The cause were not in being;-part o'the cause, Leon. How does the boy? 1 Atten. My lord? [Advancing. He took good rest to-night; 'Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. His nobleness! To see, Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply; And downright languish'd.-Leave me solely':—go, See how he fares. [Exit Attend.] — Fye, fye, no thought of him; The very thought of my revenges that way Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow: 1 Lord. Enter PAULINA, with a Child. You must not enter. Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me: Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas, 9 Leave me solely :] That is, leave me alone. Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul; Ant. That's enough. 1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; com manded None should come at him. Paul. I come to bring him sleep. Not so hot, good sir 'Tis such as you,— That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh Do come with words as med'cinal as true; Honest, as either; to purge him of that humour, Leon. What noise there, ho? Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference, About some gossips for your highness. Leon. How? Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus, I charg'd thee, that she should not come about me; Ant. I told her so, my lord, On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, Leon. What, canst not rule her? Paul. From all dishonesty, he can in this, Ant. When she will take the rein, I let her run; But she'll not stumble. Paul. Lo you now; you hear! Good my liege, I come, And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess † Myself your loyal servant, your physician, + "who professes MALONE. Less appear so, in comforting your evils', Than such as most seem yours:-I say, I come Leon. Good queen! Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen: I say, good queen. And would by combat make her good, so were I A man, the worst about you'. Leon. Force her hence Paul. Let him, that makes but trifles of his eyes Leon. [Laying down the Child. Out! A mankind witch'! Hence with her, out o'door: Paul. I am as ignorant in that as you Not so: In so entitling me: and no less honest 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, [to ANTIGONUS,] thou art woman-tir'd ‘, unroosted By thy dame Partlet here,-take up the bastard; 1 in comforting your evils,] Comforting is here used in the legal sense of comforting and abetting in a criminal action. 2 the worst about you.] Were I the weakest of your servants, I would yet claim the combat against any accuser. 3 A mankind witch!] i. e. masculine. 4 thou art woman-tir'd,] Woman-tir'd, is peck'd by a woman; hen-pecked. 5 thy crone.] i. e. thy old worn-out woman. A croan is an old toothless sheep: thence an old woman. Paul For ever Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou Tak'st 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, You'd call your children yours. Leon. A nest of traitors! Nor I; nor any, Ant. I am none, by this good light. But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will not Leon. A callat, 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. Paril. It is yours; And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge, The trick of his frown, his forehead; nay, the valley, • Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou Tak'st up the princess, by that forced baseness -] Leontes had ordered Antigonus to take up the bastard; Paulina forbids him to touch the princess under that appellation. Forced is false, uttered with violence to truth. JOHNSON. So like to him that got it, if thou hast The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours Her children not her husband's! Leon. And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, That wilt not stay her tongue. Ant. A gross hag!— Hang all the husbands, That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Hardly one subject. Leon. Once more take her hence. Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more. Leon. Paul. I'll have thee burn'd. It is an heretick, that makes the fire, I care not: Not she, which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant; (Not able to produce more accusation Than your own weak-hing'd fancy,) something savours Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you, Yea, scandalous to the world. Leon. Out of the chamber with her. On your allegiance, Were I a tyrant, Where were her life? she durst not call me so, Paul. I pray you do not push me; I'll be gone. 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.My child? away with't!-even thou, that hast A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence, 7 No yellow in't ;] Yellow is the colour of jealousy. * And, lozel,] A term of contempt, meaning worthless, dishonest. |