520 And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune In more than this deed does require and blessing, 531 Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! [Exit, with the Child. Leo. No; I'll not rear Another's issue. Enter a Messenger. Mes. Please your highness, posts, From those you sent to the oracle, are come An hour since. Cleomenes and Dion, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, Hasting to the court. Lord. So please you, sir, their speed Hath been beyond account. Leo. Twenty-three days 540 They have been absent: 'Tis good speed; foretels, The great Apollo suddenly will have The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; Our Our most disloyal lady: for, as she hath Leave me, 550 [Exeunt severally. ACT III. Scene 1. A Part of Sicily, near the Sea-Side, Enter CLEOMENES, and DION, with Attendants. Cleomenes. THE climate's delicate; the air most sweet; Fertile the isle; the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears. Dion. I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits (Methinks, I se should term them), and the reve rence Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly Cleo. But of all, the burst And the ear-deafning voice o'the oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surpris'd my sense, That I was nothing. Dion. If the event o'the journey Prove as successful to the queen (8 be't so!) 10 As it hath been to us, rare, pleasant, speedy, Cleo. Great Apollo, Turn all to the best! These proclamations, So forcing faults upon Hermione, I little like. Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear or end the business: When the oracle 20 Even then will rush to knowledge. Go- fresh horses ; And gracious be the issue! [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Court of Justice. LEONTES, Lords, and Officers, appear properly seated. Leo. This session (to our great grief, we pro nounce), Even pushes 'gainst our heart. The party try'd, Proceed in justice; which shall have due course, -Produce the prisoner. 30 Offi. It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen Appear in person here in court.-Silence! HERMIONE is brought in, guarded; PAULINA, and Ladies, attending. Leo. Read the indictment. 38 Offi. Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia, and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband: the pretence whereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night. Her. Since what I am to say, must be but that Which contradicts my accusation; and The testimony on my part, no other But what comes from myself; it shall scarce boot me To say, Not guilty: mine integrity, Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, Tremble at patience.-You, my lord, best know, Who least will seem to do so, my past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, Eiij бо Than Than history can pattern, though devis'd, A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, şir, before Polixenes Have strain'd, to appear thus? if one jot beyond Leo. I ne'er heard yet, That any of those bolder vices wanted Her. That's true enough ; Tho' 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. Leo. You will not own it. Her. More than mistress of, What comes to me in name of fault, I must not At all acknowledge. For Polixenes (With whom I am accus'd), I do confess, 70 80 I lov'd |