He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply;
Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself;
Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And downright languish'd-Leave me solely-go,
See how he fares. [Exit Attend.]- Fye, fye! no
thought of him; -

The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil upon me; in himself too mighty;
And in his parties, his alliance,'- Let him be,
Until a time may serve: for present vengeance,
Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes

Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow:
They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor
Shall she, within my power.

1 Lord.

Enter PAULINA, with a Child.

You must not enter.

Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to

me:

Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas,
Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul;
More free, than he is jealous.

Ant.

That's enough.

1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; com

manded

None should come at him.

Paul.

Not so hot, good sir; I come to bring him sleep. "Tis such as you, That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh At each his needless heavings,

- such as you

Nourish the cause of his awaking: I

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?

6 Alone.

Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference, About some gossips for your highness.

How?

Leon. Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus, I charg'd thee, that she should not come about me; I knew, she would.

Ant.
On your displeasure's peril, and on mine,
She should not visit you.

I told her so, my lord,

Leon.

What, canst not rule her?
Paul. From all dishonesty, he can: in this,
(Unless he take the course that you have done,
Commit me, for committing honour,) trust it,
He shall not rule me.

Ant.
Lo you now; you hear!
When she will take the rein, I let her run;
But she'll not stumble.

Paul.
And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dare
Less appear so, in comforting your evils',
Than such as most seem yours: I say, I come
From your good queen.

Good my liege, I come,

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.

Leon.

Force her hence.

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.

[Laying down the Child. Out!

Leon.

7 Abetting your ill courses.

8 Lowest.

A

very

witch! Hence with her, out o' door:

A most intelligencing bawd!

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, As this world goes, to pass for honest.

Leon.

Traitors! Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard : Thou, dotard, [To ANTIGONUS.] thou art womantir'd, unroosted

By thy dame Partlet here, - take up the bastard; Take't up, I say; give'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!

light.

Ant. I am none, by this good Paul. Nor I; nor any, 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
He cannot be compell'd to't,) once remove
The root of his opinion, which is rotten,
As ever oak, or stone, was sound.
Leon.

A callat 3,

9 Pecked by a woman; hen-pecked.

I Worn-out old woman.

* Forced is false; uttered with violence to truth.

✓ Trull.

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,
Commit them to the fire,

Paul.

It is yours;

And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge,
So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold, my lords,
Although the print be little, the whole matter
And copy of the father: eye, nose, lip,

The trick of his 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!.
And, lozel', thou art worthy to be hang'd,
That wilt not stay her tongue.

Ant.

Hang all the husbands,

That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself

Hardly one subject.

Leon.
Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord
Can do no more.

Once more, take her hence.

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

savours

4 The colour of jealousy. 5 Worthless fellow.

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, Where were her life? she durst not call me so, If she did know me one. Away with her.

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!

hands?

What need these

You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,
Will never do him good, not one of

So, so:- Farewell; we are gone.

you.

[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:
Within this hour bring me word 'tis done,
(And by good testimony,) or I'll seize thy life,
With what thou else call'st thine: If thou refuse,
And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so;
The bastard brains with these my proper hands
Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire;
For thou sett'st on thy wife.

Ant.

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.

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 pur

pose;