true,
Honest as either, to purge him of that humour
That presses him from sleep.

LEONTES.
What noise there, ho?

PAULINA.
No noise, my lord; but needful conference
About some gossips for your highness.

LEONTES.
How!--
Away with that audacious lady!--Antigonus,
I charg'd thee that she should not come about me:
I knew she would.

ANTIGONUS.
I told her so, my lord,
On your displeasure's peril, and on mine,
She should not visit you.

LEONTES.
What, canst not rule her?

PAULINA.
From all dishonesty he can: in this,--
Unless he take the course that you have done,
Commit me for committing honour,--trust it,
He shall not rule me.

ANTIGONUS.
La you now, you hear
When she will take the rein, I let her run;
But she'll not stumble.

PAULINA.
Good my liege, I come,--
And, I beseech you, hear me, who professes
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor: yet that dares
Less appear so, in comforting your evils,
Than such as most seem yours:--I say I come
From your good queen.

LEONTES.
Good queen!

PAULINA.
Good queen, my lord,
Good queen: I say, good queen;
And would by combat make her good, so were I
A man, the worst about you.

LEONTES.
Force her hence!

PAULINA.
Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes
First hand me: on mine own accord I'll off;
But first I'll do my errand--The good queen,
For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter;
Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing.

[Laying down the child.]

LEONTES.
Out!
A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' door:
A most intelligencing bawd!

PAULINA.
Not so:
I am as ignorant in that as you
In so entitling me; and no less honest
Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant,
As this world goes, to pass for honest.

LEONTES.
Traitors!
Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard:--
Thou dotard! [To ANTIGONUS] Thou art woman-tir'd, unroosted
By thy Dame Partlet here:--take up the bastard;
Take't up, I say; give't to thy crone.

PAULINA.
For ever
Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou
Tak'st up the princess by that