60 THE WINTER'S TALE. As ever oak, or stone, was sound. Leon. A callat Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her hus band 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 the old proverb to your charge, The trick of 's frown, his forehead; nay, the valley, The pretty dimples of his chin and cheek; his smiles; The very mould and frame of hand, nail, finger.— And thou, good goddess Nature, which hast made it So like to him that got it, if thou hast The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours No yellow in 't; lest she suspect, as he does, Her children not her husband's. Leon. A gross hag! I care not: It is an heretic that makes the fire, Not she which burns in 't. I'll not call tyrant ; But this most cruel usage of your queen Not able to produce more accusation you Than your own weak-hinged fancy-something savours Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you, Yea, scandalous to the world. Leon. On your allegiance, Out of the chamber with her! Were I a tyrant, If she did know me one. Away with her! her gone. A better guiding spirit -What needs these bandal 62 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, straight. Take it up Within this hour bring me word 't is done- The bastard brains with these my proper For thou sett'st on thy wife. Ant. hands I did not, sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in 't. 1 Lord. We can my royal liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. Leon. You are liars all. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better THE WINTER'S TALE. So to esteem of us; and on our knees we beg, 63 Past, and to come, that you do change this pur pose; 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.-[To ANTIGONUS.] You, sir, come you hither; You, that have been so tenderly officious With Lady Margery, your midwife, there, venture Anything, my lord, That my ability may undergo, And nobleness impose: at least, thus much; I'll pawn the little blood which I have left, To save the innocent; anything possible. Leon. It shall be possible. Swear by this sword, Thou wilt perform my bidding. Ant 64 THE WINTER'S TALE. Leon. Mark and perform it, seest thou, for the fail Of any point in 't shall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongued wife, As by strange fortune It came to us, I do in justice charge thee, Ant. I swear to do this, though a present death In more than this deed doth require !—And blessing Against this cruelty fight on thy side, |