755I would Land-damne him: be she honor-flaw'd,

756I haue three daughters: the eldest is eleuen;

757The second, and the third, nine: and some fiue:

758If this proue true, they'l pay for't. By mine Honor

759Ile gell'd em all: fourteene they shall not see

760To bring false generations: they are co-heyres,

761And I had rather glib my selfe, then they

762Should not produce faire issue.

763Leo. Cease, no more:

764You smell this businesse with a sence as cold

765As is a dead-mans nose: but I do see't, and feel't,

766As you feele doing thus: and see withall

767The Instruments that feele.

768Antig. If it be so,

769We neede no graue to burie honesty,

770There's not a graine of it, the face to sweeten

771Of the whole dungy-earth.

772Leo. What? lacke I credit?

773Lord. I had rather you did lacke then I (my Lord)

774Vpon this ground: and more it would content me

775To haue her Honor true, then your suspition

776Be blam'd for't how you might.

777Leo. Why what neede we

778Commune with you of this? but rather follow

779Our forcefull instigation? Our prerogatiue

780Cals not your Counsailes, but our naturall goodnesse

781Imparts this: which, if you, or stupified,

782Or seeming so, in skill, cannot, or will not

783Rellish a truth, like vs: informe your selues,

784We neede no more of your aduice: the matter,

785The losse, the gaine, the ord'ring on't,

786Is all properly ours.

787Antig. And I wish (my Liege)

788You had onely in your silent iudgement tride it,

789Without more ouerture.

790Leo. How could that be?

791Either thou art most ignorant by age,

792Or thou wer't borne a foole: Camillo's flight

793Added to their Familiarity

794(Which was as grosse, as euer touch'd coniecture,

795That lack'd sight onely, nought for approbation

796But onely seeing, all other circumstances

797Made vp to'th deed) doth push-on this proceeding.

798Yet, for a greater confirmation

799(For in an Acte of this importance, 'twere

800Most pitteous to be wilde) I haue dispatch'd in post,

801To sacred Delphos, to Appollo's Temple,

802Cleomines and Dion, whom you know

803Of stuff'd-sufficiency: Now, from the Oracle

804They will bring all, whose spirituall counsaile had

805Shall stop, or spurre me. Haue I done well?

806Lord. Well done (my Lord.)

807Leo. Though I am satisfide, and neede no more

808Then what I know, yet shall the Oracle

809Giue rest to th' mindes of others; such as he

810Whose ignorant credulitie, will not

811Come vp to th' truth. So haue we thought it good

812From our free person, she should be confinde,

813Least that the treachery of the two, fled hence,

814Be left her to performe. Come follow vs,

815We are to speake in publique: for this businesse

816Will raise vs all.

817Antig. To laughter, as I take it,

818If the good truth, were knowne. Exeunt

821Paul. The Keeper of the prison, call to him:

822Let him haue knowledge who I am. Good Lady,

823No Court in Europe is too good for thee,

824What dost thou then in prison? Now good Sir,

825You know me, do you not?

826Gao. For a worthy Lady,

827And one, who much I honour.

828Pau. Pray you then,

829Conduct me to the Queene.

830Gao. I may not (Madam)

831To the contrary I haue expresse commandment.

832Pau. Here's a-do, to locke vp honesty & honour from

833Th' accesse of gentle visitors. Is't lawfull pray you

834To see her Women? Any of them? Emilia?

835Gao. So please you (Madam)

836To put a-part these your attendants, I

837Shall bring Emilia forth.

838Pau. I pray now call her:

839With-draw your selues.

840Gao. And Madam,

841I must be present at your Conference.

842Pau. Well: be't so: prethee.

843Heere's such a-doe, to make no staine, a staine,

844As passes colouring. Deare Gentlewoman,

845How fares our gracious Lady?

846Emil. As well as one so great, and so forlorne

847May hold together: On her frights, and greefes

848(Which neuer tender Lady hath borne greater)

849She is, something before her time, deliuer'd.

850Pau. A boy?

851Emil. A daughter, and a goodly babe,

852Lusty, and like to liue: the Queene receiues

853Much comfort in't: Sayes, my poore prisoner,

854I am innocent as you,

855Pau. I dare be sworne:

856These dangerous, vnsafe Lunes i'th' King, beshrew them:

857He must be told on't, and he shall: the office

858Becomes a woman best. Ile take't vpon me,

859If I proue hony-mouth'd, let my tongue blister.

860And neuer to my red-look'd Anger bee

861The Trumpet any more: pray you (Emilia)

862Commend my best obedience to the Queene,

863If she dares trust me with her little babe,

864I'le shew't the King, and vndertake to bee

865Her Aduocate to th' lowd'st. We do not know

866How he may soften at the sight o'th' Childe:

867The silence often of pure innocence

868Perswades, when speaking failes.

869Emil. Most worthy Madam,

870Your honor, and your goodnesse is so euident,

871That your free vndertaking cannot misse

872A thriuing yssue: there is no Lady liuing

873So meete for this great errand; please your Ladiship

874To visit the next roome, Ile presently

875Acquaint the Queene of your most noble offer,

876Who, but to day hammered of this designe,

877But durst not tempt a minister of honour

878Least she should be deny'd.