now.

instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot show 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

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 seemed to be together, though absent: shook hands, as over a vast ? ; and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves !

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

very
well
agree
with
you

in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physicks the subjects, 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? 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 in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MA

MILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the wat’ry star have 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 cipher, Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, With one we-thank-you, many thousands more That go

before it. Leon.

Stay your thanks awhile ;
And pay them when you part.
Pol.

Sir, that's to-morrow.
I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance,
I
Or breed upon our absence: That may blow
No sneaping 4 winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd
To tire your royalty.
Leon.

We are tougher, brother, Than

you can put us to't. Pol.

No longer stay.
Leon. One seven-night longer.
Pol.

Very sooth, to-morrow.
Leon. We'll part the time between's then : and

in that I'll no gain-saying. Pol.

Press me not, 'beseech you, so : There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'the

Were there necessity in your request, although
”Twere needful I denied 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,
Farewell, our brother.

Leon. Tongue-tied, 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.
Leon.

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 say so, and he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. -
Yet of your royal presence [To POLixenes.] I'll

adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia You take my lord, I'll give him my commission, To let him there a month, behind the gest 5 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. Her. Nay, but you will. Pol.

I

may not, verily. Her. Verily! You put me off with limber vows: But I, Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with

oaths,

5 Gests were the names of the stages where the King appointed to lie, during a royal progress.

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,
Not like a guest ; so you

shall

pay your fees, When you depart, and save your thanks. How say

you? 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, Than you to punish. Her.

Not your gaoler then, But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were

boys;
You were pretty lordlings7 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 sun,

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 pursued that life,
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,
Hereditary ours.
Her.

By this we gather,
You have tripp'd since.

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. Her.

Grace to boot! Of this make no conclusion; lest

you say, Your queen

and I are 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 slipp'd not With any

but with us. Leon.

Is he won yet?
Her. He'll stay, my lord.
Leon.

At my request, he would not.
Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok’st
To better purpose.
Her.

Never ? Leon.

Never, but once. Her. What ? have I twice said well ? when was't

before ? I pr’ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and make As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying

tongueless,
Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages :

You
may
ride

us,
With one soft kiss, a thousand furlongs, ere
With spur we heat an acre. But to the goal ;
My last good deed was, to entreat his stay ;
What was my first; it has an elder sister,
Or I mistake you: 0, would her name were Grace!
But once before I spoke to the purpose: When ?
Nay, let me have't, I long.
Leon.

Why, that was when Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to

death, Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,