The Winter’s Tale: Act 3, Scene 2

The Winter’s Tale.         Act 3, Scene 2.      Hermione

(This text is featured in our interview with Jolly Abraham)  (and Miriam Laube.)

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1.  Since what I am to say must be but that
2.  Which contradicts my accusation and
3.  The testimony on my part no other
4.  But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me
5.  To say ‘not guilty:’ mine integrity
6.  Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,
7.  Be so received. But thus: if powers divine
8. Behold our human actions, as they do,
9. I doubt not then but innocence shall make
10. False accusation blush and tyranny
11. Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know,
12. Who least will seem to do so, my past life
13. Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,
14. As I am now unhappy; which is more
15. Than history can pattern, though devised
16. And play’d to take spectators. For behold me
17. A fellow of the royal bed, which owe
18. A moiety of the throne a great king’s daughter,
19. The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing
20. To prate and talk for life and honour ‘fore
21. Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it
22. As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour,
23. ‘Tis a derivative from me to mine,
24. And only that I stand for. I appeal
25. To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes
26. Came to your court, how I was in your grace,
27. How merited to be so; since he came,
28. With what encounter so uncurrent I
29. Have strain’d to appear thus: if one jot beyond
30. The bound of honour, or in act or will
31. That way inclining, harden’d be the hearts
32. Of all that hear me, and my near’st of kin
33. Cry fie upon my grave!