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The shepherd's note since we have left our throne

Without a burden. Time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;

And yet we should for perpetuity

Go hence in debt. And therefore, like a cipher,

Yet standing in rich place, I multiply

With one 'We thank you' many thousands moe

That go before it.

LEONTES.

Stay your thanks a while,

And pay them when you part.

POLIXENES.

Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears of what may chance

Or breed upon our absence, that may blow

No sneaping winds at home, to make us say

'This is put forth too truly.' Besides, I have stay'd

To tire your royalty.

LEONTES.

We are tougher, brother,

Than you can put us to't.

POLIXENES.

No longer stay.

LEONTES.

One sev'night longer.

POLIXENES.

Very sooth, to-morrow.

LEONTES.

We'll part the time between's then; and in that

I'll no gainsaying.

POLIXENES.

Press me not, beseech you, so.

There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' th' world,

So soon as yours could win me. So it should now,

Were there necessity in your request, although

'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward; which to hinder

Were in your love a whip to me; my stay

To you a charge and trouble. To save both,

Farewell, our brother.

LEONTES.

Tongue-tied, our Queen? Speak you.

HERMIONE.

I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until

You had drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,

Charge him too coldly. Tell him you are sure

All in Bohemia's well- this satisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim'd. Say this to him,

He's beat from his best ward.

LEONTES.

Well said, Hermione.

HERMIONE.

To tell he longs to see his son were strong;

But let him say so then, and let him go;

But let him swear so, and he shall not stay;

We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

[To POLIXENES] Yet of your royal presence I'll

adventure the borrow of a week. When at Bohemia

You take my lord, I'll give him my commission

To let him there a month behind the gest

Prefix'd for's parting.- Yet, good deed, Leontes,

I love thee not a jar o' th' clock behind

What lady she her lord.- You'll stay?

POLIXENES.

No, madam.

HERMIONE.

Nay, but you will?

POLIXENES.

I may not, verily.

HERMIONE.

Verily!

You put me off with limber vows; but I,

Though you would seek t' unsphere the stars with oaths,

Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily,

You shall not go; a lady's 'verily' is

As potent as a lord's. Will go yet?

Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees

When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?

My prisoner or my guest? By your dread 'verily,'

One of them you shall be.

POLIXENES.

Your guest, then, madam:

To be your prisoner should import offending;

Which is for me less easy to commit

Than you to punish.

HERMIONE.

Not your gaoler then,

But your kind. hostess. Come, I'll question you

Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys.

You were pretty lordings then!

POLIXENES.

We were, fair Queen,

Two lads that thought there was no more behind

But such a day to-morrow as to-day,

And to be boy eternal.

HERMIONE.

Was not my lord

The verier wag o' th' two?

POLIXENES.

We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' th' sun

And bleat the one at th' other. What we chang'd

Was innocence for innocence; we knew not

The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd

That any did. Had we pursu'd that life,

And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd

With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven

Boldly 'Not guilty,' the imposition clear'd

Hereditary ours.

HERMIONE.

By this we gather

You have tripp'd since.

POLIXENES.

O my most sacred lady,

Temptations have since then been born to 's, for

In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl;

Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes

Of my young playfellow.

HERMIONE.

Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclusion, lest you say

Your queen and I are devils. Yet, go on;

Th' offences we have made you do we'll answer,

If you first sinn'd with us,