THE WINTER'S TALE. Sidney Lee

As he had seen’t or been an instrument

       To vice you to’t, that you have touch’d his queen

       Forbiddenly.

       POLIXENES

       O, then my best blood turn

       To an infected jelly, and my name

       Be yok’d with his that did betray the best!

       Turn then my freshest reputation to

       A savour that may strike the dullest nostril

       Where I arrive, and my approach be shunn’d,

       Nay, hated too, worse than the great’st infection

       That e’er was heard or read!

       CAMILLO

       Swear his thought over

       By each particular star in heaven and

       By all their influences, you may as well

       Forbid the sea for to obey the moon

       As, or by oath remove, or counsel shake

       The fabric of his folly, whose foundation

       Is pil’d upon his faith, and will continue

       The standing of his body.

       POLIXENES

       How should this grow?

       CAMILLO

       I know not: but I am sure ‘tis safer to

       Avoid what’s grown than question how ‘tis born.

       If, therefore you dare trust my honesty,—

       That lies enclosèd in this trunk, which you

       Shall bear along impawn’d,—away tonight.

       Your followers I will whisper to the business;

       And will, by twos and threes, at several posterns,

       Clear them o’ the city: for myself, I’ll put

       My fortunes to your service, which are here

       By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain;

       For, by the honour of my parents, I

       Have utter’d truth: which if you seek to prove,

       I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer

       Than one condemn’d by the king’s own mouth, thereon

       His execution sworn.

       POLIXENES

       I do believe thee;

       I saw his heart in his 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 dishonour’d by a man which ever

       Profess’d to him, why, his revenges must

       In that be made more bitter. Fear o’ershades me;

       Good expedition be my friend, and comfort

       The gracious queen, part of this 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.

       CAMILLO

       It is in mine authority to command

       The keys of all the posterns: please your highness

       To take the urgent hour: come, sir, away.

       [Exeunt.]

ACT II.

       Table of Contents

      SCENE I. Sicilia. A Room in the Palace.

       [Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies.]

       HERMIONE

       Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,

       ‘Tis past enduring.

       FIRST LADY

       Come, my gracious lord,

       Shall I be your playfellow?

       MAMILLIUS

       No, I’ll none of you.

       FIRST LADY

       Why, my sweet lord?

       MAMILLIUS

       You’ll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if

       I were a baby still.—[To Second Lady.] I love you better.

       SECOND LADY

       And why so, my lord?

       MAMILLIUS

       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.

       SECOND LADY

       Who taught you this?

       MAMILLIUS

       I learn’d it out of women’s faces.—Pray now,

       What colour are your eyebrows?

       FIRST LADY

       Blue, my lord.

       MAMILLIUS

       Nay, that’s a mock: I have seen a lady’s nose

       That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

       FIRST LADY

       Hark ye:

       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.

       SECOND LADY

       She is spread of late

       Into a goodly bulk: good time encounter her!

       HERMIONE

       What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now

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

       And tell ‘s a tale.

       MAMILLIUS

       Merry or sad shall’t be?

       HERMIONE

       As merry as you will.

       MAMILLIUS

       A sad tale’s best for winter. I have one

       Of sprites and goblins.

       HERMIONE

       Let’s have that, good sir.

       Come on, sit down;—come on, and do your best

       To fright me with your sprites: you’re powerful at it.

       MAMILLIUS

       There was a man,—