Page 791 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

LEONTES

You knew of his departure, as you know
What you have underta’en to do in ’s absence.

HERMIONE
Sir,
You speak a language that I understand not:

My life stands in the level of your dreams, [80]
Which I’ll lay down.

LEONTES
Your actions are my dreams.
You had a bastard by Polixenes,
And I but dream’d it! As you were past all shame

(Those of your fact are so) so past all truth,
Which to deny, concerns more than avails; for as [85]
Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself,

No father owning it (which is, indeed,
More criminal in thee than it), so thou
Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage
Look for no less than death.

HERMIONE
Sir, spare your threats: [90]

The bug which you would fright me with, I seek.
To me can life be no commodity;
The crown and comfort of my life, your favour,
I do give lost, for I do feel it gone,

But know not how it went. My second joy, [95]
And first-fruits of my body, from his presence
I am barr’d, like one infectious. My third comfort
(Starr’d most unluckily) is from my breast

(The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth)
Hal’d out to murder; myself on every post [100]
Proclaim’d a strumpet, with immodest hatred
The child-bed privilege denied, which ’longs

To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried
Here, to this place, i’ th’ open air, before