LEONTES

How could that be?

Either thou art most ignorant by age

Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo’s flight

Added to their familiarity,

Which was as gross as ever touched conjecture

That lacked sight only, naught for approbation

But only seeing, all other circumstances

Made up to th’ deed—doth push on this proceeding.

Yet for a greater confirmation—

For in an act of this importance ’twere

Most piteous to be wild—I have dispatched in post

To sacred Delphos, to Apollo’s temple,

Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know

Of stuffed sufficiency. Now from the oracle

They will bring all, whose spiritual counsel had

Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well?

A LORD Well done, my lord.

LEONTES

Though I am satisfied, and need no more

Than what I know, yet shall the oracle

Give rest to th’ minds of others such as he,

Whose ignorant credulity will not

Come up to th’ truth. So have we thought it good

From our free person she should be confined,

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.

ANTIGONUS (aside) To laughter, as I take it,

If the good truth were known. Exeunt

2.2 Enter Paulina, a Gentleman, and attendants

PAULINA

The keeper of the prison, call to him.

Let him have knowledge who I am.

Exit Gentleman

Good lady,

No court in Europe is too good for thee.

What dost thou then in prison?

Enter Jailer and Gentleman

Now, good sir,

You know me, do you not?

JAILER

For a worthy lady,

And one who much I honour.

PAULINA Pray you then,

Conduct me to the Queen.

JAILER

I may not, madam. To the contrary

I have express commandment.

PAULINA

Here’s ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from

Th’access of gentle visitors. Is’t lawful, pray you,

To see her women? Any of them? Emilia?

JAILER So please you, madam,

To put apart these your attendants,

Shall bring Emilia forth.

PAULINA I pray now call her.—

Withdraw yourselves.

Exeunt Gentleman and attendants

JAILER And, madam,

I must be present at your conference.

PAULINA Well, be’t so, prithee.

Exit Jailer

Here’s such ado, to make no stain a stain

As passes colouring.

Enter Jailer and Emilia

Dear gentlewoman,

How fares our gracious lady?

EMILIA

As well as one so great and so forlorn

May hold together. On her frights and griefs,

Which never tender lady hath borne greater,

She is, something before her time, delivered.

PAULINA

A boy?

EMILIA 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.’

PAULINA

I dare be sworn.

These dangerous, unsafe lunes i‘th’ 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-mouthed, let my tongue blister,

And never to my red-looked anger be

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 th’ loud‘st. We do not know

How he may soften at the sight o’th’ child.

The silence often of pure innocence

Persuades when speaking fails.

EMILIA

Most worthy madam,

Your honour and your goodness is so evident

That your free undertaking cannot miss

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 today hammered of this design

But durst not tempt a minister of honour

Lest she should be denied.

PAULINA

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.

EMILIA

Now be you blest for it!

I’ll to the Queen. Please you come something nearer.

JAILER

Madam, if’t please the Queen to send the babe

I know not what I shall incur to pass it,

Having no warrant.

PAULINA You need not fear it, sir.

This child was prisoner to the womb, and is

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.

JAILER I do believe it.

PAULINA

Do not you fear. Upon mine honour,

I will stand twixt you and danger.

Exeunt

2.3 Enter Leontes

LEONTES

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‘th’ cause,

She, th’adultress; for the harlot King

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,