William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (514 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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Hark ye, The Queen your mother rounds apace. We shall
Present our services to a fine new prince
One of these days, and then you’d wanton with us,
If we would have you.
Present our services to a fine new prince
One of these days, and then you’d wanton with us,
If we would have you.
SECOND LADY
She is spread of late
Into a goodly bulk, good time encounter her.
HERMIONE
What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come sir, now
I am for you again. Pray you sit by us,
And tell’s a tale.
I am for you again. Pray you sit by us,
And tell’s a tale.
MAMILLIUS Merry or sad shall’t be?
HERMIONE As merry as you will.
MAMILLIUS
A sad tale’s best for winter. I have one
Of sprites and goblins.
Of sprites and goblins.
HERMIONE
Let’s have that, good sir. Come on, sit down, come on, and do your best
To fright me with your sprites. You’re powerful at it.
To fright me with your sprites. You’re powerful at it.
MAMILLIUS
There was a man—
HERMIONE
Nay, come sit down, then on.
MAMILLIUS (sitting)
Dwelt by a churchyard.—I will tell it softly,
Yon crickets shall not hear it.
Yon crickets shall not hear it.
HERMIONE
Come on then, and give’t me in mine ear.
Enter apart Leontes, Antigonus, and Lords
LEONTES
Was he met there? His train? Camillo with him?
A LORD
Behind the tuft of pines I met them. Never
Saw I men scour so on their way. I eyed them
Even to their ships.
Saw I men scour so on their way. I eyed them
Even to their ships.
LEONTES
How blest am I
In my just censure, in my true opinion!
Alack, for lesser knowledge—how accursed
In being so blest! There may be in the cup
A spider steeped, and one may drink, depart,
And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge
Is not infected; but if one present
Th’abhorred ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander.
There is a plot against my life, my crown.
All’s true that is mistrusted. That false villain
Whom I employed was pre-employed by him.
He has discovered my design, and I
Remain a pinched thing, yea, a very trick
For them to play at will. How came the posterns
So easily open?
Alack, for lesser knowledge—how accursed
In being so blest! There may be in the cup
A spider steeped, and one may drink, depart,
And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge
Is not infected; but if one present
Th’abhorred ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander.
There is a plot against my life, my crown.
All’s true that is mistrusted. That false villain
Whom I employed was pre-employed by him.
He has discovered my design, and I
Remain a pinched thing, yea, a very trick
For them to play at will. How came the posterns
So easily open?
A LORD
By his great authority,
Which often hath no less prevailed than so
On your command.
On your command.
LEONTES I know’t too well.
(To Hermione) Give me the boy. I am glad you did not
nurse him.
Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.
nurse him.
Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.
HERMIONE
What is this? Sport?
LEONTES (to
a
Lord)
a
Lord)
Bear the boy hence. He shall not come about her.
Away with him, and let her sport herself
With that she’s big with, (to Hermione) for ’tis
Polixenes
Has made thee swell thus. Exit one with Mamillius
Away with him, and let her sport herself
With that she’s big with, (to Hermione) for ’tis
Polixenes
Has made thee swell thus. Exit one with Mamillius
HERMIONE
But I’d say he had not, And I’ll be sworn you would believe my saying,
Howe’er you lean to th’ nayward.
Howe’er you lean to th’ nayward.
LEONTES
You, my lords,
Look on her, mark her well. Be but about
To say she is a goodly lady, and
The justice of your hearts will thereto add
“Tis pity she’s not honest, honourable.’
Praise her but for this her without-door form—
Which on my faith deserves high speech—and
straight
The shrug, the ‘hum’ or ‘ha’, these petty brands
That calumny doth use—O, I am out,
That mercy does, for calumny will sear
Virtue itself—these shrugs, these ‘hum’s’ and ‘ha’s’,
When you have said she’s goodly, come between
Ere you can say she’s honest. But be’t known
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,
She’s an adultress.
To say she is a goodly lady, and
The justice of your hearts will thereto add
“Tis pity she’s not honest, honourable.’
Praise her but for this her without-door form—
Which on my faith deserves high speech—and
straight
The shrug, the ‘hum’ or ‘ha’, these petty brands
That calumny doth use—O, I am out,
That mercy does, for calumny will sear
Virtue itself—these shrugs, these ‘hum’s’ and ‘ha’s’,
When you have said she’s goodly, come between
Ere you can say she’s honest. But be’t known
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,
She’s an adultress.
HERMIONE
Should a villain say so,
The most replenished villain in the world,
He were as much more villain. You, my lord,
Do but mistake.
He were as much more villain. You, my lord,
Do but mistake.
LEONTES
You have mistook, my lady—
Polixenes for Leontes. O, thou thing,
Which I’ll not call a creature of thy place
Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,
Should a like language use to all degrees,
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar. I have said
She’s an adultress, I have said with whom.
More, she’s a traitor, and Camillo is
A federary with her, and one that knows
What she should shame to know herself,
But with her most vile principal: that she’s
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold’st titles; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.
Which I’ll not call a creature of thy place
Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,
Should a like language use to all degrees,
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar. I have said
She’s an adultress, I have said with whom.
More, she’s a traitor, and Camillo is
A federary with her, and one that knows
What she should shame to know herself,
But with her most vile principal: that she’s
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold’st titles; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.
HERMIONE
No, by my life,
Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you
When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have published me? Gentle my lord,
You scarce can right me throughly then to say
You did mistake.
When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have published me? Gentle my lord,
You scarce can right me throughly then to say
You did mistake.
LEONTES
No. If I mistake
In those foundations which I build upon,
The centre is not big enough to bear
A schoolboy’s top.—Away with her to prison!
He who shall speak for her is afar-off guilty,
But that he speaks.
The centre is not big enough to bear
A schoolboy’s top.—Away with her to prison!
He who shall speak for her is afar-off guilty,
But that he speaks.
HERMIONE
There’s some ill planet reigns.
I must be patient till the heavens look
With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex no
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew
Perchance shall dry your pities. But I have
That honourable grief lodged here which burns
Worse than tears drown. Beseech you all, my lords,
With thoughts so qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so
The King’s will be performed.
With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex no
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew
Perchance shall dry your pities. But I have
That honourable grief lodged here which burns
Worse than tears drown. Beseech you all, my lords,
With thoughts so qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so
The King’s will be performed.
LEONTES
Shall I be heard?
HERMIONE
Who is’t that goes with me? Beseech your highness
My women may be with me, for you see
My plight requires it.—Do not weep, good fools,
There is no cause. When you shall know your
mistress
Has deserved prison, then abound in tears
As I come out. This action I now go on
Is for my better grace.—Adieu, my lord.
I never wished to see you sorry; now
I trust I shall. My women, come, you have leave.
My women may be with me, for you see
My plight requires it.—Do not weep, good fools,
There is no cause. When you shall know your
mistress
Has deserved prison, then abound in tears
As I come out. This action I now go on
Is for my better grace.—Adieu, my lord.
I never wished to see you sorry; now
I trust I shall. My women, come, you have leave.
LEONTES Go, do our bidding. Hence!
Exit Hermione, guarded, with Ladies
A LORD
Beseech your highness, call the Queen again.
ANTIGONUS (
to Leontes
)
to Leontes
)
Be certain what you do, sir, lest your justice
Prove violence, in the which three great ones suffer—
Yourself, your queen, your son.
Prove violence, in the which three great ones suffer—
Yourself, your queen, your son.
A LORD (
to Leontes
)
to Leontes
)
For her, my lord,
I dare my life lay down, and will do‘t, sir,
Please you t’accept it, that the Queen is spotless
I’th’ eyes of heaven and to you—I mean
In this which you accuse her.
Please you t’accept it, that the Queen is spotless
I’th’ eyes of heaven and to you—I mean
In this which you accuse her.
ANTIGONUS (
to Leontes
)
to Leontes
)
If it prove
She’s otherwise, I’ll keep my stables where
I lodge my wife, I’ll go in couples with her;
Than when I feel and see her, no farther trust her.
For every inch of woman in the world,
Ay, every dram of woman’s flesh is false
If she be.
I lodge my wife, I’ll go in couples with her;
Than when I feel and see her, no farther trust her.
For every inch of woman in the world,
Ay, every dram of woman’s flesh is false
If she be.
LEONTES
Hold your peaces.
A LORD
Good my lord—
ANTIGONUS (
to Leontes
)
to Leontes
)
It is for you we speak, not for ourselves.
You are abused, and by some putter-on
That will be damned for’t. Would I knew the villain—
I would land-damn him. Be she honour-flawed—
I have three daughters: the eldest is eleven;
The second and the third nine and some five;
If this prove true, they’ll pay for’t. By mine honour,
I’ll geld ’em all. Fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations. They are co-heirs,
And I had rather glib myself than they
Should not produce fair issue.
You are abused, and by some putter-on
That will be damned for’t. Would I knew the villain—
I would land-damn him. Be she honour-flawed—
I have three daughters: the eldest is eleven;
The second and the third nine and some five;
If this prove true, they’ll pay for’t. By mine honour,
I’ll geld ’em all. Fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations. They are co-heirs,
And I had rather glib myself than they
Should not produce fair issue.
LEONTES
Cease, no more!
You smell this business with a sense as cold
As is a dead man’s nose. But I do see’t and feel’t
As you feel doing thus; and see withal
The instruments that feel.
As is a dead man’s nose. But I do see’t and feel’t
As you feel doing thus; and see withal
The instruments that feel.
ANTIGONUS
If it be so,
We need no grave to bury honesty;
There’s not a grain of it the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.
There’s not a grain of it the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.
LEONTES
What? Lack I credit?
A LORD
I had rather you did lack than I, my lord,
Upon this ground; and more it would content me
To have her honour true than your suspicion,
Be blamed for’t how you might.
Upon this ground; and more it would content me
To have her honour true than your suspicion,
Be blamed for’t how you might.
LEONTES Why, what need we
Commune with you of this, but rather follow
Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness
Imparts this; which, if you—or stupefied
Or seeming so in skill—cannot or will not
Relish a truth like us, inform yourselves
We need no more of your advice. The matter,
The loss, the gain, the ord‘ring on’t, is all
Properly ours.
Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness
Imparts this; which, if you—or stupefied
Or seeming so in skill—cannot or will not
Relish a truth like us, inform yourselves
We need no more of your advice. The matter,
The loss, the gain, the ord‘ring on’t, is all
Properly ours.
ANTIGONUS
And I wish, my liege,
You had only in your silent judgement tried it
Without more overture.
Without more overture.
LEONTES
How could that be?
Either thou art most ignorant by age
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo’s flight
Added to their familiarity,
Which was as gross as ever touched conjecture
That lacked sight only, naught for approbation
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to th’ deed—doth push on this proceeding.
Yet for a greater confirmation—
For in an act of this importance ’twere
Most piteous to be wild—I have dispatched in post
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo’s temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
Of stuffed sufficiency. Now from the oracle
They will bring all, whose spiritual counsel had
Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo’s flight
Added to their familiarity,
Which was as gross as ever touched conjecture
That lacked sight only, naught for approbation
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to th’ deed—doth push on this proceeding.
Yet for a greater confirmation—
For in an act of this importance ’twere
Most piteous to be wild—I have dispatched in post
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo’s temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
Of stuffed sufficiency. Now from the oracle
They will bring all, whose spiritual counsel had
Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?
A LORD Well done, my lord.
LEONTES
Though I am satisfied, and need no more
Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to th’ minds of others such as he,
Whose ignorant credulity will not
Come up to th’ truth. So have we thought it good
From our free person she should be confined,
Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us.
We are to speak in public; for this business
Will raise us all.
Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to th’ minds of others such as he,
Whose ignorant credulity will not
Come up to th’ truth. So have we thought it good
From our free person she should be confined,
Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us.
We are to speak in public; for this business
Will raise us all.
ANTIGONUS (
aside
) To laughter, as I take it,
aside
) To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known.
Exeunt
2.2Exeunt
Enter Paulina, a Gentleman, and attendants
PAULINA
The keeper of the prison, call to him.
Let him have knowledge who I am.
Let him have knowledge who I am.
Exit Gentleman
Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee.
What dost thou then in prison?
No court in Europe is too good for thee.
What dost thou then in prison?
Enter Jailer and Gentleman
Now, good sir,
You know me, do you not?
You know me, do you not?
JAILER
For a worthy lady,
And one who much I honour.
PAULINA Pray you then,
Conduct me to the Queen.
JAILER
I may not, madam. To the contrary
I have express commandment.
I have express commandment.
PAULINA
Here’s ado,
To lock up honesty and honour from
Th’access of gentle visitors. Is’t lawful, pray you,
To see her women? Any of them? Emilia?
JAILER So please you, madam,
To put apart these your attendants,
Shall bring Emilia forth.
Th’access of gentle visitors. Is’t lawful, pray you,
To see her women? Any of them? Emilia?
JAILER So please you, madam,
To put apart these your attendants,
Shall bring Emilia forth.
PAULINA I pray now call her.—
Withdraw yourselves.
Exeunt Gentleman and attendants
JAILER And, madam,
I must be present at your conference.
PAULINA Well, be’t so, prithee.
Exit Jailer
Here’s such ado, to make no stain a stain
As passes colouring.
As passes colouring.
Enter Jailer and Emilia
Dear gentlewoman,
How fares our gracious lady?
EMILIA
As well as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together. On her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath borne greater,
She is, something before her time, delivered.
May hold together. On her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath borne greater,
She is, something before her time, delivered.
PAULINA
A boy?
EMILIA A daughter, and a goodly babe,
Lusty, and like to live. The Queen receives
Much comfort in’t; says, ‘My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.’
Much comfort in’t; says, ‘My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.’
PAULINA
I dare be sworn.
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