Pol. How caught of me? Make me not fighted like the bafilisk. I've look'd on thousands, who have fped the better Clerk-like experienc'd, (which no less adorns In ignorant concealment. Cam. I may not answer. Pol. A fickness caught of me, and yet I well? Which Honour does acknowledge, (whereof the leaft What Incidency thou doft guess of harm Is creeping towards me; how far off, how near; 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. 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 Pol. Oh, then, my best blood turn To an infected gelly, and my name Be yoak'd with his, that did betray the best! A A favour, that may ftrike the dulleft noftril Cam. Swear this though over (7) Pol. How fhould this grow? 'S Cam. I know not; but, I'm fure, 'tis fafer to Have utter'd truth; which if you feek to prove, Pol. I do believe thee: 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 Is for a precious creature; as fhe's rare, In That be made more bitter. Fear o'er-fhades me: 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, 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, 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!) now I am for you again.. Pray you fit by us, And tell's a Tale. Mam. Merry, or fad, fhall't be? will. Mam. A fad Tale's beft for Winter. I have one of fprights and goblins. 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 Leo: How bleft am I In my just cenfure! in my true opinion! Th' abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known fpider. Camillo was his help in this, his Pander: There is a plot against my life, my Crown; Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick For them to play at will: how came the pofterns Lord. By his great authority, Which often hath no lefs prevail'd than fo 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, Leo. You, my lords, Look on her, mark her well; be but about The juftice of your hearts will thereto add, |