Conduct me to the queen.

Kee. I may not, madam; to the contrary I have exprefs commandment.

PAU. Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from

The accefs of gentle visitors!

Is't lawful,

Pray you, to fee her women? any of them ?
Emilia?

Kee. So please you, madam,

To put apart these your attendants, I

Shall bring Emilia forth.

PAU. I pray you now,

Call her: Withdraw yourselves.

[Exeunt Ait.

[ado,

PAU. Well, be't fo, pr'ythee. [Exit Kee.] Here is fuch To make no stain a stain, as paffes colouring..

Re-enter Keeper, with EMILIA.
Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady?
EMI. As well as one fo great, and fo forlorn,
May hold together: On her frights, and griefs,
(Which never tender lady hath born greater)
She is, fomething before her time, deliver'd.
PAV. A boy?

EMF. A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lufty, and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in't; fays, My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.

PAU. I dare be sworn:

These dangerous unfafe lunes i'the king! befhrew them! He must be told on't, and he fhall: the office

Becomes a woman beft; I'll take't upon me :

If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blifter;
And never to my red-look'd anger be
The trumpet any more :- Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my beft obedience to the queen;
If the dares truft me with her little babe,
I'll fhew't the king, and undertake to be
Her advocate to the loud'ft: We do not know
How he may foften at the fight o'the child;
The filence often of pure innocence
Perfuades, when speaking fails.

EMI. Moft worthy madam,

Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident,
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving iffue; there is no lady living,

So meet for this great errand: 'Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I'll presently

Acquaint the queen of your moft noble offer;
Who, but to-day, hammer'd of this defign;
But durft not tempt a minister of honour,
Left she should be deny'd.

PAU. Tell her, Emilia,

I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from't
As boldness from my bosom, let't not be doubted
I shall do good.

EMI. Now be you bleft for it!

I'll to the queen: please you, come fomething nearer. Kee. Madam, if't please the queen to fend the babe, I know not what I fhall incurr, to pass it,

Having no warrant.

PAU. You need not fear it, fir:

This child was prisoner to the womb; and is,
By law and procefs of great nature, thence

Free'd and enfranchis'd: not a party to
The anger of the king; nor guilty of,
If any be, the trefpafs of the queen.
Kee. I do believe it.

PAU. Do not you fear; upon

Mine honour, I will ftand 'twixt you and danger.

SCENE III. The fame. A Room in the Palace. ANTIGONUS, and Lords, waiting, and other Attendants. Enter LEONTES.

LEO. Nor night, nor day, no reft: It is but weakness To bear the matter thus; meer weakness, if The cause were not in being; part o'the cause, She, the adultrefs; for the harlot king Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank And level of my brain, plot-proof: but she I can hook to me: Say, that the were gone, Given to the fire, a moiety of my reft Might come to me again. Who's there? 1. A. My lord ?

LEO. How does the boy?

[advancing

1. A. He took good reft to-night; and it is hop'd, His fickness is discharg'd.

LEO. To fee his noblenefs!

Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,

He ftraight declin'd upon't, droop'd, took it deeply;
Faften'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself;
Threw off his fpirit, his appetite, his fleep,

And down-right languish'd. Leave me folely: go,
See how he fares. Exit Att.] Fie, fie! no thought of
The very thought of my revenges that way
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty;

6 ftand betwixt

[him;

In his parties, his alliance, - Let him be,
Until a time may ferve: for present vengeance,
Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes

Laugh at me; make their pastime at my forrow:
They should not laugh, if I could reach them; nor
Shall fhe, within my power.

Enter PAULINA, with a Child.

Lor. You must not enter.

PAU. 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;
More free, than he is jealous.

ANT. "That's enough.

2. A. Madam, he hath not flept to-night; commanded, None should come at him.

PAU. Not fo hot, good fir;

I come to bring him fleep. 'Tis fuch as you,
That creep like fhadows by him, and do figh
At each his needlefs heavings, fuch as you
Nourish the cause of his awaking: I

Do come with words as med'cinal as true;
Honeft as either; to purge him of that humour,
That preffes him from fleep.

LEO. What noise there, ho?

PAU. No noise, my lord; but needful conference, About fome goffips for your highness.

LEO. How!.

Away with that audacious lady:- Antigonus,

I charg'd thee, that she should not come about me;
I knew, fhe would.

ANT. I told her fo, my lord,

On your displeasure's peril, and on mine,

4

34

She should not visit you.

LEO. What, can'ft not rule her?

PAU. From all difhonefty, he can in this,
(Unless he take the course that you have done,
Commit me, for committing honour) trust it,
He fhall not rule me.

ANT. La' you now; you hear!

When she will take the rein, I let her run;
But fhe'll not ftumble.

PAU. Good my liege, I come,

And, I beseech you, hear me; who profefs
Myfelf your loyal fervant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dares
Lefs appear fo, in comforting your evils,

Than fuch as most seem yours :- I fay, I come
From your good queen.

LEO. Good queen!

[queen;

PAU. Good queen, my lord, good queen! I fay, good And would by combat make her good, fo were I

A man, the worst about

LEO. Force her hence.

you.

PAU. Let him, that makes but trifles of his eyes, First hand me: on mine own accord, I'll off; But, firft, 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!

A mánkind witch! Hence with her, out o'door:
A moft intelligencing bawd!

PAU. Not fo:

I am as ignorant in that, as you

In fo intitling me: and no lefs honeft

11 profeffes