A thriving issue. To visit the next room, I'll presently Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer; Lest she should be denied. Kee. Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe, Pau. You need not fear it, sir; [Exeunt, L. SCENE III. A Square before the Palace. Enter CLEOMENES and DION, bearing the oracle.-Guards stand across the back ground. Dio. (L. C.) The climate's delicate; the air most sweet; Fertile the soil; the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears. Cle. (R. C.) I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits, Dion. But, of all, the burst Cle. If the event o'the journey Dio. Great Apollo, Turn all to the best! These proclamations, Cle. The violent carriage of it Will clear, or end, the business: When the oracle, Thus by Apollo's great Divine seal'd up, And gracious be the issue. SCENE IV.-The King's Closet. [Exeunt, R. LEONTES alone, discovered reclining on a couch. Leo. Nor night, nor day, no rest:- It is but weakness To bear the matter thus, mere weakness. If The cause were not in being;--part o'the cause, She, the adulteress---for the harlot king Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank And level of my brain, plot proof-but she I can hook to me:-Say, that she were gone, Given to the death, a moiety of my rest Might come to me again.----Who's there? Enter ANTIGONUS, R. Ant. My lord ? Leo. [Rising.] How does the boy ? His nobleness! [Advances. Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, [Retires to the couch. PHOCION, THASIUS, and PAULINA without, L Tha. You must not enter. Pau. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me; Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas! Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul; More free than he is jealous. Ant. That's enough. Enter PHOCION, THASIUS, and PAULINA, with the child, L. wrapped in white satin. Pho. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded None should come at him. Pau. (L.) Not so hot, good sir; Do come, with words as med'cinal as true, Leo. What noise there, ho? Pau. No noise, my lord; but needful conference, About some gossips for your highness. Leo. How? Away with that audacious lady.--Antigonus, I charg'd thee that she should not come about me. On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, Pau. Good my liege, I come, Leo. Good queen ! Pau. Good queen, my lord-good queen: I say, good queen; And would by combat make her good, so were I Leo. Force her hence. Pau. Let him, that makes but trifles of his eyes, First hand me on mine accord I'll off; But, first, I'll do my errand.--The good queen, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter : Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. [Kneels, and lays the Child at his feet. Leo. [Rising and coming forward.] Out! A most intelligencing bawd! Pau. [Near the Child.] Not so: I am as ignorant in that, as you In so entitling me: and no less honest As this world goes, to pass for honest. Leo. (c.) Traitors! Will you not push her out?-Give her the bastard : Thou dotard, [To Antigonus.] thou art woman-tir'd, un roosted Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou Tak'st up the princess, by that forced baseness Which he has put upon't! Leo. He dreads his wife! Pau. So I would, you did; then, 'twere past all doubt, You'd call your children yours. Leo. A nest of traitors! Ant. I am none, by this good light. Pau. Nor I; nor any But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he The sacred honour of himself, his queen's, His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, The root of his opinion, which is rotten, Leo. (R. c.) This brat is none of mine. And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge. takes it up.] Behold, my lords, [Brings it forward. And thou, good goddess Nature, which has made it The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours Leo. A gross hag! And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, Ant. (R. C.) Hang all the husbands 1 That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Leo. Once more, take her hence. Pau. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more. I will not call you tyrants: But this most cruel usage of your queen Savours of tyranny, and will ignoble make you, Leo. On your allegiance, Out of the chamber with her. Were I a tyrant, Away with her. [Returning to his seat. Pau. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. What need these hands? You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, So, so; [To Antigonus.] Farewell; we are gone. [Exit Paulina, L. Leo. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this. Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up straight; Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, And by good testimony, or I'll seize thy life, With what thou else call'st thine. Go-do it-hence For thou sett'st on thy wife. Ant. (R.) I did not, sir; These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in't. Pho. We can: My royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. Leo. You are traitors, all. Ant. 'Beseech your highness give us better credit : We have always truly serv'd you; and beseech So to esteem of us: and on my knees I beg, (As recompense of my dear services, Past, and to come,) that you do change this purpose; Leo. [Rises.] Shall I live on to see this creature kneel And call me father? Better end it now, |