False accusation blush, and tyranny Tremble at patience.-You, my lord, best know 1 A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Have strained, to appear thus:2 if one jot beyond I ne'er heard yet, Leon. Her. Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. That's true enough; More than mistress of, Leon. You will not own it. Her. Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not 1 Own, possess. 2 Encounter so uncurrent is unallowed or unlawful meeting.-Strained means swerved or gone astray from the line of duty. The explanations of this passage are not very satisfactory. It appears to be designed as a question. 3 It is to be observed that originally, in our language, two negatives did not affirm, but only strengthen the negation. In this passage, Johnson observes that, according to the present use of words, less should be more, or wanted should be had. At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, To you and toward your friend; whose love had spoke, I know not how it tastes; though it be dished Is, that Camillo was an honest man; And why he left your court, the gods themselves, Leon. You knew of his departure, as you know You speak a language that I understand not. Leon. Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dreamed it.-As you were past all shame, (Those of your fact 2 are so,) so past all truth; Which to deny, concerns more than avails; for as Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage, 3 Her. Sir, spare your threats; The bug, which you would fright me with, I seek. To me can life be no commodity. 1 See note 1, p. 35. To stand within the level of a gun is to stand in a direct line with its mouth, and in danger of being hurt by its discharge. This expression often occurs in Shakspeare. 2 i. e. they who have done like you. 3 Bugbear. The crown and comfort of my life, your favor, But know not how it went. My second joy, 2 That I should fear to die? Therefore, proceed. This your request Is altogether just: therefore, bring forth, [Exeunt certain Officers. Her. The emperor of Russia was my father. O that he were alive, and here, beholding His daughter's trial! that he did but see 3 The flatness of my misery; yet with eyes 1 "Starred most unluckily;" ill-starred, born under an inauspicious planet. 2 Strength of limit, i. e. the degree of strength which it is customary to acquire before women are suffered to go abroad after child-bearing. The completeness of my misery. Re-enter Officers, with CLEOMENES and DION. Offi. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have Been both at Delphos; and from thence have brought Of great Apollo's priest; and that, since then, Cleo. Dion. All this we swear. Leon. Break up the seals, and read. Offi. [Reads.] Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that, which is lost, be not found. Lords. Now blessed be the great Apollo! Her. Leon. Hast thou read truth? Offi. As it is here set down. 1 Praised! Ay, my lord; even so Leon. There is no truth at all i̇’the oracle. The sessions shall proceed; this is mere falsehood. Enter a Servant, hastily. Serv. My lord the king, the king! Leon. What is the business? Serv. O, sir, I shall be hated to report it; The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear Of the queen's speed,2 is gone. Leon. Serv. How! gone? Is dead, [HERMIONE faints. How now there? Leon. Apollo's angry; and the Heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice. Paul. This news is mortal to the queen.-Look down, And see what death is doing. 1 This is almost literally from Greene's novel. 2 i. e. of the event of the queen's trial. We still say, he sped well or ill. Leon. Take her hence; Her heart is but o'ercharged; she will recover.— [Exeunt PAULINA and Ladies, with HERM My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle!— I'll reconcile me to Polixenes: New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo; My friend Polixenes; which had been done, My swift command, though I with death, and with Not doing it, and being done: he, most humane, No richer than his honor.-How he glisters Does my deeds make the blacker! Paul. Re-enter PAULINA. Woe the while! O cut my lace; lest my heart, cracking it, 1 Lord. What fit is this, good lady? Paul. What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? What wheels? racks? fires? What flaying? boiling In leads or oils? What old, or newer torture Must I receive; whose every word deserves To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny 1 Certain is not in the first folio; it was supplied by the editor of the second. |