I lov'd him, as in honour he requir'd ;

With such a kind of love, as might become
A lady like me; with a love, even such,

So, and no other, as yourself commanded:

Which not to have done, I think, had been in me Both disobedience and ingratitude,

To you, and towards your friend; whose love had spoke,

Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely,
That it was your's. Now, for conspiracy,

I know not how it tastes, though it be dish'd
For me to try how: all I know of it,

Is, that Camillo was an honest man;

And, why he left your court, the gods themselves (Wotting no more than I) are ignorant.

Leo. You knew of his departure, as you know have underta'en to do in his absence.

What you

Her. Sir,

You speak a language that I understand not:
My life stands in the level of your dreams,
Which I'll lay down.

Leo. Your actions are my dreams;

You had a bastard by Pólixenes,

100

110

And I but dream'd it.-As you were past all shame
(Those of your fact are so), so past all truth;
Which to deny, concerns more than avails: for as
Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself,
No father owning it (which is, indeed,
More criminal in thee than it), so thou

Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage 120 Look for no less than death.

Her. Sir, spare your threats;

The bug, which you would fright me with, I seek,
To me can life be no commodity :

The crown and comfort of my life, your favour,
I do give lost; for I do feel it gone,

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But know not how it went. My second joy,
The first-fruits of my body, from his presence
I am barr'd, like one infectious. My third comfort,
Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast
The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth,
Hal'd out to murder: Myself on every post
Proclaim'd a strumpet; with immodest hatred
The child-bed privilege deny'd, which 'longs
To women of all fashion;-Lastly, hurried
Here to this place, i'the open air, before
I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege,
Tell me what blessings I have here alive,
That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed:
But yet hear this; mistake me not ;-No life; 140
I prize it not a straw :-but for mine honour
(Which I would free), if I shall be condemn'd
Upon surmises (all proofs sleeping else,
But what your jealousies awake); I tell you,
'Tis rigour, and not law. Your honours all,
I do refer me to the oracle;

Apollo be my judge.

Enter

Enter DION, and CLEOMENES.

Lord. This your request

Is altogether just; therefore bring forth,
And in Apollo's name, his oracle.

Her. The emperor of Russia was my father:
Oh, that he were alive, and here beholding
His daughter's trial that he did but see
The flatness of my misery; yet with eyes
Of pity, not revenge!

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Offi. You here shall swear upon the sword of justice,

That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have

Been both at Delphos ; and from thence have brought
This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd

Of great Apollo's priest; and that since then
You have not dar'd to break the holy seal,
Nor read the secrets in't.

Cleo. Dion. All this we swear.

Leo. Break up the seals, and read.

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Offi. Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that, which is lost, be not found.

Lords. Now blessed be the great Apollo!

Her. Praised!

Leo. Hast thou read truth?

170

Offi. Ay, my lord, even so as it is here set down. Leo. There is no truth at all i'the oracle: The session shall proceed; this is mere falsehood.

Enter

Enter Servant.

Ser. My lord the king, the king!

Leo. What is the business?

Ser. O sir, I shall be hated to report it.

The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear
Of the queen's speed, is gone.

Leo. How! gone?

Ser. Is dead.

180

Leo. Apollo's angry; and the heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice.How now there?

[HERMIONE faints.

Paul. This news is mortal to the queen: look

down,

And see what death is doing.

Leo. Take her hence;

Her heart is but o'er-charg'd; she will recover.

[Exeunt PAULINA, and Ladies, with HERMIONE. I have too much believ'd mine own suspicion 'Beseech you, tenderly apply to her Some remedies for life.--Apollo, pardon My great prophaneness 'gainst thine oracle lI'll reconcile me to Polixenes;

New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo ;
Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy:
For being transported by my jealousies
To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose
Camillo for the minister, to poison

My friend Polixenes; which had been done,

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But

204

But that the good mind of Camillo tardy'd
My swift command; tho' I with death, and with
Reward, did threaten, and encourage him,
Not doing it, and being done: he (most humane,
And fill'd with honour), to my kingly guest
Unclasp'd my practice; quit his fortunes here,
Which you knew great; and to the certain hazard
Of all incertainties himself commended,

No richer than his honour: How he glisters
Through my dark rust! and how his piety
Does my deeds make the blacker!

Enter PAULINA.

Paul. Woc the while!

O, cut my lace; lest my heart, cracking it,

Break too!

Lord. What fit is this, good lady?

210

Paul. What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me?

What wheels? racks fires? What flaying? boiling?

burning

In leads, or oils? what old, or newer, torture

Must I receive; whose every word deserves

To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny
Together working with thy jealousies,
Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle

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For girls of nine! O, think, what they have done,
And then run mad, indeed; stark mad! for all
Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it.
That thou betray'dst Polixenes, 'twas nothing;
That did but shew thee, of a fool, inconstant,

And