Page 785 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

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 [165]
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 [170]
Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu’d wife
(Whom for this time we pardon). We enjoin thee,
As thou art liege-man to us, that thou carry

This female bastard hence, and that thou bear it
To some remote and desert place, quite out [175]
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, [180]
That thou commend it strangely to some place

Where chance may nurse of 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 [185]
To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say,

Casting they savageness aside, have done
Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous
In more than this deed does require; and blessing