my second joy,
    And first-fruits of my body, from his presence
    I’m barr’d, like one infectious:  my third comfort,
    Starr’d most unluckily, is from my breast,
    The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth,
    Hal’d out to murder:  myself on every post
    Proclaim’d a strumpet; with immodest hatred,
    The child-bed privilege denied, which ’longs
    To women of all fashion:  lastly, hurried
    Here to this place, i’ the open air, before
    I have got strength of limit.  Now, my liege,
    Tell me what blessings I have here alive,
    That I should fear to die.  Therefore, proceed. 
    But yet hear this; mistake me not:  My life,
    I prize it not a straw; but for mine honour,
    Which I would free, if I shall be condemn’d
    Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else
    But what your jealousies awake, I tell you
    ’Tis rigour, and not law.”

Noble simplicity of the olden time, when the best and purest of women, with the bravest men in presence, thought no shame to hear themselves speaking such plain honest words as these!

The Queen’s long concealing of herself has been censured by some as repugnant to nature.  Possibly they may think it somewhat strained and theatrical, but it is not so:  the woman is but true to herself, in this matter, and to the solid and self-poised repose in which her being dwells.  So that the thing does not seem repugnant to nature as individualized by her reason and will; nor is her character herein more above or out of nature than the proper ideal of art abundantly warrants.  For to her keen sensibility of honour the King’s treatment is literally an infinite wrong; nor does its cruelty more wound her affection, than its meanness alienates her respect; and one so strong to bear injury might well be equally strong to remember it.  Therewithal she knows full well that, in so delicate an instrument as married life, if one string be out of tune the whole is ajar, and will yield no music:  for her, therefore, all things must be right, else none are so.  And she is both too clear of mind and too upright of heart to put herself where she cannot be precisely what the laws of propriety and decorum require her to seem.  Accordingly, when she does forgive, the forgiveness is simply perfect; the breach that has been so long a-healing is at length completely healed; for to be whole and entire in whatever she does, is both an impulse of nature and a law of conscience with her.  When the King was wooing her, she held him off three months, which he thought unreasonably long; but the reason why she did so is rightly explained when, for his inexpressible sin against her, she has locked herself from his sight sixteen years, leaving him to mourn and repent.  Moreover, with her severe chastity of principle, the reconciliation to her husband must begin there where the separation grew.  Thus it was for Perdita to restore the parental unity which her being represents, but of which she had occasioned the breaking.