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His execution sworn.

Pol.

I do believe thee:

I saw his heart in 's face. Give me thy hand :
Be pilot to me, and thy places shall

Still neighbour 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 dishonoured by a man which ever

Professed to him, why, his revenge 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! 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 posterus. Please your highness

To take the urgent hour

Come, sir away!

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-Sicilia. Within the Palace of Leontes.

Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies.

Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring.

1 Lady.

Come, my gracious lord:

No, I'll none of you.

Shall I be your playfellow ?

Mam.

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 a half-moon made with a pen.

2 Lady.

Who taught you this?

Mam. I learned it out of women's faces.-Pray

now,

What colour are your eyebrows?

1 Lade

42

THE WINTER'S TALE.

Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's

nose

That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

Hark ye.

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; now

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

And tell's a tale.

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Merry, or sad, shall't be?

A sad tale's best for winter.

Let's have that, good sir.

I have one of sprites and goblins.

IIer.

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.

T

Yond crickets shall not hear it.

Her.

And give 't me in mine ear.

Come on then,

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

1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them:

never

Saw I men scour so on their way.

Even to their ships.

Leon.

I eyed them

How blest am I

In my just censure, in my true opinion!—
Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accursed
In being so blest !-There may be in the cup
A spider 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, kis pander!

There is a plot against my life, my crown:

All's true that is mistrusted :-that false villain,

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44

THE WINTER'S TALE.

He has discovered my design, and I

Remain a pinched thing; 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

command. your

Leon.

I know 't too well.

Give me the boy. [To HERMIONE.] 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 't is 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
To say, she is a goodly lady,' and

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