SCENE V. Enter Paulina, with a child. Lord. You must not enter. Paul. Nay rather, good my Lords, be fecond to me. Fear you his tyrannous paffion more, alas, Than the Queen's life? a gracious innocent foul, Ant. That's enough. Atten. [within] Madam, he hath not slept to-night, commanded None fhould come at him. Paul. Not fo hot, good Sir; I come to bring him fleep. 'Tis fuch as you, Do come with words, as medicinal as true, Les. What noife there, ho? Paul. No noife, my Lord, but needful conference, About fome goflips for your Highness. Leo. How? Away with that audacious lady. -Antigonus, I charg'd thee, that she should not come about me; J knew he would. Ant. I told her fo, my Lord, On your difpleafure's peril and on mine, She should not visit you. Leo. What? can't not rule her? Paul. From all dishonefty he can; in this, Ant. Lo-you now, you hear, Paul. Good my licge, I come And I befeech you, hear me, who profefs VOL. III. U Than fuch as moft feem your's. I fay, I come Leo. Good Queen? Paul. Good Queen, my Lord, And would by combat make her good, fo were I Leo. Force her hence. Paul. Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes, First hand me on mine own accord I'll off; "But first I'll do my errand. The good Queen, For fhe is good, hath brought you forth a daughter, Here 'tis; commends it to your bleffing. Leo. Out! [Laying down the child. A mankind witch! hence with her, out o'door: Paul. Not fo; I am as ignorant in that, as you In fo intitling me; and no less honest Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, Leo. Traitors! Will you not push her out? give her the bastard. Paul. For ever Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou Take 'ft up the Princefs, by that forced * baseness Leo. He dreads his wife. Paul. So I would you did: then 'twere paft all doubt, You'd call your children y S. Leo. A neft of traitors! Ant. I am none, by this good light. Paul. Nor I; nor any But one that's here; and that's himself. The facred honour of himself, his Queen's, forced, for unnatural. For he His hopeful fon's, his babe's, betrays to flander, Leo. A callat Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her husband, Hence with it, and together with the dam, Paul. It is your's; And, might we lay th' old proverb to your charge, The trick of's frown, his forehead, nay, the valley, The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours Leo. A grofs hag! And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd, That wilt not stay her tongue. Ant. Hang all the husbands That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself Leo. Once more, take her hence. Paul. A moft unworthy and unnatural Lord Can do no more. Leo. I'll ha' thee burnt. Paul. I care not; It is an heretic that makes the fire, Not the which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant, But this most cruel ufage of your Queen (Not able to produce more accufation Than your own weak-hing'd fancy) fomething favours Of tyranny and will ignoble make you, Yea, fcandalous to the world. Leo. On your allegiance, Out of the chamber with her. Were I a tyrant, Paul. I pray you, do not pufh me, I'll be gone. Will never do him good, not one of you. [Exit. Leo. Thou, traitor, haft fet on thy wife to this. My child? away with 't. Even thou, thou that haft A heart fo tender o'er it, take it hence, And fee it inftantly confum'd with fire; Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up ftraight: Within this hour bring me word it is done, And by good teftimony, or I'll feize thy life, With what thou else call 'st thine: if thou refufe, Shall I dash out: go take it to the fire, Ant. I did not, Sir; Thefe Lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Lord. We can; my royal Liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. Leo. You're lyars all. Lords. 'Befeech your Highnefs, give us better credit.. We've always truly ferv'd you, and beseech you So to efteem of us and on our knees we beg, (As recompence of our dear fervices Paft and to come), that you do change this purpose, Which being fo horrible, fo bloody, must Lead on to fome foul iffue. We all kneel Leo. I am a feather for each wind that blows.: Shall I live on, to fee this baftard kneel, Than curfe it then. But be it; let it live: t fhall not neither. -You, Sir, come you hither; You, that have been so tenderly officious [To Antigonus. With Lady Margery, your midwife there, So fure as this beard's grey), what will you adventure Ant. Any thing, my Lord, That my ability may undergo, And nobleness impose: at leaft, thus much; Ant. I will, my Lord. Leo. Mark and perform it; feeft thou? for the fail Of any point in 't fhall not only be Death to thyfelf, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife, Ant. I fwear to do this; tho' a prefent death In more than this deed does require; and bleffing, Poor thing condemn'd to lofs. Leo. No; I'll not rear Another's iffue. [Exit, with the child, |