Page 777 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

PAULINA

Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I [65]
Will stand betwixt you and danger.
Exeunt.

Scene III IT

(Leontes discovered.)

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 [5]
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. (Enter Servant.) Who’s there?

SERVANT
My Lord!

LEONTES
How does the boy?

SERVANT
He took good rest to-night; [10]
’Tis hop’d his sickness is discharg’d.

LEONTES
To see his nobleness,
Conceiving the dishonour of his mother!
He straight declin’d, droop’d, took it deeply,
Fasten’d and fix’d the shame on ’t in himself, [15]

Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And downright languish’d. Leave me solely: go,