Oh, that he were alive, and here beholding Offi. You here fhall fwear upon the Sword of Juftice, That you, Cleomines and Dion, have Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought Cleo. Dion. All this we fwear. Leo. Break up the Seals, and read. Offi. Hermione is chafte, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true Subject, Leontes, a jealous Tyrant, his innocent babe truly begotten; and the King fhall live without an heir, if That, which is loft, be not found. Lords. Now bleffed be the great Apollo! Her. Praised! Leo. Haft thou read truth? Off. Ay, my lord, even fo as it is here fet down. Enter Servant. Ser. My lord the King, the King, Leo. What is the bufinefs? Ser. O Sir, I fhall be hated to report it. The Prince your fon, with meer conceit and fear Leo. How gone? Ser. Is dead. Leo. Apollo's angry, and the heav'ns themfelves Do ftrike at my injuftice.-How now, there? [Her.faints. Pau. This news is mortal to the Queen, look down, And fee what death is doing. Leo. Take her hence; Her heart is but o'er-charg'd; fhe will recover. [Exeunt Paulina and ladies with Hermione. I have too much believ'd mine own fufpicion: New woo my Queen, recal the good Camillo ; My friend Polixenes; which had been done, No richer than his honour: how he glifters Enter Paulina. Pau. Woe the while! O, cut my lace, left my heart, cracking it, Break too. Lord. What fit is this, good lady? Pau. What studied torments, Tyrant, haft for me? What wheels? racks? fires? what flaying? boiling? burning In leads, or oils ? what old, or newer, torture (Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle That That thou betray'dft Polixenes, 'twas nothing; (S) When I have faid, cry, woe! the Queen, the Queen,The sweetest, deareft, creature's dead; and vengeance for't. Not dropt down yet. Lord. The higher Powers forbid! you Pau. I fay, he's dead, I'll fwear't: if word, nor oath,. Prevail not, go and fee: if you can bring Tincture or luftre in her lip, her eye, Heat outwardly, or breath within, I'll ferve As I would do the Gods. But, O thou tyrant ! Do not repent these things; for they are heavier Than all thy woes can ftir: therefore betake thee To nothing but Defpair. A thousand. knees, Ten thoufand years together, naked, fafting, Upon a barren mountain, and ftill winter In form perpetual, could not move the Gods (8) That thou betray'dft Polixenes, 'twas Nothing ;: That did but few thee, of a Fool, inconftant, And damnable ingrateful.] I haye ventur'd at a flight Alteration here, against the Authority of all the Copies. It is certainly too grofs and blunt in Paulina, tho' She might impeach the King of Focleries, in fome of his paft Actions and Conduct, to call him downright a Fool. And it is much more pardonable in her to arraign his Morals, and the Qualities of his Mind, than rudely to call him Idiot to his Face. To To look that way thou wert. Leo. Go on, go on : Thou canst not speak too much; I have deferv'd Lord. Say no more; Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault Pau. I am forry for't. All faults I make, when I fhall come to know them, The rashness of a woman; he is touch'd To th' noble heart. What's gone, and what's paft help, Should be paft grief. Do not receive affliction At my petition, I befeech you; rather Let me be punish'd, that have minded you children: Who is loft too. Take you your patience to you,. Leo. Thou didft fpeak but well, When most the truth; which I receive much better I daily vow to use it. Come, and lead me [Exeunt. SCENE SCENE changes to Bohemia. A defart Country ; the Sea at a little diftance. Enter Antigonus with a Child, and a Mariner. Ant. THOU upon The defarts of Bohemia ? Mar. Ay, my lord; and fear, We've landed in ill time; the skies look grimly, Ant. Their facred wills be done! get thee aboard, Look to thy bark, I'll not be long before I call. upon thee. Mar. Make your best hafte, and go not Too far i'th' land; 'tis like to be loud weather. Befides, this place is famous for the creatures Of prey, that keep upon't. Ant. Go thou away. I'll follow inftantly. Mar. I'm glad at heart To be fo rid o' th' business. Ant. Come, poor babe ; [Exit. I have heard, but not believ'd, the fpirits of the dead So fill'd, and fo becoming; in pure white robes, My cabin where I lay; thrice bow'd before me, Of my poor babe, according to thine oath, "Places |