Than curse it then. But, be it ; let it live : [Exeunt Phocion and Thasius, L. You, sir, come you hither, You, that have been so tenderly officious With Lady Margery, your widwife, there, To save this bastard's life; [Antigonus advances to him, c.] for, 'tis a bastard, So sure as this beard's gray; what will you adventure To save this brat's life? Ant. Any thing, my lord, That my abilities may undergo, And nobleness impose: at least, thus much- To save the innocent: any thing possible. Leo. It shall be possible: [Draws his sword.] Swear by this sword, Thou wilt perform my bidding. Ant. I will, my lord. Leo. Mark, and perform it; (see'st thou ?) for the fail Of any point in't, shall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife, Whom, for this time, we pardon. We enjoin thee, This hateful issue of Polixenes, To some remote and desert place, quite out [Retires and sits. Ant. (c.) I swear to do this; though a present death Had been more merciful. [Takes up the Child.] Come on, poor babe; Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens, Casting their savageness aside, have done Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous In more than this deed does require! and blessing, Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! [Exit Antigonus with the Child, R. Leo. No, I'll not rear Another's issue. [A Trumpet sounds, L,] Enter PHOCION and THASIUS, L. Pho. (L.) Please your highness, posts, Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are even now Leo. [Rises.] This good speed foretells, The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; [Exeunt, Leontes, R. Phocion and Thasius, L. END OF ACT II. ACT III. SCENE I.—A Court of Justice.-Trumpets sound. The daughter of a king; our wife; and one Proceed to justice; which shall have due course, Tha. (R. of the table before the King.) It is his highness' pleasure, that the queen Appear in person here in court. HERMIONE is brought in L. guarded; PAULINA, LAMIA, and HERO, attending. HERMIONE crosses to R. and sits. Leo. Read the indictment. Pho. [Standing L. of the table, before the King, reads.] "Hermione, queen to Leontes, King of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery with Polixenes, King of Bohemia; and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband. Her. [Rises, and turns to the Court.] Since what I am to say, must be but that Which contradicts my accusation; and The testimony on my part, no other But what comes from myself; it shall scarce boot me, "Not guilty:" mine integrity To say, Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, I doubt not then, but innocence shall make Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know, A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, For life, I prize it As I weigh grief, which I would spare for honour, "Tis a derivative from me to mine, And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Have strained to appear thus: if one jot beyond That way inclining; harden'd be the hearts Of all that hear me, and my near❜st of kin [Sits. Leo. I ne'er heard yet, That any of these bolder vices wanted More impudence to gainsay what they did, Than to perform it first. Her. [Rises.] That's true enough ; Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. [Sits. Leo. As you were past all shame, (Those of your fact are so) so past all truth: Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage, Her. Sir, spare your threats; The bug, which you would fright me with, I seek. The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, I do give lost; for I do feel it gone, But know not how it went: My second joy, [Rises. The first-fruits of our marriage, from his presence Apollo be my judge. Leo. Bring forth, And in Apollo's name, his oracle. Her. The Emperor of Russia was my father: O, that he were alive, and here beholding His daughter's trial! that he did but see [Sits. Pho. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have Been both at Delphos; and from thence have brought This sealed up oracle, by the hand deliver'd Of great Apollo's priest; and that, since then Nor read the secrets in't. Cle. All this we swear. Leo. Break up the seals, and read. Pho. [Unlocks the Oracle, and takes out a puper-Reads. "Hermione is chaste; [Hermione R. falls on her knees.] Polixenes blameless; Camillo a true subject; Leontes' babe truly begotten; and the King shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found." Pau. (R. C.) Now blessed be the great Apollo! Leo. Hast thou read truth? Pho. Ay, my lord, even so As it is here set down. Leo. The session shall proceed; this is mere falsehood. Enter EMILIA, L. Emi. My lord the king, the king!— Leo. What is the business? Emi. O sir, I shall be hated to report it: The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear Of the queen's speed, is dead. [Hermione faints. Leo. [Rises and goes to Hermione R.] How! dead! Her. Oh! oh! oh!-my son ! Leo. How now there? Pau. This news is mortal to the queen :-Look down, And see what death is doing. Leo. Take her hence; Her heart is but o'ercharg'd; she will recover. [Hermione is borne off by Paulina, Emilia, Lamia, The heavens themselves do strike at my injustice. Some remedies for life.-Break up the court. [Trumpets sound.-Scene closes. SCENE II.-The King's Closet. Enter LEONTES, PHOCION, and THASIUS, R. Leo. (c.) Apollo, pardon [Phocion and Thasius on his L. My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle !— D |