Polixenes.
Nature, which hast made it
Once more take her hence.
Ile ha’ thee burnt.
Iouesend her
Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.
Left Column
Once more take her hence.
Ile ha’ thee burnt.
Right Column
You’re lyers all.
I will (my Lord.)
My Lord.
How do’s the boy?
You must not enter.
That’s enough.
Madam; he hath not slept to night, commanded
None should come at him.
Who noyse there, hoe?
What? canst not rule her?
Good Queene?
Force her hence.
He dreads his Wife.
A nest of Traitors.
I am none, by this good light.
Once more take her hence.
Ile ha’ thee burnt.
You’re lyers all.
I will (my Lord.)
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="3">
<head rend="center">Scæna Tertia.</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Leontes, Seruants, Paulina, Antigonus, and Lords.</stage>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="887">Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but weaknesse</l>
<l n="888">To beare the matter thus: meere weaknesse, if</l>
<l n="889">The cause were not in being: part o’th cause,</l>
<l n="890">She, th’Adultresse: for the harlot‑King</l>
<l n="891">Is quite beyond mine Arme, out of the blanke</l>
<l n="892">And leuell of my braine: plot‑proofe: but shee,</l>
<l n="893">I can hooke to me: say that she were gone,</l>
<l n="894">Giuen to the fire, a moity of my rest</l>
<l n="895">Might come to me againe. Whose there?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ser">
<speaker rend="italic">Ser.</speaker>
<p n="896">My Lord.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="897">How do’s the boy?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ser">
<speaker rend="italic">Ser.</speaker>
<l n="898">He tooke good rest to night: 'tis hop’d</l>
<l n="899">His sicknesse is discharg’d.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="900">To see his Noblenesse,</l>
<l n="901">Conceyuing the dishonour of his Mother.</l>
<l n="902">He straight declin’d, droop’d, tooke it deeply,</l>
<l n="903">Fasten’d, and fix’d the shame on’t in himselfe:</l>
<l n="904">Threw‑off his Spirit, his Appetite, his Sleepe,</l>
<l n="905">And down‑right languish’d. Leaue me solely: goe,</l>
<l n="906">See how he fares: Fie, fie, no thought of him,</l>
<l n="907">The very thought of my Reuenges that way</l>
<l n="908">Recoyle vpon me: in himselfe too mightie,</l>
<l n="909">And in his parties, his Alliance; Let him be,</l>
<l n="910">Vntill a time may serue. For present vengeance</l>
<l n="911">Take it on her:<hi rend="italic">Camillo</hi>, and<hi rend="italic">Polixenes</hi>
</l>
<l n="912">Laugh at me: make their pastime at my sorrow:</l>
<l n="913">They should not laugh, if I could reach them, nor</l>
<l n="914">Shall she, within my powre.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Paulina.</stage>
<sp who="#F-wt-lor.1">
<speaker rend="italic">Lord.</speaker>
<p n="915">You must not enter.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="916">Nay rather (good my Lords) be second to me:</l>
<l n="917">Feare you his tyrannous passion more (alas)</l>
<l n="918">Then the Queenes life? A gracious innocent soule,</l>
<l n="919">More free, then he is iealous.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Antig.</speaker>
<p n="920">That’s enough.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ser">
<speaker rend="italic">Ser.</speaker>
<p n="921">Madam; he hath not slept to night, commanded
<lb n="922"/>None should come at him.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Pau.</speaker>
<l n="923">Not so hot (good Sir)</l>
<l n="924">I come to bring him sleepe. 'Tis such as you</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="925">That creepe like shadowes by him, and do sighe</l>
<l n="926">At each his needlesse heauings: such as you</l>
<l n="927">Nourish the cause of his awaking. I</l>
<l n="928">Do come with words, as medicinall, as true;</l>
<l n="929">(Honest, as either;) to purge him of that humor,</l>
<l n="930">That presses him from sleepe.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="931">Who noyse there, hoe?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Pau.</speaker>
<l n="932">No noyse (my Lord) but needfull conference,</l>
<l n="933">About some Gossips for your Highnesse.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="934">How?</l>
<l n="935">Away with that audacious Lady.<hi rend="italic">Antigonus</hi>,</l>
<l n="936">I charg’d thee that she should not come about me,</l>
<l n="937">I knew she would.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Ant.</speaker>
<l n="938">I told her so (my Lord)</l>
<l n="939">On your displeasures perill, and on mine,</l>
<l n="940">She should not visit you.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="941">What? canst not rule her?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="942">From all dishonestie he can: in this</l>
<l n="943">(Vnlesse he take the course that you haue done)</l>
<l n="944">Commit me, for committing honor, trust it,</l>
<l n="945">He shall not rule me:</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Ant.</speaker>
<l n="946">La‑you now, you heare,</l>
<l n="947">When she will take the raine, I let her run,</l>
<l n="948">But shee’l not stumble.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="949">Good my Liege, I come:</l>
<l n="950">And I beseech you heare me, who professes</l>
<l n="951">My selfe your loyall Seruant, your Physitian,</l>
<l n="952">Your most obedient Counsailor: yet that dares</l>
<l n="953">Lesse appeare so, in comforting your Euilles,</l>
<l n="954">Then such as most seeme yours. I say, I come</l>
<l n="955">From your good Queene.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="956">Good Queene?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="957">Good Queene (my Lord) good Queene,</l>
<l n="958">I say good Queene,</l>
<l n="959">And would by combate, make her good so, were I</l>
<l n="960">A man, the worst about you.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="961">Force her hence.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Pau.</speaker>
<l n="962">Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes</l>
<l n="963">First hand me: on mine owne accord, Ile off,</l>
<l n="964">B<gap extent="1"
unit="chars"
reason="illegible"
agent="uninkedType"
resp="#LMC"/>t first, Ile do my errand. The good Queene</l>
<l n="965">(For she is good) hath brought you forth a daughter,</l>
<l n="966">Heere 'tis. Commends it to your blessing.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="967">Out:</l>
<l n="968">A mankinde Witch? Hence with her, out o’dore:</l>
<l n="969">A most intelligencing bawd.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="970">Not so:</l>
<l n="971">I am as ignorant in that, as you,</l>
<l n="972">In so entit’ling me: and no lesse honest</l>
<l n="973">Then you are mad: which is enough, Ile warrant</l>
<l n="974">(As this world goes) to passe for honest:</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="975">Traitors;</l>
<l n="976">Will you not push her out? Giue her the Bastard,</l>
<l n="977">Thou dotard, thou art woman‑tyr’d: vnroosted</l>
<l n="978">By thy dame<hi rend="italic">Partlet</hi>heere. Take vp the Bastard,</l>
<l n="979">Take’t vp, I say: giue’t to thy Croane.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="980">For euer</l>
<l n="981">Vnvenerable be thy hands, if thou</l>
<l n="982">Tak’st vp the Princesse, by that forced basenesse</l>
<l n="983">Which he ha’s put vpon’t.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="984">He dreads his Wife.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="985">So I would you did: then 'twere past all doubt</l>
<l n="986">Youl’d call your children, yours.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="987">A nest of Traitors.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Ant.</speaker>
<p n="988">I am none, by this good light.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Pau.</speaker>
<l n="989">Nor I: nor any</l>
<l n="990">But one that’s heere: and that’s himselfe: for he,</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0305-0.jpg" n="285"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="991">The sacred Honor of himselfe, his Queenes,</l>
<l n="992">His hopefull Sonnes, his Babes, betrayes to Slander,</l>
<l n="993">Whose sting is sharper then the Swords; and will not</l>
<l n="994">(For as the case now stands, it is a Curse</l>
<l n="995">He cannot be compell’d too’t) once remoue</l>
<l n="996">The Root of his Opinion, which is rotten,</l>
<l n="997">As euer Oake, or Stone was sound.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="998">A Callat</l>
<l n="999">Of boundlesse tongue, who late hath beat her Husband,</l>
<l n="1000">And now bayts me: This Brat is none of mine,</l>
<l n="1001">It is the Issue of<hi rend="italic">Polixenes</hi>.</l>
<l n="1002">Hence with it, and together with the Dam,</l>
<l n="1003">Commit them to the fire.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="1004">It is yours:</l>
<l n="1005">And might we lay th’old Prouerb to your charge,</l>
<l n="1006">So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold (my Lords)</l>
<l n="1007">Although the Print be little, the whole Matter</l>
<l n="1008">And Coppy of the Father: (Eye, Nose, Lippe,</l>
<l n="1009">The trick of’s Frowne, his Fore‑head, nay, the Valley,</l>
<l n="1010">The pretty dimples of his Chin, and Cheeke; his Smiles:</l>
<l n="1011">The very Mold, and frame of Hand, Nayle, Finger.)</l>
<l n="1012">And thou good Goddesse<hi rend="italic">Nature</hi>, which hast made it</l>
<l n="1013">So like to him that got it, if thou hast</l>
<l n="1014">The ordering of the Mind too, 'mongst all Colours</l>
<l n="1015">No Yellow in’t, least she suspect, as he do’s,</l>
<l n="1016">Her Children, not her Husbands.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="1017">A grosse Hagge:</l>
<l n="1018">And Lozell, thou art worthy to be hang’d,</l>
<l n="1019">That wilt not stay her Tongue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Antig.</speaker>
<l n="1020">Hang all the Husbands</l>
<l n="1021">That cannot doe that Feat, you’le leaue your selfe</l>
<l n="1022">Hardly one Subiect.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="1023">Once more take her hence.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="1024">A most vnworthy, and vnnaturall Lord</l>
<l n="1025">Can doe no more.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="1026">Ile ha’ thee burnt.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="1027">I care not:</l>
<l n="1028">It is an Heretique that makes the fire,</l>
<l n="1029">Not she which burnes in’t. Ile not call you Tyrant:</l>
<l n="1030">But this most cruell vsage of your Queene</l>
<l n="1031">(Not able to produce more accusation</l>
<l n="1032">Then your owne weake‑hindg’d Fancy) somthing sauors</l>
<l n="1033">Of Tyrannie, and will ignoble make you,</l>
<l n="1034">Yea, scandalous to the World.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="1035">On your Allegeance,</l>
<l n="1036">Out of the Chamber with her. Were I a Tyrant,</l>
<l n="1037">Where were her life? she durst not call me so,</l>
<l n="1038">If she did know me one. Away with her.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-pau">
<speaker rend="italic">Paul.</speaker>
<l n="1039">I pray you doe not push me, Ile be gone.</l>
<l n="1040">Looke to your Babe (my Lord) 'tis yours:<hi rend="italic">Ioue</hi>send her</l>
<l n="1041">A better guiding Spirit. What needs these hands?</l>
<l n="1042">You that are thus so tender o’re his Follyes,</l>
<l n="1043">Will neuer doe him good, not one of you.</l>
<l n="1044">So, so: Farewell, we are gone.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="1045">Thou (Traytor) hast set on thy Wife to this.</l>
<l n="1046">My Child? away with’t? euen thou, that hast</l>
<l n="1047">A heart so tender o’re it, take it hence,</l>
<l n="1048">And see it instantly consum’d with fire.</l>
<l n="1049">Euen thou, and none but thou. Take it vp straight:</l>
<l n="1050">Within this houre bring me word 'tis done,</l>
<l n="1051">(And by good testimonie) or Ile seize thy life,</l>
<l n="1052">With what thou else call’st thine: if thou refuse,</l>
<l n="1053">And wilt encounter with my Wrath, say so;</l>
<l n="1054">The Bastard‑braynes with these my proper hands</l>
<l n="1055">Shall I dash out. Goe, take it to the fire,</l>
<l n="1056">For thou sett’st on thy Wife.</l>
</sp>
<cb n="2"/>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Antig.</speaker>
<l n="1057">I did not, Sir:</l>
<l n="1058">These Lords, my Noble Fellowes, if they please,</l>
<l n="1059">Can cleare me in’t.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-lds">
<speaker rend="italic">Lords.</speaker>
<l n="1060">We can: my Royall Liege,</l>
<l n="1061">He is not guiltie of her comming hither.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<p n="1062">You’re lyers all.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-lor.1">
<speaker rend="italic">Lord.</speaker>
<l n="1063">Beseech your Highnesse, giue vs better credit:</l>
<l n="1064">We haue alwayes truly seru’d you, and beseech’</l>
<l n="1065">So to esteeme of vs: and on our knees we begge,</l>
<l n="1066">(As recompence of our deare seruices</l>
<l n="1067">Past, and to come) that you doe change this purpose,</l>
<l n="1068">Which being so horrible, so bloody, must</l>
<l n="1069">Lead on to some foule Issue. We all kneele.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="1070">I am a Feather for each Wind that blows:</l>
<l n="1071">Shall I liue on, to see this Bastard kneele,</l>
<l n="1072">And call me Father? better burne it now,</l>
<l n="1073">Then curse it then. But be it: let it liue.</l>
<l n="1074">It shall not neyther. You Sir, come you hither:</l>
<l n="1075">You that haue beene so tenderly officious</l>
<l n="1076">With Lady<hi rend="italic">Margerie</hi>, your Mid‑wife there,</l>
<l n="1077">To saue this Bastards life; for 'tis a Bastard,</l>
<l n="1078">So sure as this Beard’s gray. What will you aduenture,</l>
<l n="1079">To saue this Brats life?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Antig.</speaker>
<l n="1080">Any thing (my Lord)</l>
<l n="1081">That my abilitie may vndergoe,</l>
<l n="1082">And Noblenesse impose: at least thus much;</l>
<l n="1083">Ile pawne the little blood which I haue left,</l>
<l n="1084">To saue the Innocent: any thing possible.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="1085">It shall be possible: Sweare by this Sword</l>
<l n="1086">Thou wilt performe my bidding.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Antig.</speaker>
<p n="1087">I will (my Lord.)</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="1088">Marke, and performe it: seest thou? for the faile</l>
<l n="1089">Of any point in’t, shall not onely be</l>
<l n="1090">Death to thy selfe, but to thy lewd‑tongu’d Wife,</l>
<l n="1091">(Whom for this time we pardon) We enioyne thee,</l>
<l n="1092">As thou art Liege‑man to vs, that thou carry</l>
<l n="1093">This female Bastard hence, and that thou beare it</l>
<l n="1094">To some remote and desart place, quite out</l>
<l n="1095">Of our Dominions; and that there thou leaue it</l>
<l n="1096">(Without more mercy) to it owne protection,</l>
<l n="1097">And fauour of the Climate: as by strange fortune</l>
<l n="1098">It came to vs, I doe in Iustice charge thee,</l>
<l n="1099">On thy Soules perill, and thy Bodyes torture,</l>
<l n="1100">That thou commend it strangely to some place,</l>
<l n="1101">Where Chance may nurse, or end it: take it vp.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-ant">
<speaker rend="italic">Antig.</speaker>
<l n="1102">I sweare to doe this: though a present death</l>
<l n="1103">Had beene more mercifull. Come on (poore Babe)</l>
<l n="1104">Some powerfull Spirit instruct the Kytes and Rauens</l>
<l n="1105">To be thy Nurs<gap extent="1"
unit="chars"
reason="illegible"
agent="partiallyInkedType"
resp="#LMC"/>s. Wolues and Beares, they say,</l>
<l n="1106">(Casting their sauagenesse aside) haue done</l>
<l n="1107">Like offices of Pitty. Sir, be prosperous</l>
<l n="1108">In more then this deed do’s require; and Blessing</l>
<l n="1109">Against this Crueltie, fight on thy side</l>
<l n="1110">(Poore Thing, condemn’d to losse.)</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="1111">No: Ile not reare</l>
<l n="1112">Anothers Issue.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Enter a Seruant.</stage>
<sp who="#F-wt-ser">
<speaker rend="italic">Seru.</speaker>
<l n="1113">Please’ your Highnesse, Posts</l>
<l n="1114">From those you sent to th’Oracle, are come</l>
<l n="1115">An houre since:<hi rend="italic">Cleomines</hi>and<hi rend="italic">Dion</hi>,</l>
<l n="1116">Being well arriu’d from Delphos, are both landed,</l>
<l n="1117">Hasting to th’Court.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-lor.1">
<speaker rend="italic">Lord.</speaker>
<l n="1118">So please you (Sir) their speed</l>
<l n="1119">Hath beene beyond accompt.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wt-leo">
<speaker rend="italic">Leo.</speaker>
<l n="1120">Twentie three days</l>
<l n="1121">They haue beene absent: 'tis good speed: fore‑tells</l>
<l n="1122">The great<hi rend="italic">Apollo</hi>suddenly will haue</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0306-0.jpg" n="286"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="1123">The truth of this appeare: Prepare you Lords,</l>
<l n="1124">Summon a Session, that we may arraigne</l>
<l n="1125">Our most disloyall Lady: for as she hath</l>
<l n="1126">Been publikely accus’d, so shall she haue</l>
<l n="1127">A iust and open Triall. While she liues,</l>
<l n="1128">My heart will be a burthen to me. Leaue me,</l>
<l n="1129">And thinke vpon my bidding.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>