And will, by twos and threes, at several posterns, Have utter'd truth; which if you seek to prove, Pol. Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready, and Is for a precious creature as she's rare, In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me: Good expedition be my friend, and comfort The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo ; 39 I will respect thee as a father, if Thou bear'st my life off hence: Let us avoid. Cam. 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. 39 An obscure and difficult passage, whereof various conjectural emendations have been proposed. It is quite probable that a line slipped out in the printing. As it stands, the best we can do with it is, May a speedy departure be my friend, and bring comfort to the queen, who is part of the theme whereon the king dwells, myself being the other part; but who has really done nothing to justify his ill-taken suspicion. H Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies. Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring. 1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord, No, I'll none of you. Shall I be your playfellow ? Mam. 1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord? Mam. You'll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if I were a baby still. I love you better. 2 Lady. And why so, my lord? Not for because Mam. 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 half-moon made with a pen. 2 Lady. Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces. now, What colour are your eyebrows? 1 Lady. Who taught this? Blue, my lord. Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady', nose That has been blue, but not her eyebrows. Hark ye: 2 Lady. 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. Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now I am for you again: Pray you, sit by us, Her. Come on, sit down: Let's have that, good sir. Come on, and do your best To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful at it Mam. There was a man, Nay, come, sit down; then on. Dwelt by a church-yard. I will tell it Her. Mam. softly; Yond' crickets shall not hear it. Her. And give't me in mine ear. Come on, then, Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and Others. Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? 1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never Saw I men scour so on their way: I ey'd them Even to their ships. Leon. How bless'd am I 2 Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accurs'd, 3 1 That is, judgment. That is, O that my knowledge were less' 'Spiders were esteemed poisonous in our author's time And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known spider. Camillo was his help in this, his pander :- 5 Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick So easily open? 1 Lord. How came the posterns By his great authority; Which often hath no less prevail'd than so, On your command. Leon. I know't too well. Give me the boy: I am glad you did not nurse him: Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you Have too much blood in him. Her. What is this? sport ? Leon. Bear the boy hence; he shall not come about her: Away with him; and let her sport herself With that she's big with; for 'tis Polixenes But I'd say he had not, Her. And, I'll be sworn, you would believe my saying, Howe'er you lean to the nayward. 4 Hefts, heavings, things which are heaved up. 5 That is, a thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet for them to move and actuate as they please. This interpretation is countenanced by a passage in The City Match, by Jasper Maine : "Pinch'd napkins, captain, and laid Like fishes, fowls, or faces." Leon. You, my lords, Look on her, mark her well; be but about To say "she is a goodly lady,” and The justice of your hearts will thereto add, ""Tis pity she's not honest, honourable :” Praise her but for this her without-door form, (Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and straight 6 The shrug, the hum, or ha, (these petty brands From him that has most cause to grieve it should be, Her. The most replenish'd villain in the world, Should a villain say so, He were as much more villain you, my lord, Leon. You have mistook, my lady, Polixenes for Leontes. O, thou thing! A federary' with her; and one that knows, 8 But with her most vile principal, that she's That is, will brand it. 7 This word, which is probably of the Poet's own invention, is used for confederate, accomplice. 8 One that knows what she should be asham'd to know herself even if the knowledge of it were shared but with her paramour |