The Winter’s Tale

1 Enter Paulina, a Gentleman and Attendants.
2 PAULINA.
3 The keeper of the prison, call to him;
4 Let him have knowledge who I am.
5 [_Exit the Gentleman._]
6 Good lady!
7 No court in Europe is too good for thee;
8 What dost thou then in prison?
9 Enter Gentleman with the Gaoler.
10 Now, good sir,
11 You know me, do you not?
12 GAOLER.
13 For a worthy lady
14 And one who much I honour.
15 PAULINA.
16 Pray you then,
17 Conduct me to the queen.
18 GAOLER.
19 I may not, madam.
20 To the contrary I have express commandment.
21 PAULINA.
22 Here’s ado, to lock up honesty and honour from
23 Th’ access of gentle visitors! Is’t lawful, pray you,
24 To see her women? any of them? Emilia?
25 GAOLER.
26 So please you, madam,
27 To put apart these your attendants, I
28 Shall bring Emilia forth.
29 PAULINA.
30 I pray now, call her.
31 Withdraw yourselves.
32 [_Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants._]
33 GAOLER.
34 And, madam,
35 I must be present at your conference.
36 PAULINA.
37 Well, be’t so, prithee.
38 [_Exit Gaoler._]
39 Here’s such ado to make no stain a stain
40 As passes colouring.
41 Re-enter Gaoler with Emilia.
42 Dear gentlewoman,
43 How fares our gracious lady?
44 EMILIA.
45 As well as one so great and so forlorn
46 May hold together: on her frights and griefs,
47 (Which never tender lady hath borne greater)
48 She is, something before her time, deliver’d.
49 PAULINA.
50 A boy?
51 EMILIA.
52 A daughter; and a goodly babe,
53 Lusty, and like to live: the queen receives
54 Much comfort in ’t; says “My poor prisoner,
55 I am as innocent as you.”
56 PAULINA.
57 I dare be sworn.
58 These dangerous unsafe lunes i’ th’ king, beshrew them!
59 He must be told on’t, and he shall: the office
60 Becomes a woman best. I’ll take’t upon me.
61 If I prove honey-mouth’d, let my tongue blister,
62 And never to my red-look’d anger be
63 The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
64 Commend my best obedience to the queen.
65 If she dares trust me with her little babe,
66 I’ll show’t the king, and undertake to be
67 Her advocate to th’ loud’st. We do not know
68 How he may soften at the sight o’ th’ child:
69 The silence often of pure innocence
70 Persuades, when speaking fails.
71 EMILIA.
72 Most worthy madam,
73 Your honour and your goodness is so evident,
74 That your free undertaking cannot miss
75 A thriving issue: there is no lady living
76 So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship
77 To visit the next room, I’ll presently
78 Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer,
79 Who but today hammer’d of this design,
80 But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
81 Lest she should be denied.
82 PAULINA.
83 Tell her, Emilia,
84 I’ll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from ’t
85 As boldness from my bosom, let’t not be doubted
86 I shall do good.
87 EMILIA.
88 Now be you blest for it!
89 I’ll to the queen: please you come something nearer.
90 GAOLER.
91 Madam, if ’t please the queen to send the babe,
92 I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
93 Having no warrant.
94 PAULINA.
95 You need not fear it, sir:
96 This child was prisoner to the womb, and is,
97 By law and process of great nature thence
98 Freed and enfranchis’d: not a party to
99 The anger of the king, nor guilty of,
100 If any be, the trespass of the queen.
101 GAOLER.
102 I do believe it.
103 PAULINA.
104 Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I
105 Will stand betwixt you and danger.
106 [_Exeunt._]