Arch. Believe me, I speak as my under- 20 standing instructs me and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them. then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attorneyed with interchange 30 of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seemed to be together, though absent, shook hands, as over a vast, and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Arch. I think there is not in the world either malice or matter to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius it is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him it is a gallant child; one that indeed physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh they that went on crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to see him a man.

:

Arch. Would they else be content to die?

Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live.

Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one.

26. which, as.

33. vast, boundless sea (or sea of which the bounds are invisible).

38. of, in.

[Exeunt.

40. note, knowledge.

40

50

43. the subject, (collective) the king's subjects.

SCENE II. A room of state in the same.

Enter LEONTES, HERMIONE, Mamillius,
POLIXENES, CAMILLO, and Attendants.

Pol. Nine changes of the watery star hath
been

The shepherd's note since we have left our throne
Without a burthen: time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply

With one 'We thank you' many thousands moe
That go before it.

Leon.

Stay your thanks a while;

And pay them when you part.

Pol.

Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance Or breed upon our absence; that may blow No sneaping winds at home, to make us say 'This is put forth too truly:' besides, I have stay'd

ΤΟ

equivalent 'wish that they may not,' that no sneaping winds,

etc.

13. sneaping, nipping.

14. This is put forth too truly,' this foreboding is too well justified.

Leon. We'll part the time between's then;

and in that

I'll no gainsaying.

Pol.

Press me not, beseech you, so.

There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the
world,

So soon as yours could win me: so it should now,
Were there necessity in your request, although
'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder
Were in your love a whip to me; my stay
To you a charge and trouble: to save both,
Farewell, our brother.

Leon. Tongue-tied our queen? speak you.
Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace
until

You had drawn oaths from him not to stay. You,

sir,

Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure
All in Bohemia's well; this satisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim'd say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Leon.

Well said, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong:

But let him say so then, and let him go;

But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,

We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

Vet of your royal presence I'll adventure
The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commission
To let him there a month behind the gest

20

30

40

41. gest (Fr. gîte, 'lodging'), an appointed stage or restingplace in a royal progress; hence the time appointed for resuming the journey.

Prefix'd for 's parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,

I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind

What lady-she her lord.

You'll stay?

You put me off with limber vows; but I,

Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with

oaths,

Should yet say 'Sir, no going.'

Verily,

You shall not go a lady's 'Verily' 's

As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?
Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees
When you depart, and save your thanks.

say you?

How

My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread Verily,' One of them you shall be.

Pol.

Your guest, then, madam:

To be your prisoner should import offending;
Which is for me less easy to commit

Two lads that thought there was no more behind
But such a day to-morrow as to-day,

And to be boy eternal.

50

60

Her.

Was not my lord

42. good deed, in verity.

43. jar, tick.

47. limber, pliant.

53. pay your fees, the fees

44. What lady-she, any paid by prisoners on their libera

woman of rank.

tion from prison.

The verier wag o' the two?

Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i'

the sun,

And bleat the one at the other: what we changed
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd
That any did. Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd
heaven

Boldly 'not guilty;' the imposition clear'd

Hereditary ours.

Her.

By this we gather

O my most sacred lady!

You have tripp'd since.

Pol.

Temptations have since then been born to 's; for
In those unfledged days was my wife a girl;
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young play-fellow.

Her.

Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclusion, lest you say

Your queen and I are devils: yet go on;

The offences we have made you do we'll answer,
If you first sinn'd with us and that with us

You did continue fault and that you slipp'd not
With any but with us.

Leon.

Is he won yet?

Her. He'll stay, my lord.

Leon.

At my request he would not.

Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest

To better purpose.

70

80

74. the imposition clear'd hereditary ours, setting aside the 'original sin' we inherit as men. 76. sacred, royal.

80. Grace to boot, Grace aid us!