The bastard brains with these my proper hands For thou sett'st on thy wife. Ant. I did not, sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, 1 & 2 Lord. We can, my royal liege; He is not guilty of her coming hither. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your Highness give us better credit; We have always truly serv'd you, and beseech' 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 pur pose; 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, Than curse it then. It shall not neither. hither; But, be it; let it live. [To ANT.] You, sir, come you You, that have been so tenderly officious With lady Margery, your midwife, there, To save this bastard's life, (for 'tis a bastard, venture To save this brat's life? Ant. Any thing, my lord, Leon. It shall be possible. Swear by this sword, Thou wilt perform my bidding. Ant. I will, my lord. Leon. Mark, and perform it, see'st thou; for the fail Of any point in 't shall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife; Ant. I swear to do this, though a present death In more than this deed doth require! and blessing, Against this cruelty, fight on thy side, Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! Leon. Another's issue. [Exit, with the babe. No, I'll not rear 1 Attend. Please your Highness, posts, From those you sent to th' Oracle, are come An hour since. Cleomenes and Dion, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, Hasting to th' Court. 1 Lord. So please you, sir, their speed Hath been beyond accompt. Leon. Twenty-three days They have been absent: 'tis good speed; foretells The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords: Leave me; [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. Sicilia. A Street. Enter CLEOMENES and DION. CLEOMENES. HE climate's delicate, the air most sweet, T1 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 Cleo. But, of all, the burst And the ear-deaf'ning voice o' th' Oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surpris'd my sense, That I was nothing. Dion. If th' 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 th' best! These proclamations, I little like. Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear, or end, the business. When the oracle horses; And gracious be the issue! fresh [Exeunt. SCENE II. The Same. A Court of Justice. LEONTES, Lords, and Officers, appear properly seated. Leon. This sessions (to our great grief we pronounce) Even pushes 'gainst our heart: the party tri'd, Of us too much belov'd. Let us be clear'd Of being tyrannous, since we so openly Proceed in justice; which shall have due course, Produce the prisoner. Officer. It is his Highness' pleasure that the Queen Appear in person here in Court. Silence! HERMIONE is brought in, guarded; PAULINA and Ladies attending. Leon. Read the indictment. Offi. "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, 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 Which contradicts my accusation, and The testimony on my part no other But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, I doubt not then but innocence shall make Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know, As I am now unhappy; which is more A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it |