We are to speak in public; for this business

Will raise us all.

Ant. [Aside.] To laughter, as I take it,

If the good truth were known.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same. The outer Room of a Prison.

Enter PAULINA and Attendants.

Paul. The keeper of the prison-call to him;

[Exit an Attendant.

Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady!
No court in Europe is too good for thee,
What dost thou then in prison?—Now, good sir,

Re-enter Attendant, with the Keeper.

Conduct me to the queen.

Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary

I have express commandment.

Paul.

Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from

The access of gentle visitors!-Is 't lawful, pray you,

To see her women? any of them? Emilia?

Keep. So please you, madam,

To put apart these your attendants, I

Shall bring Emilia forth.

Paul. Well, be it so, prithee.

[Exit Keeper.

Here's such ado to make no stain a stain,

As passes colouring.

Re-enter Keeper, with EMILIA.
Dear gentlewoman,

How fares our gracious lady?

Emil. As well as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together: on her frights and griefs
(Which never tender lady hath borne greater),
She is, something before her time, deliver'd.
Paul. A boy?

Emil.

A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lusty, and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in 't: says, 'My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.'

Paul.

I dare be sworn :

These dangerous unsafe lunes i' the king, beshrew them!
He must be told on 't, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best; I'll take 't upon me:
If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blister;
And never to my red-look'd anger be

The trumpet any more.-Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen;
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll shew 't the king, and undertake to be .
Her advocate to th' loudest. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o' the child;
The silence often of pure innocence

Persuades, when speaking fails.

Emil.

Most worthy madam,

Your honour and your goodness is so evident,

That your free undertaking cannot miss

A thriving issue; there is no lady living

So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship

To visit the next room, I'll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this design ;
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.

Paul.

Tell her, Emilia,

I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it,
As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted
I shall do good.

Emil.

I'll to the queen.

Now be you bless'd for it!

Keep. Madam, if

Please you, come something nearer.

't please the queen to send the babe,

I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
Having no warrant.

Paul. You need not fear it, sir:

This child was prisoner to the womb; and is,
By law and process of great nature, thence
Freed and enfranchis'd: not a party to

The anger of the king; nor guilty of,

If any be, the trespass of the queen.

Keep. I do believe it.

Paul. Do not you fear; upon mine honour, I

Will stand betwixt you and danger.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same. A Room in the Palace.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and other Attendants.
Leon. Nor night nor day no rest: it is but weakness
To bear the matter thus-mere weakness. If

The cause were not in being-part o' the cause,
She, the adult'ress; for the harlot king
Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank
And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she
I can hook to me :-say, that she were gone,

Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest
Might come to me again.-Who's there?
First Attend. [Advancing.]

Leon. How does the boy?

First Attend.

My lord!

He took good rest to-night;

'Tis hop'd his sickness is discharg'd.

Leon. To see his nobleness!

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
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 Attendant.-Fie, fie! 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.

First 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.

First Attend. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded

None should come at him.

Paul.

I come to bring him sleep.

Not so hot, good sir;

'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?

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

Leon.

How !

Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus,

I charg'd thee that she should not come about me;
I knew she would.

Ant.

I told her so, my lord,

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

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.

When she will take the rein, I let her run;

But she'll not stumble.

Paul.

La you now, you hear :

Good my liege, I come

And, I beseech you, hear me, who professes
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dares
Less appear, so, in comforting your evils,

Than such as most seem yours-I say, I come
From your good queen.

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.

Force her hence.

Leon.
Paul. Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes
First hand me: on mine own accord, I'll off;