This sessions to our great grief we pronounce,
3.2.21177Even pushes 'gainst our heart. The party tried,
3.2.31178The daughter of a king, our wife, and one
3.2.41179Of us too much beloved. Let us be cleared
3.2.51180Of being tyrannous, since we so openly
3.2.61181Proceed in justice, which shall have due course,
It is his Highness' pleasure that the queen
[Enter Hermione for trial, with Paulina and Ladies]
Appear in person, here in court. Silence!
Read the indictment.
[Reads] Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, King
1188of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high
1189treason,in committing adultery with Polixenes, King of Bohemia,
1190and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our
1191soveraign lord the king, thy royal husband, the pretence whereof
1192being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione,
1193contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didst
1194counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by
1195night.
Since what I am to say must be but that
3.2.161199But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me
3.2.181201Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,
3.2.191202Be so received. But thus, if powers divine
3.2.211204I doubt not then but innocence shall make
3.2.231206Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know
3.2.241207Whom least will seem to do so my past life
3.2.251208Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,
3.2.271210Than history can pattern, though devised
3.2.281211And played to take spectators. For behold me,
3.2.301213A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter,
3.2.311214The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing
3.2.321215To prate and talk for life and honor fore
3.2.331216Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it
3.2.341217As I weigh grief, which I would spare. For honor,
3.2.371220To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes
3.2.381221Came to your court how I was in your grace,
3.2.411224Have strained t' appear thus; if one jot beyond
3.2.431226That way inclining, hardened be the hearts
3.2.441227Of all that hear me, and my nearest of kin
Cry fie upon my grave. I never heard yet
Than to perform it first. That's true enough,
3.2.491234Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me.
You will not own it.
You will not own it. More than mistress of
3.2.511237Which comes to me in name of fault I must not
3.2.551241With such a kind of love as might become
3.2.581244Which, not to have done, I think had been in me
3.2.601246To you and toward your friend, whose love had spoke
3.2.611247Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely,
3.2.631249I know not how it tastes, though it be dished
3.2.661252And why he left your court the gods themselves,
You knew of his departure, as you know
3.2.691255What you have underta'en to do in's absence.
What you have underta'en to do in's absence. Sir,
3.2.701257You speak a language that I understand not.
3.2.711258My life stands in the level of your dreams,
Which I'll lay down. Your actions are my dreams.
3.2.741262And I but dreamed it; as you were past all shame,
3.2.751263Those of your fact are so, so past all truth,
3.2.761264Which to deny concerns more then avails; for as
3.2.771265Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself,
3.2.801268Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage
Look for no less than death. Sir, spare your threats.
3.2.821271The bug which you would fright me with I seek;
3.2.841273The crown and comfort of my life, your favor,
3.2.871276And first fruits of my body, from his presence
3.2.881277I am barred, like one infectious. My third comfort
3.2.891278Starred most unluckily, is from my breast --
3.2.901279The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth --
3.2.911280Hal'd out to murder. Myself on every post
3.2.921281Proclaimed a strumpet, with immodest hatred
3.2.931282The child-bed privilege denied, which longs
3.2.941283To women of all fashion. Lastly, hurried
3.2.951284Here, to this place, i'th' open air, before
3.2.961285I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege,
3.2.971286Tell me what blessings I have here alive
3.2.981287That I should fear to die? Therefore, proceed,
3.2.991288But yet hear this -- mistake me not -- no life,
Apollo be my judge. This your request
The emperor of Russia was my father.
3.2.113.1[Enter Cleomines and Dion with officers] Of pity, not revenge. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice,
3.2.1151306Been both at Delphos and from thence have brought
3.2.1171308Of great Apollo's priest; and that since then,
Nor read the secrets in't. All this we swear.
Break up the seals and read.
[Reads]
Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo
1314a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, his innocent babe
1315truly begotten, and the king shall live without an heir if that
1316which is lost be not found.
Now blessed be the great Apollo.
Praised!
Hast thou read truth?
Hast thou read truth? Ay, my lord, even so
There is no truth at all i'th'oracle!
3.2.1271322The sessions shall proceed. This is mere falsehood.
My lord, the King, the King!
My lord, the King, the King! What is the business?
O, sir, I shall be hated to report it.
3.2.1301326The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear
Of the queen's speed, is gone. How "gone"?
Of the queen's speed, is gone. How "gone"? Is dead!
Apollo's angry, and the heavens themselves
[Hermione falls]
Do strike at my injustice! How now there?
This news is mortal to the Queen! Look down
And see what death is doing. Take her hence!
3.2.1361335Her heart is but o'er-charged; she will recover.
3.2.1371336I have too much believed mine own suspicion.
[Paulia and Ladies exit with Hermione]
Some remedies for life. Apollo, pardon
3.2.1491348My swift command. Though I with death and with
3.2.1511350Not doing it and being done, he -- most humane,
3.2.1531352Unclasped my practice, quit his fortunes here,
[Enter Paulina]
Does my deeds make the blacker! Woe the while!
Break too. What fit is this? Good lady?
What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me?
3.2.1621363What wheels, racks, fires? What flaying? Boiling
3.2.1671368Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle
3.2.1681369For girls of nine -- Oh think what they have done,
3.2.1711372That thou betrayedst Polixenes, 'twas nothing.
3.2.1721373That did but show thee of a fool, inconstant,
3.2.1741375Thou wouldst have poisoned good Camillo's honor
3.2.1761377More monstrous standing by; whereof I reckon
3.2.1771378The casting forth to crows thy baby daughter
3.2.1791380Would have shed water out of fire ere done't.
3.2.1811382Of the young prince, whose honorable thoughts,
3.2.1821383Thoughts high for one so tender, cleft the heart
3.2.1831384That could conceive a gross and foolish sire
3.2.1841385Blemished his gracious dam. This is not, no,
3.2.1851386Laid to thy answer. But the last -- O lords,
3.2.1861387When I have said, "Cry woe!" -- the Queen, the Queen,
3.2.1871388The sweetest, dearest creature's dead, and vengeance for't
Not dropped down yet. The higher powers forbid!
I say she's dead! I'll swear't! If word nor oath
3.2.1921394Heat outwardly, or breath within, I'll serve you
3.2.1941396Do not repent these things, for they are heavier
3.2.1951397Than all thy woes can stir; therefore, betake thee
To look that way thou wert. Go on, go on!
3.2.2011404Thou canst not speak too much. I have deserved
All tongues to talk their bitt'rest. [To Paulina] Say no more.
3.2.2031407Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault
I'th'boldness of your speech. I am sorry for't.
3.2.2051410All faults I make, when I shall come to know them,
3.2.2081413To th'noble heart. What's gone and what's past help
3.2.2091414Should be past grief.
[To Leontes] Do not receive affliction
3.2.2121417Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege,
3.2.2141419The love I bore your queen -- lo, fool again!
3.2.2151420I'll speak of her no more, nor of your children;
And I'll say nothing. Thou didst speak but well,
3.2.2191425When most the truth which I receive much better
3.2.2221428One grave shall be for both. Upon them shall
3.2.2251431The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there
Exeunt.