Page 793 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

LEONTES

Break up the seals and read. [130]

OFFICER
Hermione is chaste; Polixenes blameless; Camillo a true subject; Leontes a
jealous tyrant; his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live
without an heir, if that which is lost be not found.

LORDS

Now blessed be the great Apollo!

HERMIONE

Praised! [135]

LEONTES
Hast thou read truth?

OFFICER
Ay, my lord, even so
As it is here set down.

LEONTES
There is no truth at all i’ th’ Oracle:
The sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood.

(Enter Servant.)

SERVANT
My lord the king, the king!

LEONTES
What is the business? [140]

SERVANT
O sir, I shall be hated to report it!
The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear
Of the queen’s speed, is gone.