The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare (book club suggestions txt) 📖

as well Forbid the sea for to obey the moon As, or by oath remove, or counsel shake The fabric of his folly, whose foundation Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue The standing of his body.

POLIXENES.
How should this grow?

CAMILLO. I know not: but I am sure 'tis safer to Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis born. If, therefore you dare trust my honesty, - That lies enclosèd in this trunk, which you Shall bear along impawn'd, - away to-night. Your followers I will whisper to the business; And will, by twos and threes, at several posterns, Clear them o' the city: for myself, I'll put My fortunes to your service, which are here By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain; For, by the honour of my parents, I Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove, I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth, thereon His execution sworn.

POLIXENES.
I do believe thee; I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand; Be pilot to me, and thy places shall Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready, and My people did expect my hence departure Two days ago. - This jealousy Is for a precious creature: as she's rare, Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty, Must it be violent; and as he does conceive He is dishonour'd by a man which ever Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me; Good expedition be my friend, and comfort The gracious queen, part of this theme, but nothing Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo; I will respect thee as a father, if Thou bear'st my life off hence: let us avoid.

CAMILLO. 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.]


ACT II.

SCENE I. Sicilia. A Room in the Palace.

[Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies.]

HERMIONE. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring.

FIRST LADY.
Come, my gracious lord, Shall I be your playfellow?

MAMILLIUS.
No, I'll none of you.

FIRST LADY. Why, my sweet lord?

MAMILLIUS. You'll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if I were a baby still. - [To Second Lady.] I love you better.

SECOND LADY. And why so, my lord?

MAMILLIUS.
Not for because 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 a half-moon made with a pen.

SECOND LADY.
Who taught you this?

MAMILLIUS. I learn'd it out of women's faces. - Pray now, What colour are your eyebrows?

FIRST LADY.
Blue, my lord.

MAMILLIUS. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

FIRST LADY.
Hark ye: 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.

SECOND LADY.
She is spread of late Into a goodly bulk: good time encounter her!

HERMIONE. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now I am for you again: pray you sit by us, And tell 's a tale.

MAMILLIUS.
Merry or sad shall't be?

HERMIONE. As merry as you will.

MAMILLIUS. A sad tale's best for winter. I have one Of sprites and goblins.

HERMIONE.
Let's have that, good sir. Come on, sit down; - come on, and do your best To fright me with your sprites: you're powerful at it.

MAMILLIUS. There was a man, -

HERMIONE.
Nay, come, sit down: then on.

MAMILLIUS. Dwelt by a churchyard: - I will tell it softly; Yond crickets shall not hear it.

HERMIONE.
Come on then, And give't me in mine ear.

[Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and Guards.]

LEONTES. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

FIRST 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.

LEONTES.
How bles'd am I In my just censure, in my true opinion! - Alack, for lesser knowledge! - How accurs'd In being so blest! - There may be in the cup A spider steep'd, and one may drink, depart, And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge Is not infected; but if one present The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides, With violent hefts; - I have drunk, and seen the spider. Camillo was his help in this, his pander: - There is a plot against my life, my crown; All's true that is mistrusted: - that false villain Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him: He has discover'd my design, and I Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick For them to play at will. - How came the posterns So easily open?

FIRST LORD.
By his great authority; Which often hath no less prevail'd than so, On your command.

LEONTES.
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.

HERMIONE.
What is this? sport?

LEONTES. 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 Has made thee swell thus.

[Exit MAMILLIUS, with some of the Guards.]

HERMIONE.
But I'd say he had not, And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying, Howe'er you learn the nayward.

LEONTES.
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 The shrug, the hum or ha, - these petty brands That calumny doth use: - O, I am out, That mercy does; for calumny will sear Virtue itself: - these shrugs, these hum's, and ha's, When you have said 'she's goodly,' come between, Ere you can say 'she's honest': but be it known, From him that has most cause to grieve it should be, She's an adultress!

HERMIONE.
Should a villain say so, The most replenish'd villain in the world, He were as much more villain: you, my lord, Do but mistake.

LEONTES.
You have mistook, my lady, Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing, Which I'll not call a creature of thy place, Lest barbarism, making me the precedent, Should a like language use to all degrees, And mannerly distinguishment leave out Betwixt the prince and beggar! - I have said, She's an adultress; I have said with whom: More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is A federary with her; and one that knows What she should shame to know herself But with her most vile principal, that she's A bed-swerver, even as bad as those That vulgars give boldest titles; ay, and privy To this their late escape.

HERMIONE.
No, by my life, Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you, When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that You thus have publish'd me! Gentle my lord, You scarce can right me throughly then, to say You did mistake.

LEONTES.
No; if I mistake In those foundations which I build upon, The centre is not big enough to bear A school-boy's top. - Away with her to prison! He who shall speak for her is afar off guilty But that he speaks.

HERMIONE.
There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient till the heavens look With an aspéct more favourable. - 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 honourable grief lodg'd 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!

LEONTES. [To the GUARD.]