Either thou art most ignorant by age,

Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,

d

(Which was as grofs as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd fight only, nought for approbation,
But only feeing, all other circumftances

Made up to the deed) doth push on this proceeding :
Yet, for a greater confirmation,

(For, in an act of this importance, 'twere
Moft piteous to be wild) I have dispatch'd in poft,
To facred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
Of stuff'd fufficiency: Now, from the oracle
They will bring all; whofe fpiritual counsel had,
Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?
Lord. Well done, my lord.

Leo. Though I am fatisfied, and need no more
Than what I know, yet fhall the oracle

Give rest to the minds of others; fuch as he,
Whofe ignorant credulity will not

Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good,
From our free perfon fhe fhould be confin'd;
Left that the treachery of the two, fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;

We are to speak in publick: for this business

Ant. [Afide.] To laughter, as I take it,

If the good truth were known.

[Exeunt.

ftuff'd fufficiency:]-profound abilities.

From our free perfon fhe should be confin'd;]-That the fhould be debarred all access to our perfon; from converfing freely with.

& raife us all.]-call forth the exertion of all our faculties.

VOL. II.

Qq

SCENE

SCENE II.

A Prifon.

Enter Paulina, and Gentleman.

Paul. The keeper of the prifon,-call to him; [Exit Gentleman. Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady! No court in Europe is too good for thee, What doft thou then in prifon ?-Now, good fir,

Re-enter Gentleman with the Keeper.

You know me, do you not?

Keep. For a worthy lady,

And one whom much I honour.

Paul. Pray you then,

Conduct me to the queen.

Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary I have express commandment.

Paul. Here's ado,

To lock up honefty and honour from

The access of gentle visitors !-Is it lawful
Pray you, to fee her women? any of them?
Emilia ?

Keep. So please you, madam,

To put apart thefe your attendants, I

Shall bring Emilia forth.

Paul. I pray you now,

Call her Withdraw yourselves.

Be prefent at your conference.

Keep. And, madam, I must

[Exeunt Gent. &c.

Paul. Well, be it fo, pr'ythee. Here is fuch ado,

[Exit Keeper.

Re-Enter

To make no ftain a ftain, as paffes colouring.

Re-enter Keeper with Emilia.

Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?
Emil. As well as one fo great, and fo forlorn,
May hold together: On her frights, and griefs,
(Which never tender lady hath borne greater)
She is, fomething before her time, deliver❜d.
Paul. A boy?

Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lufty, and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in't': fays, My poor prifoner,
I am innocent as you.

Paul. I dare be fworn:

Thefe dangerous unfafe lunes o'the king! befhrew them!
He must be told on't, and he fhall: the office
Becomes a woman beft; I'll tak't upon me:
If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blifter ;
And never to my red-look'd anger be

The trumpet any more:-Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen;
If the dares truft me with her little babe,
I'll fhew't the king, and undertake to be
Her advocate to th' loudeft: We do not know
How he may foften at the fight o'the child;
The filence often of pure innocence
Perfuades, when speaking fails.

Emil. Moft worthy madam,

Your honour, and your goodness, is fo evident,
That your free undertaking cannot mifs

A thriving iffue; there is no lady living,

So meet for this great errand: Please your ladyship
To vifit the next room, I'll presently

Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;

Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this defign;
But durft not tempt a minister of honour,
Left she should be deny'd.

Paul. Tell her, Emilia,

I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,
As boldness from my bofom, let it not be doubted
I shall do good.

Emil. Now be you bleft for it!

I'll to the queen: please you, come fomething nearer.
Keep. Madam, if't please the queen to fend the babe,
I know not what I fhall incur to pass it,

Having no warrant.

Paul. You need not fear it, fir:

The child was prifoner to the womb; and is,
By law and procefs of great nature, thence
Freed and enfranchis'd: not a party to
The anger of the king; nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.

Keep. I do believe it.

Paul. Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I

Will ftand 'twixt you and danger.

SCEN
NE III.

The Palace.

[Exeunt.

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and other Attendants.

Leo. Nor night, nor day, no reft: It is but weakness
To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if

The cause were not in being;-part o'the cause,
She, the adultrefs ;-for the harlot king

វ

Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank

i out of the blank and level of my brain,]-above the reach of all my

attempts.

And

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?

Atten. My lord?

Enter an Attendant.

Leo. How does the boy?

Atten. He took good reft to-night: 'tis hop'd, His fickness is discharg'd.

Leo. To fee his nobleness!
Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply;
Faften'd and fix'd the fhame on't in himself;
Threw off his fpirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And down-right languish'd.-Leave me folely: go,
[Exit Attendant.
See how he fares.-Fye, fye! no thought of him ;-
The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty;
In his parties, his alliances,-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 forrow:
They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor
Shall fhe, within my power.

Enter Paulina, with a Child.

Lord. You must not enter.

Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be fecond to me:

Fear you his tyrannous paffion more, alas,

Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent foul;

More free, than he is jealous.

Ant. That's enough.