To vice you to’t, that you have touch’d his queen
Forbiddenly.
POLIXENES
O, then my best blood turn
To an infected jelly, and my name
Be yok’d with his that did betray the best!
Turn then my freshest reputation to
A savour that may strike the dullest nostril
Where I arrive, and my approach be shunn’d,
Nay, hated too, worse than the great’st infection
That e’er was heard or read!
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 enclosèd in this trunk, which you
Shall bear along impawn’d,—away tonight.
Your followers I will whisper to the business;
And will, by twos and threes, at several posterns,
Clear them o’ the 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 utter’d 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 his 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. A Room in the Palace.
[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.—[To Second Lady.] 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 you 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 powerful at it.
MAMILLIUS
There was a man,—