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A spider steep'd, and one may drink, depart,

And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge

Is not infected; but if one present

Th' abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known

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

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

Camillo was his help in this, his pander.

There is a plot against my life, my crown;

All's true that is mistrusted. That false villain

Whom I employ'd was pre-employ'd by him;

He has discover'd my design, and I

Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick

For them to play at will. How came the posterns

So easily open?

FIRST LORD.

By his great authority;

Which often hath no less prevail'd than so

On your command.

LEONTES.

I know't too well.

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

Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you

Have too much blood in him.

HERMIONE.

What is this? Sport?

LEONTES.

Bear the boy hence; he shall not come about her;

Away with him; and let her sport herself

[MAMILLIUS is led out]

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

Has made thee swell thus.

HERMIONE.

But I'd say he had not,

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

Howe'er you lean to th' nayward.

LEONTES.

You, my lords,

Look on her, mark her well; be but about

To say 'She is a goodly lady' and

The justice of your hearts will thereto ad

'Tis pity she's not honest- honourable.'

Praise her but for this her without-door form,

Which on my faith deserves high speech, and straight

The shrug, the hum or ha, these petty brands

That calumny doth use- O, I am out!-

That mercy does, for calumny will sear

Virtue itself- these shrugs, these hum's and ha's,

When you have said she's goodly, come between,

Ere you can say she's honest. But be't known,

From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,

She's an adultress.

HERMIONE.

Should a villain say so,

The most replenish'd villain in the world,

He were as much more villain: you, my lord,

Do but mistake.

LEONTES.

You have mistook, my lady,

Polixenes for Leontes. O thou thing!

Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,

Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,

Should a like language use to all degrees

And mannerly distinguishment leave out

Betwixt the prince and beggar. I have said

She's an adultress; I have said with whom.

More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is

A federary with her, and one that knows

What she should shame to know herself

But with her most vile principal- that she's

A bed-swerver, even as bad as those

That vulgars give bold'st titles; ay, and privy

To this their late escape.

HERMIONE.

No, by my life,

Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you,

When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that

You thus have publish'd me! Gentle my lord,

You scarce can right me throughly then to say

You did mistake.

LEONTES.

No; if I mistake

In those foundations which I build upon,

The centre is not big enough to bear

A school-boy's top. Away with her to prison.

He who shall speak for her is afar off guilty

But that he speaks.

HERMIONE.

There's some ill planet reigns.

I must be patient till the heavens look

With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,

I am not prone to weeping, as our sex

Commonly are- the want of which vain dew

Perchance shall dry your pities- but I have

That honourable grief lodg'd here which burns

Worse than tears drown. Beseech you all, my lords,

With thoughts so qualified as your charities

Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so

The King's will be perform'd!

LEONTES.

[To the GUARD] Shall I be heard?

HERMIONE.

Who is't that goes with me? Beseech your highness

My women may be with me, for you see

My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;

There is no cause; when you shall know your mistress

Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears

As I come out: this action I now go on

Is for my better grace. Adieu, my lord.

I never wish'd to see you sorry; now

I trust I shall. My women, come; you have leave.

LEONTES.

Go, do our bidding; hence!

Exeunt HERMIONE,