Do come with words as med'cinal as true; Honest, as either; to purge him of that humour. That presses him from sleep. Leon. What noise there, ho? Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference, About some gossips for your highness. Leon. How? Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus, I charg'd thee, that she should not come about me; I knew, she would. Ant. I told her so, my lord, What, canst not rule her? On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, Leon. Ant. When she will take the rein, I let her run; But she'll not stumble. Paul. Lo you now; you hear! Good my liege, I come, And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess Myself your loyal servant, your physician, Leon. Good queen! Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen: I say, good queen; And would by combat make her good, so were I A man, the worst about you. Force her hence. Leon. Paul. Let him, that makes but trifles of his eyes, First hand me: on mine own accord, I'll off; But, first, I'll do my errand.-The good queen, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. Leon. [Laying down the child. Out! A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o'door: Paul. Not so: I am as ignorant in that, as you In so entitling me: and no less honest Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, Leon. Traitors! Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard:Thou, dotard, [TO ANTIGONUS.] thou art woman-tir'd, unroosted By thy dame Partlet here,-take up the bastard; Take't up, I say; giv't to thy crone. Paul. Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou For ever Tak'st up the princess, by that forced baseness Which he has put upon't. Leon. He dreads his wife. Paul. So, I would, you did; then, 'twere past all doubt, You'd call your children yours. Leon. A nest of traitors! Nor I; nor any, Ant. I am none, by this good light. But one, that's here; and that's himself: for he The sacred honour of himself, his queen's, His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will not (For, as the case now stands, it is a curse Leon. A cállat, Of boundless tongue; who late hath beat her husband, And now baits me!-This brat is none of mine; It is the issue of Polixenes: Hence with it; and, together with the dam, Paul. It is yours; And, might we lay th' old proverb to your charge, The trick of his frown, his forehead; nay, the valley, The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours Her children not her husband's! Leon. And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, That wilt not stay her tongue. Ant. A gross hag! Hang all the husbands, That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Hardly one subject. Leon. Once more, take her hence. Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord Can do no more. Leon. Paul. I'll have thee burn'd. It is an heretick, that makes the fire, I care not: Not she, which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant, But this most cruel usage of your queen (Not able to produce more accusation Than your own weak-hing'd fancy,) something sa vours Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you, Yea, scandalous to the world. Leon. Out of the chamber with her. On your allegiance, Were I a tyrant, Where were her life? she durst not call me so, Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone, Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: Jove send her A better guiding spirit!-What need these hands?You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, Will never do him good, not one of you. So, so:-Farewell; we are gone. [Exit. Leon. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.My child? away with 't! even thou, that hast A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence, And see it instantly consum'd with fire; Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up straight: The bastard brains with these my proper hands: Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire; Ant. I did not, sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, 1 Lord. We can; my royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better credit; We have always truly serv'd you; and beseech So to esteem of us: And on our knees we beg, (As recompense of our dear services, Past, and to come,) that you do change this purpose; Which, being so horrible, so bloody, must Lead on to some foul issue: We all kneel. Leon. I am a feather for each wind that blows: Shall I live on, to see this bastard kneel And call me father? Better burn it now, Than curse it then. But, be it; let it live: It shall not neither.-You, sir, come you hither; [TO ANTIGONUS You, that have been so tenderly officious So sure as this beard's grey,-what will you adventure Ant. Any thing, my lord, And nobleness impose: at least, thus much; Leon. It shall be possible: Swear by this sword, Thou wilt perform my bidding. |