The Winters Tale | Page 4

they that went on crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to
see him a man.
ARCHIDAMUS. Would they else be content to die?
CAMILLO. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire
to live.
ARCHIDAMUS. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on
crutches till he had one.
[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. The same. A Room of State in the Palace.
[Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS,
CAMILLO, and Attendants.]
POLIXENES. Nine changes of the watery star hath been The
shepherd's note since we have left our throne Without a burden: time as
long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; And yet we
should, for perpetuity, Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,

Yet standing in rich place, I multiply With one we-thank-you many
thousands more That go before it.
LEONTES. Stay your thanks a while, And pay them when you part.
POLIXENES. Sir, that's to-morrow. I am question'd by my fears, of
what may chance Or breed upon our absence; that may blow No
sneaping winds at home, to make us say, 'This is put forth too truly.'
Besides, I have stay'd To tire your royalty.
LEONTES. We are tougher, brother, Than you can put us to't.
POLIXENES. No longer stay.
LEONTES. One seven-night longer.
POLIXENES. Very sooth, to-morrow.
LEONTES. We'll part the time between's then: and in that I'll no
gainsaying.
POLIXENES. Press me not, beseech you, so, There is no tongue that
moves, none, none i' the world, So soon as yours, could win me: so it
should now, Were there necessity in your request, although 'Twere
needful I denied it. My affairs Do even drag me homeward: which to
hinder, Were, in your love a whip to me; my stay To you a charge and
trouble: to save both, Farewell, our brother.
LEONTES. Tongue-tied, our queen? Speak you.
HERMIONE. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until You had
drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir, Charge him too coldly. Tell
him, you are sure All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction The by-gone
day proclaimed: say this to him, He's beat from his best ward.
LEONTES. Well said, Hermione.
HERMIONE. To tell he longs to see his son, were strong: But let him
say so then, and let him go; But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.-- Yet of your royal presence[To
POLIXENES.] I'll adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commission To let him there a
month behind the gest Prefix'd for's parting:--yet, good deed, Leontes, I
love thee not a jar of the clock behind What lady she her lord.--You'll
stay?
POLIXENES. No, madam.
HERMIONE. Nay, but you will?
POLIXENES. I may not, verily.
HERMIONE. Verily! You put me off with limber vows; but I, Though

you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet say 'Sir, no
going.' Verily, You shall not go; a lady's verily is As potent as a lord's.
Will go yet? Force me to keep you as a prisoner, Not like a guest: so
you shall pay your fees When you depart, and save your thanks. How
say you? My prisoner or my guest? by your dread verily, One of them
you shall be.
POLIXENES. Your guest, then, madam: To be your prisoner should
import offending; Which is for me less easy to commit Than you to
punish.
HERMIONE. Not your gaoler then, But your kind hostess. Come, I'll
question you Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys. You
were pretty lordings then.
POLIXENES. We were, fair queen, Two lads that thought there was no
more behind But such a day to-morrow as to-day, And to be boy
eternal.
HERMIONE. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two?
POLIXENES. We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun And
bleat the one at th' other. What we chang'd Was innocence for
innocence; we knew not The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd That
any did. Had we pursu'd that life, And our weak spirits ne'er been
higher rear'd With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven
Boldly 'Not guilty,' the imposition clear'd Hereditary ours.
HERMIONE. By this we gather You have tripp'd since.
POLIXENES. O my most sacred lady, Temptations have since then
been born to 's! for In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl; Your
precious self had then not cross'd the eyes Of my young play-fellow.
HERMIONE. Grace to boot! Of this make no conclusion, lest you say
Your queen and I are devils: yet, go on; The offences we have made
you do we'll answer; If you first sinn'd with