READ STUDY GUIDE: Act II, Scenes i-iii |
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Section 4:
ACT II, SCENE II The same. The outer Room of a Prison.
ACT II, SCENE II The same. The outer Room of a Prison.
| [Enter PAULINA and Attendants.] |
| PAULINA.: |
| 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; |
| What dost thou then in prison? |
| [Re-enter Attendant, with the Keeper.] |
| Now, good sir, |
| You know me, do you not? |
| KEEPER.: |
| For a worthy lady, |
| And one who much I honour. |
| PAULINA.: |
| Pray you, then, |
| Conduct me to the queen. |
| KEEPER.: |
| I may not, madam; |
| To the contrary I have express commandment. |
| PAULINA.: |
| 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? |
| KEEPER.: |
| So please you, madam, to put |
| Apart these your attendants, |
| Shall bring Emilia forth. |
| PAULINA.: |
| I pray now, call her. |
| Withdraw yourselves. |
| [Exeunt ATTENDANTS.] |
| KEEPER.: |
| And, madam, |
| I must be present at your conference. |
| PAULINA.: |
| Well, be't so, pr'ythee. |
| [Exit KEEPER.] |
| Here's such ado to make no stain a stain |
| As passes colouring. |
| [Re-enter KEEPER, with EMILIA.] |
| Dear gentlewoman, how fares our gracious lady? |
| EMILIA.: |
| As well as one so great and so forlorn |
| May hold together: on her frights and griefs,— |
| Which never tender lady hath borne greater,— |
| She is, something before her time, deliver'd. |
| PAULINA.: |
| A boy? |
| EMILIA.: |
| A daughter; and a goodly babe, |
| Lusty, and like to live: the queen receives |
| Much comfort in't; says 'My poor prisoner, |
| I am as innocent as you.' |
| PAULINA.: |
| 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; |
| 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, |
| I'll show't the king, and undertake to be |
| Her advocate to th' loud'st. We do not know |
| How he may soften at the sight o' the child: |
| The silence often of pure innocence |
| Persuades, when speaking fails. |
| EMILIA.: |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| PAULINA.: |
| Tell her, Emilia, |
| I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it |
| As boldness from my bosom, let't not be doubted |
| I shall do good. |
| EMILIA.: |
| Now be you bless'd for it! |
| I'll to the queen: please you come something nearer. |
| KEEPER.: |
| Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe, |
| I know not what I shall incur to pass it, |
| Having no warrant. |
| PAULINA.: |
| You need not fear it, sir: |
| This 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. |
| KEEPER.: |
| I do believe it. |
| PAULINA.: |
| Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I |
| Will stand betwixt you and danger. |
| [Exeunt.] |
