1
Antechamber in LEONTES’ palace.
2
[Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS]
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If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on
5
the like occasion whereon my services are now on
6
foot, you shall see, as I have said, great
7
difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia.
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I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia
10
means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him.
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Wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will be
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justified in our loves; for indeed—
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Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge:
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we cannot with such magnificence—in so rare—I know
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not what to say. We will give you sleepy drinks,
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that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience,
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may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse
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You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely.
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Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me
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and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.
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Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia.
30
They were trained together in their childhoods; and
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there rooted betwixt them then such an affection,
32
which cannot choose but branch now. Since their
33
more mature dignities and royal necessities made
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separation of their society, their encounters,
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though not personal, have been royally attorneyed
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with interchange of gifts, letters, loving
37
embassies; that they have seemed to be together,
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though absent, shook hands, as over a vast, and
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embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed
40
winds. The heavens continue their loves!
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I think there is not in the world either malice or
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matter to alter it. You have an unspeakable
44
comfort of your young prince Mamillius: it is a
45
gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came
48
I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it
49
is a gallant child; one that indeed physics the
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subject, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on
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crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to
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Would they else be content to die?
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Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should
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If the king had no son, they would desire to live
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on crutches till he had one.
1
A room of state in the same.
2
[Enter LEONTES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS,] [p]POLIXENES, CAMILLO, and Attendants]
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Nine changes of the watery star hath been
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The shepherd's note since we have left our throne
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Without a burthen: time as long again
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Would be find up, my brother, with our thanks;
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And yet we should, for perpetuity,
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Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,
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Yet standing in rich place, I multiply
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With one 'We thank you' many thousands moe
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Stay your thanks a while;
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And pay them when you part.
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Sir, that's to-morrow.
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I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance
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Or breed upon our absence; that may blow
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No sneaping winds at home, to make us say
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'This is put forth too truly:' besides, I have stay'd
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We are tougher, brother,
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Than you can put us to't.
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One seven-night longer.
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Very sooth, to-morrow.
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We'll part the time between's then; and in that
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Press me not, beseech you, so.
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There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world,
38
So soon as yours could win me: so it should now,
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Were there necessity in your request, although
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'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs
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Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder
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Were in your love a whip to me; my stay
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To you a charge and trouble: to save both,
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Farewell, our brother.
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Tongue-tied, our queen?
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I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until
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You have drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,
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Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure
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All in Bohemia's well; this satisfaction
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The by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him,
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He's beat from his best ward.
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To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong:
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But let him say so then, and let him go;
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But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,
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We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.
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Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure
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The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
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You take my lord, I'll give him my commission
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To let him there a month behind the gest
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Prefix'd for's parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,
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I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind
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What lady-she her lord. You'll stay?
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You put me off with limber vows; but I,
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Though you would seek to unsphere the
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Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily,
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You shall not go: a lady's 'Verily' 's
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As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?
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Force me to keep you as a prisoner,
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Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees
85
When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?
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My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread 'Verily,'
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One of them you shall be.
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Your guest, then, madam:
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To be your prisoner should import offending;
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Which is for me less easy to commit
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Not your gaoler, then,
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But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you
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Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys:
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You were pretty lordings then?
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Two lads that thought there was no more behind
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But such a day to-morrow as to-day,
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And to be boy eternal.
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The verier wag o' the two?
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We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun,
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And bleat the one at the other: what we changed
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Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
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The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd
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That any did. Had we pursued that life,
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And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
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With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven
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Boldly 'not guilty;' the imposition clear'd
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You have tripp'd since.
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O my most sacred lady!
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Temptations have since then been born to's; for
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In those unfledged days was my wife a girl;
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Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
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Of my young play-fellow.
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Of this make no conclusion, lest you say
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Your queen and I are devils: yet go on;
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The offences we have made you do we'll answer,
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If you first sinn'd with us and that with us
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You did continue fault and that you slipp'd not
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With any but with us.
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At my request he would not.
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Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest
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What! have I twice said well? when was't before?
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I prithee tell me; cram's with praise, and make's
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As fat as tame things: one good deed dying tongueless
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Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that.
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Our praises are our wages: you may ride's
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With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere
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With spur we beat an acre. But to the goal:
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My last good deed was to entreat his stay:
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What was my first? it has an elder sister,
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Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace!
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But once before I spoke to the purpose: when?
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Nay, let me have't; I long.
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Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,
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Ere I could make thee open thy white hand
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And clap thyself my love: then didst thou utter
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'I am yours for ever.'
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Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice:
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The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;
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The other for some while a friend.
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[Aside]. Too hot, too hot!
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To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods.
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I have tremor cordis on me: my heart dances;
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But not for joy; not joy. This entertainment
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May a free face put on, derive a liberty
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From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom,
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And well become the agent; 't may, I grant;
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But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers,
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As now they are, and making practised smiles,
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As in a looking-glass, and then to sigh, as 'twere
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The mort o' the deer; O, that is entertainment
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My bosom likes not, nor my brows! Mamillius,
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Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast
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They say it is a copy out of mine. Come, captain,
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We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain:
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And yet the steer, the heifer and the calf
192
Are all call'd neat.—Still virginalling
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Upon his palm!—How now, you wanton calf!
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Yes, if you will, my lord.
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Thou want'st a rough pash and the shoots that I have,
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To be full like me: yet they say we are
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Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
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That will say anything but were they false
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As o'er-dyed blacks, as wind, as waters, false
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As dice are to be wish'd by one that fixes
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No bourn 'twixt his and mine, yet were it true
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To say this boy were like me. Come, sir page,
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Look on me with your welkin eye: sweet villain!
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Most dear'st! my collop! Can thy dam?—may't be?—
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Affection! thy intention stabs the centre:
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Thou dost make possible things not so held,
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Communicatest with dreams;—how can this be?—
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With what's unreal thou coactive art,
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And fellow'st nothing: then 'tis very credent
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Thou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost,
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And that beyond commission, and I find it,
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And that to the infection of my brains
216
And hardening of my brows.
220
He something seems unsettled.
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What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?
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You look as if you held a brow of much distraction
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Are you moved, my lord?
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How sometimes nature will betray its folly,
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Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime
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To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines
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Of my boy's face, methoughts I did recoil
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Twenty-three years, and saw myself unbreech'd,
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In my green velvet coat, my dagger muzzled,
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Lest it should bite its master, and so prove,
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As ornaments oft do, too dangerous:
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How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,
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This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest friend,
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Will you take eggs for money?
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No, my lord, I'll fight.
243
You will! why, happy man be's dole! My brother,
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Are you so fond of your young prince as we
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Do seem to be of ours?
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He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter,
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Now my sworn friend and then mine enemy,
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My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all:
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He makes a July's day short as December,
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And with his varying childness cures in me
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Thoughts that would thick my blood.
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So stands this squire
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Officed with me: we two will walk, my lord,
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And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione,
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How thou lovest us, show in our brother's welcome;
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Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap:
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Next to thyself and my young rover, he's
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Apparent to my heart.
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If you would seek us,
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We are yours i' the garden: shall's attend you there?
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To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,
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Be you beneath the sky.
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Though you perceive me not how I give line.
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How she holds up the neb, the bill to him!
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And arms her with the boldness of a wife
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To her allowing husband!
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[Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE, and Attendants]
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Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and
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Go, play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and I
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Play too, but so disgraced a part, whose issue
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Will hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour
282
Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play.
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Or I am much deceived, cuckolds ere now;
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And many a man there is, even at this present,
286
Now while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm,
287
That little thinks she has been sluiced in's absence
288
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
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Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't
290
Whiles other men have gates and those gates open'd,
291
As mine, against their will. Should all despair
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That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
293
Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none;
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It is a bawdy planet, that will strike
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Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it,
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From east, west, north and south: be it concluded,
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No barricado for a belly; know't;
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It will let in and out the enemy
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With bag and baggage: many thousand on's
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Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!
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I am like you, they say.
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Why that's some comfort. What, Camillo there?
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Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man.
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Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.
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You had much ado to make his anchor hold:
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When you cast out, it still came home.
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He would not stay at your petitions: made
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His business more material.
322
They're here with me already, whispering, rounding
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'Sicilia is a so-forth:' 'tis far gone,
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When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo,
327
At the good queen's entreaty.
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At the queen's be't: 'good' should be pertinent
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But, so it is, it is not. Was this taken
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By any understanding pate but thine?
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For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in
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More than the common blocks: not noted, is't,
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But of the finer natures? by some severals
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Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes
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Perchance are to this business purblind? say.
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Business, my lord! I think most understand
339
Bohemia stays here longer.
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To satisfy your highness and the entreaties
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Of our most gracious mistress.
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The entreaties of your mistress! satisfy!
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Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo,
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With all the nearest things to my heart, as well
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My chamber-councils, wherein, priest-like, thou
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Hast cleansed my bosom, I from thee departed
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Thy penitent reform'd: but we have been
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Deceived in thy integrity, deceived
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In that which seems so.
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Be it forbid, my lord!
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To bide upon't, thou art not honest, or,
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If thou inclinest that way, thou art a coward,
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Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining
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From course required; or else thou must be counted
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A servant grafted in my serious trust
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And therein negligent; or else a fool
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That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn,
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And takest it all for jest.
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I may be negligent, foolish and fearful;
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In every one of these no man is free,
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But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
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Among the infinite doings of the world,
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Sometime puts forth. In your affairs, my lord,
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If ever I were wilful-negligent,
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It was my folly; if industriously
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I play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
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Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
381
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
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Where of the execution did cry out
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Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
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Which oft infects the wisest: these, my lord,
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Are such allow'd infirmities that honesty
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Is never free of. But, beseech your grace,
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Be plainer with me; let me know my trespass
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By its own visage: if I then deny it,
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Ha' not you seen, Camillo,—
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But that's past doubt, you have, or your eye-glass
393
Is thicker than a cuckold's horn,—or heard,—
394
For to a vision so apparent rumour
395
Cannot be mute,—or thought,—for cogitation
396
Resides not in that man that does not think,—
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My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,
398
Or else be impudently negative,
399
To have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then say
400
My wife's a hobby-horse, deserves a name
401
As rank as any flax-wench that puts to
402
Before her troth-plight: say't and justify't.
404
I would not be a stander-by to hear
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My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
406
My present vengeance taken: 'shrew my heart,
407
You never spoke what did become you less
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Than this; which to reiterate were sin
409
As deep as that, though true.
411
Is whispering nothing?
412
Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
413
Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
414
Of laughing with a sigh?—a note infallible
415
Of breaking honesty—horsing foot on foot?
416
Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?
417
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes
418
Blind with the pin and web but theirs, theirs only,
419
That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing?
420
Why, then the world and all that's in't is nothing;
421
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
422
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,
425
Good my lord, be cured
426
Of this diseased opinion, and betimes;
427
For 'tis most dangerous.
429
Say it be, 'tis true.
433
It is; you lie, you lie:
434
I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee,
435
Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave,
436
Or else a hovering temporizer, that
437
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
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Inclining to them both: were my wife's liver
439
Infected as her life, she would not live
440
The running of one glass.
444
Why, he that wears her like a medal, hanging
445
About his neck, Bohemia: who, if I
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Had servants true about me, that bare eyes
447
To see alike mine honour as their profits,
448
Their own particular thrifts, they would do that
449
Which should undo more doing: ay, and thou,
450
His cupbearer,—whom I from meaner form
451
Have benched and reared to worship, who mayst see
452
Plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven,
453
How I am galled,—mightst bespice a cup,
454
To give mine enemy a lasting wink;
455
Which draught to me were cordial.
458
I could do this, and that with no rash potion,
459
But with a lingering dram that should not work
460
Maliciously like poison: but I cannot
461
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress,
462
So sovereignly being honourable.
465
Make that thy question, and go rot!
466
Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled,
467
To appoint myself in this vexation, sully
468
The purity and whiteness of my sheets,
469
Which to preserve is sleep, which being spotted
470
Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps,
471
Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son,
472
Who I do think is mine and love as mine,
473
Without ripe moving to't? Would I do this?
476
I must believe you, sir:
477
I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't;
478
Provided that, when he's removed, your highness
479
Will take again your queen as yours at first,
480
Even for your son's sake; and thereby for sealing
481
The injury of tongues in courts and kingdoms
482
Known and allied to yours.
485
Even so as I mine own course have set down:
486
I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.
489
Go then; and with a countenance as clear
490
As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia
491
And with your queen. I am his cupbearer:
492
If from me he have wholesome beverage,
493
Account me not your servant.
496
Do't and thou hast the one half of my heart;
497
Do't not, thou split'st thine own.
501
I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me.
504
O miserable lady! But, for me,
505
What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner
506
Of good Polixenes; and my ground to do't
507
Is the obedience to a master, one
508
Who in rebellion with himself will have
509
All that are his so too. To do this deed,
510
Promotion follows. If I could find example
511
Of thousands that had struck anointed kings
512
And flourish'd after, I'ld not do't; but since
513
Nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one,
514
Let villany itself forswear't. I must
515
Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain
516
To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now!
520
This is strange: methinks
521
My favour here begins to warp. Not speak?
524
Hail, most royal sir!
526
What is the news i' the court?
530
The king hath on him such a countenance
531
As he had lost some province and a region
532
Loved as he loves himself: even now I met him
533
With customary compliment; when he,
534
Wafting his eyes to the contrary and falling
535
A lip of much contempt, speeds from me and
536
So leaves me to consider what is breeding
537
That changeth thus his manners.
539
I dare not know, my lord.
541
How! dare not! do not. Do you know, and dare not?
542
Be intelligent to me: 'tis thereabouts;
543
For, to yourself, what you do know, you must.
544
And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
545
Your changed complexions are to me a mirror
546
Which shows me mine changed too; for I must be
547
A party in this alteration, finding
548
Myself thus alter'd with 't.
551
Which puts some of us in distemper, but
552
I cannot name the disease; and it is caught
553
Of you that yet are well.
556
Make me not sighted like the basilisk:
557
I have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better
558
By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo,—
559
As you are certainly a gentleman, thereto
560
Clerk-like experienced, which no less adorns
561
Our gentry than our parents' noble names,
562
In whose success we are gentle,—I beseech you,
563
If you know aught which does behove my knowledge
564
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not
565
In ignorant concealment.
569
A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!
570
I must be answer'd. Dost thou hear, Camillo,
571
I conjure thee, by all the parts of man
572
Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the least
573
Is not this suit of mine, that thou declare
574
What incidency thou dost guess of harm
575
Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
576
Which way to be prevented, if to be;
577
If not, how best to bear it.
579
Sir, I will tell you;
580
Since I am charged in honour and by him
581
That I think honourable: therefore mark my counsel,
582
Which must be even as swiftly follow'd as
583
I mean to utter it, or both yourself and me
584
Cry lost, and so good night!
588
I am appointed him to murder you.
596
He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears,
597
As he had seen't or been an instrument
598
To vice you to't, that you have touch'd his queen
601
O, then my best blood turn
602
To an infected jelly and my name
603
Be yoked with his that did betray the Best!
604
Turn then my freshest reputation to
605
A savour that may strike the dullest nostril
606
Where I arrive, and my approach be shunn'd,
607
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection
608
That e'er was heard or read!
610
Swear his thought over
611
By each particular star in heaven and
612
By all their influences, you may as well
613
Forbid the sea for to obey the moon
614
As or by oath remove or counsel shake
615
The fabric of his folly, whose foundation
616
Is piled upon his faith and will continue
617
The standing of his body.
619
How should this grow?
621
I know not: but I am sure 'tis safer to
622
Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis born.
623
If therefore you dare trust my honesty,
624
That lies enclosed in this trunk which you
625
Shall bear along impawn'd, away to-night!
626
Your followers I will whisper to the business,
627
And will by twos and threes at several posterns
628
Clear them o' the city. For myself, I'll put
629
My fortunes to your service, which are here
630
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;
631
For, by the honour of my parents, I
632
Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove,
633
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer
634
Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, thereon
638
I saw his heart in 's face. Give me thy hand:
639
Be pilot to me and thy places shall
640
Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready and
641
My people did expect my hence departure
642
Two days ago. This jealousy
643
Is for a precious creature: as she's rare,
644
Must it be great, and as his person's mighty,
645
Must it be violent, and as he does conceive
646
He is dishonour'd by a man which ever
647
Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must
648
In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me:
649
Good expedition be my friend, and comfort
650
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing
651
Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo;
652
I will respect thee as a father if
653
Thou bear'st my life off hence: let us avoid.
655
It is in mine authority to command
656
The keys of all the posterns: please your highness
657
To take the urgent hour. Come, sir, away.
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