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That I think honourable: therefore mark my counsel,
Which must be ev'n as swiftly follow'd as

I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry loft, and fo good night.

Pol. On good Camillo.

Cam. I am appointed, fir, to murder you.

Pol. By whom, Camillo?

Cam. By the king.

Pol. For what?

Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, As he had seen't, or been an instrument

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have touch'd his queen

Pol. O, then my best blood turn
To an infected gelly, and my name
Be yok'd with his that did betray the best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to

A favour, that may ftrike the dullest noftril
Where I arrive; and my approach be shun'd,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'ft infection
That e'er was heard, or read!

Cam. Swear this though over

By each particular star in heaven, and
By all their influences; you may as well!
Forbid the fea for to obey the moon,
As or by oath remove, or counsel fhake
The fabrick of his folly, whose foundation
Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.

Pol. How fhould this grow ?

Cam. I know not; but, I'm fure, 'tis fafer to
Avoid what's grown, than queftion how 'tis born.
If therefore you dare truft my honesty
That lies enclosed in this trunk, which you
Shall bear along impawn'd, away to-night!
Your followers I will whifper to the business,

And

And will by twoes, and threes, at feveral pofterns,
Clear them o'th' city. For myself, I'll put
My fortunes to your service, which are here
By this discovery loft. Be not uncertain,
For, by the honour of my parents, I

Have utter'd truth; which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by't; nor fhall you be safer
Than one condemned by the king's own mouth,
His execution fworn.

Pol. I do believe thee:

I faw his heart in's face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places fhall

Still neighbour mine: my fhips are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago. This jealousy

Is for a precious creature: as fhe's rare,
Muft it be great; and, as his perfon's mighty,
Muft it be violent; and, as he does conceive
He is difhonour'd by a man which ever
Profefs'd to him, why, his revenges must

In that be made more bitter. Fear o'erfhades me:
Good expedition be my friend! Heav'n comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing]
Of his ill-ta'en fufpicion! Come, Camillo,

I will respect thee as a father, if

Thou bear'ft my life off hence. Let us avoid.

Cam. It is in mine authority to command

The keys of all the posterns: please your highness
To take the urgent hour. Come, fir, away.

[Exeunt.

ACT

***

TA

ACT II. SCENE I.

The SCENE continues.

Enter Hermione, Mamillus, and Ladies.

HERMION E.

AKE the boy to you; he fo troubles me,
'Tis paft enduring.

1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord,

Shall I be your playfellow?

Mam. No, I'll none of you.

1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord?

Mam. You'll kifs me hard, and speak to me, as if I were a baby ftill: I love you better.

2 Lady. And why fo, pray, my lord?

Mam. Not for because

Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say,
Become fome women beft, so that there be not

Too much hair there, but in a femicircle,

Like a half-moon made with a pen.

2 Lady. Who taught you this?

Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces: pray now, What colour be your eyebrows?

I Lady. Blue, my lord.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I've seen a lady's nofe That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

1 Lady. Hark ye,

The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall
Present our fervices, to a fine new prince

One of these days, and then you'll wanton with us,
If we would have you.

2 Lady.

2 Lady. She is fpread of late

Into a goodly bulk; good time encounter her!

Her. What wifdom stirs amongst you? Come, fir, now

I am for you again: pray you, fit by us,

And tell's a tale.

Mam. Merry, or fad, fhall't be?

Her. As merry as you will.

Mam. A fad tale's beft

For winter: I have one of sprights and goblins.
Her. Let us have that, good fir.

Come on, fit down: come on, and do your best,

To fright me with your sprights: you're powerful at it.
Mam. There was a man-

Her. Nay, come, fit down; then on.

Mam. Dwelt by a churchyard: I will tell it foftly: Yond crickets fhall not hear it.

Her. Come on then, and give it me in mine ear.

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Enter Leontes, Antigonus, and Lords.

Leo. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?
Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never

Saw I men fcour fo on their way: I ey'd them
On even to their fhips.

Leo. How bleft am I

In my juft cenfure! in my true opinion!
Alack, for leffer knowledge! how accurs'd
In being fo bleft! There may be in the cup
A fpider fteep'd, and one may drink, depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one prefent

Th' abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his fides
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and feen the spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander:

VOL. II.

Uuu

There

There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true that is mistrusted: that false villain,
Whom I employed, was pre-employ'd by him:
He hath discover'd my defign, and I
Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick
For them to play at will: how came the posterns
So eafily open?

Lord. By his great authority;

Which hath prevailed oftentimes no less
Than fo on your command.

Leo. I know't too well.

Give me the boy; I'm glad, you did not nurse him:
Though he does bear fome figns of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.

Her. What is this? fport?

Leo. Bear the boy hence, he shall not come about her; Away with him: and let her sport herself

With that she's big with: 'tis Polixenes

Has made thee fwell thus.

Her. I'd but fay, he had not;

And I'll be fworn you would believe my saying,

Howe'er you lean to th'nayward.

Leo. You, my lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about

To fay, fhe is a goodly lady, and

The justice of your hearts will thereto add,

'Tis pity fhe's not honeft, honourable:

Praise her but for this her without-door form,

Which, on my faith, deserves high speech, and straight
The shrug, the hum, or ha, these petty brands
That calumny doth use, o, I am out,

That mercy doth, (for calumny will sear

Virtue itself) these fhrugs, these hums, and ha's,
When you have faid fhe's goodly, come between
Ere you can say, she's honeft: but be't known,

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