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!

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