They have been absent: 'tis good speed;

foretells

The great Apollo suddenly will have

The truth of this appear.

lords;

.

Prepare you,

Summon a session, that we may arraign
Our most disloyal lady; for, as she hath
Been publicly accused, so shall she have
A just and open trial. While she lives
My heart will be a burthen to me.

me,

And think upon my bidding.

Leave

[exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I. A sea-port in Sicilia.

Enter CLEOMENES and DION.

Cleo. The climate's delicate, the air most

sweet,

Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassing

The common praise it bears.

I shall report,

Dion. For most it caught me, the celestial habits, Methinks I so should term them, and the

reverence

Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice!
How ceremonious, solemn and unearthly
It was i' the offering!

Cleo.

But of all, the burst

And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle, Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense, That I was nothing.

Dion.

If the event o' the journey

70

Prove as successful to the queen,-O be 't

so!

As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy, The time is worth the use on 't.

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,

Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up,

Shall the contents discover, something rare

Even then will rush to knowledge.

fresh horses!

And gracious be the issue!

Go:

[exeunt.

SCENE II. A court of Justice.

Enter LEONTES, Lords, and Officers.

Leon. This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce,

Even pushes 'gainst our heart: the party tried

The daughter of a king, our wife, and one Of us too much beloved. Let us be clear'd

Of being tyrannous, since we so openly

Proceed in justice, which shall have due

course,

Even to the guilt or the purgation.

Produce the prisoner.

Off. It is his highness' pleasure that the queen

Appear in person here in court. Silence

Enter HERMIONE guarded; PAULINA and Ladies attending.

Leon. Read the indictment.

Off. [reads] 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,

Be so received.

But thus, if powers divine

Behold our human actions, as they do,

I doubt not then but innocence shall make False accusation blush, and tyranny Tremble at patience.

know,

You, my lord, best

Who least will seem to do so, my past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, As I am now unhappy; which is more Than history can pattern, though devised And play'd to take spectators. For behold

me

A fellow of the royal bed, which owe

A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter,

The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing

To prate and talk for life and honour 'fore Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it