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With what encounter so uncurrent I

Have strain'd t' appear thus; if one jot beyond

The bound of honour, or in act or will

That way inclining, hard'ned be the hearts

Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin

Cry fie upon my grave!

LEONTES.

I ne'er heard yet

That any of these bolder vices wanted

Less impudence to gainsay what they did

Than to perform it first.

HERMIONE.

That's true enough;

Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me.

LEONTES.

You will not own it.

HERMIONE.

More than mistress of

Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not

At all acknowledge. For Polixenes,

With whom I am accus'd, I do confess

I lov'd him as in honour he requir'd;

With such a kind of love as might become

A lady like me; with a love even such,

So and no other, as yourself commanded;

Which not to have done, I think had been in me

Both disobedience and ingratitude

To you and toward your friend; whose love had spoke,

Ever since it could speak, from an infant, freely,

That it was yours. Now for conspiracy:

I know not how it tastes, though it be dish'd

For me to try how; all I know of it

Is that Camillo was an honest man;

And why he left your court, the gods themselves,

Wotting no more than I, are ignorant.

LEONTES.

You knew of his departure, as you know

What you have underta'en to do in's absence.

HERMIONE.

Sir,

You speak a language that I understand not.

My life stands in the level of your dreams,

Which I'll lay down.

LEONTES.

Your actions are my dreams.

You had a bastard by Polixenes,

And I but dream'd it. As you were past all shame-

Those of your fact are so- so past all truth;

Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as

Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself,

No father owning it- which is indeed

More criminal in thee than it- so thou

Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage

Look for no less than death.

HERMIONE.

Sir, spare your threats.

The bug which you would fright me with I seek.

To me can life be no commodity.

The crown and comfort of my life, your favour,

I do give lost, for I do feel it gone,

But know not how it went; my second joy

And first fruits of my body, from his presence

I am barr'd, like one infectious; my third comfort,

Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast-

The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth-

Hal'd out to murder; myself on every post

Proclaim'd a strumpet; with immodest hatred

The child-bed privilege denied, which 'longs

To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried

Here to this place, i' th' open air, before

I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege,

Tell me what blessings I have here alive

That I should fear to die. Therefore proceed.

But yet hear this- mistake me not: no life,

I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour

Which I would free- if I shall be condemn'd

Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else

But what your jealousies awake, I tell you

'Tis rigour, and not law. Your honours all,

I do refer me to the oracle:

Apollo be my judge!

FIRST LORD.

This your request

Is altogether just. Therefore, bring forth,

And in Apollo's name, his oracle.

Exeunt certain OFFICERS

HERMIONE.

The Emperor of Russia was my father;

O that he were alive, and here beholding

His daughter's trial! that he did but see

The flatness of my misery; yet with eyes

Of pity, not revenge!

Re-enter OFFICERS, with CLEOMENES and DION

OFFICER.

You here shall swear upon this sword of justice

That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have

Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought

This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd

Of great Apollo's priest; and that since then

You have not dar'd to break the holy seal

Nor read the secrets in't.

CLEOMENES, DION. All this we swear.

LEONTES.

Break up the seals and read.

OFFICER.

[Reads] 'Hermione is chaste; Polixenes blameless;

Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent

babe truly begotten; and the King shall live without an heir, if

that which is lost be not found.'

LORDS.

Now blessed be the great Apollo!

HERMIONE.

Praised!