To lock up honesty and honour from

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

[Exit Keeper.

I must be present at your conference.

Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee.

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 o'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 show'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.

Now be you blest for it!

I'll to the queen: Please you, come something

nearer.

Keep. Madam, if'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:

The child was prisoner to the womb; and is,

process of

By law and
great nature, thence
Free'd 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 'twixt 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 adultress;-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.

1 Atten.

Leon. How does the boy?

1 Atten.

-Who's there?

He took good rest to-night;

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 down-right languish'd.-Leave me solely: go, See how he fares. [Exit Attend.]—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.

1 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.

1 Atten. Madam, he hath not slept to-night;

commanded

None should come at him.

Paul.

Not so hot, good sir;

I come to bring him sleep. '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.

Lo you now; you hear!

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

But she'll not stumble.

Myself your loyal servant, your physician,

Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dare
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

good queen;

say,

And would by combat make her good, so were I

A man, the worst about you.