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