An illustration by John Opie, engraved by Jean Pierre Simon, for Act II, Scene III of Shakespeare's [The] Winter's TaleLEONTES:[To ANTIGONUS.] You, sir, come you hither:You that have been so tenderly officiousWith 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 adventureTo 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 leftTo save the innocent:—anything possible.LEONTES.It shall be possible. Swear by this swordThou wilt perform my bidding.ANTIGONUS.I will, my lord.LEONTES.Mark, and perform it; (seest thou?) for the failOf any point in't shall not only beDeath to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife;Whom for this time, we pardon.