Paulina (Emildale audition)

First line

What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me?

What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me?

What wheels, racks, fires? What flaying, boiling. In leads or oils?

What wheels, racks, fires? What flaying, boiling. In leads or oils?

What old or newer torture must I receive, whose every word deserves to taste of thy most worst?

What old or newer torture must I receive, whose every word deserves to taste of thy most worst?

Thy tyranny, together working with thy jealousies - fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle for girls of nine.

Thy tyranny, together working with thy jealousies - fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle for girls of nine.

O think what they have done, and then run mad indeed, stark mad for all they bygone fooleries were but spices of it.

O think what they have done, and then run mad indeed, stark mad for all they bygone fooleries were but spices of it.

That thou betrayed’st Polixenes, ‘twas nothing; that did but show thee of a fool, inconstant and damnable ingrateful.

That thou betrayed’st Polixenes, ‘twas nothing; that did but show thee of a fool, inconstant and damnable ingrateful.

Nor was’t much thou wouldst have poisoned good Camillo’s honour, to have him kill a king - poor trespasses, more monstrous standing by.

Nor was’t much thou wouldst have poisoned good Camillo’s honour, to have him kill a king - poor trespasses, more monstrous standing by.

Whereof I reckon the casting forth to crows thy baby daughter to be or none of little, though a devil would have shed water out of fire ere done’t.

Whereof I reckon the casting forth to crows thy baby daughter to be or none or little, though a devil would have shed water out of fire ere done’t.

Nor is it directly laid to thee, the death of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts - thoughts high for one so tender - cleft the heart that could conceive a gross and foolish sire blemished his gracious dam.

Nor is it directly laid to thee, the death of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts - thoughts high for one so tender - cleft the heart that could conceive a gross and foolish sire blemished his gracious dam.

This is not, no, laid to thy answer.

This is not, no, laid to thy answer.

But the last - O lords, when I have said, cry woe! The queen, the queen, the sweetest, dearest creature’s dead!

But the last - O lords, when I have said, cry woe! The queen, the queen, the sweetest, dearest creature’s dead!

And vengeance for it. Not dropped down yet