An illustration by john opie, engraved by jean pierre simon, for act ii, scene iii of shakespeare's [the] winter's tale
leontes:
[to antigonus. ] you, sir, come you hither:
you that have been so tenderly officious
with lady margery, your midwife, there,
to save this bastard's life,—for 'tis a bastard,
so sure as this beard's grey,—what will you adventure
to save this brat's life?
antigonus. Anything, my lord,
that my ability may undergo,
and nobleness impose: at least, thus much;
i'll pawn the little blood which i have left
to save the innocent:—anything possible. Leontes. It shall be possible. Swear by this sword
thou wilt perform my bidding. Antigonus. I will, my lord. Leontes. Mark, and perform it; (seest thou?) for the fail
of any point in't shall not only be
death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife;
whom for this time, we pardon. Date: June 1793.
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