The Lords, my noble fellows, if they please, Can clear me in't. Lord. We can, my royal Liege, He is not guilty of her coming hither. Lord. 'Beseech your Highness, give us better credit. We beg (as recompence of our dear fervice Paft, and to come) that you do change this purpose. 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 And call me father? better burn it now, Than curfe it then. But be it; let it live: It shall not neither. You, Sir, come you hither; [To Ant. With Lady Margery, your midwife there, To fave this baftard's life; (for 'tis a baftard, So fure as this beard's grey) what will you adventure Ant. Any thing, my Lord, That my ability may undergo And nobleness impofe: at leaft thus much; I'll pawn the little blood which I have left, To fave the innocent; what's poffible. Leo. It fhall be poffible; fwear by this sword Ant. I will, my Lord. Leo. Mark and perform it; fee'ft thou; for the fail Death to thy felf, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife, Is It came to us, I do in juft ce charge thee, In more than this deed does require! and bleffing Leo. No; I'll not rear Another's iffue. Enter a Meffenger. Mef. Pleafe your Highness, pofts [Exit with the Child. From those you fent to th' Oracle, are come Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, Lord. So please you, Sir, their speed Hath been beyond account. Leo. Twenty three days They have been abfent: this good speed foretels The truth of this appear. Prepare you, Lords, T [Exeunt feverally, SCENE A Part of Sicily. Enter Cleomines and Dion, I. HE climate's delicate, the air most sweet, Fertile the foil, the temple much furpaffing The common praise it bears, Dien Dion. I fhall report, For moft they caught me, the celestial habits, Methinks I fo fhould term them, and the reverence How ceremonious, folemn, and unearthly Cleo. But of all, the burst And the ear-deafning voice o'th' Oracle, Dion. If th' event o'th' journey Prove as fuccefsful to the Queen (O be't fo!) Cleo. Great Apollo, Turn all to th' beft! thefe proclamations, I little like. Dion. The violent carriage of it Will clear or end the bufinefs, when the Oracle Shall the contents difcover: fomething rare [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Court of Justice. of us too much belov'd; let us be clear'd Produce the prifoner. Offi. It is his Highness' pleafure, that the Queen Appear in perfon here in Court. Silence! Hermione is brought in guarded; Paulina and Ladies. Leo. Read the indictment. Offi. Hermione, Queen to the worthy Leontes, King of Sicilia, thou art bere accufed and arraigned of high treason, in in committing adultery with Polixenes King of Bithynia,and confpiring with Camillo to take away the life of our fovereign Lord the King tby royal bufband; the pretence whereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst counfel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night. Her. Since what I am to fay, must be but that Which contradicts my accufation, and The teftimony on my part no other But what comes from my self, it shall scarce boot me Being counted falfhood, fhall, 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, And only that I ftand for. I appeal To your own confcience, Sir, before Polixenes Leo. Ine'er heard yet That That any of thofe bolder vices wanted Lefs impudence to gain-fay what they did Her. That's true enough, Tho' 'tis a faying, Sir, not due to me. Her. More than I'm mistress of, Which comes to me in name of fault, I muft not To you, and towards your friend; whose love had spoke, Even fince it could fpeak, from an infant, freely, That it was yours. Now for confpiracy, I know not how it taftes, tho' it be difh'd Is, that Camillo was an honeft man; And why he left your Court, the Gods themselves, Leo. You knew of his departure, as you know You fpeak a language that I understand not; Leo. Your actions are my dreams. You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dream'd it: as you are paft all fhame, (Thofe of your fact are) fo you're paft all truth; Her, |