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

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.

LEONTES (to Antigonus)

A gross hag!—

And lozel, thou art worthy to be hanged,

That wilt not stay her tongue.

ANTIGONUS

Hang all the husbands

That cannot do that feat, you’ll leave yourself

Hardly one subject.

LEONTES

Once more, take her hence.

PAULINA

A most unworthy and unnatural lord

Can do no more.

LEONTES

I’ll ha’ thee burnt.

PAULINA

I care not.

It is an heretic that makes the fire,

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.

LEONTES (to Antigonus)

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!

PAULINA

I pray you do not push me, I’ll be gone.

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

LEONTES (to Antigonus)

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.

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

Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire;

For thou set’st on thy wife.

ANTIGONUS

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.

LEONTES You’re liars all.

A LORD

Beseech your highness, give us better credit.

We have always truly served you, and beseech

So to esteem of us. And on our knees we beg,

As recompense of our dear services

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.

LEONTES

I am a feather for each wind that blows.

Shall I live on, to see this bastard kneel

And call me father? Better burn it now

Than curse it then. But be it. Let it live.

It shall not neither.

(To Antigonus) You, sir, come you hither,

You that have been so tenderly officious

With Lady Margery your midwife there,

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?

ANTIGONUS Anything, my lord,

That my ability may undergo,

And nobleness impose. At least thus much,

I’ll pawn the little blood which I have left

To save the innocent; anything possible.

LEONTES

It shall be possible. Swear by this sword

Thou wilt perform my bidding.

ANTIGONUS

I will, my lord.

LEONTES

Mark, and perform it. Seest thou? For the fail

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 liegeman to us, that thou carry

This female bastard hence, and that thou bear it

To some remote and desert place, quite out

Of our dominions; and that there thou leave it,

Without more mercy, to it own protection

And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune

It came to us, I do in justice charge thee,

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.

ANTIGONUS

I swear to do this, though a present death

Had been more merciful. Come on, poor babe,

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; (to the babe) and

blessing

Against this cruelty, fight on thy side,

Poor thing, condemned to loss.

Exit with the babe

LEONTES

No, I’ll not rear

Another’s issue.

Enter a Servant

SERVANT

Please your highness, posts

From those you sent to th’oracle are come

An hour since. Cleomenes and Dion,

Being well arrived from Delphos, are both landed,