The Winter’s Tale

forlorn
May hold together: on her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath born greater,
She is something before her time deliver’d. 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’ the 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-mouth’d let my tongue blister
And never to my red-look’d 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 the loud’st. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o’ the 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 to-day hammer’d 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.

Gaoler

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.

Gaoler I do believe it. Paulina

Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I
Will stand betwixt you and danger. Exeunt.

Scene III

A room in Leontes’ palace.

	Enter Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and Servants.
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’ the cause, She the adulteress; 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, Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest Might come to me again. Who’s there?
First Servant	My lord?
Leontes	How does the boy?
First Servant	He took good rest to-night; ’Tis hoped his sickness is discharged.
Leontes	To see his nobleness! Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, He straight declined, droop’d, took it deeply, Fasten’d and fix’d the shame on’t in himself, Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, And downright languish’d. Leave me solely: go, See how he fares. Exit Servant. Fie, fie! no thought of him: The thought of my revenges that way Recoil upon me: in himself too mighty, And in his parties, his alliance; let him be Until a time may serve: for present vengeance, Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes Laugh at me, make their pastime at my sorrow: They should not laugh if I could reach them, nor Shall she within my power.
	Enter Paulina, with a child.
First Lord	You must not enter.
Paulina	Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me: Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas, Than the queen’s life? a gracious innocent soul, More free than he is jealous.
Antigonus	That’s enough.
Second Servant	Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded None should come at him.
Paulina	Not so hot, good sir: I come to bring him sleep. ’Tis such as you, That creep like shadows by him and do sigh At each his needless heavings, such as you Nourish the cause of his awaking: I Do come with words as medicinal as true, Honest as either, to purge him of that humour That presses him from sleep.
Leontes	What noise there, ho?
Paulina	No noise, my lord; but needful conference About some gossips for your highness.
Leontes	How! Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus, I charged thee that she should not come about me: I knew she would.
Antigonus	I told her so, my lord, On your displeasure’s peril and on mine, She should not visit you.
Leontes	What, canst not rule her?
Paulina	From all dishonesty he can: in this, Unless he take the course that you have done, Commit me for committing honour, trust it, He shall not rule me.
Antigonus	La you now, you hear: When she will take the rein I let her run; But she’ll not stumble.
Paulina	Good my liege, I come; And, I beseech you, hear me, who profess Myself your loyal servant, your physician, Your most obedient counsellor, yet that dare Less appear so in comforting your evils, Than such as most seem yours: I say, I come From your good queen.
Leontes	Good queen!
Paulina	Good queen, my lord, Good queen; I say good queen; And would by combat make her good, so were I A man, the worst about you.
Leontes	Force her hence.
Paulina	Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes First hand me: on mine own accord I’ll off; But first I’ll do my errand. The good queen, For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; Here ’tis; commends it to your blessing. Laying down the child.
Leontes	Out! A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o’ door: A most intelligencing bawd!
Paulina	Not so: I am as ignorant in that as you In so entitling me, and no less honest Than you are mad; which is enough, I’ll warrant, As this world goes, to pass for honest.
Leontes	Traitors! Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard. Thou dotard! thou art woman-tired, unroosted By thy dame Partlet here. Take up the bastard; Take’t up, I say; give’t to thy crone.
Paulina	For ever Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou Takest up the princess by that forced baseness Which he has put upon’t!
Leontes	He dreads his wife.
Paulina	So I would you did; then ’twere past all doubt You’ld call your children yours.
Leontes	A nest of traitors!
Antigonus	I am none, by this good light.
Paulina	Nor I, nor any But one that’s here, and that’s himself, for