Paul. I pray you now
Call her: Withdraw yourselves.

Gaol. And, madam, I must
Be present at your conference.
Paul. Well; be it so, pr'ythee.

[Exeunt Gent.

Here is such ado

[Exit Gaoler.

To make no stain a stain, as passes colouring.

Enter EMILIA.

Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?
Emil. 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, deliver'd.
Paul. A boy?

Emil. 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.

Paul. I dare be sworn :

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These dangerous, unsafe lunes o'the king! beshrew

them!

He must be told on't, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best; I'll tak't upon me.
If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blister;
And never to my red-look'd anger be
The trumpet any more: Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen;
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll shew't the king, and undertake to be

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Her

Her advocate to th' loudest. We do not know,

How he may soften at the sight o' the child;

The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades, when speaking fails.

Emil. Most worthy madam,

Your honour and your goodness is so evident,
That your free undertaking cannot miss

A thriving issue: there is no lady living

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So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I'll presently

Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this design;
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be deny'd.

Paul. Tell her, Emilia,

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I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,
As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted
I shall do good.

Emil. Now be you blest for it!

I'll to the queen: please you come something nearer. Gaol. Madam, if't please the queen to send the

babe,

I know not what I shall incur, to pass it,

Having no warrant.

Paul. You need not fear it, sir:

The child was prisoner to the womb; and is
By law and process of great nature, thence
Free'd and enfranchis'd: not a party to
The anger of the king; nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.
Diij

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Gaol.

Gaol. I do believe it.

Paul. Do not you fear; upon mine honour, I Will stand betwixt you and danger.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III,

Changes to the Palace. Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and other Attendants.

Leo. Nor night, nor day, no rest :

weakness

It is but

To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if
The cause were not in being;-part o'the cause,
She, the adultress ;-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 fire, a moiety of my rest
Might come to me again. Who's there?

Enter an Attendant.

Atten. My lord?

Leo. How does the boy?

Atten. He took good rest to-night; 'tis hop'd,

His sickness is discharg'd.

Leo. To see his nobleness!

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply;
Fasten'd, and fix'd the shame on't in himself;

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320

Threw

Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,

And down-right languish'd. Leave me solely: go,

See how he fares.

[Exit Attendant.

-Fy, fy! no thought of him ;—

The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty;
And in his parties, his alliance-let him be,

Until a time may serve.

Take it on her.

For present vengeance,

Camillo and Polixenes

330

Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow : They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor Shall she, within my power.

Enter PAULINA, with a Child.

Lord. You must not enter.

Paul. 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.

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Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded,

None should come at him.

Paul. Not so hot, good sir;

I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,
That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh
At each his needless heavings;-such as you
Nourish the cause of his awaking: I

Do come with words, as med'cinal, as true;

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Honest,

Honest, as either; to purge him of that humour,

That presses him from sleep.

Leo. What noise there, ho?

Paul. 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; I knew she would.

Ant. I told her so, my lord,

On your displeasure's peril, and on mine,
She should not visit you.

Leo. What? can'st not rule her?

Paul. From all dishonesty, he can in this
(Unless he take the course that you have done,
Commit me, for committing honour), trust it,
He shall not rule me.

Ant. Lo-you now; you hear!

When she will take the rein, I let her run,
But she'll not stumble.

Paul. Good my liege, I come

And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dares
Less appear so, in comforting your evils,
Than such as most seems your's. I say, I come
From your good queen.

Leo. Good queen!

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370

Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen! I say,

good queen;

380 And