Leon. I'll have thee burn'd. It is a heretic that makes the fire, I care not: Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant; But this most cruel usage of your queen (Not able to produce more accusation Than your own weak-hing'd fancy) something savours Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you, Yea, scandalous to the world. Leon. On your allegiance, Were I a tyrant, Where were her life? she durst not call me so, If she did know me one. Away with her. Out of the chamber with her. Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: Jove send her A better guiding spirit!-What need these hands? You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, Will never do him good, not one of you. So, so-Farewell; we are gone. [Exit. Leon. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this. My child? away with't!-even thou, that hast And see it instantly consum❜d with fire; Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up straight: Ant. I did not, sir: These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in't. We can; my royal liege, 1 Lord. He is not guilty of her coming hither. Leon. You are liars all. 1 Lord. 'Beseech your highness, give us better credit: We have always truly serv'd you; and beseech Past, and to come) that you do change this purpose; Leon. I am a feather for each wind that blows:- hither; [To ANTIGONUS. You, that have been so tenderly officious venture To save this brat's life? Ant. Any thing, my lord, That my ability may undergo, I'll pawn And nobleness impose: at least, thus much; Ant. the fail 14 Leontes must mean the beard of Antigonus, which he may be supposed to touch. He himself tells us that twenty-three years ago he was unbreech'd, of course his age must be under thirty, and his own beard would hardly be gray. 15 It was anciently a practice to swear by the cross at the hilt of a sword. Of any point in't shall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife; This female bastard hence; and that thou bear it Ant. I swear to do this, though a present death Had been more merciful.-Come on, poor babe: Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens, To be thy nurses! Wolves, and bears, they say, Casting their savageness aside, have done Like offices of pity.-Sir, be prosperous In more than this deed doth require! and blessing 17, Against this cruelty, fight on thy side, Poor thing, condemn'd to loss 18! Leon. Another's issue. 1 Atten. [Exit, with the Child. No, I'll not rear Please your highness, posts, From those you sent to the oracle, are come An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, 1 Lord. So please you, sir, their speed Hath been beyond account. 16 i. e. commit it to some place as a stranger. To commend is to commit, according to the old dictionaries. 17 i. e. the favour of heaven. 18 i. e. to exposure, or to be lost or dropped. Leon. Twenty-three days They have been absent: "Tis good speed; foretells, Leave me; [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. The same. A Street in some Town. Enter CLEOMENES and DION. Cleo. The climate's delicate; the air most sweet; Fertile the isle1; the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears. Dion. I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits (Methinks, I so should term them), and the reverence Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly It was i'the offering! Cleo. But, of all, the burst And the ear-deafening voice o'the oracle, 1 Warburton has remarked that the temple of Apollo was at Delphi, which was not an island. But Shakspeare little regarded geographical accuracy. He followed Green's Dorastus and Fawnia, in which it is called the isle of Delphos. There was a temple of Apollo in the isle of Delos. Dion. If the event o' the journey Prove as successful to the queen,-O, be't so!— As it hath been to us, rare, pleasant, speedy, The time is worth the use on't2. Cleo. Great Apollo, Turn all to the best! These proclamations, I little like. Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear, or end, the business: When the oracle, (Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up) Shall the contents discover, something rare, Even then will rush to knowledge. Go,-fresh [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A Court of Justice. LEONTES, Lords, and Officers, appear properly seated. Leon. This sessions (to our great grief, we pronounce) Even pushes 'gainst our heart: The party tried, Proceed in justice; which shall have due course, Produce the prisoner. Offi. It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen Appear in person here in court.-Silence! 2 The time is worth the use on't;' that is, the event of our journey will recompense us for the time we spent in it. Thus in Florio's Translation of Montaigne, 1603: The common saying is, the time we live is worth the money we pay for it.' |