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The Same. The outer Room of a Prison. | |
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Enter PAULINA and Attendants. | |
| Paul. The keeper of the prison, call to him; | |
| Let him have knowledge who I am.—[Exit an Attendant.] Good lady, | |
| No court in Europe is too good for thee; | 5 |
| What dost thou then in prison? | |
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Re-enter Attendant with the Gaoler. | |
| Now, good sir, | |
| You know me, do you not? | |
| Gaol. For a worthy lady | 10 |
| And one whom much I honour. | |
| Paul. Pray you then, | |
| Conduct me to the queen. | |
| Gaol. I may not, madam: to the contrary | |
| I have express commandment. | 15 |
| Paul. Here’s ado, | |
| To lock up honesty and honour from | |
| The access of gentle visitors! Is ’t lawful, pray you, | |
| To see her women? any of them? Emilia? | |
| Gaol. So please you, madam, | 20 |
| To put apart these your attendants, I | |
| Shall bring Emilia forth. | |
| Paul. I pray now, call her. | |
| Withdraw yourselves. [Exeunt Attendants. | |
| Gaol. And, madam, | 25 |
| I must be present at your conference. | |
| Paul. Well, be ’t so, prithee. [Exit Gaoler. | |
| Here’s such ado to make no stain a stain, | |
| As passes colouring. | |
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Re-enter Gaoler, with EMILIA. | 30 |
| Dear gentlewoman, | |
| How fares our gracious lady? | |
| Emil. As well as one so great and so forlorn | |
| May hold together. On her frights and griefs,— | |
| Which never tender lady hath borne greater,— | 35 |
| She is something before her time deliver’d. | |
| Paul. A boy? | |
| Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe, | |
| Lusty and like to live: the queen receives | |
| Much comfort in ’t; says, ‘My poor prisoner, | 40 |
| I am innocent as you.’ | |
| Paul. I dare be sworn: | |
| These dangerous unsafe lunes i’ the king, beshrew them! | |
| He must be told on ’t, and he shall: the office | |
| Becomes a woman best; I’ll take ’t upon me. | 45 |
| If I prove honey-mouth’d, let my tongue blister, | |
| And never to my red-look’d anger be | |
| The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia, | |
| Commend my best obedience to the queen: | |
| If she dares trust me with her little babe, | 50 |
| I’ll show it to the king and undertake to be | |
| Her advocate to the loud’st. We do not know | |
| How he may soften at the sight of the child: | |
| The silence often of pure innocence | |
| Persuades when speaking fails. | 55 |
| Emil. Most worthy madam, | |
| Your honour and your goodness is so evident | |
| That your free undertaking cannot miss | |
| A thriving issue: there is no lady living | |
| So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship | 60 |
| To visit the next room, I’ll presently | |
| Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer, | |
| Who but to-day hammer’d of this design, | |
| But durst not tempt a minister of honour, | |
| Lest she should be denied. | 65 |
| Paul. Tell her, Emilia, | |
| I’ll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from ’t | |
| As boldness from my bosom, let it not be doubted | |
| I shall do good. | |
| Emil. Now be you blest for it! | 70 |
| I’ll to the queen. Please you, come something nearer. | |
| Gaol. Madam, if ’t please the queen to send the babe, | |
| I know not what I shall incur to pass it, | |
| Having no warrant. | |
| Paul. You need not fear it, sir: | 75 |
| The child was prisoner to the womb, and is | |
| By law and process of great nature thence | |
| Freed and enfranchis’d; not a party to | |
| The anger of the king, nor guilty of, | |
| If any be, the trespass of the queen. | 80 |
| Gaol. I do believe it. | |
| Paul. Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I | |
| Will stand betwixt you and danger. [Exeunt. | |
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