The centre is not big enough to bear

A schoolboy's top. Away with her to prison:
He, who shall speak for her, is afar off1 guilty,
But that he speaks.2

Her.

There's some ill planet reigns.
I must be patient, till the heavens look

With an aspect more favorable.-Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew,
Perchance, shall dry your pities: but I have

That honorable grief lodged here, which burns Worse than tears drown. 'Beseech you all, my

lords,

With thoughts so qualified as your charities

Shall best instruct you, measure me;—and so
The king's will be perform❜d!

Leon.

Shall I be heard? [to the Guards. Her. Who is 't, that goes with me?

your highness,

My women may be with me; for, you see,

'Beseech

My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;

[to her Ladies. There is no cause; when you shall know, your mis

tress

Has deserved prison, then abound in tears,
As I come out: this action, I now go on,
Is for my better grace.-Adieu, my lord:
I never wish'd to see you sorry; now,

1 Remotely.

2 In merely speaking.

I trust, I shall. My women, come; you have

leave.

Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence.

[Exeunt Queen and Ladies. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, call the queen

again.

Ant. Be certain what you do, sir, lest your

justice

Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer, Yourself, your queen, your son.

1 Lord.

For her, my lord,—

I dare my life lay down, and will do 't, sir,

Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless

I' the eyes of Heaven, and to you; I mean,

In this which you accuse her.

She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables 1 where

I-lodge my wife ; I'll go

in couples with her;

Then when I feel and see her, no farther trust her;

For every inch of woman in the world,

Ay, every dram of woman's flesh, is false,

If she be.

Leon. Hold your peaces.

2 Lord.

Good my lord,

Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves:

You are abused, and by some putter-on,2

That will be damn'd for 't: 'would I knew the

I would land-damn him. Be she honor-flaw'd,—
I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven ;
The second, and the third, nine, and some five;
If this prove true, they'll pay for 't: by mine honor,
I'll geld them all; fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations: they are co-heirs;
And I had rather glib myself, than they

Should not produce fair issue.

Leon.

Cease; no more.

You smell this business with a sense as cold

As is a dead man's nose: but I do see 't, and feel't,

As

you

feel doing thus; and see withal

The instruments that feel.

We need no grave to bury honesty ;

There's not a grain of it, the face to sweeten

Of the whole dungy earth.

Leon.

What! lack I credit?

1 Lord. I had rather you did lack, than I, my

lord,

Upon this ground: and more it would content me To have her honor true, than your suspicion;

Be blamed for 't how you might.

Leon. Why, what need we Commune with you of this? but rather follow Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative Calls not your counsels; but our natural goodness Imparts this; which, if you (or stupified, Or seeming so in skill) cannot, or will not, Relish as truth, like us; inform yourselves, We need no more of your advice: the matter,

SHAK.

V.

T

The loss, the gain, the ordering on 't, is all
Properly ours.

Ant. And I wish, my liege,

You had only in your silent judgment tried it,
Without more overture.

Leon.

How could that be?

Camillo's flight,

Either thou art most ignorant by age,

Or thou wert born a fool.

Added to their familiarity,

(Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, That lack'd sight only, naught for approbation,1

But only seeing, all other circumstances

Made up to the deed) doth push on this proceeding: Yet, for a greater confirmation,

(For, in an act of this importance, 'twere

Most piteous to be wild) I have despatch'd in post,
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

2

Of stuff'd sufficiency. Now, from the oracle
They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had
Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?

1 Lord. Well done, my lord.

Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more Than what I know, yet shall the oracle

Give rest to the minds of others; such as he,

Whose ignorant credulity will not

Come up to the truth. So have we thought it good,

From our free person she should be confined;

1 Proot.

2 Of abilities more than sufficient.

Lest that the treachery of the two, fled hence,
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us:
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.

The same.

SCENE II.

The outer room of a prison.

Enter PAULINA and Attendants.

Pau. The keeper of the prison,-call to him:

[Exit an Attendant. Let him have knowlege 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.

You know me; do you not?

Keep.

For a worthy lady,

Pray you then,

And one whom much I honor.

Pau.

Conduct me to the queen.

Keep. I may not, madam: to the contrary

I have express commandment.

Pau.

Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honor from

The access of gentle visitors!- -Is it lawful,
Pray you, to see her women? any of them?