Leontes. 
                               Why, what need we
Commune with you of this, but rather follow
Our forceful instigation?  Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels; but our natural goodness
Imparts this; which, if you,—­or stupified
Or seeming so in skill,—­cannot or will not
Relish a truth, like us, inform yourselves
We need no more of your advice:  the matter,
The loss, the gain, the ord’ring on’t, is all
Properly ours.

Antigonus. 
               And I wish, my liege,
You had only in your silent judgment tried it,
Without more overture.

Leontes. 
                       How could that be? 
Either thou art most ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool.  Camillo’s flight,
Added to their familiarity,—­
Which was as gross as ever touch’d conjecture,
That lack’d sight only, nought for approbation,
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to th’ deed,—­doth push on this proceeding. 
Yet, for a greater confirmation,—­
For, in an act of this importance, ’twere
Most piteous to be wild,—­I have despatch’d in post
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo’s temple,
Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know
Of stuff’d sufficiency:  now, from the oracle
They will bring all, whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop or spur me.  Have I done well?

First lord. 
Well done, my lord,—­

Leontes. 
Though I am satisfied, and need no more
Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to the minds of others such as he
Whose ignorant credulity will not
Come up to th’ truth:  so have we thought it good
From our free person she should be confin’d;
Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence
Be left her to perform.  Come, follow us;
We are to speak in public; for this business
Will raise us all.

Antigonus.
[Aside.] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known.

[Exeunt.]

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?