Is not this suit of mine,—that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm
Is creeping toward me; how far off

, how near;
Which way to be prevented, if to be;
If not, how best to bear it.
Cam.

Sir, I'll tell you;
Since I am charged in honor, and by him
That I think honorable. Therefore, mark my counsel ;
Which must be even as swiftly followed, as
I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me
Cry, lost, and so good-night.
Pol.

On, good Camillo.
Cam. I am appointed him to murder you."
Pol. By whom, Camillo ?
Cam.

By the king
Pol.

For what? Cań. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he

swears,

As he had seen't, or been an instrument
To vice? you to't,—that you have touched his queen
Forbiddenly.

Pol. 0, then my best blood turn
To an infected jelly; and my name
Be yoked with his, that did betray the best !3
Turn then my freshest reputation to
A savor, that may strike the dullest nostril

,
Where I arrive ; and my approach be shunned,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection
That e'er was heard, or read !
Cam.

Swear his thought over
By each particular star in heaven, and
By all their influences, you may as well
Forbid the sea for to obey the moon,

1 “I am appointed him to murder you;" I am the person appointed to murder you.

As, or by oath, remove, or counsel, shake
The fabric of his folly; whose foundation
Is piled upon his faith, and will continue
The standing of his body.
Pol.

How should this grow?
Cam. I know not ; but, I am sure, 'tis safer to
Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born.
If therefore you dare trust my honesty,-
That lies inclosed in this trunk, which you
Shall bear along impawned,-away to-night.
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will, by twos, and threes, at several posterns,
Clear them o' the city. For myself, I'll put

o
My fortunes to your service, which are here
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain :
For, by the honor of my parents,

I
Have uttered truth ; which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer
Than one condemned by the king's own mouth,

thereon
His execution sworn.
Pol.

I do believe thee :
I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand;
Be pilot to me, and thy places shall
Still neighbor mine. My ships are ready, and
My people did expect my hence departure
Two days ago.—This jealousy
Is for a precious creature; as she's rare,
Must it be great ; and, as his person's mighty,
Must it be violent; and as he does conceive
He is dishonored by a man which ever
Professed to him, why, his revenges must
In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me;
Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing

Of his ill-ta’en suspicion !1 Come, Camillo;
I will respect thee as a father, if
Thou bear’st 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, sir, away.

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I. The same.

Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies.
Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,
'Tis past 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 kiss me hard; and speak to me as if I were a baby still.- I love you better. .

2 Lady. And why so, my lord ? Mam.

Not for because Your brows are blacker ; yet black brows, they say, Become some women best; so that there be not Too much hair there, but in a semicircle, Or half-moon made with a pen. 2 Lady.

Who taught you this? Mam. I learned it out of women's faces.-Pray

а

1 Johnson might well say, “I can make nothing of the following words:

and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing

Of his ill-ta'en suspicion.'”
He suspected the line which connected them to the rest to have been lost.

VOL. III. 4

9

1 Lady:

Blue, my lord. Mam. Nay, that's a mock; I have seen a lady's

nose

Hark ye ;

That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

2 Lady. The queen, your mother, rounds apace : we shall Present our services to a fine new prince, One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us, If we would have you. 1 Lady.

She is spread of late Into a goodly bulk. Good time encounter her! Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you ? Come, sir,

1

now

I am for you again. Pray you, sit by us,
And tell's a tale.
Мат.

Merry, or sad, shall’t be?
Her. As merry as you will.
Mam.

A sad tale's best for winter.
I have one of sprites and goblins.
Her.

Let's have that, good sir. Come on, sit down.—Come on, and do your best

, To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful at it.

Mam. There was a man,-
Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on.

Mam. Dwelt by a churchyard ;-I will tell it softly;
Yon crickets shall not hear it.
Her.

Come on then, And give't me in mine ear.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and others. Leon. Was he met there? his train ?

his train ? Camillo with him? 1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them;

I

never

Saw I men scour so on their way. I eyed them
Even to their ships.
Leon.

How blessed am I
In my just censure !1 in my true opinion -

Alack, for lesser knowledge!1 How accursed,
In being so blest !—There may be in the cup
A spider 2 steeped, and one may drink; depart,
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present
The abhorred ingredient to his eye; make known,
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides
With violent hefts."--I have drunk, and seen the

spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander.—
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true that is mistrusted.—That false villain,
Whom I employed, was pre-employed by him:
He has discovered my design, and I
Remain a pinched thing ; 4 yea, a very trick
For them to play at will.—How came the posterns
So easily open ?

1 Lord. By his great authority ;
Which often hath no less prevailed than so,
On your command.
Leon.

I know't too well.-
Give me the boy; I am glad you did not nurse him.
Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.
Her.

What is this? sport? Leon. Bear the boy hence; he shall not come about

her ;
Away with him ;—and let her sport herself
With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes
Has made thee swell thus.
Her.

But I'd say, he had not, And, I'll be sworn, you would believe my saying, Howe'er

you

lean to the nayward. Leon.

You, my lords, Look on her, mark her well; be but about