LINENOTES:

Scene ii. A room....] Capell. Scene opens to the Presence. Theobald.

Camillo] om. Theobald.

and Attendants] Theobald, om. Ff.

[1] hath] have Capell.

[1, 2] been ... note] been (The shepherd's note,) Warburton.

[8] moe] more Rowe.

[9] a while] awhile Reed.

[11] I am] I'm Pope.

[12] absence;] absence, Ff.

[12, 13] that may blow No] there may blow Some Hanmer. may there blow No Warburton.

[12-14] that ... truly:] that ... truly! Steevens (Farmer conj.).

[14] truly] early Hanmer. tardily Capell.

[17] seven-night] seve'night F1 F2 F3. sev'night F4.

[19] beseech you, so.] 'beseech you! Hanmer. so, beseech you: Capell.

[20] world] F1 F3 F4. would F2.

[28] to have] to've Pope.

[29] You had] You 'ad Theobald.

[33] [He walks apart. Collier (Collier MS.).

[38] [To Polixenes. Rowe.

[40] give him] give you Hanmer (Warburton).

[41] behind] beyond Heath conj.

gest] F1 F2. guest F3 F4. just Theobald conj. geste Hanmer. list Heath conj.

[42] good deed,] (good-deed) F1. (good-heed) F2. (good heed) F3 F4. See note (i).

[44] lady she] lady should Collier (Egerton and Collier MSS.). lady-she Staunton.

[50] 'Verily''s] Staunton and Grant White. Verely 'is F1 F2. verily is F3 F4.

[65, 66] Was ... two?] As in Ff. In one line. Hanmer.

[70] nor dream'd] F1. no nor dream'd F2 F3 F4. neither dream'd Spedding conj.

[77] to's] to us Capell.

[80] Grace] Oh! Grace Hanmer. God's grace S. Walker conj.

boot] both Heath conj.

[81] lest] F4. least F1 F2 F3.

[88] dearest] dear'st S. Walker conj.

never] ne'er Pope.

[90] was't] 'twas Steevens (1778). was it Mason conj.

[91] cram's ... make's] cram us ... make us Capell.

[96] heat an acre. But to the goal;—] heat an Acre. But to th' Goale: Ff. (Goal F3 F4). heat an acre, but to th' goal. Warburton. clear an acre. But to the good: Collier (Collier MS.).

[100] spoke] F1 F2. spake F3 F4.

purpose:] Capell. purpose? Ff.

[104] And clap] F2} F3 F4. A clap F1. And clepe Rowe (ed. 2).

[105] 'Tis] Ff. This is Hanmer. It is Capell.

[106] I have] I've Pope.

[108] [Giving her hand to Pol. Capell.

[Aside.] Rowe.

[112] derive] F1. derives F2 F3 F4.

[113] bounty, fertile bosom] bounty's fertile bosom Hanmer. bounty:—fertile become Jackson conj.

[114] well] F1. we'l F2 F4. wee'l F3.

become] becomes Rowe (ed. 2).

't may] it may Steevens.

[117] looking-glass] glass S. Walker conj.

[119] Mamillius] Mamillus Rowe (ed. 2).

[121] hast] Capell. has't Ff.

[122] They ... captain,] As two lines in Capell, ending mine ... captain.

it is] it's Warburton. 't's Anon. conj.

[Wipes the boy's face, Hanmer. [Pulling the boy to him and wiping him. Capell.

[123] but] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[124] heifer] heycfer F1 F2.

[125] [Observing Polixenes and Hermione. Rowe.

[128] pash] bush Becket conj.

[129] full like] full, like Ff.

[132] o'er-dyed] o're-dy'd F1 F2 F3. o're di'd F4. our dead Collier (Collier MS.), oft dyed Staunton conj.

wind] winds Rowe (ed. 2).

[134] bourn] Capell. bourne Rowe. borne F1 F2. born F3 F4.

[135] were] is Hanmer.

[136] welkin eye] welking eye Rowe (ed. 2). welkin-eye Theobald.

[137] dam?—] dam? Rowe. dam, Ff.

[137, 138] may't be?—Affection, ... centre] Steevens. may't be? Affection, thy intention stabs to the center Capell. may't be Affection? ... centre Ff. may't be—Imagination! thou dost stab to th' center Rowe.

[138-146] Affection ... brows.] Erased in Collier MS.

[139] not so] F1. not be so F2 F3 F4. not to be so Hanmer.

held,] held? Staunton.

[140, 141] dreams;—how ... be?—With ... unreal] Rann (Theobald conj.). dreames (how ... be?) With ... unreal: F1 F2. dreams (how ... be?) With ... unreal, F3 F4. dreams—how ... be With ... unreal? Pope. dreams?—how! can this be?—With ... unreal Staunton.

[142] fellow'st] follow'st Rowe (ed. 2).

nothing] nothings Hanmer.

[147, 148] How, my lord! What ... brother?] Rann (Steevens). How? my lord? Leo. What ... brother? Ff. How? my lord? Leo. What ... my best brother? Rowe. How? my lord? What ... my best brother? Hanmer. Now, my lord? What ... brother? Capell. How is't, my lord? What ... brother? Long MS. How now, my lord? Leo. What ... brother? Singer MS. Ho, my lord! What ... brother? Dyce conj.

[148-150] What ... lord?] S. Walker arranges as three lines, ending with you, ... brow ... lord?

[148] is't] is it Rowe (ed. 2).

best] my best Rowe (ed. 2).

[150] Are you] Are not you Theobald. Are you not Hanmer.

earnest.] earnest, no.— Capell.

[151] [Aside. Capell.

[151, 152] its ... Its] it's ... It's F1 F2. its ... It's F3 F4.

[154] methoughts] F4. me thoughts F1 F2 F3. my thoughts Collier (Egerton MS.), methought Staunton. See note (ii).

recoil] F4. requoyle F1 F2. recoyl F3. recall Grey conj.

[157] its] it's Ff.

[158] ornaments ... do] Rowe. ornaments ... do's Ff (does F4). ornament ... does Capell.

do] Rowe. do's F1 F2 F3. does F4.

[161] eggs] ayes Becket conj.

[162] my lord] om. Hanmer.

[163] will!] Rowe. will: Ff.

be's] be his Capell.

[170] childness] childishness Pope.

[171] would] F1. should F2 F3 F4.

thick] think F4.

[177] would] will Theobald.

[180] [Aside] Aside, observing Her. Rowe (after line 182).

[183] neb] nib Rowe (ed. 2).

[185] [Exeunt....] Rowe.

[194] in's] in his Capell

[202-206] and 'tis ... baggage.] Put in the margin as spurious by Hanmer.

[202, 203] powerful, think it, From ... south:] Capell. powrefull: thinke it: From ... south, Ff.

[203-206] From east ... baggage.] Omitted by Warburton.

[204] know't] know it Capell (corrected in MS.).

[206] many ... on's] F1 F2 F3. many a ... one's F4. many a ... of's Rowe.

[208, 209] Why ... there?] S. Walker arranges as one line.

[208] they] F2 F3 F4. om. F1.

[209] What.] What? is Hanmer.

[211] Mamillius] Mamillus Rowe (ed. 2).

[Exit M.] Rowe.

[212] Scene III. Pope.

[213] his anchor] the anchor Hanmer.

[215] petitions; made] petitions made; Pope.

[217] [Aside] Hanmer.

whispering, rounding] whisp'ring round Hanmer.

[218] is a so-forth] is a—so forth Rann (Mason conj.). is—and so forth Malone conj. is a sea-froth Jackson conj.

[224] is soaking] in soaking Grey conj.

[230, 231] Leon. Ha! Cam. Stays here longer. Leon. Ay] Leo. Ha? stays here, longer. Ay Hanmer. Leo. Ha? Cam. Bohemia stays here longer. Leo. Ay Capell.

[233] Satisfy!] Satisfie? Ff. Satisfie Theobald.

[235] I have] I've Pope.

[236] nearest things to] Ff. things nearest Pope, nearest things to S. Walker conj.

as well] with all Hanmer. as well as Capell conj.

[241] my lord!] Hanmer. (my Lord.) Ff. my lord. Pope. my lord— Theobald.

[244] hoxes] Ff. hockles Hanmer.

[253] Among] F1. Amongst F2 F3 F4.

doings] F1. doing F2 F3 F4.

[254] forth. In] Theobald. forth in Ff.

my lord,] Theobald. (my Lord.) Ff. my Lord. Rowe.

[256] industriously] injuriously Hanmer.

[261] non-performance] Ff. now-performance Heath conj.

[266] its] it's Ff.

[267] Ha'] Ff. Have Capell.

[272] think] think it Theobald. think 't Hanmer. See note (iii).

[273] wilt] Ff. wilt, Rowe.

[276] hobby-horse] Rowe (ed. 2). holy-horse Ff. hoby-horse Capell.

[277] puts to] buts tow Jackson conj.

[285] meeting] F4 meating F1 F2 F3. meting Thirlby conj.

[290] noon] F1. the noon F2 F3 F4. noon-day or high noon Anon. conj.

eyes] eyes else S. Walker conj.

[304] wife's] Rowe. wives Ff.

[307] her medal] Rowe. her medull F1 F2 F3. her medul F4. his medal Theobald. a medal Collier MS.

[309] bare] Theobald. bear Ff.

[312] ay] Capell. I Ff.

[316] gall'd] Ff. galled Steevens. gull'd Rann.

mightst] F1. thou mightst F2 F3 F4.

[318] Sir] Sure Collier (Collier MS.).

[321] Maliciously like] Maliciously, like F4. Maliciously, like a Rowe. Like a malicious Hanmer.

[323] So ... honourable.] So sovereignly (being honourable) Malone conj.

[323-325] So ... unsettled] S. Walker arranges as three lines, ending lov'd thee ... think ... unsettled. End 323 I have Spedding conj.

[324] I have loved thee,— Leon. Make that ... rot!] I haue lou'd thee, Leo. Make that ... rot: F1. I have lov'd thee. Leo. Make that ... rot: F2 F3 F4. Leo. I've lov'd thee.—Make 't ... rot: Theobald. So lov'd. Leo. Make that ... rot: Hanmer. Leo. I've lov'd thee. Mark this question, and go do't Heath conj. Leo. Make that thy question, and go rot! I have lov'd thee. Capell (Tyrwhitt conj.). Leo. Have I lov'd thee? Make that ... rot. Long MS.

[326, 327] vexation; sully The] vexation? sully The Theobald, vexation? Sully the Ff.

[329] thorns ... tails] and thorns ... and tails Hanmer.

nettles] nettles, pismires Anon. conj.

wasps;] wasps? or would I Capell.

[332] to't? ... this?] to't ... this? Hanmer.

[333] man] any man Long MS.

[337] for sealing] forsealing Anon. conj.

[341] blemish to her] blemish t' her S. Walker conj. reading lines 341, 342 as one line.

[364] Re-enter P.] Enter P. Ff.

Scene IV. Pope.

[365] My] Me F2.

[366] Hail] Hoyle F2.

[376] my lord] om. Hanmer.

[377] do not] dare not Hanmer. om. Long MS.

Do you ... dare not? ... me:] do you ... dare not? ... me, Ff. You do ... dare not ... me: Hanmer. Do you ... dare not ... me? Capell.

[379] you do] F1 F2. do you F3 F4.

[384] with't] with it Rowe (ed. 2).

[389] I have] F1 F4. I F2 F3. I've Pope.

[391] are certainly a] Ff. are, certain, Capell.

thereto] om. Pope.

[392] Clerk-like] Ff. Clerk-like, Capell.

experienced] experienc'd F1. expedienc'd F2 F3 F4.

[404] toward] towards Rowe (ed. 2).

[405] to be] Ff. it be Theobald.

[406] I will] I'll Pope.

[410] utter it] utter't S. Walker conj.

me] I Collier MS.

[412] I am appointed him] F1 I appointed him F2 F3 F4. I am appointed Rowe. I am appointed, sir Hanmer. I am appointed by him Long MS. I appointed am Anon. MS. apud Halliwell.

[416] To vice] To 'ntice Heath conj.

[422, 424] shunn'd ... read] fear'd ... read of Anon. MS. apud Halliwell.

[424] his thought] this though Theobald. this thought Id. conj.

over] over! Jackson conj.

[432] I am] I'm Pope.

[433] 'tis] it is S. Walker conj., reading lines 431-433 as four lines, ending body ... sure ... question ... born.

[444] by] by't Hanmer.

[445, 446] mouth, thereon His] Capell. mouth; Thereon his Ff. mouth, His Hanmer. mouth, and thereon His S. Walker conj.

[448] places] paces Malone conj.

[451] jealousy] jealousy of his S. Walker conj.

[458] and] Heav'n Hanmer. God Singer conj.

[458, 459] comfort ... theme] consort ... throne Jackson conj. See note (iv).

[459] queen,] queen's; Warburton.

theme] theame F1 F2. theam F3 F4. dream Collier (Collier MS.).

[465] hour. Come] hour. Pol. Come Long MS.

ACT II.

Scene I. A room in Leontes' palace

Enter Hermione, Mamillius, and Ladies.
Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,
'Tis past enduring.
First Lady. Come, my gracious lord,
Shall I be your play-fellow?
Mam. No, I 'll none of you.
First Lady. Why, my sweet lord?
5
Mam. You'll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if
I were a baby still. I love you better.
Sec. Lady. And why so, my lord?
Mam. Not for because
Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say,
Become some women best, so that there be not
10
Too much hair there, but in a semicircle,
Or a half-moon made with a pen.
Sec. Lady. Who taught you this?
Mam. I learn d it out of women's faces. Pray now
What colour are your eyebrows?
First Lady. Blue, my lord.
Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose
That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.
15
First Lady. Hark ye;
The queen your mother rounds apace: we shall
Present our services to a fine new prince
One of these days; and then you'ld wanton with us,
If we would have you.
Sec. Lady. She is spread of late
20
Into a goodly bulk: good time encounter her!
Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now
I am for you again: pray you, sit by us,
And tell's a tale.
Mam. Merry or sad shall't be?
Her. As merry as you will.
25
Mam. A sad tale's best for winter: I have one
Of sprites and goblins.
Her. Let's have that, good sir.
Come on, sit down: come on, and do your best
To fright me with your sprites; you're powerful at it.
Mam. There was a man—
Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on.
30
Mam. Dwelt by a churchyard: I will tell it softly;
Yond crickets shall not hear it.
Her. Come on, then,
And give't me in mine ear.
Enter Leontes, with Antigonus, Lords, and others.
Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?
First Lord. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never
35
Saw I men scour so on their way: I eyed them
Even to their ships.
Leon. How blest am I
In my just censure, in my true opinion!
Alack, for lesser knowledge! how accursed
In being so blest! There may be in the cup
40
A spider steep'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 drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
45
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander:
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:
50
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?
First Lord. By his great authority;
Which often hath no less prevail'd than so
On your command.
55
Leon. I know't too 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 come about her;
60
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'ld say he had not,
And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying,
Howe'er you lean to the nayward.
Leon. You, my lords,
65
Look on her, mark her well; be but about
To say 'she is a goodly lady,' and
The justice of your hearts will thereto add
''Tis pity she's not honest, honourable:'
Praise her but for this her without-door form,
70
Which on my faith deserves high speech, and straight
The shrug, the hum or ha, these petty brands
That calumny doth use; O, I am out,
That mercy does, for calumny will sear
Virtue itself: these shrugs, these hums and ha's,
75
When you have said 'she's goodly,' come between
Ere you can say 'she's honest:' but be't known,
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,
She's an adulteress.
Her. Should a villain say so,
The most replenish'd villain in the world,
80
He were as much more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.
Leon. You have mistook, my lady,
Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing!
Which I 'll not call a creature of thy place,
Lest barbarism, making me the precedent,
85
Should a like language use to all degrees
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar: I have said
She's an adulteress; I have said with whom:
More, she's a traitor and Camillo is
90
A federary with her; and one that knows,
What she should shame to know herself
But with her most vile principal, that she's
A bed-swerver, even as bad as those
That vulgars give bold'st titles; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.
95
Her. No, by my life,
Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you,
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.
100
Leon. No; if I mistake
In those foundations which I build upon,
The centre 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.
105
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
110
Perchance shall dry your pities: but I have
That honourable grief lodged 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!
115
Leon. Shall I be heard?
Her. Who is't that goes with me? Beseech your highness,
My women may be with me; for you see
My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;
There is no cause: when you shall know your mistress
120
Has deserved prison, then 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 you sorry; now
I trust I shall. My women, come; you have leave.
125
Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence!
[Exit Queen, guarded; with Ladies.
First Lord. Beseech your highness, call the queen again.
Ant. Be certain what you do, sir, lest your justice
Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer,
Yourself, your queen, your son.
First Lord. For her, my lord,
130
I dare my life lay down and will do't, sir,
Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless
I' the eyes of heaven and to you; I mean,
In this which you accuse her.
Ant. I fit prove
She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where
135
I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her;
Than when I feel and see her no farther trust her;
For every inch of woman in the world,
Ay, every dram of woman's flesh is false,
If she be.
Leon. Hold your peaces.
First Lord. Good my lord,—
140
Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves:
You are abused and by some putter-on
That will be damn'd for't; would I knew the villain,
I would land-damn him. Be she honour-flaw'd,
I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven;
145
The second and the third, nine, and some five;
If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour,
I'll geld 'em all; fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations: they are co-heirs;
And I had rather glib myself than they
Should not produce fair issue.
150
Leon. Cease; no more.
You smell this business with a sense as cold
As is a dead man's nose: but I do see't and feel't,
As you feel doing thus; and see withal
The instruments that feel.
Ant. I fit be so,
155
We need no grave to bury honesty:
There's not a grain of it the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.
Leon. What! lack I credit?
First Lord. I had rather you did lack than I, my lord,
Upon this ground; and more it would content me
160
To have her honour true than your suspicion,
Be blamed for't how you might.
Leon. Why, what need we
Commune with you of this, but rather follow
Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness
165
Imparts this; which if you, or stupified
Or seeming so in skill, cannot or will not
Relish a truth like us, inform yourselves
We need no more of your advice: the matter,
The loss, the gain, the ordering on't, is all
Properly ours.
170
Ant. And I wish, my liege,
You had only in your silent judgement tried it,
Without more overture.
Leon. How could that be?
Either thou art most ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
175
Added to their familiarity,
Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,
That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to the deed,—doth push on this proceeding:
180
Yet, for a greater confirmation,
For in an act of this importance 'twere
Most piteous to be wild, I have dispatch'd in post
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
185
Of stuff'd sufficiency: now from the oracle
They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?
First Lord. Well done, my lord.
Leon. Though I am satisfied and need no more
190
Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to the minds of others, such as he
Whose ignorant credulity will not
Come up to the truth. So have we thought it good
From our free person she should be confined,
195
Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in public; for this business
Will raise us all.
Ant. [Aside] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known. [Exeunt.