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By my regard, but kill'd none fo. Camillo,
As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto
Clerk-like, experienc'd, which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,

* In whofe fuccefs we are gentle,—I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my knowledge,
Thereof to be inform'd; imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.

Cam. I may not answer.

Pol, A fickness caught of me, and yet I well!
I must be answer'd.-Doft thou hear, Camillo,
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man,

Which honour does acknowledge,-whereof the leaft
Is not 'this fuit of mine,—that thou declare
What incidency thou doft guess of harm
Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;
If not, how best to bear it.

Cam. Sir, I'll tell you;

Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him
That I think honourable: Therefore, mark
Which must be even as swiftly follow'd, as
I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry, loft, and fo 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?

my

counfel;

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

As he had feen't, or been an instrument

In whofe fuccefs we are gentle,]-Succeffion; in confequence of whofe fuccefs in life, we arrive at that diftinction.

this fuit of mine,]-a king's request of help.

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"To vice you to't,—that you have touch'd his queen Forbiddenly.

Pol. Oh, then my best blood turn To an infected jelly; and my name

W

Be yok'd with his that did betray the best!
Turn then my fresheft reputation to

A favour, that may strike the dulleft noftril
Where I arrive; and my approach be fhun'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection
That e'er was heard, or read!

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Cam. Swear his thought over

By each particular ftar in heaven, and
By all their influences; you may as well
Forbid the fea for to obey the moon,
As or, by oath, remove, or counsel, shake,
The fabrick of his folly; whofe foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
* The standing of his body.

Pol. How fhould this grow?

Cam. I know not: but, I am fure, 'tis fafer to
Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born.
If therefore you dare truft my honesty,-
That lies inclosed in this trunk, which you
Shall bear along impawn'd,-away to-night.
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will, by twos, and threes, at feveral pofterns,
Clear them o'the city: For myself, I'll put
My fortunes to your fervice, which are here

"To vice you to't,]-to put, or hold you together-to advise.
wbis that did betray the beft !]-Judas's.

* Swear bis thought over]-Though you should bring proofs against his conceiv'd jealousy, enforced with oaths as numerous as the ftars they are fetch'd from.-Swear this though over.

Y his faith,]-his fettled belief.

2 The ftanding of his body.]-During his life.

By

By this discovery loft. Be not uncertain;

For, by the honour of my parents, I

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

I dare not stand by; nor fhall you be safer

Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, thereon His execution fworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:

I faw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;

b

Be pilot to me, and thy places fhall

Still neighbour mine: My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago.This jealousy

Is for a precious creature: as she's rare,
Muft it be great; and, as his perfon's mighty,
Must it be violent; and as he does conceive

He is dishonour'd by a man which ever

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Profefs'd to him, why, his revenges must

In that be made more bitter. Fear o'er-shades me:
Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theam, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en fufpicion! Come, Camillo ;

I will respect thee as a father, if

Thou bear'ft 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, fir, away.

a Be not uncertain ;]-Do not hesitate.

other.

[Exeunt.

and thy places fhall ftill neighbour mine :]-we'll be ever near each Profes'd]-Friendly.

C

be my friend, and comfort the gracious queen, part of his theam, but nothing of bis ill-ta'en fufpicion !]-by removing me from danger, and comfort the queen, by removing the object of the king's jealousythe innocent queen, whofe charms are made the juft fubject of his converfation, but have unjustly excited his fufpicion.

avoid.]-retire, withdraw ourselves..

ACT

ACT II. SCENE I.

The Palace.

Enter Hermione, Mamillius, and Ladies.

Her. Take the boy to you; he fo troubles me, 'Tis past enduring.

1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord.

Shall I be your play-fellow ?

Mam. No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord?

Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me as if I were a baby ftill.-I love you better.

2 Lady. And why fo, my lord?

Mam. Not for because

Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say,
Become fome women beft; fo that there be not

Too much hair there, but in a femicircle,
Or a half moon made with a pen.

2 Lady. Who taught you this?

Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces.-Pray now What colour are your eye-brows?

1 Lady. Blue, my lord.

f

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nofe That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.

1 Lady. Hark ye:

The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we fhall
Present our services to a fine new prince,

One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us,
If we would have you.

2 Lady. She is fpread of late

f a mock:]-a fib.

Into a goodly bulk; Good time encounter her!

Her. What wisdom ftirs amongst you? Come, fir, now

I am for you again: Pray you, fit by us,

And tell us a tale.

Mam. Merry, or fad, fhall it be?

Her. As merry as you will.

g

Mam. A fad tale's best for winter:

I have one of sprights and goblins.

Her. Let's have that, good fir.

Come on, fit down :-Come on, and do your best

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

Mam. There was a man,

Her. Nay, come, fit down; then on.

Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard;-I will tell it foftly; Yon crickets fhall not hear it.

h

Her. Come on then,

And give't me in mine ear.

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and others.

Leo. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men scour fo on their way: I ey'd them Even to their fhips.

Leo. How bleft am I

In my just cenfure? in my true opinion ?—
*Alack, for leffer knowledge !-how accurs'd,
In being so bleft!-There may be in the cup
A fpider steep'd, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present

The abhor'd ingredient to his eye, make known

play.

A fad tale's best for winter :]-Hence probably the title of this

h

crickets]-pratlers.

Alack, for]-Oh that I had.

cenfure?]-judgment.

How

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