Page 794 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

LEONTES

How! gone?

SERVANT
Is dead.

LEONTES
Apollo’s angry, and the heavens themselves
Do strike at my injustice. (Hermione faints) How now there? [145]

PAULINA
This news is mortal to the queen: look down

And see what death is doing.

LEONTES
Take her hence:
Her heart is but o’ercharg’d: she will recover.
I have too much believ’d mine own suspicion: [150]
Beseech you, tenderly apply to her

Some remedies for life.
(Exeunt Paulina and Ladies, with Hermione.)
Apollo, pardon

My great profaneness ’gainst thine Oracle!
I’ll reconcile me to Polixenes,
New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo, [155]
Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy:
For being transported by my jealousies

To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose
Camillo for the minister to poison
My friend Polixenes: which had been done, [160]

But that the good mind of Camillo tardied
My swift command; though I with death, and with
Reward, did threaten and encourage him,
Not doing it, and being done. He (most humane
And fill’d with honour) to my kingly guest [165]

Unclasp’d my practice, quit his fortunes here
(Which you knew great) and to certain hazard
Of all incertainties, himself commended,