gaol._ And, madam,

I must be present at your conference.

_Paul._ Well, be't so, prithee. [_Exit Gaoler._

Here's such ado to make no stain a stain

As passes colouring.

_Re-enter_ Gaoler, _with_ EMILIA.

Dear gentlewoman, 20

How fares our gracious lady?

_Emil._ As well as one so great and so forlorn

May hold together: on her frights and griefs,

Which never tender lady hath borne greater,

She is something before her time deliver'd. 25

_Paul._ A boy?

_Emil._ A daughter; and a goodly babe,

Lusty and like to live: the queen receives

Much comfort in't; says 'My poor prisoner,

I am innocent as you.'

_Paul._ I dare be sworn:

These dangerous unsafe lunes i' the king, beshrew them! 30

He must be told on't, and he shall: the office

Becomes a woman best; I'll take't upon me:

If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blister,

And never to my red-look'd anger be

The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia, 35

Commend my best obedience to the queen:

If she dares trust me with her little babe,

I'll show't the king and undertake to be

Her advocate to the loud'st. We do not know

How he may soften at the sight o' the child: 40

The silence often of pure innocence

Persuades when speaking fails.

_Emil._ Most worthy madam,

Your honour and your goodness is so evident,

That your free undertaking cannot miss

A thriving issue: there is no lady living 45

So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship

To visit the next room, I'll presently

Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;

Who but to-day hammer'd of this design,

But durst not tempt a minister of honour, 50

Lest she should be denied.

_Paul._ Tell her, Emilia,

I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from't

As boldness from my bosom, let't not be doubted

I shall do good.

_Emil._ Now be you blest for it!

I'll to the queen: please you, come something nearer. 55

_Gaol._ Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe,

I know not what I shall incur to pass it,

Having no warrant.

_Paul._ You need not fear it, sir:

This child was prisoner to the womb and is

By law and process of great nature thence 60

Freed and enfranchised; not a party to

The anger of the king nor guilty of,

If any be, the trespass of the queen.

_Gaol._ I do believe it.

_Paul._ Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I 65

Will stand betwixt you and danger. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

_Scene ii._] _Scene iii._ Pope.

A prison.] Pope. Outer room of a prison. Capell.

Enter PAULINA....] Hanmer. Enter Paulina, a Gentleman, Gaoler, Emilia.

Ff.

[2] _knowledge_] _the knowledge_ Rowe.

[2, 6] _who_] F1. _whom_ F2 F3 F4.

[Exit Gent.] Rowe (after line 1). om. Ff.

[4] Re-enter....] Rowe (after _do you not?_), om. Ff.

[7-10] Arranged as in Hanmer. _Here's ... from,_ as one line in Ff.

Capell ends the lines _queen ... contrary ... ado, ... from._

[11-13] Hanmer ends the lines _lawful ... them? ... madam._

[13] _So please_] _If it so please_ Hanmer.

[14] _apart_] _a-part_ F1 F2 F3. _a part_ F4.

[15] _pray now_] F1. _pray you now_ F2 F3 F4.

[16] [Exeunt Gent, and Attendants.] Exeunt Gent. &c. Theobald. om. Ff.

[17] _your_] _all your_ Hanmer, ending the lines _be ... well, well

... prithee._

[18] _Well, be't_] _Well; be it_ Rowe. _Well, well; Be it_ Hanmer.

[Exit G.] Exit Kee. Capell. om. Ff.

[19] _Here's_] _Here is_ Capell, reading lines 18-21 as three, ending

_ado ... colouring ... lady?_

[20] Re-enter....] Re-enter Keeper with E. Capell. Enter Emilia. F2 F3

F4. om. F1.

[21] _our_] _one_ F2.

[29] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[30] _unsafe_] _unsane_ Collier (Collier MS.).

_lunes_] _lures_ Becket conj.

_i' the_] _i' th'_ Ff. _o' the_ Steevens.

[31] _On't_] _of it_ Pope.

_he shall_] _shall_ Rowe.

[33] _honey-mouth'd_] _honey-mouth_ Warburton.

[45] _there is_] _there's_ Hanmer.

[49] _hammer'd of_] _hammered of_ Ff. _hammer'd on_ Hanmer.

[51] _Lest_] Rowe. _Least_ Ff.

[53] _let't_] F3 F4. _le't_ F1 F2. _let it_ Steevens.

[59] _This child_] _The child_ Rowe.

[64-66] As two lines in Capell, ending _upon ... danger._

[66] _betwixt_] _'twixt_ Pope.

SCENE III. _A room in_ LEONTES' _palace_.

_Enter_ LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, _and_ Servants.

_Leon._ Nor night nor day no rest: it is but weakness

To bear the matter thus; mere weakness. If

The cause were not in being,--part o' the cause,

She the adulteress; for the harlot king

Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank 5

And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she

I can hook to me: say that she were gone,

Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest

Might come to me again. Who's there?

_First Serv._ My lord?

_Leon._ How does the boy?

_First Serv._ He took good rest to-night; 10

'Tis hoped his sickness is discharged.

_Leon._ To see his nobleness!

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,

He straight declined, droop'd, took it deeply,

Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself, 15

Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,

And downright languish'd. Leave me solely: go,

See how he fares. [_Exit Serv._] Fie, fie! no thought of him:

The very thought of my revenges that way

Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty, 20

And in his parties, his alliance; let him be

Until a time may serve: for present vengeance,

Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes

Laugh at me, make their pastime at my sorrow:

They should not laugh if I could reach them, nor 25

Shall she within my power.

_Enter_ PAULINA, _with a child_.

_First Lord._ You must not enter.

_Paul._ Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me:

Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas,

Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul,

More free than he is jealous.

_Ant._ That's enough. 30

_Sec. Serv._ Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded

None should come at him.

_Paul._ Not so hot, good sir:

I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,

That creep like shadows by him and do sigh

At each his needless heavings, such as you 35

Nourish the cause of his awaking: I

Do come with words as medicinal as true,

Honest as either, to purge him of that humour

That presses him from sleep.

_Leon._ What noise there, ho?

_Paul._ No noise, my lord; but needful conference 40

About some gossips for your highness.

_Leon._ How!

Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus,

I charged thee that she should not come about me:

I knew she would.

_Ant._ I told her so, my lord,

On your displeasure's peril and on mine, 45

She should not visit you.

_Leon._ What, canst not rule her?

_Paul._ From all dishonesty he can: in this,

Unless he take the course that you have done,

Commit me for committing honour, trust it,

He shall not rule me.

_Ant._ La you now, you hear: 50

When she will take the rein I let her run;

But she'll not stumble.

_Paul._ Good my liege, I come;

And, I beseech you, hear me, who professes

Myself your loyal servant, your physician,

Your most obedient counsellor, yet that dares 55

Less appear so in comforting your evils,

Than such as most seem yours: I say, I come

From your good queen.

_Leon._ Good queen!

_Paul._ Good queen, my lord,

Good queen; I say good queen;

And would by combat make her good, so were I 60

A man, the worst about you.

_Leon._ Force her hence.

_Paul._ Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes

First hand me: on mine own accord I'll off;

But first I'll do my errand. The good queen,

For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; 65

Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing.

[_Laying down the child._

_Leon._ Out!

A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' door:

A most intelligencing bawd!

_Paul._ Not so:

I am as ignorant in that as you

In so entitling me, and no less honest 70

Than you are mad; which is enough, I 'll warrant,

As this world goes, to pass for honest.

_Leon._ Traitors!

Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard.

Thou dotard! thou art woman-tired, unroosted

By thy dame Partlet here. Take up the bastard; 75

Take't up, I say; give't to thy crone.

_Paul._ For ever

Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou

Takest up the princess by that forced baseness

Which he has put upon't!

_Leon._ He dreads his wife.

_Paul._ So I would you did; then 'twere past all doubt 80

You'ld call your children yours.

_Leon._ A nest of traitors!

_Ant._ I am none, by this good light.

_Paul._ Nor I; nor any

But one that's here, and that's himself; for he

The sacred honour of himself, his queen's,

His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, 85

Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will not,--

For, as the case now stands, it is a curse

He cannot be compell'd to't,--once remove

The root of his opinion, which is rotten

As ever oak or stone was sound.

_Leon._ A callat 90

Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her husband

And now baits me! This brat is none of mine;

It is the issue of Polixenes:

Hence with it, and together with the dam

Commit them to the fire!

_Paul._ It is yours; 95

And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge,

So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold, my lords,

Although the print be little, the whole matter

And copy of the father, eye, nose, lip;

The trick of's frown; his forehead; nay, the valley, 100

The pretty dimples of his chin and cheek; his smiles;

The very mould and frame of hand, nail, finger:

And thou, good goddess Nature, which hast made it

So like to him that got it, if thou hast

The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours 105

No yellow in't, lest she suspect, as he does,

Her children not her husband's!

_Leon._ A gross hag!

And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd,

That wilt not stay her tongue.

_Ant._ Hang all the husbands

That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself 110

Hardly one subject.

_Leon._ Once more, take her hence.

_Paul._ A most unworthy and unnatural lord

Can do no more.

_Leon._ I'll ha' thee burnt.

_Paul._ I care not:

It is an heretic that makes the fire,

Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant; 115

But this most cruel usage of your queen--

Not able to produce more accusation

Than your own weak-hinged fancy--something savours

Of tyranny and will ignoble make you,

Yea, scandalous to the world.

_Leon._ On your allegiance, 120

Out of the chamber with her! Were I a tyrant,

Where were her life? she durst not call me so,

If she did know me one. Away with her!

_Paul._ I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone.

Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: Jove send her 125

A better guiding spirit! What needs these hands?

You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,

Will never do him good, not one of you.

So, so: farewell; we are gone. [_Exit._

_Leon._ Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this. 130

My child? away with't! Even thou, that hast

A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence

And see it instantly consumed with fire;

Even thou and none but thou. Take it up straight:

Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, 135

And by good testimony, or I'll seize thy life,

With what thou else call'st thine. If thou refuse

And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so;

The bastard brains with these my proper hands

Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire; 140

For thou set'st on thy wife.

_Ant._ I did not, sir:

These lords, my noble fellows, if they please,

Can clear me in't.

_Lords._ We can: my royal liege,

He is not guilty of her coming hither.

_Leon._ You're liars all. 145

_First Lord._ Beseech your highness, give us better credit:

We have always truly served you; and beseech you

So to esteem of us: and on our knees we beg,

As recompense of our dear services

Past and to come, that you do change this purpose, 150

Which being so horrible, so bloody, must

Lead on to some foul issue: we all kneel.

_Leon._ I am a feather for each wind that blows:

Shall I live on to see this bastard kneel

And call me father? better burn it now 155

Than curse it then. But be it; let it live.

It shall not neither. You, sir, come you hither;

You that have been so tenderly officious

With Lady Margery, your midwife there,

To save this bastard's life,--for 'tis a bastard, 160

So sure as this beard's grey,--what will you adventure

To save this brat's life?

_Ant._ Any thing, my lord,

That my ability may undergo,

And nobleness impose: at least thus much:

I'll pawn the little blood which I have left 165

To save the innocent: any thing possible.

_Leon._ It shall be possible. Swear by this sword

Thou wilt perform my bidding.

_Ant._ I will, my lord.

_Leon._ Mark and perform it: seest thou? for the fail

Of any point in't shall not only be 170

Death to thyself but to thy lewd-tongued wife,

Whom for this time we pardon. We enjoin thee,

As thou art liege-man to us, that thou carry

This female bastard hence and that thou bear it

To some remote and desert place quite out 175

Of our dominions, and that there thou leave it,

Without more mercy, to its own protection

And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune

It came to us, I do in justice charge thee,

On thy soul's peril and thy body's torture, 180

That thou commend it strangely to some place

Where chance may nurse or end it. Take it up.

_Ant._ I swear to do this, though a present death

Had been more merciful. Come on, poor babe:

Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens 185

To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say,

Casting their savageness aside have done

Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous

In more than this deed does require! And blessing

Against this cruelty fight on thy side, 190

Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! [_Exit with the child._

_Leon._ No, I'll not rear

Another's issue.

_Enter a_ Servant.

_Serv._ Please your highness, posts

From those you sent to the oracle are come

An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion,

Being well arrived from Delphos, are both landed, 195

Hasting to the court.

_First Lord._ So please you, sir, their speed

Hath been beyond account.

_Leon._ Twenty three days

They have been absent: 'tis good speed; foretells

The great Apollo suddenly will have

The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; 200

Summon a session, that we may arraign

Our most disloyal lady; for, as she hath

Been publicly accused, so shall she have

A just and open trial. While she lives

My heart will be a burthen to me. Leave me, 205

And think upon my bidding. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE III.] SCENE IV. Pope.

A room....] Scene changes to the Palace. Theobald.

Enter ... and Servants] Enter Leontes, Servants, Paulina, Antigonus

and Lords. Ff.

[2] _weakness. If_] Collier. _weaknesse, if_ Ff.

[3] _being,--_] _being:_ Ff.

[5] _arm_] _aim_ Field conj.

[9] First Atten. [advancing] Capell. Ser. Ff. Enrer. F2. Enter. F3 F4.

om. F1.

[10,11] _rest to-night; 'Tis hoped his_] _rest to night: 'tis hop'd

His_ Ff. _rest To-night tis hop'd his_ Hanmer.

[14] _declined_] _declin'd upon't_ Capell.

_deeply_] _most deeply_ Hanmer.

[18] [Exit....] Theobald.

[20] _Recoil_] _Recoyle_ F1 F2. _Recoyl_ F3 F4. _Recoils_ Hanmer.

[21] _And in ... be_] F1. omitted in F2 F3 F4.

_And_] om. Capell.

_alliance;_] _Alliance;_ F1. _alliances,--_ Capell conj.

[21, 22] _let him be Until_] _let him Be 'till_ Hanmer.

[26] SCENE V. Pope.

Enter P. ... child.] Rowe. Enter P. Ff.

First Lord.] Malone. Lord. Ff.

[30] _That's enough._] Marked as aside by Capell.

[31] Sec. Serv.] Ser. Ff. Atten. [within. Theobald. 2 A. Capell.

[37] _medicinal_] _med'cinal_ Capell.

[39] _What_] F2 F3 F4. _Who_ F1.

[49] _trust it_] _trust me_ Hanmer.

[50] _La you_] _La-you_ Ff. _Lo-you_ Pope.

[51] _rein_] Rowe. _raine_ F1 F2. _rain_ F3 F4.

[53] _professes_] _profess_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[57] _seem_] _seems_ Pope (ed. 2).

[58, 59] Paul. _Good ... say good queen_] As one line in Capell.

[59] _I say good queen_] As one line in Ff.

[60] _her_] _it_ Heath conj.

_good, so_] Theobald, _good so,_ Ff. _good,_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[61] _the worst_] _on th' worst_ Hanmer (Warburton).

[66] [Laying....] Rowe. om. Ff.

[73] [To Ant. Rowe.

[74] _thou art_] _that art_ Capell.

_woman-tired_] _woman-tyr'd_ F1 F2 F3. _woman-tir'd_ F4.

[75] _thy dame_] _the dame_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[76] _thy crone_] _thy croane_ F1. _the croane_ F2 F3. _the croan_ F4.

[78] _forced_] _falsed_ Collier conj.

[85] _his babe's_] _this babe's_ Capell.

[90] _sound_] F1. _found_ F2 F3 F4.

[95] _them_] _it_ Capell conj.

[100] _valley_] _valleys_ Hanmer.

[101] _pretty_] om. Hanmer.

_of his chin_] _of's chin_ Dyce.

_his smiles_] omitted by Capell.

[109] _That_] _Thou_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[Aside. Anon. conj.

[113] _ha' thee_] _have thee_ Steevens.

[118] _something_] _sometimes_ Rowe.

[120] _the world_] _all the world_ Pope.

[125] _Jove_] _God_ Anon. conj.

_her_] _him_ Heath conj.

[126] _better guiding_] _better-guiding_ S. Walker conj.

_needs_] F1. _neede_ F2. _need_ F3 F4.

[130] SCENE VI. Pope.

[131] _with't!_] _with't?_ Ff.

_thou,_] _thou, thou_ Theobald.

[137] _what thou else call'st_] _all that's_ Hanmer, ending line 136

at _seize._

[141] _set'st_] _sett'd'st_ Hanmer.

[142] _These lords_] _The Lords_ Hanmer.

[143] Lords.] Ff. Lord. Rowe. 1. L. Capell.

[143, 144] Lords. _We can ... hither_] Lords. _We can._ First Lord.

_My ... hither_ Anon. conj.

[146] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff. Lords. Rowe.

[147] _We have_] _We've_ Pope.

_beseech you_] Rowe. _beseech'_ F1. beseech F2 F3 F4.

[149] _services_] _service_ Hanmer, ending line 148 at _knees._

[152] _we all kneel_] Lords. _We all kneel_ Anon. conj.

[153] _feather_] F1 F2 F3. _father_ F4.

[157] [To Ant. Rowe.

[159] _midwife_] _Mid-wife_ Ff. _mild wife_ Rann (Capell conj.).

[161] _this_] _his_ Theobald conj. _thy_ Collier (Egerton MS.).

[164] _at least_] F1. _at last_ F2 F3 F4.

[166] _any thing possible_] _what's possible_ Hanmer.

[171] _lewd-tongued_] _loud-tongued_ Anon. conj.

[177] _more_] F1. _much_ F2 F3 F4.

_its_] F3 F4. _it_ F1 F2. See note (VII).

[181] _strangely to some_] _to some stranger_ Hanmer.

[182] _chance_] F1 F2. _change_ F3 F4.

[189-191] _require! ... loss!_] _require; and ... side_ (_Poor ...

losse._) Ff. _require; and ... side! Poor ... loss.--_ Theobald.]

[190] _this_] _his_ Roderick conj.

[191] [Exit ... child.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.

_rear_] F3 F4. _reare_ F1. _rare_ F2.

[192] [Enter a Servant.] Ff. Enter a Messenger. Rowe. om. Capell.

Serv.] Ff. Mes. Rowe. 2. A. Capell.

[196] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff.

[197] _account_] F4. _accompt_ F1 F2 F3.

[198] _'tis good speed; foretells_] _this good speed foretels_ Pope.

_foretells_] _and foretells_ or _it foretells_ Keightley conj.

ACT III.

SCENE I. _A sea-port in Sicilia._

_Enter_ CLEOMENES _and_ DION.

_Cleo._ The climate's delicate, the air most sweet,

Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassing

The common praise it bears.

_Dion._ I shall report,

For most it caught me, the celestial habits,

Methinks I so should term them, and the reverence 5

Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice!

How ceremonious, solemn and unearthly

It was i' the offering!

_Cleo._ But of all, the burst

And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle,

Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense, 10

That I was nothing.

_Dion._ If the event o' the journey

Prove as successful to the queen,--O be't so!--

As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy,

The time is worth the use on't.

_Cleo._ Great Apollo

Turn all to the best! These proclamations, 15

So forcing faults upon Hermione,

I little like.

_Dion._ The violent carriage of it

Will clear or end the business: when the oracle,

Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up,

Shall the contents discover, something rare 20

Even then will rush to knowledge. Go: fresh horses!

And gracious be the issue! [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

ACT III. SCENE I.] ACT II. SCENE IV. Theobald conj.

A sea-port....] Edd. A part of Sicily near the seaside. Theobald. The

same. A street in some town. Capell.

Enter C. and D.] Enter C., D., and an Attendant. S. Walker conj.

[2] _isle_] _soil_ Hanmer (Warburton conj.).

[3] _I shall report,_] _It shames report._ Warburton.

[4] _For most_] _Foremost_ Warburton.

_it_] _they_ Hanmer.

[14] _time ... use_] _use ... time_ Hanmer (Warburton).

SCENE II. _A court of Justice._

_Enter_ LEONTES, Lords, _and_ Officers.

_Leon._ This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce,

Even pushes 'gainst our heart: the party tried

The daughter of a king, our wife, and one

Of us too much beloved. Let us be clear'd

Of being tyrannous, since we so openly 5

Proceed in justice, which shall have due course,

Even to the guilt or the purgation.

Produce the prisoner.

_Off._ It is his highness' pleasure that the queen

Appear in person here in court. Silence! 10

_Enter_ HERMIONE _guarded_; PAULINA _and_ Ladies _attending_.

_Leon._ Read the indictment.

_Off._ [_reads_] Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of

Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in

committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia, and conspiring

with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, 15

thy royal husband: the pretence whereof being by circumstances

partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance

of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety,

to fly away by night.

_Her._ Since what I am to say must be but that 20

Which contradicts my accusation and

The testimony on my part no other

But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me

To say 'not guilty:' mine integrity

Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, 25

Be so received. But thus, if powers divine

Behold our human actions, as they do,

I doubt not then but innocence shall make

False accusation blush, and tyranny

Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know, 30

Who least will seem to do so, my past life

Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,

As I am now unhappy; which is more

Than history can pattern, though devised

And play'd to take spectators. For behold me 35

A fellow of the royal bed, which owe

A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter,

The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing

To prate and talk for life and honour 'fore

Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it 40

As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour,

'Tis a derivative from me to mine,

And only that I stand for. I appeal

To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes

Came to your court, how I was in your grace, 45

How merited to be so; since he came,

With what encounter so uncurrent I

Have strain'd, to appear thus: if one jot beyond

The bound of honour, or in act or will

That way inclining, harden'd be the hearts 50

Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin

Cry fie upon my grave!

_Leon._ I ne'er heard yet

That any of these bolder vices wanted

Less impudence to gainsay what they did

Than to perform it first.

_Her._ That's true enough; 55

Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me.

_Leon._ You will not own it.

_Her._ More than mistress of

Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not

At all acknowledge. For Polixenes,

With whom I am accused, I do confess 60

I loved him as in honour he required,

With such a kind of love as might become

A lady like me, with a love even such,

So and no other, as yourself commanded:

Which not to have done I think had been in me 65

Both disobedience and ingratitude

To you and toward your friend; whose love had spoke,

Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely

That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy,

I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd 70

For me to try how: all I know of it

Is that Camillo was an honest man;

And why he left your court, the gods themselves,

Wotting no more than I, are ignorant.

_Leon._ You knew of his departure, as you know 75

What you have underta'en to do in's absence.

_Her._ Sir,

You speak a language that I understand not:

My life stands in the level of your dreams,

Which I'll lay down.

_Leon._ Your actions are my dreams; 80

You had a bastard by Polixenes,

And I but dream'd it. As you were past all shame,--

Those of your fact are so,--so past all truth:

Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as

Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, 85

No father owning it,--which is, indeed,

More criminal in thee than it,--so thou

Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage

Look for no less than death.

_Her._ Sir, spare your threats:

The bug which you would fright me with I seek. 90

To me can life be no commodity:

The crown and comfort of my life, your favour,

I do give lost; for I do feel it gone,

But know not how it went. My second joy

And first-fruits of my body, from his presence 95

I am barr'd, like one infectious. My third comfort,

Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast,

The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth,

Haled out to murder: myself on every post

Proclaimed a strumpet: with immodest hatred 100

The child-bed privilege denied, which 'longs

To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried

Here to this place, i' the open air, before

I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege,

Tell me what blessings I have here alive, 105

That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed.

But yet hear this; mistake me not; no life,

I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour,

Which I would free, if I shall be condemn'd

Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else 110

But what your jealousies awake, I tell you

'Tis rigour and not law. Your honours all,

I do refer me to the oracle:

Apollo be my judge!

_First Lord._ This your request

Is altogether just: therefore bring forth, 115

And in Apollo's name, his oracle.

[_Exeunt certain Officers._

_Her._ The Emperor of Russia was my father:

O that he were alive, and here beholding

His daughter's trial! that he did but see

The flatness of my misery, yet with eyes 120

Of pity, not revenge!

_Re-enter_ Officers, _with_ CLEOMENES _and_ DION.

_Off_. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice,

That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have

Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought

This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd 125

Of great Apollo's priest and that since then

You have not dared to break the holy seal

Nor read the secrets in't.

_Cleo. Dion._ All this we swear.

_Leon._ Break up the seals and read.

_Off._ [_reads_] Hermione is chaste; Polixenes blameless; 130

Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent babe

truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that which

is lost be not found.

_Lords._ Now blessed be the great Apollo!

_Her._ Praised!

_Leon._ Hast thou read truth?

_Off._ Ay, my lord; even so 135

As it is here set down.

_Leon._ There is no truth at all i' the oracle:

The sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood.

_Enter_ Servant.

_Serv._ My lord the king, the king!

_Leon._ What is the business?

_Serv._ O sir, I shall be hated to report it! 140

The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear

Of the queen's speed, is gone.

_Leon._ How! gone!

_Serv._ Is dead.

_Leon._ Apollo's angry; and the heavens themselves

Do strike at my injustice. [_Hermione faints._] How now there!

_Paul._ This news is mortal to the queen: look down 145

And see what death is doing.

_Leon._ Take her hence:

Her heart is but o'ercharged; she will recover:

I have too much believed mine own suspicion:

Beseech you, tenderly apply to her

Some remedies for life.

[_Exeunt Paulina and Ladies, with Hermione._

Apollo, pardon 150

My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle!

I'll reconcile me to Polixenes;

New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo,

Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy;

For, being transported by my jealousies 155

To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose

Camillo for the minister to poison

My friend Polixenes: which had been done,

But that the good mind of Camillo tardied

My swift command, though I with death and with 160

Reward did threaten and encourage him,

Not doing it and being done: he, most humane

And fill'd with honour, to my kingly guest

Unclasp'd my practice, quit his fortunes here,

Which you knew great, and to the hazard 165

Of all incertainties himself commended,

No richer than his honour: how he glisters

Thorough my rust! and how his piety

Does my deeds make the blacker!

_Re-enter_ PAULINA.

_Paul._ Woe the while!

O, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it,

Break too! 170

_First Lord._ What fit is this, good lady?

_Paul._ What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me?

What wheels? racks? fires? what flaying? boiling?

In leads or oils? what old or newer torture

Must I receive, whose every word deserves 175

To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny

Together working with thy jealousies,

Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle

For girls of nine, O, think what they have done

And then run mad indeed, stark mad! for all 180

Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it.

That thou betray'dst Polixenes, 'twas nothing;

That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant

And damnable ingrateful: nor was't much,

Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's honour, 185

To have him kill a king; poor trespasses,

More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon

The casting forth to crows thy baby-daughter

To be or none or little; though a devil

Would have shed water out of fire ere done't: 190

Nor is't directly laid to thee, the death

Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts,

Thoughts high for one so tender, cleft the heart

That could conceive a gross and foolish sire

Blemish'd his gracious dam: this is not, no, 195

Laid to thy answer: but the last,--O lords,

When I have said, cry 'woe!'--the queen, the queen,

The sweet'st, dear'st creature's dead, and vengeance for't

Not dropp'd down yet.

_First Lord._ The higher powers forbid!

_Paul._ I say she's dead, I'll swear't. If word nor oath 200

Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring

Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye,

Heat outwardly or breath within, I'll serve you

As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant!

Do not repent these things, for they are heavier 205

Than all thy woes can stir: therefore betake thee

To nothing but despair. A thousand knees

Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting,

Upon a barren mountain, and still winter

In storm perpetual, could not move the gods 210

To look that way thou wert.

_Leon._ Go on, go on:

Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserved

All tongues to talk their bitterest.

_First Lord._ Say no more:

Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault

I' the boldness of your speech.

_Paul._ I am sorry for't: 215

All faults I make, when I shall come to know them,

I do repent. Alas! I have show'd too much

The rashness of a woman: he is touch'd

To the noble heart. What's gone and what's past help

Should be past grief: do not receive affliction 220

At my petition; I beseech you, rather

Let me be punish'd, that have minded you

Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege,

Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman:

The love I bore your queen, lo, fool again! 225

I'll speak of her no more, nor of your children;

I'll not remember you of my own lord,

Who is lost too: take your patience to you,

And I'll say nothing.

_Leon._ Thou didst speak but well

When most the truth; which I receive much better 230

Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee, bring me

To the dead bodies of my queen and son:

One grave shall be for both; upon them shall

The causes of their death appear, unto

Our shame perpetual. Once a day I'll visit 235

The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there

Shall be my recreation: so long as nature

Will bear up with this exercise, so long

I daily vow to use it. Come and lead me

To these sorrows. [_Exeunt._ 240

LINENOTES:

SCENE II. A court....] Scene represents a Court of Justice. Theobald.]

Enter...] Enter Leontes, Lords, Officers: Hermione (as to her Triall),

Ladies: Cleomines, Dion. Ff.

At the upper End, a Throne; Lords, on either Hand, Judges, and other

Officers, seated; People attending. Enter Leontes, and train of Lords,

to his Throne. Capell.

[1] _sessions_] _session_ Theobald.

_pronounce_] _pronounce it_ Keightley conj.

[2] _Even_] _Ever_ Anon. conj.

[10] _Silence!_] See note (VIII).

Enter...] Hermione is brought in, guarded; Pauline, and Ladies,

attending. Theobald. om. Ff.

[12] Off. [reads]. Capell. Officer. Ff.

[16] _circum stances_] F1. _circumstance_ F2 F3 F4.

[29] _accusation_] F1. _accusations_ F2 F3 F4.

[31] _Who_] Rowe. _Whom_ Ff.

[36] _owe_] _owes_ Steevens (1785).

[39] _prate_] _plead_ Keightley conj.

[41] _grief_] See note (IX).

_which .. spare:_] (_which ... spare_) Ff.

[47, 48] _I Have_] _have I_ Hanmer.

_I Have strain'd_] _have I Been stain'd_ Johnson conj. _I Have

stray'd_ Collier (Mason conj.).

[49] _bound_] _bounds_ Rowe.

[53] _these_] _those_ F4.

[55] _That's_] _That is_ Rowe.

[57] _mistress of_] _I'm mistress of_ Hanmer. _misreport_ or

_misprision_ Anon. conj. A line omitted. Anon. conj.

[58] _Which_] _What_ Rowe. _That_ Seymour conj.

[67] _toward_] F1 F2. _towards_ F3 F4.

_friend_] F1. _friends_ F2 F3 F4.

[68] _Even_] _Ever_ Long MS.

[75, 76] _know What you_] _know what You_ S. Walker conj., reading

lines 75-77 as two lines, ending _know what ... Sir._

[83] _fact_] _pack_ Johnson conj. _sect_ Farmer conj. _pact_ Anon.

conj.

_fact are so,--so past_] _fact are]_ _so you're past_] Hanmer.

[84] _Which to deny_] _To deny_ Capell.

[84, 85] _for as ... itself_] As two lines in Steevens (1793), ending

_as ... itself._

[85] _brat hath been_] _brat's_ Hanmer, reading _for as ... itself_ as

one line.

_like_] _left_ Keightley conj.

[90] _me_] _we_ Capell (corrected in MS.).

[95] _And_] _The_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[96] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[98] _it_] Ff. _its_ Rowe. See note (VII).

[100] _strumpet: ... hatred_] _strumpet ... hatred;_ Hanmer.

[104] _limit_] F1 F2. _limbs_ F3 F4. _limbs. And_ Hanmer. _limb. And_

Johnson conj.

[107] _no life,_] _no! life,_ Hanmer. _my life,_ Grant White. _for

life,_ Keightley conj.

[114] SCENE III. Pope.

[116] [Exeunt....] Capell. om. Ff.

[121] Re-enter....] Re-enter Officers, with C. and D., bringing in the

Oracle. Capell. Enter Dion and Cleomenes. F2 F3 F4 (at line 114). om.

F1.

[122] _this_] F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.

[130] [reads] Capell.

_chaste_] _cast_ F2.

[135, 136] _Ay ... down_] Arranged as in Capell; as one line in Ff.

[136] _it is_] om. Hanmer.

[137] _truth_] _the truth_ Hanmer. _true_ Jervis conj.

[138] _sessions_] _session_ Theobald.

Enter Servant.] Rowe. om. Ff. Enter a Gentleman, hastily. Capell.

[144] H. faints.] Rowe.

_How now there!_] _How now there?_ Ff. _How now? there!_Johnson.

[148] SCENE IV. Pope.

[150] [Exeunt....] Malone. Exeunt.... Rowe (after line 148). om. Ff.

[165] _great_] _to be great_ Anon. conj.

_hazard_] F1. _certain hazard_ F2 F3 F4. _fearful hazard_ Rann conj.

_doubtful hazard_ Malone conj. _hazarding_ Anon. conj.

[168] _Thorough my_] Malone. _Through my_ F1. _Through my dark_ F2 F3

F4.

[169] SCENE V. Pope.

Re-enter P.] Re-enter P., hastily. Capell. Enter P. Rowe. om. Ff.

[170] _lest_] F3 F4. _least_ F1 F2.

[171, 193, 213] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff.

[173] _racks? fires?_] _what racks? what fires?_ Keightley conj.

_flaying? boiling?_] F1. _flaying?_] _boyling? burning,_ F2 F3 F4.

_flaying, rather! boiling_ Capell. _flaying, burning, boiling_ Collier

MS.

[174] _leads or oils_] _lead or oil_ S. Walker conj.

_newer_] F1. _new_ F2 F3 F4.

[175] _every_] F1. _very_ F2 F3 F4.

[181] _but_] om. Theobald.

_of_] F1. _for_ F2 F3 F4.

[183] _thee, of a fool,_] Ff. _thee of a soul_ Theobald. _thee off, a

fool,_ Warburton.

[184] _damnable_] _damnably_ Long MS.

_ingrateful_] _ungrateful_ Rann.

[188] _to crows_] _of crows_ F4.

_thy_] F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.

[198] _sweet'st, dear'st_] _sweetest_ Hanmer.

[205] _Do_] F1. _Dot_ F2. _Dost_ F3 F4.

[205, 206] _Do ... stir:_] _Dost ... stir?_ Pope.

[206] _woes_] _vows_ Hanmer.

[217] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[220] _receive_] _revive_ Staunton conj.

[221] _my petition_] _my relation_ Singer conj. _repetition_ Collier

(Collier MS.).

_petition; ... you,_] F1. _petition ... you,_ F2 F3 F4. _petition,...

you;_ Rowe.

[228] _Who is_] _Who's_ S. Walker conj.

_take your_] _take you your_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[228, 229] _to you, And I'll_] _to you, and I will_ S. Walker conj.

_to you, sir, And I'll_ Keightley conj.

[238-240] _Will ... sorrows_] Johnson ends these lines at _exercise

... come, ... sorrows._

[240] _To_] _Unto_ S. Walker conj.

_sorrows_] _my sorrows_ Hanmer.

SCENE III. _Bohemia. A desert country near the sea._

_Enter_ ANTIGONUS _with a Child, and a_ Mariner.

_Ant._ Thou art perfect, then, our ship hath touch'd upon

The deserts of Bohemia?

_Mar._ Ay, my lord; and fear

We have landed in ill time: the skies look grimly

And threaten present blusters. In my conscience,

The heavens with that we have in hand are angry 5

And frown upon's.

_Ant._ Their sacred wills be done! Go, get aboard;

Look to thy bark: I'll not be long before

I call upon thee.

_Mar._ Make your best haste, and go not 10

Too far i' the land: 'tis like to be loud weather;

Besides, this place is famous for the creatures

Of prey that keep upon't.

_Ant._ Go thou away:

I'll follow instantly.

_Mar._ I am glad at heart

To be so rid o' the business. [_Exit._

_Ant._ Come, poor babe: 15

I have heard, but not believed, the spirits o' the dead

May walk again: if such thing be, thy mother

Appear'd to me last night, for ne'er was dream

So like a waking. To me comes a creature,

Sometimes her head on one side, some another; 20

I never saw a vessel of like sorrow,

So fill'd and so becoming: in pure white robes,

Like very sanctity, she did approach

My cabin where I lay; thrice bow'd before me,

And gasping to begin some speech, her eyes 25

Became two spouts: the fury spent, anon

Did this break from her: 'Good Antigonus,

Since fate, against thy better disposition,

Hath made thy person for the thrower-out

Of my poor babe, according to thine oath, 30

Places remote enough are in Bohemia,

There weep and leave it crying; and, for the babe

Is counted lost for ever, Perdita,

I prithee, call't. For this ungentle business,

Put on thee by my lord, thou ne'er shalt see 35

Thy wife Paulina more.' And so, with shrieks,

She melted into air. Affrighted much,

I did in time collect myself, and thought

This was so and no slumber. Dreams are toys:

Yet for this once, yea, superstitiously, 40

I will be squared by this. I do believe

Hermione hath suffer'd death; and that

Apollo would, this being indeed the issue

Of King Polixenes, it should here be laid,

Either for life or death, upon the earth 45

Of its right father. Blossom, speed thee well!

There lie, and there thy character: there these;

Which may, if fortune please, both breed thee, pretty,

And still rest thine. The storm begins: poor wretch,

That for thy mother's fault art thus exposed 50

To loss and what may follow! Weep I cannot,

But my heart bleeds; and most accursed am I

To be by oath enjoin'd to this. Farewell!

The day frowns more and more: thou'rt like to have

A lullaby too rough: I never saw 55

The heavens so dim by day. A savage clamour!

Well may I get aboard! This is the chase:

I am gone for ever. [_Exit, pursued by a bear._

_Enter a_ Shepherd.

_Shep._ I would there were no age between ten and three-and-twenty,

or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there 60

is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child,

wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting--Hark you now!

Would any but these boiled brains of nineteen and two-and-twenty

hunt this weather? They have scared away

two of my best sheep, which I fear the wolf will sooner find 65

than the master: if any where I have them, 'tis by the sea-side,

browzing of ivy. Good luck, an't be thy will! what

have we here? Mercy on's, a barne; a very pretty barne!

A boy or a child, I wonder? A pretty one; a very pretty

one: sure, some scape: though I am not bookish, yet I 70

can read waiting-gentlewoman in the scape. This has

been some stair-work, some trunk-work, some behind-door-work:

they were warmer that got this than the poor thing

is here. I'll take it up for pity: yet I'll tarry till my son

come; he hallooed but even now. Whoa, ho, hoa! 75

_Enter_ Clown.

_Clo._ Hilloa, loa!

_Shep._ What, art so near? If thou'lt see a thing to

talk on when thou art dead and rotten, come hither. What

ailest thou, man?

_Clo._ I have seen two such sights, by sea and by land! 80

but I am not to say it is a sea, for it is now the sky: betwixt

the firmament and it you cannot thrust a bodkin's point.

_Shep._ Why, boy, how is it?

_Clo._ I would you did but see how it chafes, how it rages,

how it takes up the shore! but that's not to the point. O, 85

the most piteous cry of the poor souls! sometimes to see 'em,

and not to see 'em; now the ship boring the moon with her

main-mast, and anon swallowed with yest and froth, as

you'ld thrust a cork into a hogshead. And then for the

land-service, to see how the bear tore out his shoulder-bone; 90

how he cried to me for help and said his name was Antigonus,

a nobleman. But to make an end of the ship, to see how

the sea flap-dragoned it: but, first, how the poor souls

roared, and the sea mocked them; and how the poor gentleman

roared and the bear mocked him, both roaring louder 95

than the sea or weather.

_Shep._ Name of mercy, when was this, boy?

_Clo._ Now, now: I have not winked since I saw these

sights: the men are not yet cold under water, nor the bear

half dined on the gentleman: he's at it now. 100

_Shep._ Would I had been by, to have helped the old man!

_Clo._ I would you had been by the ship side, to have

helped her: there your charity would have lacked footing.

_Shep._ Heavy matters! heavy matters! but look thee here,

boy. Now bless thyself: thou mettest with things dying, I 105

with things new-born. Here's a sight for thee; look thee,

a bearing-cloth for a squire's child! look thee here; take up,

take up, boy; open't. So, let's see: it was told me I should

be rich by the fairies. This is some changeling: open't.

What's within, boy? 110

_Clo._ You're a made old man: if the sins of your youth

are forgiven you, you're well to live. Gold! all gold!

_Shep._ This is fairy gold, boy, and 'twill prove so: up

with't, keep it close: home, home, the next way. We are

lucky, boy; and to be so still requires nothing but secrecy. 115

Let my sheep go: come, good boy, the next way home.

_Clo._ Go you the next way with your findings. I'll go

see if the bear be gone from the gentleman and how much

he hath eaten: they are never curst but when they are

hungry: if there be any of him left, I'll bury it. 120

_Shep._ That's a good deed. If thou mayest discern by that

which is left of him what he is, fetch me to the sight of him.

_Clo._ Marry, will I; and you shall help to put him i'the

ground.

_Shep._'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't. 125

[_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE III.] SCENE VI. Pope.

Bohemia. A desert.... ] Malone. om. Ff. A desert Country; the Sea at a

little distance. Rowe.

[Enter A.... ] Rowe. Enter Antigonus, a Mariner, Babe,

Shepherd, and Clown. Ff.

[2] _my lord_] om. Hanmer.

[3] _We have_] _We've_ Pope.

[6] _upon's_] _upon us_ Capell.

_Go, get_] _go get_ F1. _get_ F2 F3 F4. _get thee_ Rowe.

[9] _upon_] _on_ Hanmer.

[14] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[19] _a waking_] _awaking_ Anon. conj.

[20] _on_] F1. _is on_ F2 F3 F4.

_some_] _some'_ Capell.

_another_] _on other_ Anon. conj.

[22] _becoming_] _becomming_ F1. _o'er-running_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[29] _thrower-out_] _thower-out_ F1.

[32] _weep_] _wend_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[39] _so_] _sooth_ Warburton conj.

[44] _Polixenes_] _Polexenus_ F2.

[46] _its_] _it's_ Ff.

[Laying down the child. Rowe.

[47] [Laying down a bundle. Johnson.

[48] _please ... pretty_] _please, both breed thee (pretty)_ Ff.

_please, both breed thee pretty,_ Reed (1813). _please both breed

thee, (pretty!)_ Staunton.

_pretty_] _pretty one_ Rowe.

[54] _thou'rt_] _thou art_ F4.

[58] Enter....] Ff. Enter an old Shepherd. Rowe. Enter a Shepherd.

Crooke. Collier MS.

[59] SCENE VII. Pope.

_ten_] _thirteen_ Hanmer. _sixteen_ Edd. conj. See note (X).

[64] _scared_] _scarr'd_ Ff.

[67] _an't_] Pope (ed. 2). _and't_ Ff.

_thy will_] F1. _the will_ F2 F3 F4.

[68] _here?_] _here?_ [taking up the child. Rowe.

[69] _boy_] _god_ Grant White.

_child_] _maid child_ Keightley conj.

[75] _hallooed_] _hallow'd_ F1 F2 F3. hollow'd F4.

[76] Enter Clown.] Ff. Dyce puts it after _hither_, line 78.

Clo.] Clo. [within. Dyce. Clo. [without. Staunton.

[85] _takes_] _rakes_ Hanmer.

[87] _and not_] _and then not_ Capell.

[89] _for_] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

[89, 90] _for the land-service_] _the land-service Rowe_ (ed. 2). _the

land-sight_ Hanmer.

[100] _gentleman_] _old gentleman_ Malone conj.

[101] _the old man_] _the nobleman_ Theobald. _tho' old man_ Jackson

conj.

[102] _would_] _would not_ Theobald conj.

_ship_] _ship's_ Collier.

[103] [Aside. Theobald.

[105] _mettest_] _met'st_ F1 F2 F3. _meet'st_ F4.

[111] _made_] Theobald (L. H. conj.). _mad_ Ff.

[112] _you're_] _you are_ F4.

[113] _'twill_] _will_ Theobald.

[114] _with't_] _with it_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[122] _sight_] _fight_ F1. See note (XI).

ACT IV. SCENE I.

_Enter_ TIME, _the_ Chorus.

_Time._ I, that please some, try all, both joy and terror

Of good and bad, that makes and unfolds error,

Now take upon me, in the name of Time,

To use my wings. Impute it not a crime

To me or my swift passage, that I slide 5

O'er sixteen years and leave the growth untried

Of that wide gap, since it is in my power

To o'erthrow law and in one self-born hour

To plant and o'erwhelm custom. Let me pass

The same I am, ere ancient'st order was 10

Or what is now received: I witness to

The times that brought them in; so shall I do

To the freshest things now reigning and make stale

The glistering of this present, as my tale

Now seems to it. Your patience this allowing, 15

I turn my glass and give my scene such growing

As you had slept between: Leontes leaving,

The effects of his fond jealousies so grieving

That he shuts up himself, imagine me,

Gentle spectators, that I now may be 20

In fair Bohemia; and remember well,

I mentioned a son o' the king's, which Florizel

I now name to you; and with speed so pace

To speak of Perdita, now grown in grace

Equal with wondering: what of her ensues 25

I list not prophesy; but let Time's news

Be known when 'tis brought forth. A shepherd's daughter,

And what to her adheres, which follows after,

Is the argument of Time. Of this allow,

If ever you have spent time worse ere now; 30

If never, yet that Time himself doth say

He wishes earnestly you never may. [_Exit._

LINENOTES:

ACT IV. SCENE I] Actus Quartus, Scena Prima. Ff. om. Warburton. ACT

IV. Capell. See note (XII).

[1-32] Spurious. Heath conj.

[2] _makes and unfolds_] Ff. _make and unfold_ Rowe. _mask and unfold_

Theobald.

[6] _growth_] _gulf_ Warburton.

[7-9] _gap, since ... custom. Let_] _gap. Since ... custom, let_ Lloyd

conj.

[11] _witness_] _witness'd_ Capell.

[17, 18, 19] _leaving, ... jealousies ... himself, imagine_]

_leaving,--jealousies ... himself;--imagine_ Staunton. _leaving ...

jealousies, ... himself. Imagine_ F1. _leaving ... jealousies, ...

himself, imagine_ F2 F3 F4.

[18] _The_] _To the_ Keightley conj.

[19, 20] _imagine me, ... that I_] _imagine we ... that you_ Johnson

conj.

[22] _I mentioned_] F1. _I mention here_ F2 F3 F4. _There is_ Hanmer.

_I mention'd_ Capell.

_which_] _whom_ Pope.

SCENE II. _Bohemia._ _The palace of_ POLIXENES.

_Enter_ POLIXENES _and_ CAMILLO.

_Pol._ I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate:

'tis a sickness denying thee any thing; a death to grant this.

_Cam._ It is fifteen years since I saw my country:

though I have for the most part been aired abroad, I desire

to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent king, my 5

master, hath sent for me; to whose feeling sorrows I might

be some allay, or I o'erween to think so, which is another

spur to my departure.

_Pol._ As thou lovest me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest

of thy services by leaving me now: the need I have of thee, 10

thine own goodness hath made; better not to have had thee

than thus to want thee: thou, having made me businesses,

which none without thee can sufficiently manage, must

either stay to execute them thyself, or take away with thee

the very services thou hast done; which if I have not enough 15

considered, as too much I cannot, to be more thankful to

thee shall be my study; and my profit therein, the heaping

friendships. Of that fatal country, Sicilia, prithee speak no

more; whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance

of that penitent, as thou callest him, and reconciled 20

king, my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and

children are even now to be afresh lamented. Say to me,

when sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Kings are

no less unhappy, their issue not being gracious, than they

are in losing them when they have approved their virtues. 25

_Cam._ Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince. What

his happier affairs may be, are to me unknown: but I have

missingly noted, he is of late much retired from court and

is less frequent to his princely exercises than formerly he

hath appeared. 30

_Pol._ I have considered so much, Camillo, and with some

care; so far, that I have eyes under my service which look

upon his removedness; from whom I have this intelligence,

that he is seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd;

a man, they say, that from very nothing, and beyond 35

the imagination of his neighbours, is grown into an unspeakable

estate.

_Cam._ I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a

daughter of most rare note: the report of her is extended

more than can be thought to begin from such a cottage. 40