Though 't is a saying, sir, not due to me.

Leon. You will not own it.

Her.

More than mistress of,

Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not
At all acknowledge. For Polixenes-
With whom I am accused-I do confess,
I loved him as in honour he required,
With such a kind of love as might become
A lady like me; with a love, even such,
So and no other, as yourself commanded:
Which not to have done, I think, had been in me
Both disobedience and ingratitude

To you, and toward your friend, whose love had

spoke

Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely,

That it was yours.

Now, for conspiracy,

tastes; though it be dished

I know not how it

For me to try how all I know of it

Is, that Camillo was an honest man ;

And why he left your court the gods themselves, Wotting no more than I, are ignorant.

Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know What you have underta'en to do in 's absence. Her. Sir,

Which I'll lay down.

Leon.

Your actions are my dreams:

You had a bastard by Polixenes,

And I but dreamed it.-As you were past all shame,

-Those of your fact are so,- -so past all truth, Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as

Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself,
No father owning it—which is, indeed,
More criminal in thee than it,—so thou

Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage
Look for no less than death.

Her.

Sir, spare your threats :

The bug which you would fright me with I seek, To me can life be no commodity:

The crown and comfort of my life, your favour,

I do give lost; for I do feel it

But know not how it went.

gone,

My second joy,

And first-fruits of my body, from his presence

I am barred, like one infectious. My third comfort,
Starred most unluckily, is from my breast,

The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth,
Haled out to murder myself on every post
Proclaimed a strumpet: with immodest hatred,
The childbed privilege denied, which 'longs
To women of all fashion : lastly- hunnied

Here to this place, i' the open air, before
I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege,
Tell me what blessings I have here alive,
That I should fear to die? Therefore, proceed.
But yet hear this; mistake me not ;-no life,
I prize it not a straw; but for mine honour
Which I would free, if I shall be condemned
Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else
But what your jealousies awake, I tell you,
"T is rigour and not law.-Your honours all,
I do refer me to the oracle :

Apollo be my judge.

1 Lord.

This your request

Is altogether just. Therefore, bring forth,
And in Apollo's name, his oracle.

[Exeunt several Officers

Her. The Emperor of Russia was my father:
O! that he were alive, and here beholding
His daughter's trial; that he did but see
The flatness of my misery,-yet with eyes
Of pity, not revenge!

Re-enter Officers, with CLEOMENES and DION. Off. You here shall swear upon this sword of iustice

Been both at Delphos; and from thence have

brought

This sealed-up oracle, by the hand delivered
Of great Apollo's priest; and that, since then,
You have not dared to break the holy seal,
Nor read the secrets in 't.

Cleo., Dion

All this we swear.

Leon. Break up the seals, and read.

Off. [Reads.] Hermione is chaste; Polixenes blameless; Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent babe truly begotten: and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found!'

Lords. Now, blesséd be the great Apollo !

Leon. There is no truth at all i' the oracle.

The sessions shall proceed this is mere falsehood.

:

Enter a Servant, hastily.

Serv. My lord the king, the king!

Leon.

What is the business?

Serv. O sir, I shall be hated to report it!

74

THE WINTER'S TALE.

Of the queen's speed, is gone.

Leon.

Serv.

Leon. Apollo's angry, and the heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice. [HERMIONE faints.] How now there!

Paul. This news is mortal to the queen.-Look

down,

And see what death is doing.

Leon.

Take her hence:

Her heart is but o'ercharged; she will recover.—
I have too much believed mine own suspicion :-
'Beseech you, tenderly apply to her

Some remedies for life.

[Exeunt PAULINA and Ladies, with HERMIONE
Apollo, pardon

My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle-
I'll reconcile me to Polixenes,

New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo,
Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy :
For, being transported by my jealousies
To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose
Camillo for the minister to poison

1 Polivenes⋅ which had been done,