The Winter's Tale Read online

  By any understanding pate259 but thine?

  For thy conceit is soaking260, will draw in

  More than the common blocks261. Not noted, is't,

  But of262 the finer natures? By some severals

  Of head-piece263 extraordinary? Lower messes

  Perchance are to this business264 purblind? Say.

  CAMILLO Business, my lord? I think most understand

  Bohemia stays here longer.

  LEONTES Ha?

  CAMILLO Stays here longer.

  LEONTES Ay, but why?

  CAMILLO To satisfy your highness and the entreaties

  Of our most gracious mistress.

  LEONTES Satisfy272?

  Th'entreaties of your mistress? Satisfy?

  Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo,

  With all the nearest things to my heart, as well275

  My chamber-councils276, wherein, priest-like, thou

  Hast cleansed my bosom277, I from thee departed

  Thy penitent reformed. But we278 have been

  Deceived in thy integrity, deceived

  In that which seems so.

  CAMILLO Be it forbid, my lord!

  LEONTES To bide282 upon't, thou art not honest: or,

  If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward,

  Which hoxes284 honesty behind, restraining

  From course required: or else thou must be counted285

  A servant grafted286 in my serious trust

  And therein negligent: or else a fool

  That see'st a game288 played home, the rich stake drawn,

  And tak'st it all for jest.

  CAMILLO My gracious lord,

  I may be negligent, foolish and fearful.

  In every one of these no man is free,

  But that his negligence, his folly, fear,

  Among the infinite doings of the world,

  Sometime puts forth. In your affairs, my lord,

  If ever I were wilful-negligent296,

  It was my folly: if industriously

  I played the fool, it was my negligence,

  Not weighing299 well the end: if ever fearful

  To do a thing, where I the issue300 doubted,

  Whereof the execution did cry out

  Against the non-performance301, 'twas a fear

  Which oft infects the wisest. These, my lord,

  Are such allowed infirmities that honesty

  Is never free of. But, beseech your grace,

  Be plainer with me. Let me know my trespass306

  By its own visage307; if I then deny it,

  'Tis none of mine.

  LEONTES Ha' not you seen, Camillo --

  But that's past doubt, you have, or your eye-glass310

  Is thicker than a cuckold's horn -- or heard --

  For to a vision so apparent312 rumour

  Cannot be mute -- or thought -- for cogitation313

  Resides not in that man that does not think --

  My wife is slippery315? If thou wilt confess,

  Or else be impudently negative,

  To316 have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then say

  My wife's a hobby-horse318, deserves a name

  As rank319 as any flax-wench that puts to

  Before her troth-plight: say't and justify't.

  CAMILLO I would not be a stander-by to hear

  My sovereign mistress clouded322 so, without

  My present323 vengeance taken. 'Shrew my heart,

  You never spoke what did become324 you less

  Than this; which to reiterate were sin

  As deep as that, though true325.

  LEONTES Is whispering nothing?

  Is leaning cheek to cheek? Is meeting noses?

  Kissing with inside lip? Stopping the career329

  Of laughter with a sigh -- a note infallible330

  Of breaking honesty331? Horsing foot on foot?

  Skulking in corners? Wishing clocks more swift?

  Hours333, minutes? Noon, midnight? And all eyes

  Blind with the pin and web334 but theirs, theirs only,

  That would unseen be wicked? Is this nothing?

  Why then the world and all that's in't is nothing:

  The covering sky is nothing, Bohemia is nothing,

  My wife is nothing338, nor nothing have these nothings,

  If this be nothing.

  CAMILLO Good my lord, be cured

  Of this diseased opinion, and betimes341.

  For 'tis most dangerous.

  LEONTES Say it be, 'tis true.

  CAMILLO No, no, my lord.

  LEONTES It is. You lie, you lie.

  I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee,

  Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave,

  Or else a hovering temporizer348, that

  Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,

  Inclining to them both. Were my wife's liver350

  Infected as her life, she would not live

  The running of one glass352.

  CAMILLO Who does infect her?

  LEONTES Why, he that wears her like her medal354, hanging

  About his neck, Bohemia: who, if I

  Had servants true about me that bare356 eyes

  To see alike mine honour as their profits,

  Their own particular thrifts358, they would do that

  Which should undo359 more doing. Ay, and thou,

  His cupbearer360 -- whom I from meaner form

  Have benched361 and reared to worship, who mayst see

  Plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven,

  How I am galled363 -- mightst bespice a cup

  To give mine enemy a lasting wink364,

  Which draught to me were cordial365.

  CAMILLO Sir, my lord,

  I could do this, and that with no rash367 potion,

  But with a ling'ring dram368 that should not work

  Maliciously369 like poison. But I cannot

  Believe this crack370 to be in my dread mistress,

  So sovereignly being honourable.

  I have loved thee--

  LEONTES Make that thy question, and go rot!373

  Dost think I am so muddy374, so unsettled,

  To appoint myself in this vexation375, sully

  The purity and whiteness of my sheets --

  Which to preserve is sleep377, which being spotted

  Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps --

  Give scandal to the blood379 o'th'prince my son --

  Who I do think is mine and love as mine --

  Without ripe moving to't381? Would I do this?

  Could man so blench382?

  CAMILLO I must believe you, sir.

  I do, and will fetch off384 Bohemia for't,

  Provided that when he's removed, your highness

  Will take again your queen as yours at first,

  Even for your son's sake, and thereby for sealing

  The injury of tongues387 in courts and kingdoms

  Known and allied to yours.

  LEONTES Thou dost advise me

  Even so as I mine own course have set down390.

  I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.

  CAMILLO My lord,

  Go then; and with a countenance394 as clear

  As friendship wears at feasts, keep395 with Bohemia

  And with your queen. I am his cupbearer:

  If from me he have wholesome beverage,

  Account me not your servant.

  LEONTES This is all.

  Do't and thou hast the one half of my heart;

  Do't not, thou splitt'st thine own.

  CAMILLO I'll do't, my lord.

  LEONTES I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me.

  Exit

  CAMILLO O miserable404 lady! But, for me,

  What case405 stand I in? I must be the poisoner

  Of good Polixenes, and my ground406 to do't

  Is the obedience to a master; one

&nbs
p; Who, in rebellion with himself408, will have

  All that are his so too409. To do this deed,

  Promotion follows. If410 I could find example

  Of thousands that had struck anointed kings

  And flourished after, I'd not do't. But since

  Nor brass nor stone nor parchment413 bears not one,

  Let villainy itself forswear't. I must

  Forsake the court. To do't, or no, is certain

  To me a break-neck416. Happy star, reign now!

  Here comes Bohemia.

  Enter Polixenes

  POLIXENES This is strange. Methinks

  Aside

  My favour here begins to warp419. Not speak?--

  Good day, Camillo.

  CAMILLO Hail, most royal sir!

  POLIXENES What is the news i'th'court?

  CAMILLO None rare423, my lord.

  POLIXENES The king hath on him such a countenance

  As425 he had lost some province and a region

  Loved as he loves himself. Even now I met him

  With customary compliment427, when he,

  Wafting his eyes to th'contrary428 and falling

  A lip of much contempt, speeds from me and

  So leaves me to consider what is breeding

  That changes thus his manners.

  CAMILLO I dare not know, my lord.

  POLIXENES How, dare not? Do not? Do you know, and dare not?

  Be intelligent434 to me. 'Tis thereabouts.

  For, to yourself, what you do know, you must435,

  And cannot say you dare not. Good Camillo,

  Your changed complexions437 are to me a mirror

  Which shows me mine changed too, for I must be

  A party in this alteration, finding

  Myself thus altered with't.

  CAMILLO There is a sickness

  Which puts some of us in distemper442, but

  I cannot name the disease, and it is caught

  Of444 you that yet are well.

  POLIXENES How, caught of me?

  Make me not sighted like the basilisk446.

  I have looked on thousands who have sped447 the better

  By my regard448, but killed none so. Camillo --

  As you are certainly a gentleman, thereto

  Clerk-like450 experienced, which no less adorns

  Our gentry451 than our parents' noble names,

  In whose success452 we are gentle -- I beseech you,

  If you know aught453 which does behove my knowledge

  Thereof to be informed, imprison't not

  In ignorant concealment.

  CAMILLO I may not answer.

  POLIXENES A sickness caught of me, and yet I well?

  I must be answered. Dost thou hear, Camillo,

  I conjure459 thee, by all the parts of man

  Which honour does acknowledge, whereof the least

  Is not this suit460 of mine, that thou declare

  What incidency462 thou dost guess of harm

  Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near,

  Which way to be prevented, if to be.

  If not, how best to bear it.

  CAMILLO Sir, I will tell you,

  Since I am charged467 in honour and by him

  That I think honourable: therefore mark468 my counsel,

  Which must be ev'n469 as swiftly followed as

  I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me

  Cry lost, and so goodnight471!

  POLIXENES On, good Camillo.

  CAMILLO I am appointed him473 to murder you.

  POLIXENES By whom, Camillo?

  CAMILLO By the king.

  POLIXENES For what?

  CAMILLO He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears,

  As he had seen't or been an instrument

  To vice479 you to't, that you have touched his queen

  Forbiddenly.

  POLIXENES O, then my best blood turn

  To an infected jelly and my name

  Be yoked with his that did betray the best483!

  Turn then my freshest reputation to

  A savour485 that may strike the dullest nostril

  Where I arrive, and my approach be shunned,

  Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection

  That e'er was heard or read!

  CAMILLO Swear his thought over489

  By each particular star in heaven and

  By all their influences491; you may as well

  Forbid the sea for to492 obey the moon

  As or493 by oath remove or counsel shake

  The fabric494 of his folly, whose foundation

  Is piled upon his faith and will continue

  The standing of his body496.

  POLIXENES How should this grow497?

  CAMILLO I know not. But I am sure 'tis safer to

  Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis born.

  If therefore you dare trust my honesty,

  That lies enclosed in this trunk501 which you

  Shall bear along impawned502, away tonight!

  Your followers I will whisper to503 the business,

  And will by twos and threes at several posterns504

  Clear them505 o'th'city. For myself, I'll put

  My fortunes to your service, which are here

  By this discovery lost506. Be not uncertain,

  For by the honour of my parents, I

  Have uttered truth, which if you seek to prove509,

  I dare not stand by510; nor shall you be safer

  Than one condemned by the king's own mouth,

  Thereon his execution sworn.

  POLIXENES I do believe thee:

  I saw his heart in's face. Give me thy hand.

  Be pilot515 to me and thy places shall

  Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready and

  My people did expect my hence departure517

  Two days ago. This jealousy

  Is for a precious creature: as she's rare,

  Must it be great, and as his person's mighty,

  Must it be violent, and as he does conceive

  He is dishonoured by a man which ever

  Professed523 to him, why, his revenges must

  In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me.

  Good expedition525 be my friend, and comfort

  The gracious queen, part of his theme526, but nothing

  Of his ill-ta'en527 suspicion. Come, Camillo.

  I will respect thee as a father if

  Thou bear'st my life off hence. Let us avoid529.

  CAMILLO It is in mine authority to command

  The keys of all the posterns. Please your highness

  To take the urgent hour. Come, sir, away.

  Exeunt

  Act 2 Scene 1 running scene 2

  * * *

  Enter Hermione, Mamillius, Ladies

  HERMIONE Take the boy to you. He so troubles me,

  'Tis past enduring.

  FIRST LADY Come, my gracious lord,

  Takes Mamillius

  Shall I be your playfellow?

  MAMILLIUS No, I'll none of5 you.

  FIRST LADY Why, my sweet lord?

  MAMILLIUS You'll kiss me hard and speak to me as if

  I were a baby still.-- I love you better.

  To Second Lady

  SECOND LADY And why so, my lord?

  MAMILLIUS Not for because10

  Your brows are blacker -- yet black brows, they say,

  Become so12 me women best, so that there be not

  Too much hair there, but in a semicircle

  Or a half-moon made with a pen.

  SECOND LADY Who taught 'This15?

  MAMILLIUS I learned it out of women's faces. Pray now

  What colour are your eyebrows?

  FIRST LADY Blue, my lord.

  MAMILLIUS Nay, that's a mock. I have seen a lady's nose

  That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.

  FIRST LADY Hark ye.

  The queen y
our mother rounds apace22. We shall

  Present our services to a fine new prince

  One of these days, and then you'd wanton with us24,

  If we would have you.

  SECOND LADY She is spread of late

  Into a goodly bulk. Good time encounter her!27

  HERMIONE What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now

  I am for29 you again. Pray you sit by us,

  And tell's a tale.

  MAMILLIUS Merry or sad31 shall't be?

  HERMIONE As merry as you will.

  MAMILLIUS A sad tale's best for winter. I have one

  Of sprites34 and goblins.

  HERMIONE Let's have that, good sir.

  Come on, sit down. Come on, and do your best

  To fright me with your sprites. You're powerful at it.

  MAMILLIUS There was a man--

  HERMIONE Nay, come, sit down, then on.

  MAMILLIUS Dwelt by a churchyard -- I will tell it softly.

  Sits

  Yond crickets41 shall not hear it.

  HERMIONE Come on, then, and give't me in mine ear.

  They talk apart

  [Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords and others]

  LEONTES Was he met there? His train? Camillo with him?

  A LORD Behind the tuft44 of pines I met them. Never

  Saw I men scour45 so on their way: I eyed them

  Even46 to their ships.

  LEONTES How blest am I

  In my just censure48, in my true opinion!

  Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accursed

  In being so blest! There may be in the cup

  A spider steeped51, and one may drink, depart,

  And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge

  Is not infected50: but if one present

  Th'abhorred ingredient to his eye, make known

  How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge55, his sides,

  With violent hefts56. I have drunk, and seen the spider.

  Camillo was his help in this, his pander57.

  There is a plot against my life, my crown.

  All's true that is mistrusted59. That false villain

  Whom I employed was pre-employed by him.

  He has discovered my design, and I

  Remain a pinched62 thing; yea, a very trick

  For them to play at will. How came the posterns

  So easily open?

  A LORD By his great authority,

  Which often hath no less prevailed than so

  On your command.

  LEONTES I know't too well.--

  Give me the boy. I am glad you did not nurse69 him.

  To Hermione

  Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you

  Have too much blood in him.

  HERMIONE What is this? Sport?72

  LEONTES Bear the boy hence. He shall not come

  To a Lord or Lady

  about her.

  Away with him, and let her sport74 herself

  With that she's big with,-- for 'tis Polixenes

  To Hermione

  Has made thee swell thus.

  [The Lord or Lady exits with Mamillius]

  HERMIONE But I'd say he had not;

  And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying,

  Howe'er you lean to th'nayward79.

  LEONTES You, my lords,

  Look on her, mark her well. Be but about

  To say 'She is a goodly lady', and

  The justice83 of your hearts will thereto add

  ''Tis pity she's not honest84, honourable.'

  Praise her but for this her without-door85 form,

  Which on my faith deserves high speech, and straight86