The Winters Tale | Page 9

kiss me hard, and speak to me as if I were a baby
still.--I love you better.
SECOND LADY. And why so, my lord?
MAMILLIUS. 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 semicircle Or a half-moon made with a pen.
SECOND LADY. Who taught you this?
MAMILLIUS. I learn'd it out of women's faces.--Pray now, What
colour are your eyebrows?
FIRST LADY. Blue, my lord.
MAMILLIUS. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose That has
been blue, but not her eyebrows.
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'd wanton with us, If we would have you.
SECOND LADY. She is spread of late Into a goodly bulk: good time
encounter her!
HERMIONE. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now I am
for you again: pray you sit by us, And tell's a tale.
MAMILLIUS. Merry or sad shall't be?
HERMIONE. As merry as you will.
MAMILLIUS. A sad tale's best for winter. I have one Of sprites and
goblins.
HERMIONE. 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.
MAMILLIUS. There was a man,--
HERMIONE. Nay, come, sit down: then on.
MAMILLIUS. Dwelt by a churchyard:--I will tell it softly; Yond

crickets shall not hear it.
HERMIONE. Come on then, And give't me in mine ear.
[Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and Guards.]
LEONTES. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?
FIRST 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.
LEONTES. How bles'd am I In my just censure, in my true opinion!--
Alack, for lesser knowledge!--How accurs'd In being so blest!--There
may be in the cup 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, 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: 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.
LEONTES. 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.
HERMIONE. What is this? sport?
LEONTES. Bear the boy hence; he shall not come about her; Away
with him!--and let her sport herself [Exit MAMILLIUS, with some of
the Guards.] With that she's big with;--for 'tis Polixenes Has made thee
swell thus.
HERMIONE. But I'd say he had not, And I'll be sworn you would
believe my saying, Howe'er you learn the nayward.
LEONTES. You, my lords, 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,-- 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 hum's, and ha's, When you have said 'she's
goodly,' come between, Ere you can say' she's honest': but be it known,

From him that has most cause to grieve it should be, She's an adultress!
HERMIONE. Should a villain say so, The most replenish'd villain in
the world, He were as much more villain: you, my lord, Do but
mistake.
LEONTES. 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, Should a like language use to all degrees,
And mannerly distinguishment leave out Betwixt 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 But with her most vile
principal, that she's A bed-swerver, even as bad as those That vulgars
give boldest titles; ay, and privy To this their late escape.
HERMIONE. No, by my life,