The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare - HTML preview

The Winters Tale

Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.

Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

Arch. If you shall chance (Camillo) to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my seruices are now on-foot, you shall see (as I haue said) great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia

Cam. I thinke, this comming Summer, the King of Sicilia meanes to pay Bohemia the Visitation, which hee iustly owes him

Arch. Wherein our Entertainment shall shame vs: we will be iustified in our Loues: for indeed- Cam. 'Beseech you- Arch. Verely I speake it in the freedome of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence- in so rare- I know not what to say- Wee will giue you sleepie Drinkes, that your Sences (vn-intelligent of our insufficience) may, though they cannot prayse vs, as little accuse vs

Cam. You pay a great deale to deare, for what's giuen
 freely
 

Arch. 'Beleeue me, I speake as my vnderstanding instructs
 me, and as mine honestie puts it to vtterance
 

Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himselfe ouer-kind to Bohemia: They were trayn'd together in their Childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot chuse but braunch now. Since their more mature Dignities, and Royall Necessities, made seperation of their Societie, their Encounters (though not Personall) hath been Royally attornyed with enter-change of Gifts, Letters, louing Embassies, that they haue seem'd to be together, though absent: shooke hands, as ouer a Vast; and embrac'd as it were from the ends of opposed Winds. The Heauens continue their Loues

Arch. I thinke there is not in the World, either Malice or Matter, to alter it. You haue an vnspeakable comfort of your young Prince Mamillius: it is a Gentleman of the greatest Promise, that euer came into my Note

Cam. I very well agree with you, in the hopes of him: it is a gallant Child; one, that (indeed) Physicks the Subiect, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on Crutches ere he was borne, desire yet their life, to see him a Man

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

Arch. If the King had no Sonne, they would desire to
 liue on Crutches till he had one.
 

Exeunt.

Scoena Secunda.

Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, Camillo.

Pol. Nine Changes of the Watry-Starre hath been
 The Shepheards Note, since we haue left our Throne
 Without a Burthen: Time as long againe
 Would be fill'd vp (my Brother) with our Thanks,
 And yet we should, for perpetuitie,
 Goe hence in debt: And therefore, like a Cypher
 (Yet standing in rich place) I multiply
 With one we thanke you, many thousands moe,
 That goe before it
 

Leo. Stay your Thanks a while,
 And pay them when you part
 

Pol. Sir, that's to morrow:
 I am question'd by my feares, of what may chance,
 Or breed vpon our absence, that may blow
 No sneaping Winds at home, to make vs say,
 This is put forth too truly: besides, I haue stay'd
 To tyre your Royaltie
 

Leo. We are tougher (Brother)
 Then you can put vs to't
 

Pol. No longer stay

Leo. One Seue' night longer

Pol. Very sooth, to morrow

Leo. Wee'le part the time betweene's then: and in that
 Ile no gaine-saying
 

Pol. Presse me not ('beseech you) so:
 There is no Tongue that moues; none, none i'th' World
 So soone as yours, could win me: so it should now,
 Were there necessitie in your request, although
 'Twere needfull I deny'd it. My Affaires
 Doe euen drag me home-ward: which to hinder,
 Were (in your Loue) a Whip to me; my stay,
 To you a Charge, and Trouble: to saue both,
 Farewell (our Brother.)
   Leo. Tongue-ty'd our Queene? speake you
 

Her. I had thought (Sir) to haue held my peace, vntill
 You had drawne Oathes from him, not to stay: you (Sir)
 Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure
 All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction,
 The by-gone-day proclaym'd, say this to him,
 He's beat from his best ward
 

Leo. Well said, Hermione

Her. To tell, he longs to see his Sonne, were strong:
 But let him say so then, and let him goe;
 But let him sweare so, and he shall not stay,
 Wee'l thwack him hence with Distaffes.
 Yet of your Royall presence, Ile aduenture
 The borrow of a Weeke. When at Bohemia
 You take my Lord, Ile giue him my Commission,
 To let him there a Moneth, behind the Gest
 Prefix'd for's parting: yet (good-deed) Leontes,
 I loue thee not a Iarre o'th' Clock, behind
 What Lady she her Lord. You'le stay?
   Pol. No, Madame
 

Her. Nay, but you will?
   Pol. I may not verely
 

Her. Verely?
 You put me off with limber Vowes: but I,
 Though you would seek t' vnsphere the Stars with Oaths,
 Should yet say, Sir, no going: Verely
 You shall not goe; a Ladyes Verely 'is
 As potent as a Lords. Will you goe yet?
 Force me to keepe you as a Prisoner,
 Not like a Guest: so you shall pay your Fees
 When you depart, and saue your Thanks. How say you?
 My Prisoner? or my Guest? by your dread Verely,
 One of them you shall be
 

Pol. Your Guest then, Madame:
 To be your Prisoner, should import offending;
 Which is for me, lesse easie to commit,
 Then you to punish
 

Her. Not your Gaoler then,
 But your kind Hostesse. Come, Ile question you
 Of my Lords Tricks, and yours, when you were Boyes:
 You were pretty Lordings then?
   Pol. We were (faire Queene)
 Two Lads, that thought there was no more behind,
 But such a day to morrow, as to day,
 And to be Boy eternall
 

Her. Was not my Lord
 The veryer Wag o'th' two?
   Pol. We were as twyn'd Lambs, that did frisk i'th' Sun,
 And bleat the one at th' other: what we chang'd,
 Was Innocence, for Innocence: we knew not
 The Doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd
 That any did: Had we pursu'd that life,
 And our weake Spirits ne're been higher rear'd
 With stronger blood, we should haue answer'd Heauen
 Boldly, not guilty; the Imposition clear'd,
 Hereditarie ours
 

Her. By this we gather
 You haue tript since
 

Pol. O my most sacred Lady,
 Temptations haue since then been borne to's: for
 In those vnfledg'd dayes, was my Wife a Girle;
 Your precious selfe had then not cross'd the eyes
 Of my young Play-fellow
 

Her. Grace to boot:
 Of this make no conclusion, least you say
 Your Queene and I are Deuils: yet goe on,
 Th' offences we haue made you doe, wee'le answere,
 If you first sinn'd with vs: and that with vs
 You did continue fault; and that you slipt not
 With any, but with vs
 

Leo. Is he woon yet?
   Her. Hee'le stay (my Lord.)
   Leo. At my request, he would not:
 Hermione (my dearest) thou neuer spoak'st
 To better purpose
 

Her. Neuer?
   Leo. Neuer, but once
 

Her. What? haue I twice said well? when was't before?
 I prethee tell me: cram's with prayse, and make's
 As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tonguelesse,
 Slaughters a thousand, wayting vpon that.
 Our prayses are our Wages. You may ride's
 With one soft Kisse a thousand Furlongs, ere
 With Spur we heat an Acre. But to th' Goale:
 My last good deed, was to entreat his stay.
 What was my first? it ha's an elder Sister,
 Or I mistake you: O, would her Name were Grace.
 But once before I spoke to th' purpose? when?
 Nay, let me haue't: I long
 

Leo. Why, that was when
 Three crabbed Moneths had sowr'd themselues to death,
 Ere I could make thee open thy white Hand:
 A clap thy selfe, my Loue; then didst thou vtter,
 I am yours for euer
 

Her. 'Tis Grace indeed.
 Why lo-you now; I haue spoke to th' purpose twice:
 The one, for euer earn'd a Royall Husband;
 Th' other, for some while a Friend
 

Leo. Too hot, too hot:
 To mingle friendship farre, is mingling bloods.
 I haue Tremor Cordis on me: my heart daunces,
 But not for ioy; not ioy. This Entertainment
 May a free face put on: deriue a Libertie
 From Heartinesse, from Bountie, fertile Bosome,
 And well become the Agent: 't may; I graunt:
 But to be padling Palmes, and pinching Fingers,
 As now they are, and making practis'd Smiles
 As in a Looking-Glasse; and then to sigh, as 'twere
 The Mort o'th' Deere: oh, that is entertainment
 My Bosome likes not, nor my Browes. Mamillius,
 Art thou my Boy?
   Mam. I, my good Lord
 

Leo. I'fecks:
 Why that's my Bawcock: what? has't smutch'd thy Nose?
 They say it is a Coppy out of mine. Come Captaine,
 We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, Captaine:
 And yet the Steere, the Heycfer, and the Calfe,
 Are all call'd Neat. Still Virginalling
 Vpon his Palme? How now (you wanton Calfe)
 Art thou my Calfe?
   Mam. Yes, if you will (my Lord.)
   Leo. Thou want'st a rough pash, & the shoots that I haue
 To be full, like me: yet they say we are
 Almost as like as Egges; Women say so,
 (That will say any thing.) But were they false
 As o're-dy'd Blacks, as Wind, as Waters; false
 As Dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
 No borne 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true,
 To say this Boy were like me. Come (Sir Page)
 Looke on me with your Welkin eye: sweet Villaine,
 Most dear'st, my Collop: Can thy Dam, may't be
 Affection? thy Intention stabs the Center.
 Thou do'st make possible things not so held,
 Communicat'st with Dreames (how can this be?)
 With what's vnreall: thou coactiue art,
 And fellow'st nothing. Then 'tis very credent,
 Thou may'st co-ioyne with something, and thou do'st,
 (And that beyond Commission) and I find it,
 (And that to the infection of my Braines,
 And hardning of my Browes.)
   Pol. What meanes Sicilia?
   Her. He something seemes vnsetled
 

Pol. How? my Lord?
   Leo. What cheere? how is't with you, best Brother?
   Her. You look as if you held a Brow of much distraction:
 Are you mou'd (my Lord?)
   Leo. No, in good earnest.
 How sometimes Nature will betray it's folly?
 It's tendernesse? and make it selfe a Pastime
 To harder bosomes? Looking on the Lynes
 Of my Boyes face, me thoughts I did requoyle
 Twentie three yeeres, and saw my selfe vn-breech'd,
 In my greene Veluet Coat; my Dagger muzzel'd,
 Least it should bite it's Master, and so proue
 (As Ornaments oft do's) too dangerous:
 How like (me thought) I then was to this Kernell,
 This Squash, this Gentleman. Mine honest Friend,
 Will you take Egges for Money?
   Mam. No (my Lord) Ile fight
 

Leo. You will: why happy man be's dole. My Brother
 Are you so fond of your young Prince, as we
 Doe seeme to be of ours?
   Pol. If at home (Sir)
 He's all my Exercise, my Mirth, my Matter;
 Now my sworne Friend, and then mine Enemy;
 My Parasite, my Souldier: States-man; all:
 He makes a Iulyes day, short as December,
 And with his varying childnesse, cures in me
 Thoughts, that would thick my blood
 

Leo. So stands this Squire
 Offic'd with me: We two will walke (my Lord)
 And leaue you to your grauer steps. Hermione,
 How thou lou'st vs, shew in our Brothers welcome;
 Let what is deare in Sicily, be cheape:
 Next to thy selfe, and my young Rouer, he's
 Apparant to my heart
 

Her. If you would seeke vs,
 We are yours i'th' Garden: shall's attend you there?
   Leo. To your owne bents dispose you: you'le be found,
 Be you beneath the Sky: I am angling now,
 (Though you perceiue me not how I giue Lyne)
 Goe too, goe too.
 How she holds vp the Neb? the Byll to him?
 And armes her with the boldnesse of a Wife
 To her allowing Husband. Gone already,
 Ynch-thick, knee-deepe; ore head and eares a fork'd one.
 Goe play (Boy) play: thy Mother playes, and I
 Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue
 Will hisse me to my Graue: Contempt and Clamor
 Will be my Knell. Goe play (Boy) play, there haue been
 (Or I am much deceiu'd) Cuckolds ere now,
 And many a man there is (euen at this present,
 Now, while I speake this) holds his Wife by th' Arme,
 That little thinkes she ha's been sluyc'd in's absence,
 And his Pond fish'd by his next Neighbor (by
 Sir Smile, his Neighbor:) nay, there's comfort in't,
 Whiles other men haue Gates, and those Gates open'd
 (As mine) against their will. Should all despaire
 That haue reuolted Wiues, the tenth of Mankind
 Would hang themselues. Physick for't, there's none:
 It is a bawdy Planet, that will strike
 Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powrefull: thinke it:
 From East, West, North, and South, be it concluded,
 No Barricado for a Belly. Know't,
 It will let in and out the Enemy,
 With bag and baggage: many thousand on's
 Haue the Disease, and feele't not. How now Boy?
   Mam. I am like you say
 

Leo. Why, that's some comfort.
 What? Camillo there?
   Cam. I, my good Lord
 

Leo. Goe play (Mamillius) thou'rt an honest man:
 Camillo, this great Sir will yet stay longer
 

Cam. You had much adoe to make his Anchor hold,
 When you cast out, it still came home
 

Leo. Didst note it?
   Cam. He would not stay at your Petitions, made
 His Businesse more materiall
 

Leo. Didst perceiue it?
 They're here with me already; whisp'ring, rounding:
 Sicilia is a so-forth: 'tis farre gone,
 When I shall gust it last. How cam't (Camillo)
 That he did stay?
   Cam. At the good Queenes entreatie
 

Leo. At the Queenes be't: Good should be pertinent,
 But so it is, it is not. Was this taken
 By any vnderstanding Pate but thine?
 For thy Conceit is soaking, will draw in
 More then the common Blocks. Not noted, is't,
 But of the finer Natures? by some Seueralls
 Of Head-peece extraordinarie? Lower Messes
 Perchance are to this Businesse purblind? say
 

Cam. Businesse, my Lord? I thinke most vnderstand
 Bohemia stayes here longer
 

Leo. Ha?
   Cam. Stayes here longer
 

Leo. I, but why?
   Cam. To satisfie your Highnesse, and the Entreaties
 Of our most gracious Mistresse
 

Leo. Satisfie?
 Th' entreaties of your Mistresse? Satisfie?
 Let that suffice. I haue trusted thee (Camillo)
 With all the neerest things to my heart, as well
 My Chamber-Councels, wherein (Priest-like) thou
 Hast cleans'd my Bosome: I, from thee departed
 Thy Penitent reform'd: but we haue been
 Deceiu'd in thy Integritie, deceiu'd
 In that which seemes so
 

Cam. Be it forbid (my Lord.)
   Leo. To bide vpon't: thou art not honest: or
 If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a Coward,
 Which hoxes honestie behind, restrayning
 From Course requir'd: or else thou must be counted
 A Seruant, grafted in my serious Trust,
 And therein negligent: or else a Foole,
 That seest a Game play'd home, the rich Stake drawne,
 And tak'st it all for ieast
 

Cam. My gracious Lord,
 I may be negligent, foolish, and fearefull,
 In euery one of these, no man is free,
 But that his negligence, his folly, feare,
 Among the infinite doings of the World,
 Sometime puts forth in your affaires (my Lord.)
 If euer I were wilfull-negligent,
 It was my folly: if industriously
 I play'd the Foole, it was my negligence,
 Not weighing well the end: if euer fearefull
 To doe a thing, where I the issue doubted,
 Whereof the execution did cry out
 Against the non-performance, 'twas a feare
 Which oft infects the wisest: these (my Lord)
 Are such allow'd Infirmities, that honestie
 Is neuer free of. But beseech your Grace
 Be plainer with me, let me know my Trespas
 By it's owne visage; if I then deny it,
 'Tis none of mine
 

Leo. Ha' not you seene Camillo?
 (But that's past doubt: you haue, or your eye-glasse
 Is thicker then a Cuckolds Horne) or heard?
 (For to a Vision so apparant, Rumor
 Cannot be mute) or thought? (for Cogitation
 Resides not in that man, that do's not thinke)
 My Wife is slipperie? If thou wilt confesse,
 Or else be impudently negatiue,
 To haue nor Eyes, nor Eares, nor Thought, then say
 My Wife's a Holy-Horse, deserues a Name
 As ranke as any Flax-Wench, that puts to
 Before her troth-plight: say't, and iustify't
 

Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to heare
 My Soueraigne Mistresse clouded so, without
 My present vengeance taken: 'shrew my heart,
 You neuer spoke what did become you lesse
 Then this; which to reiterate, were sin
 As deepe as that, though true
 

Leo. Is whispering nothing?
 Is leaning Cheeke to Cheeke? is meating Noses?
 Kissing with in-side Lip? stopping the Cariere
 Of Laughter, with a sigh? (a Note infallible
 Of breaking Honestie) horsing foot on foot?
 Skulking in corners? wishing Clocks more swift?
 Houres, Minutes? Noone, Mid-night? and all Eyes
 Blind with the Pin and Web, but theirs; theirs onely,
 That would vnseene be wicked? Is this nothing?
 Why then the World, and all that's in't, is nothing,
 The couering Skie is nothing, Bohemia nothing,
 My Wife is nothing, nor Nothing haue these Nothings,
 If this be nothing
 

Cam. Good my Lord, be cur'd
 Of this diseas'd Opinion, and betimes,
 For 'tis most dangerous
 

Leo. Say it be, 'tis true

Cam. No, no, my Lord

Leo. It is: you lye, you lye:
 I say thou lyest Camillo, and I hate thee,
 Pronounce thee a grosse Lowt, a mindlesse Slaue,
 Or else a houering Temporizer, that
 Canst with thine eyes at once see good and euill,
 Inclining to them both: were my Wiues Liuer
 Infected (as her life) she would not liue
 The running of one Glasse
 

Cam. Who do's infect her?
   Leo. Why he that weares her like her Medull, hanging
 About his neck (Bohemia) who, if I
 Had Seruants true about me, that bare eyes
 To see alike mine Honor, as their Profits,
 (Their owne particular Thrifts) they would doe that
 Which should vndoe more doing: I, and thou
 His Cup-bearer, whom I from meaner forme
 Haue Bench'd, and rear'd to Worship, who may'st see
 Plainely, as Heauen sees Earth, and Earth sees Heauen,
 How I am gall'd, might'st be-spice a Cup,
 To giue mine Enemy a lasting Winke:
 Which Draught to me, were cordiall
 

Cam. Sir (my Lord)
 I could doe this, and that with no rash Potion,
 But with a lingring Dram, that should not worke
 Maliciously, like Poyson: But I cannot
 Beleeue this Crack to be in my dread Mistresse
 (So soueraignely being Honorable.)
 I haue lou'd thee,
   Leo. Make that thy question, and goe rot:
 Do'st thinke I am so muddy, so vnsetled,
 To appoint my selfe in this vexation?
 Sully the puritie and whitenesse of my Sheetes
 (Which to preserue, is Sleepe; which being spotted,
 Is Goades, Thornes, Nettles, Tayles of Waspes)
 Giue scandall to the blood o'th' Prince, my Sonne,
 (Who I doe thinke is mine, and loue as mine)
 Without ripe mouing to't? Would I doe this?
 Could man so blench?
   Cam. I must beleeue you (Sir)
 I doe, and will fetch off Bohemia for't:
 Prouided, that when hee's remou'd, your Highnesse
 Will take againe your Queene, as yours at first,
 Euen for your Sonnes sake, and thereby for sealing
 The Iniurie of Tongues, in Courts and Kingdomes
 Knowne, and ally'd to yours
 

Leo. Thou do'st aduise me,
 Euen so as I mine owne course haue set downe:
 Ile giue no blemish to her Honor, none
 

Cam. My Lord,
 Goe then; and with a countenance as cleare
 As Friendship weares at Feasts, keepe with Bohemia,
 And with your Queene: I am his Cup-bearer,
 If from me he haue wholesome Beueridge,
 Account me not your Seruant
 

Leo. This is all:
 Do't, and thou hast the one halfe of my heart;
 Do't not, thou splitt'st thine owne
 

Cam. Ile do't, my Lord

Leo. I wil seeme friendly, as thou hast aduis'd me.

Exit

Cam. O miserable Lady. But for me,
 What case stand I in? I must be the poysoner
 Of good Polixenes, and my ground to do't,
 Is the obedience to a Master; one,
 Who in Rebellion with himselfe, will haue
 All that are his, so too. To doe this deed,
 Promotion followes: If I could find example
 Of thousand's that had struck anoynted Kings,
 And flourish'd after, Il'd not do't: But since
 Nor Brasse, nor Stone, nor Parchment beares not one,
 Let Villanie it selfe forswear't. I must
 Forsake the Court: to do't, or no, is certaine
 To me a breake-neck. Happy Starre raigne now,
 Here comes Bohemia.
 Enter Polixenes.
 

Pol. This is strange: Me thinkes
 My fauor here begins to warpe. Not speake?
 Good day Camillo
 

Cam. Hayle most Royall Sir

Pol. What is the Newes i'th' Court?
   Cam. None rare (my Lord.)
   Pol. The King hath on him such a countenance,
 As he had lost some Prouince, and a Region
 Lou'd, as he loues himselfe: euen now I met him
 With customarie complement, when hee
 Wafting his eyes to th' contrary, and falling
 A Lippe of much contempt, speedes from me, and
 So leaues me, to consider what is breeding,
 That changes thus his Manners
 

Cam. I dare not know (my Lord.)
   Pol. How, dare not? doe not? doe you know, and dare not?
 Be intelligent to me, 'tis thereabouts:
 For to your selfe, what you doe know, you must,
 And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
 Your chang'd complexions are to me a Mirror,
 Which shewes me mine chang'd too: for I must be
 A partie in this alteration, finding
 My selfe thus alter'd with't
 

Cam. There is a sicknesse
 Which puts some of vs in distemper, but
 I cannot name the Disease, and it is caught
 Of you, that yet are well
 

Pol. How caught of me?
 Make me not sighted like the Basilisque.
 I haue look'd on thousands, who haue sped the better
 By my regard, but kill'd none so: Camillo,
 As you are certainely a Gentleman, thereto
 Clerke-like experienc'd, which no lesse adornes
 Our Gentry, then our Parents Noble Names,
 In whose successe we are gentle: I beseech you,
 If you know ought which do's behoue my knowledge,
 Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not
 In ignorant concealement
 

Cam. I may not answere

Pol. A Sicknesse caught of me, and yet I well?
 I must be answer'd. Do'st thou heare Camillo,
 I coniure thee, by all the parts of man,
 Which Honor do's acknowledge, whereof the least
 Is not this Suit of mine, that thou declare
 What incidencie thou do'st ghesse of harme
 Is creeping toward me; how farre off, how neere,
 Which way to be preuented, if to be:
 If not, how best to beare it
 

Cam. Sir, I will tell you,
 Since I am charg'd in Honor, and by him
 That I thinke Honorable: therefore marke my counsaile,
 Which must be eu'n as swiftly followed, as
 I meane to vtter it; or both your selfe, and me,
 Cry lost, and so good night
 

Pol. On, good Camillo

Cam. I am appointed him to murther you

Pol. By whom, Camillo?
   Cam. By the King
 

Pol. For what?
   Cam. He thinkes, nay with all confidence he sweares,
 As he had seen't, or beene an Instrument
 To vice you to't, that you haue toucht his Queene
 Forbiddenly
 

Pol. Oh then, my best blood turne
 To an infected Gelly, and my Name
 Be yoak'd with his, that did betray the Best:
 Turne then my freshest Reputation to
 A sauour, that may strike the dullest Nosthrill
 Where I arriue, and my approch be shun'd,
 Nay hated too, worse then the great'st Infection
 That ere was heard, or read
 

Cam. Sweare his thought ouer
 By each particular Starre in Heauen, and
 By all their Influences; you may as well
 Forbid the Sea for to obey the Moone,
 As (or by Oath) remoue, or (Counsaile) shake
 The Fabrick of his Folly, whose foundation
 Is pyl'd vpon his Faith, and will continue
 The standing of his Body
 

Pol. How should this grow?
   Cam. I know not: but I am sure 'tis safer to
 Auoid what's growne, then question how 'tis borne.
 If therefore you dare trust my honestie,
 That lyes enclosed in this Trunke, which you
 Shall beare along impawnd, away to Night,
 Your Followers I will whisper to the Businesse,
 And will by twoes, and threes, at seuerall Posternes,
 Cleare them o'th' Citie: For my selfe, Ile put
 My fortunes to your seruice (which are here
 By this discouerie lost.) Be not vncertaine,
 For by the honor of my Parents, I
 Haue vttred Truth: which if you seeke to proue,
 I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer,
 Then one condemnd by the Kings owne mouth:
 Thereon his Execution sworne
 

Pol. I doe beleeue thee:
 I saw his heart in's face. Giue 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
 Two dayes agoe. This Iealousie
 Is for a precious Creature: as shee's rare,
 Must it be great; and, as his Person's mightie,
 Must it be violent: and, as he do's conceiue,
 He is dishonor'd by a man, which euer
 Profess'd to him: why his Reuenges must
 In that be made more bitter. Feare ore-shades me:
 Good Expedition be my friend, and comfort
 The gracious Queene, part of his Theame; but nothing
 Of his ill-ta'ne suspition. Come Camillo,
 I will respect thee as a Father, if
 Thou bear'st my life off, hence: Let vs auoid
 

Cam. It is in mine authoritie to command
 The Keyes of all the Posternes: Please your Highnesse
 To take the vrgent houre. Come Sir, away.
 

Exeunt.

Actus Secundus. Scena Prima.

Enter Hermione, Mamillius, Ladies: Leontes, Antigonus, Lords.

Her. Take the Boy to you: he so troubles me,
 'Tis past enduring
 

Lady. Come (my gracious Lord)
 Shall I be your play-fellow?
   Mam. No, Ile none of you
 

Lady. Why (my sweet Lord?)
   Mam. You'le kisse me hard, and speake to me, as if
 I were a Baby still. I loue you better
 

2.Lady. And why so (my Lord?)
   Mam. Not for because
 Your Browes are blacker (yet black-browes they say
 Become some Women best, so that there be not
 Too much haire there, but in a Cemicircle,
 Or a halfe-Moone, made with a Pen.)
   2.Lady. Who taught 'this?
   Mam. I learn'd it out of Womens faces: pray now,
 What colour are your eye-browes?
   Lady. Blew (my Lord.)
   Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I haue seene a Ladies Nose
 That ha's beene blew, but not her eye-browes
 

Lady. Harke ye,
 The Queene (your Mother) rounds apace: we shall
 Present our seruices to a fine new Prince
 One of these dayes, and then youl'd wanton with vs,
 If we would haue you
 

2.Lady. She is spread of late
 Into a goodly Bulke (good time encounter her.)
   Her. What wisdome stirs amongst you? Come Sir, now
 I am for you againe: 'Pray you sit by vs,
 And tell's a Tale
 

Mam. Merry, or sad, shal't be?
   Her. As merry as you will
 

Mam. A sad Tale's best for Winter:
 I haue one of Sprights, and Goblins
 

Her. Let's haue that (good Sir.)
 Come-on, sit downe, come-on, and doe your best,
 To fright me with your Sprights: you're powrefull at it
 

Mam. There was a man

Her. Nay, come sit downe: then on

Mam. Dwelt by a Church-yard: I will tell it softly,
 Yond Crickets shall not heare it
 

Her. Come on then, and giu't me in mine eare

Leon. Was hee met there? his Traine? Camillo with
 him?
   Lord. Behind the tuft of Pines I met them, neuer
 Saw I men scowre so on their way: I eyed them
 Euen to their Ships
 

Leo. How blest am I
 In my iust Censure? in my true Opinion?
 Alack, for lesser knowledge, how accurs'd,
 In being so blest? There may be in the Cup
 A Spider steep'd, and one may drinke; depart,
 And yet partake no venome: (for his knowledge
 Is not infected) but if one present
 Th' abhor'd Ingredient t