Page 769 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

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 bold’st titles; ay, and privy

To this their late escape.

HERMIONE
No, by my life, [95]
Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you,
When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that

You thus have publish’d me! Gentle my lord,
You scarce can right me throughly, then, to say
You did mistake.

LEONTES
No: if I mistake [100]
In those foundations which I build upon,

The centre is not big enough to bear
A school-boy’s top. Away with her, to prison!
He who shall speak for her is afar off guilty
But that he speaks.

HERMIONE

There’s some ill planet reigns: [105]
I must be patient till the heavens look
With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew

Perchance shall dry your pities: but I have [110]
That honourable grief lodg’d here which burns
Worse than tears drown: beseech you all, my lords,

With thoughts so qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so
The king’s will be perform’d.

LEONTES
Shall I be heard? [115]