Pol. How caught of me?

Make me not fighted like the bafilisk.

I've look'd on thousands, who have fped the better
By my regard, but kill'd none fo: Camillo,
As you are certainly a gentleman,

Clerk-like experienc'd, (which no less adorns
Our gentry, than our parents' noble names,
In whofe Succefs we are gentle ;) I beseech you,
If you know ought, which does behove my knowledge.
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't 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 towards me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if it be;

If not, how beft 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 my counfel Which must be ev'n as swiftly follow'd, as

I mean to utter it; or both your felf 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?

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he fwears, As he had feen't, or been an inftrument

To vice you to't, that you have toucht his Queen
Forbiddenly.

Pol. Oh, then, my best blood turn

To an infected gelly, and my name

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

A

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

Cam. Swear this though over (7)
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 ftanding of his body.

Pol. How fhould this grow?

'S

Cam. I know not; but, I'm fure, 'tis fafer to
Avoid what's grown, than queftion 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 whifper to the business;
And will by twoes, and threes, at several posterns,
Clear them o'th' city. For my felf, I'll put
My fortunes to your fervice, which are here
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 ftand by; nor fhall you be fafer,
Than one condemned by the King's own mouth;
Thereon his execution fworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:
I saw his heart in's face.
(7) Cam.

Give me thy hand;

Swear his Thought over

By each particular Star in Heaven, &c.] The Tranfpofition of a fingle Letter reconciles this Paffage to good Senfe; which is not fo, as the Text stands in all the printed Copies. Polixenes, in the preceding Speech, had been laying the deepest Imprecations on himself, if he had ever abus'd Leontes in any Familiarity with his Queen. To which Camillo very pertinently replies.

Swear this though over, &c.

i. e. Sir, Though you should proteft your Innocence never fo often, and call every Star and Saint in Heaven to witness to your Adjuration; yet Jealoufy is fo rooted in my Mafter's Bofom, that All you can fay and fwear will have no Force to remove it.

VOL. III.

G

Be

Be pilot to me, and thy Places fhall

Still neighbour mine. My fhips are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago.This jealoufie

Is for a precious creature; as fhe'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
Profefs'd to him; why, his revenges muft

In That be made more bitter. Fear o'er-fhades 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 refpect 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 pofterns: please your Highness, To take the urgent hour. Come, Sir, away. [Exeunt.

A CT II.

SCENE, the Palace.

Enter Hermione, Mamillius, and Ladies.

T

HERMIONE.

AKE the boy to you; he so troubles me,
'Tis paft enduring.

1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord.

Shall I be your play-fellow?

Mam. No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my fweet lord?

Mam. You'll kifs me hard, and fpeak to me as if

I were a baby ftill; I love You better.

2 Lady. And why fo, my lord?

Mam.

Mam. Not for because

Your brows are blacker; (yet black brows, they fay,
Become fome women beft; so 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 be your eye-brows?

1 Lady. Blue, my lord.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I've 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 shall Prefent our fervices to a fine new Prince

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

2 Lady. She is fpread of late

Into a goodly bulk; (good time encounter her!)
Her. What wifdom ftirs amongst you? come, Sir,

now

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

And tell's a Tale.

Mam. Merry, or fad, fhall't be?
Her. As merry as you

will.

Mam. A fad Tale's beft for Winter.

I have one of fprights and goblins.
Her. Let's have That, good Sir.

Come on, fit down. Come on, and do your best

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

Her. Nay, come fit down; then on.

Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard;

foftly:

Yond crickets fhall not hear it.

I will tell it

Her. Come on then, and give't me in mine ear.

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, and Lords.

Leo. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never

G 2

Saw

Saw I men fcowr 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 fo 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

Th' abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his fides
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and feen the

fpider.

Camillo was his help in this, his Pander:

There is a plot against my life, my Crown;
All's true, that is miftrufted: that falfe Villain,
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him:
He hath discover'd my defign, and I

Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick

For them to play at will: how came the pofterns
So cafily open?

Lord. By his great authority,

Which often hath no lefs prevail'd than fo
On your Command.

Leo. I know't too well.

Give me the boy; I'm glad, you did not nurfe him: Though he does bear fome figns of me, yet you Have too much blood in him.

Her: What is this, Sport?

Leo. Bear the boy hence, he fhall not come about her; Away with him, and let her fport her felf

With that she's big with: for 'tis Polixenes

Has made thee fwell thus.

Her. But I'd fay, he had not;

And, I'll be worn, you would believe my faying,
Howe'er you lean to th' nayward.

Leo. You, my lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about
To fay, fhe is a goodly lady, and

The juftice of your hearts will thereto add,