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CAMILLO.

Swear his thought over

By each particular star in heaven and

By all their influences, you may as well

Forbid the sea for to obey the moon

As or by oath remove or counsel shake

The fabric of his folly, whose foundation

Is pil'd upon his faith and will continue

The standing of his body.

POLIXENES.

How should this grow?

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 trunk which you

Shall bear along impawn'd, away to-night.

Your followers I will whisper to the business;

And will, by twos and threes, at several posterns,

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

My fortunes to your service, which are here

By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain,

For, by the honour of my parents, I

Have utt'red truth; which if you seek to prove,

I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer

Than one condemn'd 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 pilot to me, and thy places shall

Still neighbour mine. My ships are ready, and

My people did expect my hence departure

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 dishonour'd by a man which ever

Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must

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

Good expedition be my friend, and comfort

The gracious Queen, part of this theme, but nothing

Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo;

I will respect thee as a father, if

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

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 II. SCENE I. Sicilia. The palace of LEONTES

Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and LADIES

HERMIONE.

Take the boy to you; he so troubles me,

'Tis past enduring.

FIRST LADY.

Come, my gracious lord,

Shall I be your playfellow?

MAMILLIUS.

No, I'll none of 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.

SECOND LADY.

And why so, my lord?

MAMILLIUS.

Not for because

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

Become some 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't this?

MAMILLIUS.

I learn'd 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 your mother rounds apace. We shall

Present our services to a fine new prince

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

If we would have you.

SECOND LADY.

She is spread of late

Into a goodly bulk. Good time encounter her!

HERMIONE.

What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now

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

And tell's a tale.

MAMILLIUS.

Merry or sad shall't be?

HERMIONE.

As merry as you will.

MAMILLIUS.

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

Of sprites 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 pow'rfull at it.

MAMILLIUS.

There was a man-

HERMIONE.

Nay, come, sit down; then on.

MAMILLIUS.

Dwelt by a churchyard- I will tell it softly;

Yond crickets shall not hear it.

HERMIONE.

Come on then,

And give't me in mine ear.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and OTHERS

LEONTES.

he met there? his train? Camillo with him?

FIRST LORD.

Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never

Saw I men scour so on their way. I ey'd them

Even to their ships.

LEONTES.

How blest am I

In my just censure, in my true opinion!

Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accurs'd

In being so blest! There may