Page 784 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

The bastard brains with these my proper hands
Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire; [140]
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. [145]

A LORD
Beseech your highness, give us better credit:

We have always truly serv’d 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, [150]

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 [155]
Than curse it then. But be it: let it live.
It shall not neither. 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, [160]
So sure as this beard’s grey − what will you adventure
To save this brat’s life?