sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us.

Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely. 18

Arch. Believe me, I speak, as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seem'd to be together, though absent; shook hands, as over a Vast; and embrac'd, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

32

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeak. able comfort of your young prince Mamillius: it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came in to my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: It is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physicks the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches, ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man.

Arch. Would they else be content to die?

42

Cam.

Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live.

Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches 'till he had one.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Room of State. Enter LEONTES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, POLIXENES, and Attendants.

Pol. Nine changes of the watry star hath been The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne Without a burden: time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cypher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply

With one, we thank you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leo. Stay your thanks a while;

And pay them, when you part.

Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, Or breed upon our absence; that may blow

50

61

No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, "This is put forth too truly." Besides, I have stay'd

To tire your royalty.

Leo. We are tougher, brother,

Than you can put us to't.

Pol.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leo. One seven-night longer.

Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow.

Leo. We'll part the time between's then; and in

that

I'll no gain-saying.

Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so;

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There is no tongue that moves; none, none i'the world,

So soon as your's, could win me: so it should now,
Were there necessity in your request, altho'
'Twere needful I deny'd it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder,
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay,
To you a charge and trouble: to save both,
Farewel, our brother.

80

Leo. Tongue-ty'd, our queen? speak you.
Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace,

... until

You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You,

sir,

Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure,
All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Leo. Well said, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong:

But let him say so then, and let him go;

But let him swear so, and he shall not stay;

We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

Yet

Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure

2 [TO POLIXENES.

The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia

You take my lord, I'll give you my commission, 13
To let him there a month, behind the gest
Prefix'd for his parting: yet (good deed), Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind
What lady she her lord.-You'll stay?
Pol. No, madam. :ɔɔl. 10
Her. Nay, but you will.

Pol. I may not, verily, gnich (IA

:

Her. Verily, „leaving sa b;" al

You put me off with limber vows: But I,

100

Tho' you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet say, "Sir, no going. Verily,

"You shall not go ;" a lady's verily is

As potent as a lord's. Will you go, yet?
Force me to keep you as a prisoner, J
Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees,

110

When you depart, and save your thanks. Hów say

My prisoner? or my guest by your dread verily,

One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your guest then, madam :

To be your prisoner, should import offending ;
Which is for me less easy to commit,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you
Of
my lord's tricks, and your's, when you were boys :
B

You

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You were pretty lordings then?

Pol. We were, fair queen,

Two lads, that thought there was no more behind, But such a day to-morrow as to-day,

And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o'the two? Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i' the

And bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd,
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill-doing; no, nor dream❜d,'
That any did: Had we pursu'd that life,

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And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd› With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,

Her. By this we gather,

You have tript sincero-in

Pol. O my most sacred lady,

Temptations have since then been born to us: for
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl;
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young play-fellow.

Of this make no conclusión; lest you say,
Your queen and Lare devils. Yet, go on ;-
The offences we have made you do, we'll answer;
If you first sinn'd with us, and that with us
You did continue fault, and that you slipt not,"
With any but with us.

140

Leo.