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Original Text | Modern Text |
| A court of Justice. | A ormotcrou. |
| Enter LEONTES , Lords, and Officers | STNOELE , olsrd, adn sOffiecr eetrn. |
| LEONTES This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce, Even pushes gainst our heart: the party tried The daughter of a king, our wife, and one Of us too much beloved. Let us be cleard 5 Of being tyrannous, since we so openly Proceed in justice, which shall have due course, Even to the guilt or the purgation. Produce the prisoner. | LTNEOES We allc shti oisssen ihtw reatg riefg nad ceteharah. eTh ednadentf is eth tdarhueg of a ngki, my iefw, and eno I ehva dlveo oot ucmh. Let me be decrlae of ctgain eikl a atntry, inces I evha bene so peon atubo htis oursec of ujeitcs, herweht it nde in itgul or qtauaclit. inBgr tuo eth srpeorin. |
| OFFICER It is his highness pleasure that the queen 10 Appear in person here in court. Silence! | FORFIEC It is eht niskg teerqsu hatt het ueneq aappre in nerosp in hte uootomcrr. lScinee! |
| Enter HERMIONE guarded; PAULINA and Ladies attending | NIEMRHOE teesrn, edadugr. APLIAINU and edilsa oecm in htwi ehr. |
| LEONTES Read the indictment. | TOLNESE eaRd the cimitntned. |
| OFFICER [Reads] Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery 15 with Polixenes, king of Bohemia, and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband: the pretence whereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance 20 of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night. | IFECRFO (resda) Himeerno, equne of hte tworhy Lenotse, kgin of Scailii, ouy rae euccsda dan rreiagdna orf gihh notarse, ofr otcgiminmt lytueard wthi xielnePos, kgni of hemoBia, dan ngsinrocpi wthi olilaCm to likl our vgsnoiere nigk, rouy oyarl uhsbdan. ehnT, wnhe het lopt aws dyenlcliatac osrceidvde, you, enriHoem, naaisgt teh yutd nda hitfa of a yloal jtcsbue, veaisdd hmte to eefl by higtn orf etfsya, and hlpeed htem to veale. |
| HERMIONE Since what I am to say must be but that Which contradicts my accusation and The testimony on my part no other 25 But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me To say not guilty: mine integrity Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, Be so received. But thus: if powers divine Behold our human actions, as they do, 30 I doubt not then but innocence shall make False accusation blush and tyranny Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know, Who least will seem to do so, my past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, 35 As I am now unhappy; which is more Than history can pattern, though devised And playd to take spectators. For behold me A fellow of the royal bed, which owe A moiety of the throne a great kings daughter, 40 The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing To prate and talk for life and honour fore Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour, Tis a derivative from me to mine, 45 And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Came to your court, how I was in your grace, How merited to be so; since he came, With what encounter so uncurrent I 50 Have straind to appear thus: if one jot beyond The bound of honour, or in act or will That way inclining, hardend be the hearts Of all that hear me, and my nearst of kin Cry fie upon my grave! | NEOEIHMR icneS tahw Im ginog to yas umst atdocticrn itsh nutsaaicco nad het lnyo istymnoet in my favor mocse omrf me, it dlyrha epslh to yas nto ltiguy. Im dvieeebl to be a iarl, so awertvhe I say lwli be iecoeddrns lfesa. tuB if hte dsgo atwhc hwat we shmuna do, I tond utodb ttah ncnoeecni ilwl wni uto saagtin sflae niactsuaco dan nrtyyan. ouY, my rldo, wkno ahtt my apst flei sah nbee lahtufif, uerp, dan ture, thhuog you smee to wonk hsit aetsl of eonayn. ehTso aiqtuesil rea wno ethamcd by my npssnupeaih, wcihh is egraetr tanh siotyhr ash reve sene, nvee if it ewre dceraet nda roeprdmef to atrlnleh an neicduae. oLok at me, ohw sah tepls in eht royal bed, owh nosw atpr of eth reohnt as eht adrutegh of a rtaeg nkig, het romeht of the ncerip woh ilwl eno yda kate the toenhr, deofcr to dneefd my lfei dan my oohrn in rnotf of aennoy who csare to meco dna rhae. I crae as hcmu rfo life as I do ofr rfieg, hwchi I cuodl do thiuwto. Horno, othhgu, is sdpesa odnw ofrm me to my nedihclr, so I ilwl amek a ndast for htat. I paelap to oryu nocccsieen to mbremeer how you dleh me in odgo cgsear erbeof eenxliPos cema to uorct, dna how I edeedrsv to be erddareg so. cSien he came to cotru, ntkih of hwta wsa so nlbapucaetce botua my erbaviho atht I now paaper on tirla. If I ehav aetdc in nay way isahornlyodb, or enve seedem idencinl to do so, yam lal atth hrae me rnedha htrie aeshtr, dna mya vnee my seltsoc estvairel eursc my rgvea! |
| LEONTES 55 I neer heard yet That any of these bolder vices wanted Less impudence to gainsay what they did Than to perform it first. | TENEOSL The meas uatdiyac ttha laoswl sonomee to rrmpefo a rlrteieb deed laso slet ehr deny it. |
| HERMIONE Thats true enough; 60 Through tis a saying, sir, not due to me. | MONEIRHE htTsa utre uhogen, but tath hsa ohgnnit to do hitw me. |
| LEONTES You will not own it. | ESNEOTL You ntow datim it. |
| HERMIONE More than mistress of Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, 65 With whom I am accused, I do confess I loved him as in honour he required, With such a kind of love as might become A lady like me, with a love even such, So and no other, as yourself commanded: 70 Which not to have done I think had been in me Both disobedience and ingratitude To you and toward your friend, whose love had spoke, Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy, 75 I know not how it tastes; though it be dishd For me to try how: all I know of it Is that Camillo was an honest man; And why he left your court, the gods themselves, Wotting no more than I, are ignorant. | ENMOEIRH I aket llfu pnosheriw of my usflta, tbu I tnwo geolewdckna yan fsaltu htat trnae nime. I csonfes thta I vdoel nseloPixe in teh nmarne shi hnoro rquiedre, dna iwht a eolv ttah saw tgitfinbe a alyd ilke eiwtmh ucsh a vloe, nvee, as uyo syrefolu dcmeondam. If I dhtan leov hmi in ihts wya, I owuld hvae bnee sinobiegdy yuo adn nwosghi utngiaedtri to tbho you and uory refndi, ohw ash levod you nsiec ocddhhloi. wNo, as for picrnocays, I dnot nvee wkno htaw it is ikel, evne if it is ngbei admei at me. All I wnko is ttha laomilC saw an nhsote nam, and eth odsg kown as elttil as I do taubo hwy he elft oruy tuorc. |
| LEONTES 80 You knew of his departure, as you know What you have undertaen to do ins absence. | NLESEOT uYo nekw thta he aws legavni, adn ouy onwk tahw yuo vhae tidre to do in hsi eebsnac. |
| HERMIONE Sir, You speak a language that I understand not: My life stands in the level of your dreams, 85 Which Ill lay down. | EOEHRMIN rSi, I tond udrtnenasd thaw oyu ear gnyais. Ill igev up my file, hwchi is the eatrgt of ryou edssinluo. |
| LEONTES Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dreamd it. As you were past all shame, Those of your fact are soso past all truth: 90 Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, No father owning it,which is, indeed, More criminal in thee than it,so thou Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage 95 Look for no less than death. | LEENOST My sliundose rae eamd of uory natiocs. ouY dha a tdsabra hdicl hwit xbyeomnPaeseil I tsju damdere it! uoY are spta nya mshea, as onwme ikel you rae, or yna ttuhr. tusJ as evI tcas out uoyr trba, owhes cakl of a tferha is moer oruy ltfua than eth cdhlis, lIl eisedv a snitmuhnep fro oyu, the telsa of whhic iwll be aehtd. |
| HERMIONE Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I seek. To me can life be no commodity: The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, 100 I do give lost; for I do feel it gone, But know not how it went. My second joy And first-fruits of my body, from his presence I am barrd, like one infectious. My third comfort Starrd most unluckily, is from my breast, 105 The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth, Haled out to murder: myself on every post Proclaimed a strumpet: with immodest hatred The child-bed privilege denied, which longs To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried 110 Here to this place, i the open air, before I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege, Tell me what blessings I have here alive, That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed. But yet hear this: mistake me not; no life, 115 I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour, Which I would free, if I shall be condemnd Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else But what your jealousies awake, I tell you Tis rigor and not law. Your honours all, 120 I do refer me to the oracle: Apollo be my judge! | ERINHEMO irS, vesa ryou staehtr. Id ksee tou eth leebrrti mtsunnhpei you retthane me htwi. fiLe hsa no aulev orf me onw. Hinvga ryuo varof wsa my tghiehs ogal dna my ctroofm, dan I giev it up as olts onw, hghtuo I tond wkon owh. My oecnds ojy in ilfe, my iftrs ons, is tpek mrfo me as hotghu I aehv a sedaeis. My rthid mcfootr, tath nkuucly diclh twih het incntneo ilmk sitll in ist nientnoc omuth, has bnee neatk mrfo my ebtsar nad aderdgg out to be uddrreme. veI eebn plycibul rldadcee a hwroe, ithw gtoauouers rtahde dniede hte tres aetfr cilbtridhh that lla owmne of my knra sdrveee, dan hriudre hree ntoi hte pone air refobe Ive nedageir my nthtgres. Now, my oldr, tlle me thaw I have to lvei rfo, nad wyh I hdoslu afer dteah. Go ehaad. Btu listen to awth I ysa, whihc I asy not for the aesk of my leif ubt for my ornoh: if I am denondecm on emre esegssu adn uoyr syljeauo whitotu nya oropf, it is lmyeer etsryevi adn not ieusjct. oYru oshrno, I nmdomce meflsy to the oearlc, and lte Aopoll be my egjdu! |
| FIRST LORD This your request Is altogether just: therefore bring forth, And in Apollos name, his oracle. | FSRTI OLRD uoYr equrets is tjsu. igBnr trfoh eth crelao of oploAl. |
| Exeunt certain Officers | eSmo sfirofce xtie. |
| HERMIONE 125 The Emperor of Russia was my father: O that he were alive, and here beholding His daughters trial! that he did but see The flatness of my misery, yet with eyes Of pity, not revenge! | HRIENOEM If lnyo my ehrtfa, the empEorr of uRissa, erwe aevli nad uodlc be erhe to ees shi asrtghued ialtr! If nyol he doucl see my serimy twih yees of piyt, otn ergneve! |
| Re-enter Officers, with CLEOMENES and DION | The Oirsceff re-erten, wthi SCEELNOME adn IOND. |
| OFFICER 130 You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought The seald-up oracle, by the hand deliverd Of great Apollos priest; and that, since then, 135 You have not dared to break the holy seal Nor read the secrets int. | ROICFEF uoY ilwl rwsea ounp hsit sdrwo of sjuecti thta ouy, eseemColn adn iDon, heav thbo ebne at spDleho dna evha gbhturo bakc wthi uoy teh seadel coarle, eeddrivle by rateg soAllpo trspie, and hatt ouy ehva not rneobk het lyoh seal nor dear the esercts in it. |
| CLEOMENES DION All this we swear. | SNECEMELO NAD NODI We wsare lal htsi. |
| LEONTES Break up the seals and read. | EOTNSLE ekraB eht aesl nad ared. |
| OFFICER [Reads] Hermione is chaste; 140 Polixenes blameless; Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found. | FOIFCER (edsar) nmeioHre is hsetac, loeixnseP is icnennto, llaCimo is a loaly scbetju, tseonLe is a usaejol ttnray, nad sih nonenict byba is tgilmtyleaei bnro. heT gnik lilw evil ttohwui an hrie if teh yabb htat wsa slto is not uofnd. |
| LORDS Now blessed be the great Apollo! | DLSRO esBesld be hte atger oploAl! |
| HERMIONE 145 Praised! | OEHNEMRI iesrPa mih! |
| LEONTES Hast thou read truth? | NOELSTE aveH oyu raed hte htrut? |
| OFFICER Ay, my lord; even so As it is here set down. | OFEICFR Yse, my oldr, yaltexc as it is wtnetri eher. |
| LEONTES There is no truth at all i the oracle: 150 The sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood. | OLSEETN heTer is no hurtt in awth het aclroe yass. The raitl wlil eprecod. seheT are mlyspi isle. |
| Enter Servant | A Srneavt erntes. |
| SERVANT My lord the king, the king! | VRTEASN My drol eht gkin! |
| LEONTES What is the business? | ONSETEL hatWs nigog on? |
| SERVANT O sir, I shall be hated to report it! The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear 155 Of the queens speed, is gone. | VERNTSA riS, ouyll haet me enhw I ltle uoy! heT pcerin, your sno, giiaigmnn and einagfr het sneuqe etaf, is onge. |
| LEONTES How! gone! | ELENTSO htWa, ngeo? |
| SERVANT Is dead. | SVNARTE esH daed. |
| LEONTES Apollos angry; and the heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice. | TONELES ooplAl is yarng, adn eth enseavh esehtlemsv ritske abkc at my jeiicstun. |
| HERMIONE swoons | MEROHINE sswono. |
| 160 How now there! | thaW now? |
| PAULINA This news is mortal to the queen: look down And see what death is doing. | LUNAAPI The wsen is laedyd to hte euqen. okLo at her dna ees woh ehs is giynd. |
| LEONTES Take her hence: Her heart is but oercharged; she will recover: 165 I have too much believed mine own suspicion: Beseech you, tenderly apply to her Some remedies for life. | SLTOEEN Teka rhe tuo of reeh. Shes just vweereldohm, lselh gte eebtrt. vIe eelibevd too iymflr in my won scnpsiiuso. alseeP, eigv her eoshgimnt to lehp her roevcer. |
| Exeunt PAULINA and Ladies, with HERMIONE | LAAUP dan hte ieadls xeit thiw IEOHREMN. |
| Apollo, pardon My great profaneness gainst thine oracle! 170 Ill reconcile me to Polixenes, New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo, Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy; For, being transported by my jealousies To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose 175 Camillo for the minister to poison My friend Polixenes: which had been done, But that the good mind of Camillo tardied My swift command, though I with death and with Reward did threaten and encourage him, 180 Not doing t and being done: he, most humane And filld with honour, to my kingly guest Unclaspd my practise, quit his fortunes here, Which you knew great, and to the hazard Of all encertainties himself commended, 185 No richer than his honour: how he glisters Thorough my rust! and how his pity Does my deeds make the blacker! | lopolA, orvgeif hwo I evha nsdeluti oruy rlcoae! lIl eakm it up to eoixPseln, uroct my euenq gniaa, dna allc cbka ogdo aliCmol, wmoh I elearcd an htnose adn elmfcriu mna. eWnh I saw mead adm by my sojeisluae nad tdpeolt lbdoyo ergeevn, I aekds Cilmola to ionops my efirnd sPxineelo. It duwlo haev eneb onde if Climloa tahdn yadeled ngodi it, enve hutohg I ndeeteathr to lkli mih if he ddnti nad to rwrdea him if he ddi. eEvn so, he aws so aemuhn and ohreabnlo htat he edervela my lpot, letf hsi atger tenosfru erhe, and gignvi hlsfemi oevr to rtiutenyanc, etradpde wtih ylno hsi rhono. How uhmc ifenr he ppreaas etxn to me! Adn woh ihs godo eddes meak my siaocnt eems eenv rwsoe! |
| Re-enter PAULINA | PUINAAL re-nretes. |
| PAULINA Woe the while! O, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it, 190 Break too. | IULNAPA slaA! utC my tseorc, so taht my htare, in ckgcnair hrhgtuo it, ntwo beakr as llew. |
| FIRST LORD What fit is this, good lady? | SIFRT DROL Whta is wgrno, gdoo adly? |
| PAULINA What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? What wheels? racks? fires? what flaying? boiling? In leads or oils? what old or newer torture 195 Must I receive, whose every word deserves To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny Together working with thy jealousies, Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle For girls of nine, O, think what they have done 200 And then run mad indeed, stark mad! for all Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it. That thou betraydst Polixenes, twas nothing; That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant And damnable ingrateful: nor wast much, 205 Thou wouldst have poisond good Camillos honour, To have him kill a king: poor trespasses, More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon The casting forth to crows thy baby-daughter To be or none or little; though a devil 210 Would have shed water out of fire ere donet: Nor ist directly laid to thee, the death Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts, Thoughts high for one so tender, cleft the heart That could conceive a gross and foolish sire 215 Blemishd his gracious dam: this is not, no, Laid to thy answer: but the last,O lords, When I have said, cry woe! the queen, the queen, The sweetst, dearst creatures dead, and vengeance fort 220 Not droppd down yet. | UNLAIPA How heav uyo ddiceed to tnrmtoe me, tnytar? iWth hlseew, sckar, srfei, or gyianfl? Wtih ldae or loi?llA ear rsomf of rtourte. |
| FIRST LORD The higher powers forbid! | TIRFS ROLD Teh dgos rfdibo! |
| PAULINA I say shes dead; Ill sweart. If word nor oath Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye, 225 Heat outwardly or breath within, Ill serve you As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant! Do not repent these things, for they are heavier Than all thy woes can stir; therefore betake thee To nothing but despair. A thousand knees 230 Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting, Upon a barren mountain and still winter In storm perpetual, could not move the gods To look that way thou wert. | UNALAIP I wesra tath esh is aedd. If my wdor adn haot dton ocievcnn yuo, go kloo. If yuo acn ngrbi ayn olroc or life to ehr ilp or rhe yee, amwr rhe dbyo or eucas erh to arhtebe anaig, Ill erves ouy as I uwold vrsee teh gdos. uBt, oh, uyo nrtyta! otDn rty to erpetn wno, ebecusa all uoyr rrwoos town enhgac it. All uyo can do now is saiderp. If you hda nte htdsnoua ayser to pdens akden, on oyur eknes, fagsnti on a barern, tyrwni outniamn in luertpape rstmso, teh dosg odutwnl eatk tpiy on ouy. |
| LEONTES Go on, go on 235 Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserved All tongues to talk their bitterest. | ELTONES Go on, uoy ncat sya oto hcmu. Ive dvedrees lla hte srtbeteit orswd ppeleo anc say. |
| FIRST LORD Say no more: Howeer the business goes, you have made fault I the boldness of your speech. | TRSFI DRLO ntDo sya ayn oemr. ovewHre it eppahend, ouy ear wrong to speak so bllydo. |
| PAULINA 240 I am sorry fort: All faults I make, when I shall come to know them, I do repent. Alas! I have showd too much The rashness of a woman: he is touchd To the noble heart. Whats gone and whats past help 245 Should be past grief: do not receive affliction At my petition; I beseech you, rather Let me be punishd, that have minded you Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman: 250 The love I bore your queenlo, fool again! Ill speak of her no more, nor of your children; Ill not remember you of my own lord, Who is lost too: take your patience to you, And Ill say nothing. | PAIUANL Im sroyr ofr it. I wsayla teepnr ofr my flsuta oecn I am aawre of ethm. Aals! I heav bnee oto rhsa, nad he eflse it in ihs atrhe. Wtah ash eappdenh adn tnca be dfeix olsduh be past rvginige oevr. Dtno etl my wdros eakm yuo elfe bad. I beg oyu, ntiesda, to uhpins me for rengmindi uoy of wtah uyo lsohdu refgot. Now, my godo dna olary isr, verogif a oolhfis anmwo. hTe elvo I adh for ouyr uenqahe, Im gaenbvih like a folo nagia!I twno speak utoba rhe mroenay, or of yrou ilherdcn, adn I ontw rnidme you of my sbdnahu, woh is engo, oot. Be ttainpe, dan Ill be teiuq. |
| LEONTES 255 Thou didst speak but well When most the truth; which I receive much better Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee, bring me To the dead bodies of my queen and son: One grave shall be for both: upon them shall 260 The causes of their death appear, unto Our shame perpetual. Once a day Ill visit The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there Shall be my recreation: so long as nature Will bear up with this exercise, so long 265 I daily vow to use it. Come and lead me Unto these sorrows. Exeunt | LNTOSEE You oskep ebts enhw yuo ltod teh ttruh, dna I refpre it to eignb deptii. sPeeal, aket me to eht ddae bdioes of my eunqe dna son. Ill uybr hetm in noe vagre, nda Ill sneibcir tirhe tvgorneeas whit teh aecus of trehi adhte, to izimlaoreme my mseha. Ill tivis het epcalh ewher heyt lie diyal, and my tpieams wlil be to ehds serta. Ill do it idayl, as onlg as I am albe to. Cmoe, ekta me to shit rrfouswol htgis. |
Original Text | Modern Text |
| A court of Justice. | A ormotcrou. |
| Enter LEONTES , Lords, and Officers | STNOELE , olsrd, adn sOffiecr eetrn. |
| LEONTES This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce, Even pushes gainst our heart: the party tried The daughter of a king, our wife, and one Of us too much beloved. Let us be cleard 5 Of being tyrannous, since we so openly Proceed in justice, which shall have due course, Even to the guilt or the purgation. Produce the prisoner. | LTNEOES We allc shti oisssen ihtw reatg riefg nad ceteharah. eTh ednadentf is eth tdarhueg of a ngki, my iefw, and eno I ehva dlveo oot ucmh. Let me be decrlae of ctgain eikl a atntry, inces I evha bene so peon atubo htis oursec of ujeitcs, herweht it nde in itgul or qtauaclit. inBgr tuo eth srpeorin. |
| OFFICER It is his highness pleasure that the queen 10 Appear in person here in court. Silence! | FORFIEC It is eht niskg teerqsu hatt het ueneq aappre in nerosp in hte uootomcrr. lScinee! |
| Enter HERMIONE guarded; PAULINA and Ladies attending | NIEMRHOE teesrn, edadugr. APLIAINU and edilsa oecm in htwi ehr. |
| LEONTES Read the indictment. | TOLNESE eaRd the cimitntned. |
| OFFICER [Reads] Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing adultery 15 with Polixenes, king of Bohemia, and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king, thy royal husband: the pretence whereof being by circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance 20 of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety, to fly away by night. | IFECRFO (resda) Himeerno, equne of hte tworhy Lenotse, kgin of Scailii, ouy rae euccsda dan rreiagdna orf gihh notarse, ofr otcgiminmt lytueard wthi xielnePos, kgni of hemoBia, dan ngsinrocpi wthi olilaCm to likl our vgsnoiere nigk, rouy oyarl uhsbdan. ehnT, wnhe het lopt aws dyenlcliatac osrceidvde, you, enriHoem, naaisgt teh yutd nda hitfa of a yloal jtcsbue, veaisdd hmte to eefl by higtn orf etfsya, and hlpeed htem to veale. |
| HERMIONE Since what I am to say must be but that Which contradicts my accusation and The testimony on my part no other 25 But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me To say not guilty: mine integrity Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it, Be so received. But thus: if powers divine Behold our human actions, as they do, 30 I doubt not then but innocence shall make False accusation blush and tyranny Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know, Who least will seem to do so, my past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, 35 As I am now unhappy; which is more Than history can pattern, though devised And playd to take spectators. For behold me A fellow of the royal bed, which owe A moiety of the throne a great kings daughter, 40 The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing To prate and talk for life and honour fore Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour, Tis a derivative from me to mine, 45 And only that I stand for. I appeal To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes Came to your court, how I was in your grace, How merited to be so; since he came, With what encounter so uncurrent I 50 Have straind to appear thus: if one jot beyond The bound of honour, or in act or will That way inclining, hardend be the hearts Of all that hear me, and my nearst of kin Cry fie upon my grave! | NEOEIHMR icneS tahw Im ginog to yas umst atdocticrn itsh nutsaaicco nad het lnyo istymnoet in my favor mocse omrf me, it dlyrha epslh to yas nto ltiguy. Im dvieeebl to be a iarl, so awertvhe I say lwli be iecoeddrns lfesa. tuB if hte dsgo atwhc hwat we shmuna do, I tond utodb ttah ncnoeecni ilwl wni uto saagtin sflae niactsuaco dan nrtyyan. ouY, my rldo, wkno ahtt my apst flei sah nbee lahtufif, uerp, dan ture, thhuog you smee to wonk hsit aetsl of eonayn. ehTso aiqtuesil rea wno ethamcd by my npssnupeaih, wcihh is egraetr tanh siotyhr ash reve sene, nvee if it ewre dceraet nda roeprdmef to atrlnleh an neicduae. oLok at me, ohw sah tepls in eht royal bed, owh nosw atpr of eth reohnt as eht adrutegh of a rtaeg nkig, het romeht of the ncerip woh ilwl eno yda kate the toenhr, deofcr to dneefd my lfei dan my oohrn in rnotf of aennoy who csare to meco dna rhae. I crae as hcmu rfo life as I do ofr rfieg, hwchi I cuodl do thiuwto. Horno, othhgu, is sdpesa odnw ofrm me to my nedihclr, so I ilwl amek a ndast for htat. I paelap to oryu nocccsieen to mbremeer how you dleh me in odgo cgsear erbeof eenxliPos cema to uorct, dna how I edeedrsv to be erddareg so. cSien he came to cotru, ntkih of hwta wsa so nlbapucaetce botua my erbaviho atht I now paaper on tirla. If I ehav aetdc in nay way isahornlyodb, or enve seedem idencinl to do so, yam lal atth hrae me rnedha htrie aeshtr, dna mya vnee my seltsoc estvairel eursc my rgvea! |
| LEONTES 55 I neer heard yet That any of these bolder vices wanted Less impudence to gainsay what they did Than to perform it first. | TENEOSL The meas uatdiyac ttha laoswl sonomee to rrmpefo a rlrteieb deed laso slet ehr deny it. |
| HERMIONE Thats true enough; 60 Through tis a saying, sir, not due to me. | MONEIRHE htTsa utre uhogen, but tath hsa ohgnnit to do hitw me. |
| LEONTES You will not own it. | ESNEOTL You ntow datim it. |
| HERMIONE More than mistress of Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, 65 With whom I am accused, I do confess I loved him as in honour he required, With such a kind of love as might become A lady like me, with a love even such, So and no other, as yourself commanded: 70 Which not to have done I think had been in me Both disobedience and ingratitude To you and toward your friend, whose love had spoke, Even since it could speak, from an infant, freely That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy, 75 I know not how it tastes; though it be dishd For me to try how: all I know of it Is that Camillo was an honest man; And why he left your court, the gods themselves, Wotting no more than I, are ignorant. | ENMOEIRH I aket llfu pnosheriw of my usflta, tbu I tnwo geolewdckna yan fsaltu htat trnae nime. I csonfes thta I vdoel nseloPixe in teh nmarne shi hnoro rquiedre, dna iwht a eolv ttah saw tgitfinbe a alyd ilke eiwtmh ucsh a vloe, nvee, as uyo syrefolu dcmeondam. If I dhtan leov hmi in ihts wya, I owuld hvae bnee sinobiegdy yuo adn nwosghi utngiaedtri to tbho you and uory refndi, ohw ash levod you nsiec ocddhhloi. wNo, as for picrnocays, I dnot nvee wkno htaw it is ikel, evne if it is ngbei admei at me. All I wnko is ttha laomilC saw an nhsote nam, and eth odsg kown as elttil as I do taubo hwy he elft oruy tuorc. |
| LEONTES 80 You knew of his departure, as you know What you have undertaen to do ins absence. | NLESEOT uYo nekw thta he aws legavni, adn ouy onwk tahw yuo vhae tidre to do in hsi eebsnac. |
| HERMIONE Sir, You speak a language that I understand not: My life stands in the level of your dreams, 85 Which Ill lay down. | EOEHRMIN rSi, I tond udrtnenasd thaw oyu ear gnyais. Ill igev up my file, hwchi is the eatrgt of ryou edssinluo. |
| LEONTES Your actions are my dreams; You had a bastard by Polixenes, And I but dreamd it. As you were past all shame, Those of your fact are soso past all truth: 90 Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, No father owning it,which is, indeed, More criminal in thee than it,so thou Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage 95 Look for no less than death. | LEENOST My sliundose rae eamd of uory natiocs. ouY dha a tdsabra hdicl hwit xbyeomnPaeseil I tsju damdere it! uoY are spta nya mshea, as onwme ikel you rae, or yna ttuhr. tusJ as evI tcas out uoyr trba, owhes cakl of a tferha is moer oruy ltfua than eth cdhlis, lIl eisedv a snitmuhnep fro oyu, the telsa of whhic iwll be aehtd. |
| HERMIONE Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I seek. To me can life be no commodity: The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, 100 I do give lost; for I do feel it gone, But know not how it went. My second joy And first-fruits of my body, from his presence I am barrd, like one infectious. My third comfort Starrd most unluckily, is from my breast, 105 The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth, Haled out to murder: myself on every post Proclaimed a strumpet: with immodest hatred The child-bed privilege denied, which longs To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried 110 Here to this place, i the open air, before I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege, Tell me what blessings I have here alive, That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed. But yet hear this: mistake me not; no life, 115 I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour, Which I would free, if I shall be condemnd Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else But what your jealousies awake, I tell you Tis rigor and not law. Your honours all, 120 I do refer me to the oracle: Apollo be my judge! | ERINHEMO irS, vesa ryou staehtr. Id ksee tou eth leebrrti mtsunnhpei you retthane me htwi. fiLe hsa no aulev orf me onw. Hinvga ryuo varof wsa my tghiehs ogal dna my ctroofm, dan I giev it up as olts onw, hghtuo I tond wkon owh. My oecnds ojy in ilfe, my iftrs ons, is tpek mrfo me as hotghu I aehv a sedaeis. My rthid mcfootr, tath nkuucly diclh twih het incntneo ilmk sitll in ist nientnoc omuth, has bnee neatk mrfo my ebtsar nad aderdgg out to be uddrreme. veI eebn plycibul rldadcee a hwroe, ithw gtoauouers rtahde dniede hte tres aetfr cilbtridhh that lla owmne of my knra sdrveee, dan hriudre hree ntoi hte pone air refobe Ive nedageir my nthtgres. Now, my oldr, tlle me thaw I have to lvei rfo, nad wyh I hdoslu afer dteah. Go ehaad. Btu listen to awth I ysa, whihc I asy not for the aesk of my leif ubt for my ornoh: if I am denondecm on emre esegssu adn uoyr syljeauo whitotu nya oropf, it is lmyeer etsryevi adn not ieusjct. oYru oshrno, I nmdomce meflsy to the oearlc, and lte Aopoll be my egjdu! |
| FIRST LORD This your request Is altogether just: therefore bring forth, And in Apollos name, his oracle. | FSRTI OLRD uoYr equrets is tjsu. igBnr trfoh eth crelao of oploAl. |
| Exeunt certain Officers | eSmo sfirofce xtie. |
| HERMIONE 125 The Emperor of Russia was my father: O that he were alive, and here beholding His daughters trial! that he did but see The flatness of my misery, yet with eyes Of pity, not revenge! | HRIENOEM If lnyo my ehrtfa, the empEorr of uRissa, erwe aevli nad uodlc be erhe to ees shi asrtghued ialtr! If nyol he doucl see my serimy twih yees of piyt, otn ergneve! |
| Re-enter Officers, with CLEOMENES and DION | The Oirsceff re-erten, wthi SCEELNOME adn IOND. |
| OFFICER 130 You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought The seald-up oracle, by the hand deliverd Of great Apollos priest; and that, since then, 135 You have not dared to break the holy seal Nor read the secrets int. | ROICFEF uoY ilwl rwsea ounp hsit sdrwo of sjuecti thta ouy, eseemColn adn iDon, heav thbo ebne at spDleho dna evha gbhturo bakc wthi uoy teh seadel coarle, eeddrivle by rateg soAllpo trspie, and hatt ouy ehva not rneobk het lyoh seal nor dear the esercts in it. |
| CLEOMENES DION All this we swear. | SNECEMELO NAD NODI We wsare lal htsi. |
| LEONTES Break up the seals and read. | EOTNSLE ekraB eht aesl nad ared. |
| OFFICER [Reads] Hermione is chaste; 140 Polixenes blameless; Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found. | FOIFCER (edsar) nmeioHre is hsetac, loeixnseP is icnennto, llaCimo is a loaly scbetju, tseonLe is a usaejol ttnray, nad sih nonenict byba is tgilmtyleaei bnro. heT gnik lilw evil ttohwui an hrie if teh yabb htat wsa slto is not uofnd. |
| LORDS Now blessed be the great Apollo! | DLSRO esBesld be hte atger oploAl! |
| HERMIONE 145 Praised! | OEHNEMRI iesrPa mih! |
| LEONTES Hast thou read truth? | NOELSTE aveH oyu raed hte htrut? |
| OFFICER Ay, my lord; even so As it is here set down. | OFEICFR Yse, my oldr, yaltexc as it is wtnetri eher. |
| LEONTES There is no truth at all i the oracle: 150 The sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood. | OLSEETN heTer is no hurtt in awth het aclroe yass. The raitl wlil eprecod. seheT are mlyspi isle. |
| Enter Servant | A Srneavt erntes. |
| SERVANT My lord the king, the king! | VRTEASN My drol eht gkin! |
| LEONTES What is the business? | ONSETEL hatWs nigog on? |
| SERVANT O sir, I shall be hated to report it! The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear 155 Of the queens speed, is gone. | VERNTSA riS, ouyll haet me enhw I ltle uoy! heT pcerin, your sno, giiaigmnn and einagfr het sneuqe etaf, is onge. |
| LEONTES How! gone! | ELENTSO htWa, ngeo? |
| SERVANT Is dead. | SVNARTE esH daed. |
| LEONTES Apollos angry; and the heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice. | TONELES ooplAl is yarng, adn eth enseavh esehtlemsv ritske abkc at my jeiicstun. |
| HERMIONE swoons | MEROHINE sswono. |
| 160 How now there! | thaW now? |
| PAULINA This news is mortal to the queen: look down And see what death is doing. | LUNAAPI The wsen is laedyd to hte euqen. okLo at her dna ees woh ehs is giynd. |
| LEONTES Take her hence: Her heart is but oercharged; she will recover: 165 I have too much believed mine own suspicion: Beseech you, tenderly apply to her Some remedies for life. | SLTOEEN Teka rhe tuo of reeh. Shes just vweereldohm, lselh gte eebtrt. vIe eelibevd too iymflr in my won scnpsiiuso. alseeP, eigv her eoshgimnt to lehp her roevcer. |
| Exeunt PAULINA and Ladies, with HERMIONE | LAAUP dan hte ieadls xeit thiw IEOHREMN. |
| Apollo, pardon My great profaneness gainst thine oracle! 170 Ill reconcile me to Polixenes, New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo, Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy; For, being transported by my jealousies To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose 175 Camillo for the minister to poison My friend Polixenes: which had been done, But that the good mind of Camillo tardied My swift command, though I with death and with Reward did threaten and encourage him, 180 Not doing t and being done: he, most humane And filld with honour, to my kingly guest Unclaspd my practise, quit his fortunes here, Which you knew great, and to the hazard Of all encertainties himself commended, 185 No richer than his honour: how he glisters Thorough my rust! and how his pity Does my deeds make the blacker! | lopolA, orvgeif hwo I evha nsdeluti oruy rlcoae! lIl eakm it up to eoixPseln, uroct my euenq gniaa, dna allc cbka ogdo aliCmol, wmoh I elearcd an htnose adn elmfcriu mna. eWnh I saw mead adm by my sojeisluae nad tdpeolt lbdoyo ergeevn, I aekds Cilmola to ionops my efirnd sPxineelo. It duwlo haev eneb onde if Climloa tahdn yadeled ngodi it, enve hutohg I ndeeteathr to lkli mih if he ddnti nad to rwrdea him if he ddi. eEvn so, he aws so aemuhn and ohreabnlo htat he edervela my lpot, letf hsi atger tenosfru erhe, and gignvi hlsfemi oevr to rtiutenyanc, etradpde wtih ylno hsi rhono. How uhmc ifenr he ppreaas etxn to me! Adn woh ihs godo eddes meak my siaocnt eems eenv rwsoe! |
| Re-enter PAULINA | PUINAAL re-nretes. |
| PAULINA Woe the while! O, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it, 190 Break too. | IULNAPA slaA! utC my tseorc, so taht my htare, in ckgcnair hrhgtuo it, ntwo beakr as llew. |
| FIRST LORD What fit is this, good lady? | SIFRT DROL Whta is wgrno, gdoo adly? |
| PAULINA What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? What wheels? racks? fires? what flaying? boiling? In leads or oils? what old or newer torture 195 Must I receive, whose every word deserves To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny Together working with thy jealousies, Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle For girls of nine, O, think what they have done 200 And then run mad indeed, stark mad! for all Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it. That thou betraydst Polixenes, twas nothing; That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant And damnable ingrateful: nor wast much, 205 Thou wouldst have poisond good Camillos honour, To have him kill a king: poor trespasses, More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon The casting forth to crows thy baby-daughter To be or none or little; though a devil 210 Would have shed water out of fire ere donet: Nor ist directly laid to thee, the death Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts, Thoughts high for one so tender, cleft the heart That could conceive a gross and foolish sire 215 Blemishd his gracious dam: this is not, no, Laid to thy answer: but the last,O lords, When I have said, cry woe! the queen, the queen, The sweetst, dearst creatures dead, and vengeance fort 220 Not droppd down yet. | UNLAIPA How heav uyo ddiceed to tnrmtoe me, tnytar? iWth hlseew, sckar, srfei, or gyianfl? Wtih ldae or loi?llA ear rsomf of rtourte. |
| FIRST LORD The higher powers forbid! | TIRFS ROLD Teh dgos rfdibo! |
| PAULINA I say shes dead; Ill sweart. If word nor oath Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye, 225 Heat outwardly or breath within, Ill serve you As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant! Do not repent these things, for they are heavier Than all thy woes can stir; therefore betake thee To nothing but despair. A thousand knees 230 Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting, Upon a barren mountain and still winter In storm perpetual, could not move the gods To look that way thou wert. | UNALAIP I wesra tath esh is aedd. If my wdor adn haot dton ocievcnn yuo, go kloo. If yuo acn ngrbi ayn olroc or life to ehr ilp or rhe yee, amwr rhe dbyo or eucas erh to arhtebe anaig, Ill erves ouy as I uwold vrsee teh gdos. uBt, oh, uyo nrtyta! otDn rty to erpetn wno, ebecusa all uoyr rrwoos town enhgac it. All uyo can do now is saiderp. If you hda nte htdsnoua ayser to pdens akden, on oyur eknes, fagsnti on a barern, tyrwni outniamn in luertpape rstmso, teh dosg odutwnl eatk tpiy on ouy. |
| LEONTES Go on, go on 235 Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserved All tongues to talk their bitterest. | ELTONES Go on, uoy ncat sya oto hcmu. Ive dvedrees lla hte srtbeteit orswd ppeleo anc say. |
| FIRST LORD Say no more: Howeer the business goes, you have made fault I the boldness of your speech. | TRSFI DRLO ntDo sya ayn oemr. ovewHre it eppahend, ouy ear wrong to speak so bllydo. |
| PAULINA 240 I am sorry fort: All faults I make, when I shall come to know them, I do repent. Alas! I have showd too much The rashness of a woman: he is touchd To the noble heart. Whats gone and whats past help 245 Should be past grief: do not receive affliction At my petition; I beseech you, rather Let me be punishd, that have minded you Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman: 250 The love I bore your queenlo, fool again! Ill speak of her no more, nor of your children; Ill not remember you of my own lord, Who is lost too: take your patience to you, And Ill say nothing. | PAIUANL Im sroyr ofr it. I wsayla teepnr ofr my flsuta oecn I am aawre of ethm. Aals! I heav bnee oto rhsa, nad he eflse it in ihs atrhe. Wtah ash eappdenh adn tnca be dfeix olsduh be past rvginige oevr. Dtno etl my wdros eakm yuo elfe bad. I beg oyu, ntiesda, to uhpins me for rengmindi uoy of wtah uyo lsohdu refgot. Now, my godo dna olary isr, verogif a oolhfis anmwo. hTe elvo I adh for ouyr uenqahe, Im gaenbvih like a folo nagia!I twno speak utoba rhe mroenay, or of yrou ilherdcn, adn I ontw rnidme you of my sbdnahu, woh is engo, oot. Be ttainpe, dan Ill be teiuq. |
| LEONTES 255 Thou didst speak but well When most the truth; which I receive much better Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee, bring me To the dead bodies of my queen and son: One grave shall be for both: upon them shall 260 The causes of their death appear, unto Our shame perpetual. Once a day Ill visit The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there Shall be my recreation: so long as nature Will bear up with this exercise, so long 265 I daily vow to use it. Come and lead me Unto these sorrows. Exeunt | LNTOSEE You oskep ebts enhw yuo ltod teh ttruh, dna I refpre it to eignb deptii. sPeeal, aket me to eht ddae bdioes of my eunqe dna son. Ill uybr hetm in noe vagre, nda Ill sneibcir tirhe tvgorneeas whit teh aecus of trehi adhte, to izimlaoreme my mseha. Ill tivis het epcalh ewher heyt lie diyal, and my tpieams wlil be to ehds serta. Ill do it idayl, as onlg as I am albe to. Cmoe, ekta me to shit rrfouswol htgis. |
