1005The sacred Honor of himselfe, his Queenes,

1006His hopefull Sonnes, his Babes, betrayes to Slander,

1007Whose sting is sharper then the Swords; and will not

1008(For as the case now stands, it is a Curse

1009He cannot be compell'd too't) once remoue

1010The Root of his Opinion, which is rotten,

1011As euer Oake, or Stone was sound.

1012Leo. A Callat

1013Of boundlesse tongue, who late hath beat her Husband,

1014And now bayts me: This Brat is none of mine,

1015It is the Issue of Polixenes.

1016Hence with it, and together with the Dam,

1017Commit them to the fire.

1018Paul. It is yours:

1019And might we lay th' old Prouerb to your charge,

1020So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold (my Lords)

1021Although the Print be little, the whole Matter

1022And Coppy of the Father: (Eye, Nose, Lippe,

1023The trick of's Frowne, his Fore-head, nay, the Valley,

1024The pretty dimples of his Chin, and Cheeke; his Smiles:

1025The very Mold, and frame of Hand, Nayle, Finger.)

1026And thou good Goddesse Nature, which hast made it

1027So like to him that got it, if thou hast

1028The ordering of the Mind too, 'mongst all Colours

1029No Yellow in't, least she suspect, as he do's,

1030Her Children, not her Husbands.

1031Leo. A grosse Hagge:

1032And Lozell, thou art worthy to be hang'd,

1033That wilt not stay her Tongue.

1034Antig. Hang all the Husbands

1035That cannot doe that Feat, you'le leaue your selfe

1036Hardly one Subiect.

1037Leo. Once more take her hence.

1038Paul. A most vnworthy, and vnnaturall Lord

1039Can doe no more.

1040Leo. Ile ha' thee burnt.

1041Paul. I care not:

1042It is an Heretique that makes the fire,

1043Not she which burnes in't. Ile not call you Tyrant:

1044But this most cruell vsage of your Queene

1045(Not able to produce more accusation

1046Then your owne weake-hindg'd Fancy) something sauors

1047Of Tyrannie, and will ignoble make you,

1048Yea, scandalous to the World.

1049Leo. On your Allegeance,

1050Out of the Chamber with her. Were I a Tyrant,

1051Where were her life? she durst not call me so,

1052If she did know me one. Away with her.

1053Paul. I pray you doe not push me, Ile be gone.

1054Looke to your Babe (my Lord) 'tis yours: Ioue send her

1055A better guiding Spirit. What needs these hands?

1056You that are thus so tender o're his Follyes,

1057Will neuer doe him good, not one of you.

1058So, so: Farewell, we are gone. Exit.

1059Leo. Thou (Traytor) hast set on thy Wife to this.

1060My Child? away with't? euen thou, that hast

1061A heart so tender o're it, take it hence,

1062And see it instantly consum'd with fire.

1063Euen thou, and none but thou. Take it vp straight:

1064Within this houre bring me word 'tis done,

1065(And by good testimonie) or Ile seize thy life,

1066With what thou else call'st thine: if thou refuse,

1067And wilt encounter with my Wrath, say so;

1068The Bastard-braynes with these my proper hands

1069Shall I dash out. Goe, take it to the fire,

1070For thou sett'st on thy Wife.

1071Antig. I did not, Sir:

1072These Lords, my Noble Fellowes, if they please,

1073Can cleare me in't.

1074Lords. We can: my Royall Liege,

1075He is not guiltie of her comming hither.

1076Leo. You're lyers all.

1077Lord. Beseech your Highnesse, giue vs better credit:

1078We haue alwayes truly seru'd you, and beseech'

1079So to esteeme of vs: and on our knees we begge,

1080(As recompence of our deare seruices

1081Past, and to come) that you doe change this purpose,

1082Which being so horrible, so bloody, must

1083Lead on to some foule Issue. We all kneele.

1084Leo. I am a Feather for each Wind that blows:

1085Shall I liue on, to see this Bastard kneele,

1086And call me Father? better burne it now,

1087Then curse it then. But be it: let it liue.

1088It shall not neyther. You Sir, come you hither:

1089You that haue beene so tenderly officious

1090With Lady Margerie, your Mid-wife there,

1091To saue this Bastards life; for 'tis a Bastard,

1092So sure as this Beard's gray. What will you aduenture,

1093To saue this Brats life?

1094Antig. Any thing (my Lord)

1095That my abilitie may vndergoe,

1096And Noblenesse impose: at least thus much;

1097Ile pawne the little blood which I haue left,

1098To saue the Innocent: any thing possible.

1099Leo. It shall be possible: Sweare by this Sword

1100Thou wilt performe my bidding.

1101Antig. I will (my Lord.)

1102Leo. Marke, and performe it: seest thou? for the faile

1103Of any point in't, shall not onely be

1104Death to thy selfe, but to thy lewd-tongu'd Wife,

1105(Whom for this time we pardon) We enioyne thee,

1106As thou art Liege-man to vs, that thou carry

1107This female Bastard hence, and that thou beare it

1108To some remote and desart place, quite out

1109Of our Dominions; and that there thou leaue it

1110(Without more mercy) to it owne protection,

1111And fauour of the Climate: as by strange fortune

1112It came to vs, I doe in Iustice charge thee,

1113On thy Soules perill, and thy Bodyes torture,

1114That thou commend it strangely to some place,

1115Where Chance may nurse, or end it: take it vp.

1116Antig. I sweare to doe this: though a present death

1117Had beene more mercifull. Come on (poore Babe)

1118Some powerfull Spirit instruct the Kytes and Rauens

1119To be thy Nurses. Wolues and Beares, they say,

1120(Casting their sauagenesse aside) haue done

1121Like offices of Pitty. Sir, be prosperous

1122In more then this deed do's require; and Blessing

1123Against this Crueltie, fight on thy side

1124(Poore Thing, condemn'd to losse.) Exit.

1125Leo. No: Ile not reare

1126Anothers Issue. Enter a Seruant.

1127Seru. Please' your Highnesse, Posts

1128From those you sent to th' Oracle, are come

1129An houre since: Cleomines and Dion,

1130Being well arriu'd from Delphos, are both landed,

1131Hasting to th' Court.

1132Lord. So please you (Sir) their speed

1133Hath beene beyond accompt.

1134Leo. Twentie three dayes

1135They haue beene absent: 'tis good speed: fore-tells

1136The great Apollo suddenly will haue