50Pol. Nine Changes of the Watry-Starre hath been

51The Shepheards Note, since we haue left our Throne

52Without a Burthen: Time as long againe

53Would be fill'd vp (my Brother) with our Thanks,

54And yet we should, for perpetuitie,

55Goe hence in debt: And therefore, like a Cypher

56(Yet standing in rich place) I multiply

57With one we thanke you, many thousands moe,

58That goe before it.

59Leo. Stay your Thanks a while,

60And pay them when you part.

61Pol. Sir, that's to morrow:

62I am question'd by my feares, of what may chance,

63Or breed vpon our absence, that may blow

64No sneaping Winds at home, to make vs say,

65This is put forth too truly: besides, I haue stay'd

66To tyre your Royaltie.

67Leo. We are tougher (Brother)

68Then you can put vs to't.

69Pol. No longer stay.

70Leo. One Seue' night longer.

71Pol. Very sooth, to morrow.

72Leo. Wee'le part the time betweene's then: and in that

73Ile no gaine-saying.

74Pol. Presse me not ('beseech you) so:

75There is no Tongue that moues; none, none i'th' World

76So soone as yours, could win me: so it should now,

77Were there necessitie in your request, although

78'Twere needfull I deny'd it. My Affaires

79Doe euen drag me home-ward: which to hinder,

80Were (in your Loue) a Whip to me; my stay,

81To you a Charge, and Trouble: to saue both,

82Farewell (our Brother.)

83Leo. Tongue-ty'd our Queene? speake you.

84Her. I had thought (Sir) to haue held my peace, vntill

85You had drawne Oathes from him, not to stay: you (Sir)

86Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure

87All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction,

88The by-gone-day proclaym'd, say this to him,

89He's beat from his best ward.

90Leo. Well said, Hermione.

91Her. To tell, he longs to see his Sonne, were strong:

92But let him say so then, and let him goe;

93But let him sweare so, and he shall not stay,

94Wee'l thwack him hence with Distaffes.

95Yet of your Royall presence, Ile aduenture

96The borrow of a Weeke. When at Bohemia

97You take my Lord, Ile giue him my Commission,

98To let him there a Moneth, behind the Gest

99Prefix'd for's parting: yet (good-deed) Leontes,

100I loue thee not a Iarre o'th' Clock, behind

101What Lady she her Lord. You'le stay?

102Pol. No, Madame.

103Her. Nay, but you will?

104Pol. I may not verely.

105Her. Verely?

106You put me off with limber Vowes: but I,

107Though you would seek t' vnsphere the Stars with Oaths,

108Should yet say, Sir, no going: Verely

109You shall not goe; a Ladyes Verely 'is

110As potent as a Lords. Will you goe yet?

111Force me to keepe you as a Prisoner,

112Not like a Guest: so you shall pay your Fees

113When you depart, and saue your Thanks. How say you?

114My Prisoner? or my Guest? by your dread Verely,

115One of them you shall be.

116Pol. Your Guest then, Madame:

117To be your Prisoner, should import offending;

118Which is for me, lesse easie to commit,

119Then you to punish.

120Her. Not your Gaoler then,

121But your kind Hostesse. Come, Ile question you

122Of my Lords Tricks, and yours, when you were Boyes:

123You were pretty Lordings then?

124Pol. We were (faire Queene)

125Two Lads, that thought there was no more behind,

126But such a day to morrow, as to day,

127And to be Boy eternall.

128Her. Was not my Lord

129The veryer Wag o'th' two?

130Pol. We were as twyn'd Lambs, that did frisk i'th' Sun,

131And bleat the one at th' other: what we chang'd,

132Was Innocence, for Innocence: we knew not

133The Doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd

134That any did: Had we pursu'd that life,

135And our weake Spirits ne're been higher rear'd

136With stronger blood, we should haue answer'd Heauen

137Boldly, not guilty; the Imposition clear'd,

138Hereditarie ours.

139Her. By this we gather

140You haue tript since.

141Pol. O my most sacred Lady,

142Temptations haue since then been borne to's: for

143In those vnfledg'd dayes, was my Wife a Girle;

144Your precious selfe had then not cross'd the eyes

145Of my young Play-fellow.

146Her. Grace to boot:

147Of this make no conclusion, least you say

148Your Queene and I are Deuils: yet goe on,

149Th' offences we haue made you doe, wee'le answere,

150If you first sinn'd with vs: and that with vs

151You did continue fault; and that you slipt not

152With any, but with vs.

153Leo. Is he woon yet?

154Her. Hee'le stay (my Lord.)

155Leo. At my request, he would not:

156Hermione (my dearest) thou neuer spoak'st

157To better purpose.

158Her. Neuer?

159Leo. Neuer, but once.

160Her.What? haue I twice said well? when was't before?

161I prethee tell me: cram's with prayse, and make's

162As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tonguelesse,

163Slaughters a thousand, wayting vpon that.

164Our prayses are our Wages. You may ride's

165With one soft Kisse a thousand Furlongs, ere

166With Spur we heat an Acre. But to th' Goale:

167My last good deed, was to entreat his stay.

168What was my first? it ha's an elder Sister,

169Or I mistake you: O, would her Name were Grace.

170But once before I spoke to th' purpose? when?

171Nay, let me haue't: I long.

172Leo. Why, that was when

173Three crabbed Moneths had sowr'd themselues to death,

174Ere I could make thee open thy white Hand:

175A clap thy selfe, my Loue; then didst thou vtter,

176I am yours for euer.

177Her. 'Tis Grace indeed.

178Why lo-you now; I haue spoke to th' purpose twice:

179The one, for euer earn'd a Royall Husband;

180Th' other, for some while a Friend.

181Leo. Too hot, too hot:

182To mingle friendship farre, is mingling bloods.

183I haue Tremor Cordis on me: my heart daunces,

184But not for ioy; not ioy. This Entertainment

185May a free face put on: deriue a Libertie

186From Heartinesse, from Bountie, fertile Bosome,

187And well become the Agent: 't may; I graunt:

188But to be padling Palmes, and pinching Fingers,

189As now they are, and making practis'd Smiles

190As in a Looking-Glasse; and then to sigh, as 'twere

191The Mort o'th' Deere: oh, that is entertainment

192My Bosome likes not, nor my Browes. Mamillius,

193Art thou my Boy?

194Mam. I, my good Lord.

195Leo. I'fecks:

196Why that's my Bawcock: what? has't smutch'd thy Nose?

197They say it is a Coppy out of mine. Come Captaine,

198We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, Captaine:

199And yet the Steere, the Heycfer, and the Calfe,

200Are all call'd Neat. Still Virginalling

201Vpon his Palme? How now (you wanton Calfe)

202Art thou my Calfe?

203Mam. Yes, if you will (my Lord.)

204Leo. Thou want'st a rough pash, & the shoots that I haue

205To be full, like me: yet they say we are

206Almost as like as Egges; Women say so,

207(That will say any thing.) But were they false

208As o're-dy'd Blacks, as Wind, as Waters; false

209As Dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes

210No borne 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true,

211To say this Boy were like me. Come (Sir Page)

212Looke on me with your Welkin eye: sweet Villaine,

213Most dear'st, my Collop: Can thy Dam, may't be

214Affection? thy Intention stabs the Center.

215Thou do'st make possible things not so held,

216Communicat'st with Dreames (how can this be?)

217With what's vnreall: thou coactiue art,

218And fellow'st nothing. Then 'tis very credent,

219Thou may'st co-ioyne with something, and thou do'st,

220(And that beyond Commission) and I find it,

221(And that to the infection of my Braines,

222And hardning of my Browes.)

223Pol. What meanes Sicilia?

224Her. He something seemes vnsetled.

225Pol. How? my Lord?

226Leo. What cheere? how is't with you, best Brother?

227Her. You look as if you held a Brow of much distraction:

228Are you mou'd (my Lord?)

229Leo. No, in good earnest.

230How sometimes Nature will betray it's folly?

231It's tendernesse? and make it selfe a Pastime

232To harder bosomes? Looking on the Lynes

233Of my Boyes face, me thoughts I did requoyle

234Twentie three yeeres, and saw my selfe vn-breech'd,

235In my greene Veluet Coat; my Dagger muzzel'd,

236Least it should bite it's Master, and so proue

237(As Ornaments oft do's) too dangerous:

238How like (me thought) I then was to this Kernell,

239This Squash, this Gentleman. Mine honest Friend,

240Will you take Egges for Money?

241Mam. No (my Lord) Ile fight.

242Leo. You will: why happy man be's dole. My Brother

243Are you so fond of your young Prince, as we

244Doe seeme to be of ours?

245Pol. If at home (Sir)

246He's all my Exercise, my Mirth, my Matter;

247Now my sworne Friend, and then mine Enemy;

248My Parasite, my Souldier: States-man; all:

249He makes a Iulyes day, short as December,

250And with his varying child-nesse, cures in me

251Thoughts, that would thick my blood.

252Leo. So stands this Squire

253Offic'd with me: We two will walke (my Lord)

254And leaue you to your grauer steps. Hermione,

255How thou lou'st vs, shew in our Brothers welcome;

256Let what is deare in Sicily, be cheape:

257Next to thy selfe, and my young Rouer, he's

258Apparant to my heart.

259Her. If you would seeke vs,

260We are yours i'th' Garden: shall's attend you there?

261Leo. To your owne bents dispose you: you'le be found,

262Be you beneath the Sky: I am angling now,

263(Though you perceiue me not how I giue Lyne)

264Goe too, goe too.

265How she holds vp the Neb? the Byll to him?

266And armes her with the boldnesse of a Wife

267To her allowing Husband. Gone already,

268Ynch-thick, knee-deepe; ore head and eares a fork'd one.

269Goe play (Boy) play: thy Mother playes, and I

270Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue

271Will hisse me to my Graue: Contempt and Clamor

272Will be my Knell. Goe play (Boy) play, there haue been

273(Or I am much deceiu'd) Cuckolds ere now,

274And many a man there is (euen at this present,

275Now, while I speake this) holds his Wife by th' Arme,

276That little thinkes she ha's been sluyc'd in's absence,

277And his Pond fish'd by his next Neighbor (by

278Sir Smile, his Neighbor:) nay, there's comfort in't,

279Whiles other men haue Gates, and those Gates open'd

280(As mine) against their will. Should all despaire

281That haue reuolted Wiues, the tenth of Mankind

282Would hang themselues. Physick for't, there's none:

283It is a bawdy Planet, that will strike

284Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powrefull: thinke it:

285From East, West, North, and South, be it concluded,

286No Barricado for a Belly. Know't,

287It will let in and out the Enemy,

288With bag and baggage: many thousand on's

289Haue the Disease, and feele't not. How now Boy?

290Mam. I am like you say.

291Leo. Why, that's some comfort.

292What? Camillo there?

293Cam. I, my good Lord.

294Leo. Goe play (Mamillius) thou'rt an honest man:

295Camillo, this great Sir will yet stay longer.

296Cam. You had much adoe to make his Anchor hold,

297When you cast out, it still came home.

298Leo. Didst note it?

299Cam. He would not stay at your Petitions, made

300His Businesse more materiall.

301Leo. Didst perceiue it?

302They're here with me already; whisp'ring, rounding:

303Sicilia is a so-forth: 'tis farre gone,

304When I shall gust it last. How cam't (Camillo)

305That he did stay?

306Cam. At the good Queenes entreatie.

307Leo. At the Queenes be't: Good should be pertinent,

308But so it is, it is not. Was this taken

309By any vnderstanding Pate but thine?

310For thy Conceit is soaking, will draw in

311More then the common Blocks. Not noted, is't,

312But of the finer Natures? by some Seueralls

313Of Head-peece extraordinarie? Lower Messes

314Perchance are to this Businesse purblind? say.

315Cam.Businesse, my Lord? I thinke most vnderstand

316Bohemia stayes here longer.

317Leo. Ha?

318Cam. Stayes here longer.

319Leo. I, but why?

320 Cam. To satisfie your Highnesse, and the Entreaties

321Of our most gracious Mistresse.

322Leo. Satisfie?

323Th' entreaties of your Mistresse? Satisfie?

324Let that suffice. I haue trusted thee (Camillo)

325With all the neerest things to my heart, as well

326My Chamber-Councels, wherein (Priest-like) thou

327Hast cleans'd my Bosome: I, from thee departed

328Thy Penitent reform'd: but we haue been

329Deceiu'd in thy Integritie, deceiu'd

330In that which seemes so.

331Cam. Be it forbid (my Lord.)

332Leo. To bide vpon't: thou art not honest: or

333If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a Coward,

334Which hoxes honestie behind, restrayning

335From Course requir'd: or else thou must be counted

336A Seruant, grafted in my serious Trust,

337And therein negligent: or else a Foole,

338That seest a Game play'd home, the rich Stake drawne,

339And tak'st it all for ieast.

340Cam. My gracious Lord,

341I may be negligent, foolish, and fearefull,

342In euery one of these, no man is free,

343But that his negligence, his folly, feare,

344Among the infinite doings of the World,

345Sometime puts forth in your affaires (my Lord.)

346If euer I were wilfull-negligent,

347It was my folly: if industriously

348I play'd the Foole, it was my negligence,

349Not weighing well the end: if euer fearefull

350To doe a thing, where I the issue doubted,

351Whereof the execution did cry out

352Against the non-performance, 'twas a feare

353Which oft infects the wisest: these (my Lord)

354Are such allow'd Infirmities, that honestie

355Is neuer free of. But beseech your Grace

356Be plainer with me, let me know my Trespas

357By it's owne visage; if I then deny it,

358'Tis none of mine.

359Leo. Ha' not you seene Camillo?

360(But that's past doubt: you haue, or your eye-glasse

361Is thicker then a Cuckolds Horne) or heard?

362(For to a Vision so apparant, Rumor

363Cannot be mute) or thought? (for Cogitation

364Resides not in that man, that do's not thinke)

Aa2 My

365My Wife is slipperie? If thou wilt confesse,

366Or else be impudently negatiue,

367To haue nor Eyes, nor Eares, nor Thought, then say

368My Wife's a Holy-Horse, deserues a Name

369As ranke as any Flax-Wench, that puts to

370Before her troth-plight: say't, and iustify't.

371Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to heare

372My Soueraigne Mistresse clouded so, without

373My present vengeance taken: 'shrew my heart,

374You neuer spoke what did become you lesse

375Then this; which to reiterate, were sin

376As deepe as that, though true.

377Leo. Is whispering nothing?

378Is leaning Cheeke to Cheeke? is meating Noses?

379Kissing with in-side Lip? stopping the Cariere

380Of Laughter, with a sigh? (a Note infallible

381Of breaking Honestie) horsing foot on foot?

382Skulking in corners? wishing Clocks more swift?

383Houres, Minutes? Noone, Mid-night? and all Eyes

384Blind with the Pin and Web, but theirs; theirs onely,

385That would vnseene be wicked? Is this nothing?

386Why then the World, and all that's in't, is nothing,

387The couering Skie is nothing, Bohemia nothing,

388My Wife is nothing, nor Nothing haue these Nothings,

389If this be nothing.

390Cam. Good my Lord, be cur'd

391Of this diseas'd Opinion, and betimes,

392For 'tis most dangerous.

393Leo. Say it be, 'tis true.

394Cam. No, no, my Lord.

395Leo. It is: you lye, you lye:

396I say thou lyest Camillo, and I hate thee,

397Pronounce thee a grosse Lowt, a mindlesse Slaue,

398Or else a houering Temporizer, that

399Canst with thine eyes at once see good and euill,

400Inclining to them both: were my Wiues Liuer

401Infected (as her life) she would not liue

402The running of one Glasse.

403Cam. Who do's infect her?

404Leo. Why he that weares her like her Medull, hanging

405About his neck (Bohemia) who, if I

406Had Seruants true about me, that bare eyes

407To see alike mine Honor, as their Profits,

408(Their owne particular Thrifts) they would doe that

409Which should vndoe more doing: I, and thou

410His Cup-bearer, whom I from meaner forme

411Haue Bench'd, and rear'd to Worship, who may'st see

412Plainely, as Heauen sees Earth, and Earth sees Heauen,

413How I am gall'd, might'st be-spice a Cup,

414To giue mine Enemy a lasting Winke:

415Which Draught to me, were cordiall.

416Cam. Sir (my Lord)

417I could doe this, and that with no rash Potion,

418But with a lingring Dram, that should not worke

419Maliciously, like Poyson: But I cannot

420Beleeue this Crack to be in my dread Mistresse

421(So soueraignely being Honorable.)

422I haue lou'd thee,

423Leo. Make that thy question, and goe rot:

424Do'st thinke I am so muddy, so vnsetled,

425To appoint my selfe in this vexation?

426Sully the puritie and whitenesse of my Sheetes

427(Which to preserue, is Sleepe; which being spotted,

428Is Goades, Thornes, Nettles, Tayles of Waspes)

429Giue scandall to the blood o'th' Prince, my Sonne,

430(Who I doe thinke is mine, and loue as mine)

431Without ripe mouing to't? Would I doe this?

432Could man so blench?

433Cam. I must beleeue you (Sir)

434I doe, and will fetch off Bohemia for't:

435Prouided, that when hee's remou'd, your Highnesse

436Will take againe your Queene, as yours at first,

437Euen for your Sonnes sake, and thereby for sealing

438The Iniurie of Tongues, in Courts and Kingdomes

439Knowne, and ally'd to yours.

440Leo. Thou do'st aduise me,

441Euen so as I mine owne course haue set downe:

442Ile giue no blemish to her Honor, none.

443Cam. My Lord,

444Goe then; and with a countenance as cleare

445As Friendship weares at Feasts, keepe with Bohemia,

446And with your Queene: I am his Cup-bearer,

447If from me he haue wholesome Beueridge,

448Account me not your Seruant.

449Leo. This is all:

450Do't, and thou hast the one halfe of my heart;

451Do't not, thou splitt'st thine owne.

452Cam. Ile do't, my Lord.

453Leo. I wil seeme friendly, as thou hast aduis'd me.

454Cam. O miserable Lady. But for me,

455What case stand I in? I must be the poysoner

456Of good Polixenes, and my ground to do't,

457Is the obedience to a Master; one,

458Who in Rebellion with himselfe, will haue

459All that are his, so too. To doe this deed,

460Promotion followes: If I could find example

461Of thousand's that had struck anoynted Kings,

462And flourish'd after, Il'd not do't: But since

463Nor Brasse, nor Stone, nor Parchment beares not one,

464Let Villanie it selfe forswear't. I must

465Forsake the Court: to do't, or no, is certaine

466To me a breake-neck. Happy Starre raigne now,

467Here comes Bohemia. Enter Polixenes.

468Pol. This is strange: Me thinkes

469My fauor here begins to warpe. Not speake?

470Good day Camillo.

471Cam. Hayle most Royall Sir.

472Pol. What is the Newes i'th' Court?

473Cam. None rare (my Lord.)

474Pol. The King hath on him such a countenance,

475As he had lost some Prouince, and a Region

476Lou'd, as he loues himselfe: euen now I met him

477With customarie complement, when hee

478Wafting his eyes to th' contrary, and falling

479A Lippe of much contempt, speedes from me, and

480So leaues me, to consider what is breeding,

481That changes thus his Manners.

482Cam. I dare not know (my Lord.)

483Pol. How, dare not? doe not? doe you know, and dare not?

484Be intelligent to me, 'tis thereabouts:

485For to your selfe, what you doe know, you must,

486And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,

487Your chang'd complexions are to me a Mirror,

488Which shewes me mine chang'd too: for I must be

489A partie in this alteration, finding

490My selfe thus alter'd with't.

491Cam. There is a sicknesse

492Which puts some of vs in distemper, but

493I cannot name the Disease, and it is caught

494Of you, that yet are well.

495Pol. How caught of me?

496Make me not sighted like the Basilisque.

497I haue look'd on thousands, who haue sped the better

498By my regard, but kill'd none so: Camillo,

499As you are certainely a Gentleman, thereto

500Clerke-like experienc'd, which no lesse adornes

501Our Gentry, then our Parents Noble Names,

502In whose successe we are gentle: I beseech you,

503If you know ought which do's behoue my knowledge,

504Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not

505In ignorant concealement.

506 Cam. I may not answere.

507Pol. A Sicknesse caught of me, and yet I well?

508I must be answer'd. Do'st thou heare Camillo,

509I coniure thee, by all the parts of man,

510Which Honor do's acknowledge, whereof the least

511Is not this Suit of mine, that thou declare

512What incidencie thou do'st ghesse of harme

513Is creeping toward me; how farre off, how neere,

514Which way to be preuented, if to be:

515If not, how best to beare it.

516Cam. Sir, I will tell you,

517Since I am charg'd in Honor, and by him

518That I thinke Honorable: therefore marke my counsaile,

519Which must be eu'n as swiftly followed, as

520I meane to vtter it; or both your selfe, and me,

521Cry lost, and so good night.

522Pol. On, good Camillo.

523Cam. I am appointed him to murther you.

524Pol. By whom, Camillo?

525Cam. By the King.

526Pol. For what?

527Cam. He thinkes, nay with all confidence he sweares,

528As he had seen't, or beene an Instrument

529To vice you to't, that you haue toucht his Queene

530Forbiddenly.

531Pol. Oh then, my best blood turne

532To an infected Gelly, and my Name

533Be yoak'd with his, that did betray the Best:

534Turne then my freshest Reputation to

535A sauour, that may strike the dullest Nosthrill

536Where I arriue, and my approch be shun'd,

537Nay hated too, worse then the great'st Infection

538That ere was heard, or read.

539Cam. Sweare his thought ouer

540By each particular Starre in Heauen, and

541By all their Influences; you may as well

542Forbid the Sea for to obey the Moone,

543As (or by Oath) remoue, or (Counsaile) shake

544The Fabrick of his Folly, whose foundation

545Is pyl'd vpon his Faith, and will continue

546The standing of his Body.

547Pol. How should this grow?

548Cam. I know not: but I am sure 'tis safer to

549Auoid what's growne, then question how 'tis borne.

550If therefore you dare trust my honestie,

551That lyes enclosed in this Trunke, which you

552Shall beare along impawnd, away to Night,

553Your Followers I will whisper to the Businesse,

554And will by twoes, and threes, at seuerall Posternes,

555Cleare them o'th' Citie: For my selfe, Ile put

556My fortunes to your seruice (which are here

557By this discouerie lost.) Be not vncertaine,

558For by the honor of my Parents, I

559Haue vttred Truth: which if you seeke to proue,

560I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer,

561Then one condemnd by the Kings owne mouth:

562Thereon his Execution sworne.

563Pol. I doe beleeue thee:

564I saw his heart in's face. Giue me thy hand,

565Be Pilot to me, and thy places shall

566Still neighbour mine. My Ships are ready, and

567My people did expect my hence departure

568Two dayes agoe. This Iealousie

569Is for a precious Creature: as shee's rare,

570Must it be great; and, as his Person's mightie,

571Must it be violent: and, as he do's conceiue,

572He is dishonor'd by a man, which euer

573Profess'd to him: why his Reuenges must

574In that be made more bitter. Feare ore-shades me:

575Good Expedition be my friend, and comfort

576The gracious Queene, part of his Theame; but nothing

577Of his ill-ta'ne suspition. Come Camillo,

578I will respect thee as a Father, if

579Thou bear'st my life off, hence: Let vs auoid.

580Cam. It is in mine authoritie to command

581The Keyes of all the Posternes: Please your Highnesse

582To take the vrgent houre. Come Sir, away. Exeunt.