terra for the allowance of provision given to the poor, in great fa-
milies. The alms immemorially given to the poor by the Arch-
bishops of Canterbury, is still called the dole. See The Historij
of La^nbcth Palace, p. 31, in Bibl. Top. Brit. Nicwols.
WINTER'S TALE. 44?
And, with his varying childness, cures in me
Thoughts that would thick niy blood.
Leon. So stands this squire
Offic'd with me : Wc two will walk, my lord.
And leave you to your graver steps. — Hermione,
How thou lo\'st us, show in our brothers welcome;
Let what is dear in Sicily, be cheap :
Next to thvself, and my young rover, he's
Apparent^ to my heart.
Her. If you would seek us.
We are your's i'the garden : Shall's attend you there?
Leon. To your own bents dispose you : you'll be
found.
Be you beneath the sky : — I am angling now.
Though vou perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to !
\Afidc. Observing Polixenes aiid Hermione.
How she holds up the neb,' the bill to him !
And arms her with the boldness of a wife
To her allowing husband !^ Gone already;
Inch-thick, knce-deej), o'er head and ears a fork'd
one.*
\^Exeimt Polixenes, Hermione, and At-
tendants.
Go, play, boy, play ; — thy mother jilays, and I
Plav too ; but s(j disgrac'd a part, whose issue
Will hiss nil; to my grave ; contempt and clamour
Will be my knell. — Go, play, boy, play; — There
have been.
Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this j)resent.
' Appart^nt — ] That is, heir apparent y or the riext claimant.
* ihr nrb,'\ 'llic word is conimonl)' pronounced and writ-
ten iiih. It simiiiick lierc tlie moulli.
3 To her allowing hushaiul !"] Allmcing in old language i«
epprovinp. M m.ose.
* - a fork'd unc.^ That is, a Iwrncd one ; a rjickoU.
448 WINTER'S TALE.
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife hy the arm.
That little thinks she has been, sluic'd in his absence.
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour : nay, there's comfort in t.
Whiles other men have gatesr; and tliose gates
open'd.
As mine, against their will : Should ail despair.
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physick fort ihere is
none ;
It is a bawdy planet, that will strike
Where 'tis predominant ; and 'tis powerful, think it.
From east, west, north, and soutii : Be it concluded^
No barricado for a belly ; know it ;
It will let in and out the enemy.
With bag and baggage : many a thousand of us
Have the disease, and feeVt not. — How now, boy ?
Mam. I am like you. tiiey say.
Leon. Why, that's some comfort. —
What ! Camillo there ?
Cam. Ay, my good lord,
Leon. Go play, Mamillius ; thou'rt an honest
man. — \E.vit Mamillius.
Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.
Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor
hold :
When you cast out, it still came home.*
Leoti. Didst note it ?
Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made
His business more material.''
Leon. Didst perceive it ?—
5 it still came home.~\ This is a sea-faring expression,
meaning, the anchor would not take hold.
^ made
His business more material.'] i. e. the more you requested
him to stay, the more urgent he represented that business to be
which summoned him away.
WINTER'S TALE. 449
They're here ^ith 1110 alrcudy ; whispering, round-
Sici/ia /.v a so-Jorih : 'Tis tar £^one,
When 1 !<liall srust it"^ last. — How camc't, Camino,
That he did stay ?
Caf/t. At the i;ood queen's entreaty.
Leoti. At the queen's, be't : good, should be per-
tinent ;
But so it is, it is not. Was this taken
By anv understanding pate hut thine ?
For th\' eoneeit is soaking, will draw in
More than the common bloeks : — Not noted, is't
But of the finer natures ? by some severals,
Ot head-piece extraorthnary ? lower messes,^
Perchance, are to this business purblind : say.
Caw. Jiusiness, my lord? I think, most under-
stand
Bohemia stays here longer.
Leon. I la ?
Ca?7i. Stays here lonjjer.
Leo)i. Ay, but why ?
CV/;«. To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties
Of our most gracious mistress.
Leon. Satisfy
The entreaties of vour mistress ? satisfy ? —
Jjvt that suffice. I liave trusted thee, Camillo,
With all the nearest things to my heart, as well
My ciiainber-councils : wherein, priest-like, thou
Hast cleans'd my bosom ; I from tliee departed
Thy jx'nitent reform'd : but we have been
Decciv'd in thy integrity, deceiv'd
In that which seems so.
7 ulii.^perinir, rounding,] To round in t/ic cnr'is to ii'ltisperj
or to tell sccrctljf.
8 ifust it — ] i. c. taste it. Stkevens.
5 tour r messes y~\ loxwr messes is perhaps used as an ex-
pression to signify the lowest degree about tlie eourt.
450 WINTER'S TALE.
Cam, Be it forbid, my lord !
Leon. To bide upon't; — Thou art not honest: or.
If tliou inchn'st that way, thou art a coward ;
Which boxes honesty behind/ restraining
From course requir'd : Or else thou must be counted
A sei'vant, grafted in my serious trust, >
And therein negligent : or else a fool,
That see'st a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn.
And tak'st it all for jest.
Cam. My gracious lord,
I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful ;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that his negligence, his folly, fear.
Amongst the infinite doings of the world.
Sometime puts forth : In your affairs, my lord.
If ever I were wilful-negligent.
It was my folly ; if industriously
I play'd the fool, it was my negligence.
Not weighing well the end ; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted.
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance,^ 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest : these, my lord.
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace.
Be plainer with me : let me know my trespass
By its own visage : if I then deny it,
'Tis none of mine.
Leon. Have not you seen, Camillo,
(But that's past doubt : you have ; or your eye-glass
' boxes honesty behind,'] To hox, is to ham-string. The
proper word is, to hough, i. e. to cut the hough, or ham-string.
' Whereof the execution did cry out
Againd the non-performance,'] This is one of the expressions
by which Shakspeare too frequently clouds his meaning. This
soundino- phrase means, I think, no more than a tiling necessary
to be done. Johnson.
WINTER'S TALE. 451
Is thicker than a cuckoUrs horn ;) or heard,
(For, to a vision so a})parcnt, rumour
Cannot be mute,) or thought, (tbr_ cogitation
Resides not in that man, that does not think it,)
Mv wife is shp})ery ? If tliou wilt confess,
(Or else be impudently negative,
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then say,
Mv wife's a hobbyhorse ; deserves a name
As" rank as any Hax-weneh, that puts to
13efore her troth-plight : say it, and justify it.
Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to Iiear
Mv sovereign mistress clouded so, without
jMv present vengeance taken : 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this ; which to reiterate, were sin
As deep as that, though true.
Leon. Is whispering nothing ?
Is leaning cheek to cheek ? is meeting noses ?
Kissing with inside lip ? stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh ? (a note infallible
Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot ?
Skulking in corners ? wishing clocks more swift ?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eves
blind
With the pin and web,' but theirs, theirs only.
That would unseen be wicked ? is this nothing?
Whv, then the world, and all that's in't, is nothing ;
The covering sky is nothing ; Bohemia nothing ;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these no-
things.
If this be nothing.
Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd
Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes;
For 'tis most dangerous.
Leon. Say, it be ; 'tis true.
the pin and web,] Diuyrdcr* in llif cvc.
452 WINTER'S TALE.
Cam» No, no, my lord.
Leon. It is ; you lie, you lie i
I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I haie thee ;
Pronounce tliee a gross lout, a mindless slave ;
Or else a hovering temporizer, that
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil.
Inclining to them both : Were my wife's liver
Infected as her life, she would not live
The running of one glass.
Cam. ^Nho does infect her ?
Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal/
hanging
About his neck, Bohemia : Who — if I
Had servants true about me : tiiat bare eyes
To see alike mine honour as their profits.
Their own particular thrifts, — they would do that
Which should undo more doing : Ay, and thou.
His cuubearer, — whom I from meaner form
Have bench'd, and rear'd to worship ; who may'st
see
Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees heaven.
How I am galled. — might'st bespice a cup.
To give mine enemy a lasting wink ;
Which draught to me were cordial.
Cam. Sir, my lord,
1 could do this ; and that with no rash potion.
But with a ling'ring dram, that should not work
Maliciously like poison : But I cannot
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress.
So sovereignly being honourable.
I have lov'd thee,
Leon. Make't thy question, and go rot !''
Dost thiiik, I am so muddy, so unsettled.
To appoint myself in this vexation ? sully
4 lihe her 7nedal,~\ i. e. her porti'alt.
^ MakeH thj question, and go rot! &c.] This refers to what
Caeaillo has iust said, rchitive to the Queen's chastity.
WINTER'S TALE. 45;*
Tlic purit\' and whiteness of my sheets,
Which to preserve, is sleep ; which being spotted.
Is E^oads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps ?
Give scandal to the blood o'the prince my son, ^
Wlio, I do think is mine, and \o\c as mme ;
Withouc ripe moving to't r — ^^'ould I do this ?
Could man so blench r^
Cain. I must believe you, sir;
I do ; and will fetch off Bohemia for't :
Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness
AVill take again your queen, as yours at first ;
Even for your son's sake ; and, thereby, for scaling
The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms
Known and allied to yours.
Leon. Thou dost advise mc.
Even so as I mine own course have set down :
I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.
Catii. My lord,
Go then ; and with a countenance as clear
As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia,
And with your queen : I am his cupbearer ;
If from me he have wholesome beverage.
Account me not vour servant.
Leon. This is all :
Do't, and thou hast the one half of my heart;
Uo't not, thou split'st thine own.
Cam. I'll do't, my lord.
Lean. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd
mc. \_E.vU.
Cam. O miserable lady! — But, for me.
What case stand I in ? I must he the poisoner
Of good I*olixenes : and my ground to do't
Is the obedience to a master; one,
Who, in rebellion with himself, will have
Ail that are his, so too. — To do this deed,
Prr)motion follows : If 1 could iind cxam})lc
'' Could man so blench ?] To blench is to start ofl", to ») ixIuL
454 WINTER'S TALE.
Of thousands, that had struck anointed kings^
And'flourish'd after, I'd not do't : but since
Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one,
Let villainy itself forswear't. I must
Forsake the court % to do't, or no, is certain
To me a break-neck. Happy star, reion now !
Here comes Bohemia.
Enter Polixenes.
Pol. This is strange ! methinks.
My favour here begins to warp. Not speak ?
Good-day, Camillo.
Cam. Hail, most royal sir !
Pol. What is the news i'the court ?
Cam. None rare, my lord.
Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance.
As he had lost some province, and a region,
Lov'd as he loves himself: even now I met him
With customary compliment ; when he.
Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling
A lip c4' much contempt, speeds from me ; and
So leav es me, to consider what is breeding.
That changes thus his manners.
Cam.. I dare not know, my lord.
Pol. How ! dare not ? do not. Do you know,
and dare not
Be intel ligent to me ? 'Tis thereabouts ;
For, to yourself, what you do know, you must ;
And cai mot say, you dare not. Good Camillo,
Your cli ang'd complexions are to me a mirror.
Which shows me mine chang'd too : for I must be
A party in this alteration, finding
Myself thus alter'd with it.
Cam. There is a sickness
Which puts some of us in distemper ; but
I canno t name the disease ; and it is caught
Of you that yet are well.
WINTER'S TALE. 455
Pol. IIovv I caught of me ?
]\Iake mc not sighted hkc the basihsk :
I have look'd on thousands who have spexl tlio better
Bv my regard, but kill'd none so. (.'amillo,
As vou are certainly a gentleman ; thereto
Clerk-hke, experienc'd, whicli no less adorns
Our gentrv, than our parents' noble names,
In whose success we are gentle,' — I beseech you,
If you know aught which does behove my know-
ledge
Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not
In ignorant concealment.
Cam. I may not answer.
Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well!
I must be answer d. — Dost thou hear, Camillo,
I c6njure thee, by all the parts of man,
Which honour does acknowledge, — whereof the
least
Is not this suit of mine, — that thou declare
What incidency thou dost guess of harm
Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near;
Which way to be j)revented, if to be ;
If not, how best to bear it.
Cam. Sir, I'll tell you ;
»Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him
That I think honourable : Therefore, mark my
counsel ;
Which must be even as swiftly foUow'd, as
I mean to utter it ; or both yourself and me
Cry, lost, and so good-night.
PoL On, good Camillo.
Cam. I am appointed Him to murder you."
" In whose succefis ive are gentle,] Success here means succes-
sion. Gentle i8 evidently opijosed to simple; alluding to the dis-
tinction between the gentry and yeomanry.
« / am aj/poinled Him tu murder ijuu.'\ i. c. I am the person
appointed to murder you.
VOL. III. Nn
456 WINTER'S TALE.
Pol. By whom, Camillo ?
Cam. By the king.
Pol. For what ?
Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he
swears.
As he had seen't, or been an instrument
To vice^ you to't, — that you have touch'd his queen
Forbiddenly.
Pol. O, then my best blood turn
To an infected jelly ; and my name
Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best !
Turn then my freshest reputation to
A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril
W here I arrive ; and my approach be shunn'd.
Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection
That e'er was heard, or read !
Cam. Swear his thought over
By each particular star in heaven, and
By all their influences, you may as well
Forbid the sea for to obey the moon,
As or, by oath, remove, or counsel, shake
The fabrick of his folly ; whose foundation
Is jDil'd upon iiis faith,^ and will continue
The standing of his body.
Pol. How should this grow ?
Cam. I know not : but, I am sure, 'tis safer to
Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born.
If therefore you dare trust my honesty, —
That lies enclosed in this trunk, which you
Shall bear along impawn'd, — away to-night.
Your followers I will whisper to the business ;
And will, by twos, and threes, at several posterns.
Clear them o' the city : For myself, I'll put
9 To vice — ] i. e. to draw, persuade you ; probably for advise.
» vohosc foundation
Ispil'd upon hisfaith,'\ This folly which is erected on the
foundation of settled bditf.
WINTER'S TALE. 457
Mv fortunes to your service, v.liitli are here
]U' tliis discovery lost, lie not uncerLaiu ;
For, by the honour of 7n\' parents, I
Have utter'd tnitli : which if yon seek to prove,
I dare not stand hv ; n(M- shall you be safer
Than one condeinn'd by the king's own mouthy
thereon
His execution sworn.
Pol. I do believe thee ;
I saw his heart in his face. Give mc thy hand ;
Be pilot to nie, and thy places shall
Still neiii,lihour mine : Mv ships are readv, and
My people did expect niv hence departure
'i'wo (lavs a2;o. — This jealousy
Is for a precious creature : as she's rare.
Must it be iijreat ; and, as his person's mifi;hty,
Must it l)e violent : and as he does conceiv^c
He is dishonour'd by a man which ever
Profess'd to him, why, hisrevenp;es must
In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me :
Good expedition be my friend, and comftirt
The gracious queen, ])art of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en susjjicion ! Come, Caniillo ;
I will respect thee as a f ither ; if
Thou bear'st my life otf hence : Let us avoid.
Cam. It is in mine authoritv^, to command
The keys of all the posterns : Flease your highness
To take the urgent hour ; come, sir, away.
If n2
458 WINTER'S TALE.
ACT 11.
SCENE I. The same,
E7iter Hermione, Mamillius, and Ladies.
Her. Take the boy to you : he so troubles me,
*Tis past enduring.
1 Lady, Come, my gracious lord.
Shall I be your play-fellow ?
Mam. No, I'll none of you.
1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord ?
Mam. You'll kiss me hard ; and speak to me as if
I were a baby still. — I love you better.
2 Lady. And why so, my good lord ?
Mam, Not for because
Your brows are blacker ; yet black brows, they say.
Become some women best ; so that there be not
Too much hair there, but in a semi-circle.
Or half-moon made with a pen.
2 Lady. Who taught you this ?
Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces. — Pray
now
What colour are your eye-brows ?
1 Lady, Blue, my lord.
Mam. Nay, that's a mock : I have seen a lady's
nose
That has been blue, but not her eye-brows.
2 Lady. Hark ye :
The queen, your mother, rounds apace : we shall
Present our services to a fine new pi'ince.
One of these days ; and then you'd wanton with us.
If we would have you.
1 Ljady. She is spread of late
Into a goodly bulk : Good time encounter her !
WINTER'S TALE.
459
Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you ? Come,
sir, now
I am for you again : Pray you, sit by us.
And tell 's a tale.
J\Iam, Merry, or sad, shall't be ?
Her. As merry as you will.
JMcim. A sad tale's best for winter :
I have one of sprites and goblins.
Her. Let's have that, sir.
Come on, sit down : — Come on, and do your best
To fright mc with your sprites : you're powerful
at it.
JMam. There was a man,
Her. Nay, come, sit down ; then on.
Mam. Dwelt by a church-yard ; — I will tell it
softly ;
Yon crickets shall not hear it.
Her. Come on then.
And givc't mc in mine car.
Enter Leontes, Antigoni's, Lords, and OtJiers,
Leon. Was he met there ? his train ? Camillo
with him ?
1 Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them ;
never
Saw I men scour so on their way : I ey'd them
Even to their ships.
Leon. How bless'd am I
In my just censure? in my true opinion ?-— *
AUu'k, for lesser knowledge!^ — How accurs'd.
In being so blest! — There may be in the cup
* In my jiist censure ? in mij true opinion ?] Censure, in the
time of our author, was generally used (as in this instance) for
jud<,nncnt, oj)inion.
^ A/ac/c,Jor lesser knoxui-edge !'] Tliat is, that vij/ knowledge
"Kcre kss.
460 WINTER'S TALE.
A spider stecp'd/ and one may drink ; depart,
And yet partake no venom ; for his knowledge
Is not infected : but if one present
The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye^ make known
How he hath drank, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts :^ — I have drank, and seen the
spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander :— r
There is a plot against my life, my crown ;
All's true that is mistrusted : — that false villain.
Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him :
He has discover'd my design, and I
Remain a pinch'd thing ;^ yea, a very trick
For them to play at will : — How came the posterns
So easily open ?
1 Lord. By his great authority ;
Which often hath no less prevail'd than so,
On your command.
Leon. I know't toq well.
Give me the boy ; I am glad, you did not nurse
him :
Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.
Her. What is this ? sport ?
Leon. Bear the boy hence, he shall not pome
about her ;
Away with him : — and let her sport herself
With that she's big with ; for 'tis Polixenes
Has made thee swell thus.
Her, But I'd say, he had not,
4 A spider steep'*d,'\ Spiders were esteemed venomous.
^ hefts :] Hefts are heavings, what is heaved up.
* He has discover d my design, and I
Remain a pinch'd thing ;] The sense, I think, is, He hath
now discovered my design, and I am treated as a mere cliild's
baby, a thing pinched out of clouts, a puppet for them to move
and actuate as they please. Heath.
T^ INTER'S TALE. 4(3l
And, I'll be sworn, you would believe my saying,
Howe er you lean to the nayward.
Leon. ' Vou, my lords.
Look on lier, mark her \Nell ; be but about
To say, she is a goodlif Iddj/, and
The justice of your hearts will thereto add,
*Tis piti/ shcs not honest, honourable:
Praise her but for this her without-door form,
(Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,) and
straiiilit
The shru<j^, the hum, or ha ; these petty brands,
That calumny doth use : — O, I am out,
That mercv does ; for calumny will sear'^
\'irtue itself -.—these shru<;s, these hums, and ha's,
^^'hen you have said, she's goodly, come between.
Ere voii can say she's honest : But be it known,
Fron'i him that has most cause to grieve it should
be.
She's an adultrcss.
//(•;'. Should a villain say so.
The most rej)lenish'd villain in tlie world.
He were as nuich more villain : you, my lord.
Do but mistake.
Leon. You have mistook, my lady,
Polixenes for Leontes : O thou thing,
Which ril not call a creature of thy place.
Lest barbarism, making me the ])recedent.
Should a like lanf;iiaov use to all dt^grees.
And mannerh' distinguishment leave out
Jietwixt the prince and beggar! — I have said.
She's an adultress ; I have said with whom :
More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is
A federary" with her ; and one that knows
What she should shame to know herself,
u/V/sear— ] i. e. will siif,nnatize or brand as iufamous«
» // I'viltrary — ] i.e. confcdfruU'.
462 WINTER'S TALE.
But with her most vile principal/ that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold titles ; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.
Her. No, by my life.
Privy to none of this : How will this grieve yon,
When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have publish'd me ? Gentle my lord.
You scarce can right me throughly then, to say
You did mistake.
Leon. No, no ; if I mistake
In those foundations which I build upon.
The center is not big enough to bear
A school-boy's top. — Away with her to prison :
He, who shall speak for her, is afar off guilty.
But that he speaks.'
Her. There's some ill planet reigns :
I must be patient, till the heavens look
With an aspect more favourable. — Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are ; the want of which vain dew.
Perchance, shall dry your pities : but I have
That honourable grief lodg'd here, which burns
Worse than tears drown : 'Beseech you all, my
lords.
With thoughts so qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, measure me ; — and so
The king's will be perform'd !
Leon. Shall I be heard ?
[To the Guards,
5* But ijoith her most vile principal^'] One that knows what we
should be ashamed of, even if the knowledge of it rested only in
her own breast and that of her paramour, without the participa-
tion of any confidant. — But., Avhich is here used for onlyy renders
this passage somewhat obscure.
' i/e, voko shall speak for her^ is afar off guilty.
But thai he speaks.'] Far off guilti/, signifies, guiltij in a remote
degree. But that he speaks— means, in merely speaki7ig.
WINTER'S TALE. 463
Her. Who is't, that goes with me? — 'Beseeeh
your highness,
My women may be with me ; for, you see,
My phght requires it. Do not weep, good fools ;
There is no cause : when you shall know, your mis-
tress
Has deserved prison, tlien abound in tears.
As I come out : this action, I now go on.
Is for my better grace. — Adieu, my lord ;
I never wish'd to see vou soriy ; now,
I trust, I shall. My women, come ; you have
leave.
Leon. Go, do our bidding ; hence.
\_E,veiuit Queen and Ladies.
i. Lord. 'Beseech your highness, call the queen
again.
Ant. Be certain what you do, sir ; lest your jus-
tice
Prove violence ; in the which three great ones suffer,
Youiself, your queen, your son.
1 Lord. For her, my lord, —
I dare my life lay down, and will do't, sir.
Please )-ou to accept it, that the queen is spotless
I'the eyes of heaven, and to you ; I mean.
In tliis which you accuse her.
^int. If it prove
►She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where
I lodge my wife :' I'll go in couples with her;