LINENOTES:

Scene I. A room....] The Palace. Theobald. The Scene continues. Pope.

Enter....] Enter Hermione, Mamillius, Ladies: Leontes, Antigonus, Lords. Ff. (Lord. F2 F3 F4).

[6,7] love ... lord?] As one line by S. Walker.

[7] my lord] pray, my lord Hanmer my good lord Steevens.

[10] semicircle] cemicircle F1

[11] Or] Like Hanmer. taught you this] Rowe. taught this F1. taught this F2 F3 F4.

[13] are] F1. be F2 F3 F4.

[18] you'ld] F3. you'ld F1 F2. you'l F4. you'll Rowe.

[23] shall't] shall it Steevens.

[25, 26] for winter ... goblins] As one line in Hanmer.

I have ... goblins] Arranged as by Dyce; as one line in Ff.

[26] good sir] sir Steevens.

[26, 28] sprites] Capell. sprights Ff.

[31] Yond] Ff. Yon' Capell.

[31, 32] Come ... ear] Arranged as in Capell; as one line in Ff.

[32] give't] give it Hanmer.

[32] Enter....] Capell. Enter L., A., and Lords. Rowe. om. F1. Enter L. F2 F3 F4.

[33] Scene II. Pope.

[34] First Lord] Capell (and throughout the Scene). Lord. Ff.

[36] Even] On even Hanmer.] blest] blessed then Steevens conj.

[40] drink, depart] drink; depart Ff. drink a part Collier MS. deep o't Staunton conj. drain if deep Jervis conj.

[50] has] hath Rowe.

[51] pinch'd] perch'd Jackson conj.

[54] often hath no less prevail'd than so] hath prevailed oftentimes no less Than so Hanmer.

[55] command] commandement S. Walker conj.

too well.] too well, too well. Anon. conj.

[56] I am] I'm Pope.

[61] [Some bear off Mamillius. Capell.

[62] But I'ld] F4. But Il'd F1 F2 F3. I'd but Hanmer.

[68] honest, honourable] honest: honourable Ff. honest-honourable S. Walker conj.

[73] does] do's Ff. doth Hanmer.

sear] fear Rowe (ed. 2).

[76] be't] Ff. be it Steevens. it be Id. (1793), corrected in MS.

[84] Lest] Least Ff.

[90] federary] feodary Collier (ed. 2. Malone conj.).

and one] one Hanmer. ay, and one S. Walker conj.

[91] shame]be asham'd Hanmer.

herself] herself with none Anon. conj.

[92] But ... principal] omitted by Capell.

vile] Pope. vild Ff.

[92, 93] she's A bed-swerver] she Is a bed-swerver S. Walker conj. ending lines 90-93 at one ... herself ... she.

[93] bed-swerver] bed-swarver Ff.

even] e'en S. Walker conj.

[94] That vulgars] That vulgar Rowe. The vulgar Hanmer.

bold'st] bold Steevens (1793).

[99] then to] than to Rowe (ed. 1).

[100] No] No, no Steevens (1793).

I mistake] I do mistake Hanmer.

[103] her, to] Ff. her to Pope.

[104] her is] her's S. Walker conj.

afar off] F4. a farre-off F1 F2. afar-off F3. far off Pope. far of Theobald.

[105] But] In Hanmer.

[107] an aspect more favourable] aspect of more favour Hanmer.

[115] [To the Guard. Capell.

[124] you have] you've Pope.

[125] Exit....] Theobald, om. Ff.

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

[134] my stables] my stable-stand Hanmer. my stable Rann. me stables Collier (Collier MS.), my stabler or my stablers Edd. conj.

[136] Than] Pope (ed. 2). Then Ff. See note (v).

farther] F1. further F2 F3 F4.

[141] abused and by] abus'd and by F1. abus'd by F2 F3 F4. abused by Rowe.

[143] I would ... him.] And I would—damn him;— Mitford conj.

[143] land-damn] Land-damne F1. land-damm Hanmer. laudanum Farmer conj. lamback Collier (ed. 2) (Collier MS.), half-damn Heath conj. live-damn S. Walker conj. landan or lantam or rantan Halliwell conj. See note (vi).

[145] nine, and some five] Theobald. nine: and some fiue F1. nine: and sonnes five F2 F3. nine: and sons five F4.

[147] 'em] F3 F4. em F1 F2. them Capell.

[149] glib] lib Grey conj. unsib Heath conj.

[152] but I do] I Pope.

[153] [Laying hold of his arm. Hanmer. Sinking his brows. Johnson. Striking his brows. Steevens.

[154] The ... so] The instruments of that you feel. Ant. If so Heath conj.

that] I Hanmer.

[160] her] your Rowe (ed. 2).

[162] of] F1. for F2 F3 F4.

but] not Hanmer.

[167] a truth] as truth Rowe (ed. 1).

[169, 170] on't, is all Properly] Theobald. on't, Is all properly Ff. on't, Is properly all Pope. on't are all Properly Hanmer.

[177] lack'd] lack'd, Staunton.

[182] I have] I haue F1. I've Hanmer.

[184] Cleomenes] Capell. Cleomines Ff (and throughout).

Dion] F1. Deon F2 F3 F4.

[187] me] me on Hanmer.

[193] have we] F1 F2. we have F3 F4.

[195] Lest] F4. Least F1 F2 F3.

[198] [Aside] Hanmer.

Scene II. A prison.

Enter Paulina, a Gentleman, and Attendants.
Paul. The keeper of the prison, call to him;
Let him have knowledge who I am. [Exit Gent.
Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee;
What dost thou then in prison?
Re-enter Gentleman, with the Gaoler.
Now, good sir,
You know me, do you not?
5
Gaol. For a worthy lady
And one who much I honour.
Paul. Pray you, then,
Conduct me to the queen.
Gaol. I may not, madam:
To the contrary I have express commandment.
Paul. Here's ado,
10
To lock up honesty and honour from
The access of gentle visitors! Is't lawful, pray you.
To see her women? any of them? Emilia?
Gaol. So please you, madam,
To put apart these your attendants, I
Shall bring Emilia forth.
15
Paul. I pray now, call her.
Withdraw yourselves. [Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants.
Gaol. And, madam,
I must be present at your conference.
Paul. Well, be't so, prithee. [Exit Gaoler.
Here's such ado to make no stain a stain
As passes colouring.
Re-enter Gaoler, with Emilia.
20
Dear gentlewoman,
How fares our gracious lady?
Emil. As well as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together: on her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath borne greater,
25
She is something before her time deliver'd.
Paul. A boy?
Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lusty and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in't; says 'My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.'
Paul. I dare be sworn:
30
These dangerous unsafe lunes i' the king, beshrew them!
He must be told on't, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best; I'll take't upon me:
If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blister,
And never to my red-look'd anger be
35
The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen:
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll show't the king and undertake to be
Her advocate to the loud'st. We do not know
40
How he may soften at the sight o' the child:
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades when speaking fails.
Emil. Most worthy madam,
Your honour and your goodness is so evident,
That your free undertaking cannot miss
45
A thriving issue: there is no lady living
So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I'll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who but to-day hammer'd of this design,
50
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.
Paul. Tell her, Emilia,
I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from't
As boldness from my bosom, let't not be doubted
I shall do good.
Emil. Now be you blest for it!
55
I'll to the queen: please you, come something nearer.
Gaol. Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
Having no warrant.
Paul. You need not fear it, sir:
This child was prisoner to the womb and is
60
By law and process of great nature thence
Freed and enfranchised; not a party to
The anger of the king nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.
Gaol. I do believe it.
65
Paul. Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I
Will stand betwixt you and danger. [Exeunt.

LINENOTES:

Scene ii.] Scene iii. Pope.

A prison.] Pope. Outer room of a prison. Capell.

Enter Paulina....] Hanmer. Enter Paulina, a Gentleman, Gaoler, Emilia. Ff.

[2] knowledge] the knowledge Rowe.

[2, 6] who] F1. whom F2 F3 F4.

[Exit Gent.] Rowe (after line 1). om. Ff.

[4] Re-enter....] Rowe (after do you not?), om. Ff.

[7-10] Arranged as in Hanmer. Here's ... from, as one line in Ff. Capell ends the lines queen ... contrary ... ado, ... from.

[11-13] Hanmer ends the lines lawful ... them? ... madam.

[13] So please] If it so please Hanmer.

[14] apart] a-part F1 F2 F3. a part F4.

[15] pray now] F1. pray you now F2 F3 F4.

[16] [Exeunt Gent, and Attendants.] Exeunt Gent. &c. Theobald. om. Ff.

[17] your] all your Hanmer, ending the lines be ... well, well ... prithee.

[18] Well, be't] Well; be it Rowe. Well, well; Be it Hanmer.

[Exit G.] Exit Kee. Capell. om. Ff.

[19] Here's] Here is Capell, reading lines 18-21 as three, ending ado ... colouring ... lady?

[20] Re-enter....] Re-enter Keeper with E. Capell. Enter Emilia. F2 F3 F4. om. F1.

[21] our] one F2.

[29] I am] I'm Pope.

[30] unsafe] unsane Collier (Collier MS.).

lunes] lures Becket conj.

i' the] i' th' Ff. o' the Steevens.

[31] On't] of it Pope.

he shall] shall Rowe.

[33] honey-mouth'd] honey-mouth Warburton.

[45] there is] there's Hanmer.

[49] hammer'd of] hammered of Ff. hammer'd on Hanmer.

[51] Lest] Rowe. Least Ff.

[53] let't] F3 F4. le't F1 F2. let it Steevens.

[59] This child] The child Rowe.

[64-66] As two lines in Capell, ending upon ... danger.

[66] betwixt] 'twixt Pope.

Scene III. A room in Leontes' palace.

Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and Servants.
Leon. Nor night nor day no rest: it is but weakness
To bear the matter thus; mere weakness. If
The cause were not in being,—part o' the cause,
She the adulteress; for the harlot king
5
Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank
And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she
I can hook to me: say that she were gone,
Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest
Might come to me again. Who's there?
First Serv. My lord?
Leon. How does the boy?
10
First Serv. He took good rest to-night;
'Tis hoped his sickness is discharged.
Leon. To see his nobleness!
Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
He straight declined, droop'd, took it deeply,
15
Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself,
Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And downright languish'd. Leave me solely: go,
See how he fares. [Exit Serv.] Fie, fie! no thought of him:
The very thought of my revenges that way
20
Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty,
And in his parties, his alliance; let him be
Until a time may serve: for present vengeance,
Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes
Laugh at me, make their pastime at my sorrow:
25
They should not laugh if I could reach them, nor
Shall she within my power.
Enter Paulina, with a child.
First Lord. You must not enter.
Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me:
Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas,
Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul,
More free than he is jealous.
30
Ant. That's enough.
Sec. Serv. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded
None should come at him.
Paul. Not so hot, good sir:
I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,
That creep like shadows by him and do sigh
35
At each his needless heavings, such as you
Nourish the cause of his awaking: I
Do come with words as medicinal as true,
Honest as either, to purge him of that humour
That presses him from sleep.
Leon. What noise there, ho?
40
Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference
About some gossips for your highness.
Leon. How!
Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus,
I charged thee that she should not come about me:
I knew she would.
Ant. I told her so, my lord,
45
On your displeasure's peril and on mine,
She should not visit you.
Leon. What, canst not rule her?
Paul. From all dishonesty he can: in this,
Unless he take the course that you have done,
Commit me for committing honour, trust it,
He shall not rule me.
50
Ant. La you now, you hear:
When she will take the rein I let her run;
But she'll not stumble.
Paul. Good my liege, I come;
And, I beseech you, hear me, who professes
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
55
Your most obedient counsellor, yet that dares
Less appear so in comforting your evils,
Than such as most seem yours: I say, I come
From your good queen.
Leon. Good queen!
Paul. Good queen, my lord,
Good queen; I say good queen;
60
And would by combat make her good, so were I
A man, the worst about you.
Leon. Force her hence.
Paul. Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes
First hand me: on mine own accord I'll off;
But first I'll do my errand. The good queen,
65
For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter;
Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing.
[Laying down the child.
Leon. Out!
A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' door:
A most intelligencing bawd!
Paul. Not so:
I am as ignorant in that as you
70
In so entitling me, and no less honest
Than you are mad; which is enough, I 'll warrant,
As this world goes, to pass for honest.
Leon. Traitors!
Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard.
Thou dotard! thou art woman-tired, unroosted
75
By thy dame Partlet here. Take up the bastard;
Take't up, I say; give't to thy crone.
Paul. For ever
Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou
Takest up the princess by that forced baseness
Which he has put upon't!
Leon. He dreads his wife.
80
Paul. So I would you did; then 'twere past all doubt
You'ld call your children yours.
Leon. A nest of traitors!
Ant. I am none, by this good light.
Paul. Nor I; nor any
But one that's here, and that's himself; for he
The sacred honour of himself, his queen's,
85
His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander,
Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will not,—
For, as the case now stands, it is a curse
He cannot be compell'd to't,—once remove
The root of his opinion, which is rotten
As ever oak or stone was sound.
90
Leon. A callat
Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her husband
And now baits me! This brat is none of mine;
It is the issue of Polixenes:
Hence with it, and together with the dam
Commit them to the fire!
95
Paul. It is yours;
And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge,
So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold, my lords,
Although the print be little, the whole matter
And copy of the father, eye, nose, lip;
100
The trick of's frown; his forehead; nay, the valley,
The pretty dimples of his chin and cheek; his smiles;
The very mould and frame of hand, nail, finger:
And thou, good goddess Nature, which hast made it
So like to him that got it, if thou hast
105
The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours
No yellow in't, lest she suspect, as he does,
Her children not her husband's!
Leon. A gross hag!
And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd,
That wilt not stay her tongue.
Ant. Hang all the husbands
110
That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself
Hardly one subject.
Leon. Once more, take her hence.
Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord
Can do no more.
Leon. I'll ha' thee burnt.
Paul. I care not:
It is an heretic that makes the fire,
115
Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant;
But this most cruel usage of your queen—
Not able to produce more accusation
Than your own weak-hinged fancy—something savours
Of tyranny and will ignoble make you,
Yea, scandalous to the world.
120
Leon. On your allegiance,
Out of the chamber with her! Were I a tyrant,
Where were her life? she durst not call me so,
If she did know me one. Away with her!
Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone.
125
Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: Jove send her
A better guiding spirit! What needs these hands?
You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,
Will never do him good, not one of you.
So, so: farewell; we are gone. [Exit.
130
Leon. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.
My child? away with't! Even thou, that hast
A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence
And see it instantly consumed with fire;
Even thou and none but thou. Take it up straight:
135
Within this hour bring me word 'tis done,
And by good testimony, or I'll seize thy life,
With what thou else call'st thine. If thou refuse
And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so;
The bastard brains with these my proper hands
140
Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire;
For thou set'st on thy wife.
Ant. I did not, sir:
These lords, my noble fellows, if they please,
Can clear me in't.
Lords. We can: my royal liege,
He is not guilty of her coming hither.
145
Leon. You're liars all.
First Lord. Beseech your highness, give us better credit:
We have always truly served you; and beseech you
So to esteem of us: and on our knees we beg,
As recompense of our dear services
150
Past and to come, that you do change this purpose,
Which being so horrible, so bloody, must
Lead on to some foul issue: we all kneel.
Leon. I am a feather for each wind that blows:
Shall I live on to see this bastard kneel
155
And call me father? better burn it now
Than curse it then. But be it; let it live.
It shall not neither. You, sir, come you hither;
You that have been so tenderly officious
With Lady Margery, your midwife there,
160
To save this bastard's life,—for 'tis a bastard,
So sure as this beard's grey,—what will you adventure
To save this brat's life?
Ant. Any thing, my lord,
That my ability may undergo,
And nobleness impose: at least thus much:
165
I'll pawn the little blood which I have left
To save the innocent: any thing possible.
Leon. It shall be possible. Swear by this sword
Thou wilt perform my bidding.
Ant. I will, my lord.
Leon. Mark and perform it: seest thou? for the fail
170
Of any point in't shall not only be
Death to thyself but to thy lewd-tongued wife,
Whom for this time we pardon. We enjoin thee,
As thou art liege-man to us, that thou carry
This female bastard hence and that thou bear it
175
To some remote and desert place quite out
Of our dominions, and that there thou leave it,
Without more mercy, to its own protection
And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune
It came to us, I do in justice charge thee,
180
On thy soul's peril and thy body's torture,
That thou commend it strangely to some place
Where chance may nurse or end it. Take it up.
Ant. I swear to do this, though a present death
Had been more merciful. Come on, poor babe:
185
Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens
To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say,
Casting their savageness aside have done
Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous
In more than this deed does require! And blessing
190
Against this cruelty fight on thy side,
Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! [Exit with the child.
Leon. No, I'll not rear
Another's issue.
Enter a Servant.
Serv. Please your highness, posts
From those you sent to the oracle are come
An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion,
195
Being well arrived from Delphos, are both landed,
Hasting to the court.
First Lord. So please you, sir, their speed
Hath been beyond account.
Leon. Twenty three days
They have been absent: 'tis good speed; foretells
The great Apollo suddenly will have
200
The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords;
Summon a session, that we may arraign
Our most disloyal lady; for, as she hath
Been publicly accused, so shall she have
A just and open trial. While she lives
205
My heart will be a burthen to me. Leave me,
And think upon my bidding. [Exeunt.