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,

3.2.71182Even to the guilt or the purgation.

3.2.81183Produce the prisoner.

It is his Highness' pleasure that the queen

3.2.101185Appear in person, here in court.

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

3.2.141197Which contradicts my accusation, and

3.2.151198The testimony on my part no other

3.2.161199But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me

3.2.171200To say, "Not guilty". Mine integrity,

3.2.181201Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,

3.2.191202Be so received. But thus, if powers divine

3.2.201203Behold our humane actions, as they do,

3.2.211204I doubt not then but innocence shall make

3.2.221205False accusation blush and tyranny

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,

3.2.261209As I am now unhappy, which is more

3.2.271210Than history can pattern, though devised

3.2.281211And played to take spectators. For behold me,

3.2.291212A fellow of the royal bed, which owe

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,

3.2.351218'Tis a derivative from me to mine,

3.2.361219And only that I stand for. I appeal

3.2.371220To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes

3.2.381221Came to your court how I was in your grace,

3.2.391222How merited to be so. Since he came,

3.2.401223With what encounter so uncurrent I

3.2.411224Have strained t' appear thus; if one jot beyond

3.2.421225The bound of honor or in act or will

3.2.431226That way inclining, hardened be the hearts

3.2.441227Of all that hear me, and my nearest of kin

3.2.451228Cry fie upon my grave.

Cry fie upon my grave. I never heard yet

3.2.461230That any of these bolder vices wanted

3.2.471231Less impudence to gainsay what they did

3.2.481232Than to perform it first.

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

3.2.521238At all acknowledge. For Polixenes,

3.2.531239With whom I am accused, I do confess

3.2.541240I loved him as in honor he required,

3.2.551241With such a kind of love as might become

3.2.561242A lady like me; with a love, even such,

3.2.571243So and no other, as yourself commanded,

3.2.581244Which, not to have done, I think had been in me

3.2.591245Both disobedience and ingratitude

3.2.601246To you and toward your friend, whose love had spoke

3.2.611247Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely,

3.2.621248That it was yours. Now for conspiracy,

3.2.631249I know not how it tastes, though it be dished

3.2.641250For me to try how; all I know of it

3.2.651251Is that Camillo was an honest man,

3.2.661252And why he left your court the gods themselves,

3.2.671253Wotting no more then I, are ignorant.

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,

3.2.721259Which I'll lay down.

Which I'll lay down. Your actions are my dreams.

3.2.731261You had a bastard by Polixenes,

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,

3.2.781266No father owning it, which is indeed

3.2.791267More criminal in thee than it, so thou

3.2.801268Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage

3.2.811269Look for no less than death.

Look for no less than death. Sir, spare your threats.

3.2.821271The bug which you would fright me with I seek;

3.2.831272To me can life be no commodity.

3.2.841273The crown and comfort of my life, your favor,

3.2.851274I do give lost, for I do feel it gone,

3.2.861275But know not how it went. My second joy

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,

3.2.1001289I prize it not a straw, but for mine honor,

3.2.1011290Which I would free. If I shall be condemned

3.2.1021291Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else

3.2.1031292But what your jealousies awake, I tell you

3.2.1041293'Tis rigor and not law. Your honors all,

3.2.1051294I do refer me to the oracle:

3.2.1061295Apollo be my judge.

Apollo be my judge. This your request

3.2.1071297Is altogether just. Therefore, bring forth,

3.2.1081298And in Apollo's name, his oracle.

The emperor of Russia was my father.

3.2.1101300Oh that he were alive and here beholding

3.2.1111301His daughter's trial, that he did but see

3.2.1121302The flatness of my misery; yet with eyes

3.2.1131303Of pity, not revenge.

Of pity, not revenge. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice,

3.2.1141305That you, Cleomines and Dion, have

3.2.1151306Been both at Delphos and from thence have brought

3.2.1161307This sealed-up oracle by the hand delivered

3.2.1171308Of great Apollo's priest; and that since then,

3.2.1181309You have not dared to break the holy seal

3.2.1191310Nor read the secrets in't.

Nor read the secrets in't. All this we swear.

Break up the seals and read.

Now blessed be the great Apollo.

Praised!

Hast thou read truth?

Hast thou read truth? Ay, my lord, even so

3.2.125As it is here set down.

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

3.2.1311327Of the queen's speed, is gone.

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

3.2.1331331Do strike at my injustice!

Do strike at my injustice! How now there?

This news is mortal to the Queen! Look down

3.2.1351333And see what death is doing.

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.

3.2.1381337Beseech you tenderly apply to her

3.2.1391338Some remedies for life.

Some remedies for life. Apollo, pardon

3.2.1401339My great profanenesse 'gainst thine oracle.

3.2.1411340I'll reconcile me to Polixenes,

3.2.1421341New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo,

3.2.1431342Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy;

3.2.1441343For being transported by my jealousies

3.2.1451344To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose

3.2.1461345Camillo for the minister to poison

3.2.1471346My friend Polixenes, which had been done,

3.2.1481347But that the good mind of Camillo tardied

3.2.1491348My swift command. Though I with death and with

3.2.1501349Reward did threaten and encourage him

3.2.1511350Not doing it and being done, he -- most humane,

3.2.1521351And filled with honor -- to my kingly guest

3.2.1531352Unclasped my practice, quit his fortunes here,

3.2.1541353Which you knew great, and to the hazard

3.2.1551354Of all incertainties himself commended,

3.2.1561355No richer than his honor. How he glisters

3.2.1571356Through my rust, and how his piety

3.2.1581357Does my deeds make the blacker!

Does my deeds make the blacker! Woe the while!

3.2.1591359Oh cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it,

3.2.1601360Break too.

Break too. What fit is this? Good lady?

What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me?

3.2.1621363What wheels, racks, fires? What flaying? Boiling

3.2.1631364In leads or oils? What old or newer torture

3.2.1641365Must I receive, whose every word deserves

3.2.1651366To taste of thy most worst! Thy tyranny

3.2.1661367Together working with thy jealousies --

3.2.1671368Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle

3.2.1681369For girls of nine -- Oh think what they have done,

3.2.1691370And then run mad indeed, stark-mad, for all

3.2.1701371Thy bygone fooleries were but spices of it.

3.2.1711372That thou betrayedst Polixenes, 'twas nothing.

3.2.1721373That did but show thee of a fool, inconstant,

3.2.1731374And damnable ingrateful. Nor was't much,

3.2.1741375Thou wouldst have poisoned good Camillo's honor

3.2.1751376To have him kill a king: poor trespasses,

3.2.1761377More monstrous standing by; whereof I reckon

3.2.1771378The casting forth to crows thy baby daughter

3.2.1781379To be or none, or little, though a devil

3.2.1791380Would have shed water out of fire ere done't.

3.2.1801381Nor is't directly laid to thee the death

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

3.2.1881389Not dropped down yet.

Not dropped down yet. The higher powers forbid!

I say she's dead! I'll swear't! If word nor oath

3.2.1901392Prevail not, go and see. If you can bring

3.2.1911393Tincture or luster in her lip, her eye,

3.2.1921394Heat outwardly, or breath within, I'll serve you

3.2.1931395As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant,

3.2.1941396Do not repent these things, for they are heavier

3.2.1951397Than all thy woes can stir; therefore, betake thee

3.2.1961398To nothing but despair. A thousand knees

3.2.1971399Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting

3.2.1981400Upon a barren mountain and still winter

3.2.1991401In storm perpetual, could not move the gods

3.2.2001402To look that way thou wert.

To look that way thou wert. Go on, go on!

3.2.2011404Thou canst not speak too much. I have deserved

3.2.2021405All tongues to talk their bitt'rest.

All tongues to talk their bitt'rest. [To Paulina] Say no more.

3.2.2031407Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault

3.2.2041408I'th'boldness of your speech.

I'th'boldness of your speech. I am sorry for't.

3.2.2051410All faults I make, when I shall come to know them,

3.2.2061411I do repent. Alas, I have showed too much

3.2.2071412The rashness of a woman. He is touched

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

3.2.2101415At my petition; I beseech you, rather,

3.2.2111416Let me be punished that have minded you

3.2.2121417Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege,

3.2.2131418Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman;

3.2.2141419The love I bore your queen -- lo, fool again!

3.2.2151420I'll speak of her no more, nor of your children;

3.2.2161421I'll not remember you of my own lord,

3.2.2171422Who is lost too. Take your patience to you,

3.2.2181423And I'll say nothing.

And I'll say nothing. Thou didst speak but well,

3.2.2191425When most the truth which I receive much better

3.2.2201426Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee bring me

3.2.2211427To the dead bodies of my queen and son;

3.2.2221428One grave shall be for both. Upon them shall

3.2.2231429The causes of their death appear, unto

3.2.2241430Our shame perpetual. Once a day I'll visit

3.2.2251431The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there

3.2.2261432Shall be my recreation. So long as nature

3.2.2271433Will bear up with this exercise, so long

3.2.2281434I daily vow to use it. Come and lead me

3.2.2291435To these sorrows.