Paul. I pray now, call her. Withdraw yourselves. Keep. [Exeunt Attend. And, madam, [Exit Keeper. I must be present at your conference. 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? A daughter; and a goodly babe, I am innocent as you. Paul. queen I dare be sworn: These dangerous unsafe lunes1 o'the king! beshrew them! be He must be told on't, and he shall: the office Lunes. This word has not been found in any other English writer; but it is used in old French for frenzy, lunacy, folly. A similar expression occurs in The Revenger's Tragedy, 1608: 'I know it was but some peevish moon in him.' In As You Like It, we have the expression, a moonish youth. How he may soften at the sight o' the child; Persuades, when speaking fails. Most worthy madam, Emil. A thriving issue; there is no lady living, So meet for this great errand: Please your ladyship Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer; 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, Keep. I do believe it. Paul. queen. Do not you fear: Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger. VOL. IV. E [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 level1 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 Attend. Leon. How does the boy? 1 Attend. -Who's there? My lord! [Advancing. He took good rest to-night; To see, 'Tis hop'd his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. His nobleness! Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply; And downright languish'd.-Leave me solely2:-go, See how he fares. [Exit Attend.]-Fye, fye! no thought of him; The very thought of my revenges that way 1 Blank and level mean mark and aim, or direction. They are terms of gunnery. See note 8, p. 50, of this play. Thus also in Hamlet, Act iv. Sc. 4: 'As level as the cannon to his blank.' 2 i. e. leave me alone. 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; com manded None should come at him. Paul. I come to bring him sleep. Not so hot, good sir; 'Tis such as you,— Do come with words as med'cinal as true; Leon. What noise there, ho? but needful conference Paul. No noise, my lord; Leon. How? Away with that audacious lady: Antigonus, Ant. I told her so, my lord, What, can'st not rule her? On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, Leon. Paul. From all dishonesty, he can: in this, (Unless he take the course that you have done, Commit me, for committing honour) trust it, Ant. Paul. Good my liege, I come, And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess 3 Leon. Good queen! Paul. Good queen, my lord, good queen; good queen: I say, And would by combat make her good, so were I A man, the worst5 about you. Leon. Force her hence. Paul. Let him, that makes but trifles of his eyes, First hand me: on my own accord, I'll off; But, first, I'll do my errand.-The good queen, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. Leon. [Laying down the Child. Out! A mankind witch? Hence with her, out o' door : A most intelligencing bawd! Paul. 3 The old copy has professes. Not so: In comforting your evils.' To comfort, in old language, is to aid, to encourage. Evils here mean wicked courses. 5 i. e. the weakest, or least warlike. 6A mankind witch.' In Junius's Nomenclator, by Abraham Fleming, 1585, Virago is interpreted A manly woman, or a mankind woman.' Johnson asserts that the phrase is still used in the midland counties for a woman violent, ferocious, and mischievous. |