The bug, which you would fright me with, I seek. The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, But know not how it went: My second joy, And first-fruits of my body, from his presence, 1 I am barr'd, like one infectious: My third com fort, 2 Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast, 3 The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth, Haled out to murder: Myself on every post Proclaim'd a strumpet; With immodest hatred, The child-bed privilege denied, 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, 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. 1 Lord. This your request Is altogether just: therefore, bring forth, [Exeunt certain Officers * Starr'd most unluckily,] i. e. born under an inauspicious planet. 3 - strength of limit.] Strength to pass the limits of the child-bed chamber. The flatness of my misery; yet with Of pity, not revenge! eyes Re-enter Officers, with CLEOMENES and DION. Offi. You here shall swear upon this 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 Cleo. Dion. All this we swear. Leon. Break up the seals, and read. Offi. [Reads.] 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. Leon. Hast thou read truth? Offi. As it is here set down. Praised! Ay, my lord; even so Leon. There is no truth at all i'the oracle: The sessions shall proceed; this is mere falsehood. Enter a Servant, hastily. Serv. My lord the king, the king! Leon. What is the business? Serv. O sir, I shall be hated to report it: The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear * The flatness of my misery;] That is, how low, how flat I am laid by my calamity. JOHNSON. Do strike at my injustice. [HERMIONE faints.] How now there? -Look Paul. This news is mortal to the queen :-) down, And see what death is doing. Leon. Take her hence: Her heart is but o'ercharg'd; she will recover.— Some remedies for life.-Apollo, pardon [Exeunt PAULINA and Ladies, with HERM. My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle!— I'll reconcile me to Polixenes; New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo; 1 My friend Polixenes: which had been done, Reward, did threaten and encourage him, "Of the queen's speed,] Of the event of the queen's trial: so we still say, he sped well or ill. JOHNSON. 6 commended,] i. e. committed. Thorough my rust! and how his piety Paul. Re-enter PAULINA. Woe the while! O, cut my lace; lest my heart, cracking it, 1 Lord. What fit is this, good lady? Paul. What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? What wheels? racks? fires? What flaying? boiling, Thou would'st have poison'd good Camillo's ho To have him kill a king; poor trespasses, ? Does my deeds make the blacker! This vehement retraction of Leontes, accompanied with the confession of more crimes than he was suspected of, is agreeable to our daily experience of the vicissitudes of violent tempers, and the eruptions of minds oppressed with guilt. JOHNSON. 8 Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's honour,] How should Paulina know this? No one had charged the King with this crime except himself, while Paulina was absent, attending on Hermione. The poet seems to have forgotten this. Would have shed water out of fire, ere don't :" Of the young prince; whose honourable thoughts heart That could conceive, a gross and foolish sire queen, The sweetest, dearest, creature's dead; and vengeance for❜t Not dropp'd down yet. 1 Lord. The higher powers forbid ! Paul. I say, she's dead: I'll swear't: if word, nor oath, Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring Leon. 1 Lord. Say no more; Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault though a devil Would have shed water out of fire, ere don't:] i. e. a devil would have shed tears of pity o'er the damned, ere he would have committed such an action. |