WINTER'S TALE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Leontes, king of Sicilia. Servant to the old shepherd. Mamillius, his son. Autolycus, a rogue. Time, as chorus. Hermione, queen to Leontes. Perdita, daughter to Leontes and Hermione. Paulina, wife to Antigonus. queen. Dorcas, Lord, Ladies, and Attendants; Satyrs for a dance; A Mariner. Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Guards, &C. SCENE-Sometimes in Sicilia ; sometimes in Bohemia. Clown, his son. Emilia, a lady, }attending the ACT I. comfort of your young prince Mamillius ; it is a gen SCENE I. --Sicilia. An Antechamber in Leontes' tleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note. Polace. Enter Camillo and Archidamus. Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of Archidamus. him : It is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physics I the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, on crutches ere he was bom, desire yet their life, to see him a man. you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt Arch. Would they else be content to die? our Bobemia, and your Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Si Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. tiba means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he Arch. If the king bad no son, they would desire to justly owes him. Arck. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, | live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. We will be justified in our loves : for, indeed,Cam. 'Beseech you, SCENE II.-The same. A Room of State in the Pal Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowl ace. Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Hermione, Mamil: edge: we cannot with such magnificence-in so rare lius, Camillo, and Attendants. I know not what to say. We will give you sleepy Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insuffi. The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne eience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little ao Without a burden: time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given And yet we should, for perpetuity, freely. Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cypher, Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding in | Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, struets ine, and as mine bonesty puts it to utterance. With one we-thank-you, many thousands more Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bo That go before it. temia. They were trained together in their child Stay your thanks awhile; hoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an And pay them when you part. affiction, which cannot choose but branch now. Since Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow. their more mature diguities, and royal necessities, made I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, separation of their society, their encounters, though not Or breed upon our absence: That may blow personal, have been royally attornied, with interchange No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, of gifts, letters, loving einbassies ; that they have seem- || This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd ed to be together, though absent ; shook hands, as over To tire your royalty. a vast; and embraced, as it were, from the ends of op Leo. We are tougher, brother, pored winds. The heavens continue their loves! Than you can put us to't. Arch. I think, there is not in the world either mal Pol. No longer stay. ier, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable Leo. Ore seven-night longer. ense us. Leo. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. | Hereditary ours. You have tripp'd since. O my most sacred lady, Of my young play-fellow. Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder, Her. Grace to boot ! Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay, of this make no conclusion; lest you say, To you a charge, and trouble: to save both, Your queen and I are devils : Yet, go on ; Farewell, our brother. The offences we have made you do, we'll answer; Lco. Tongue-tied, our queen ? speak you. If you first sinn'd with us, and that with us Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace, until You did continue fault, and that you slipp'd not You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, sir, | With any but with us. Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure, Leo. Is he won yet? All in Bohemia's well : this satisfaction Her. He'll stay, my lord. The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him, Leo. At my request, he would not He's beat from his best ward. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st Leo. Well said, Hermione. To better purpose. Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong: Her. Never? But let him say so then, and let him go; Leo. Never, but once. But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. before? Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure I prythee, tell me : Cram us with praise, and make us [T. Polixenes. As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongue The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia less, Our praises are our wages: You may ride us, With spur we heat an acre. But to the goal ;What lady she her lord.-You'll stay? My last good was, to entreat his stay ; Pol. No, madam. What was my first? it has an elder sister, Her. Nay, but you will ? Or I mistake you : 0, would her name were Gracel Pol. I may not, verily. But once before I spoke to the purpose: When? Her. Verily! Nay, let me have't; I long. You put me off with limber vows: But I, Leo. Why, that was when Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death, oaths, Ere I could make thee open thy white hand, Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter, You shall not go; a lady's verily is I am yours for ever. As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Her. It is Grace, indeed.Force me to keep you as a prisoner, Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twiee : Not like a guest ; so you shall pay your fees, The one forever earn'd a royal husband; When you depart, and save your thanks. How say The other, for sotne while a friend. you? [Giving her hand to Polisenes. My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread verily, Leo. One of them you shall be. Too hot, too hot: (Aside. Pol. Your guest then, madam: To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. To be your prisoner, should import offending : I have tremor cordis on me:-my heart dances; Which is for me less easy to commit, But not for joy,-not joy. This entertainment Than you to punish. May a free face put on; derive a liberty From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, And well become the agent: it may, I grant: or my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were boys; But to be paddling palms, and pinching fingers, You were pretty lorlings then. As now they are ; and inaking practis'd smiles, Pol. We were, fair queen, As in a looking-glass ;-and then to sigh, as 'twere Two lads, that thought there was no more behind, The mort of the deer; 0, that is entertainment My bosom likes not, nor my brows.--Mainillius, But such a day to-morrow as today, Art thou my boy? And to be boy eternal. Mam. Ay, my good lord. l'fecks? Pol. We were as as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i’ Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd thy And bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd, nose? Was innocence for innocence; we knew not - They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain, The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain: 'That any did : Had we pursued that life, Aud yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf, And our weak spirits ne'er been higher reard Are all call'd, neat.-Still virginalling With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heav'n (Observing Polisenes and Hermione. Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition cleard, Upon lus palm :-How now, you wanton call? the sun, one Art thou my calf? Inch-thick, knee deep; o'er head and ears a forkd Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Lee. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots that Go, play, boy, play ; -thy mother plays, and I I have, Play too; but so disgrae'd a part, whose issue To be full like me :-yet, they say, we are Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and clamour Almost as like as eggs; women say so, Will be my knell.-Go, play, boy, play ;-There have That will say any thing : But were they false been, As o'er-died blacks, as wind, as waters ; false Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now; As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes And many a man there is, even at this present, No bourn 'twixt his and mine ; yet were it true Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm, To say this boy were like me.-Come, sir page, That little thinks she has been sluie'd in his absence, Look on me with your welkin eye: Sweet villain! And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by Most dear'st! my collop !-Can thy dam?-may't be? Sir Smile, bis neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't, Affection! thy infection stabs the centre : Whiles other men have gates; and those gates open'd, Thou dost make possible, things not so held, As mine, against their will : Should all despair, Communicat'st with dreams ;-(How can this be :) That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind With what's unreal thou coactive art, Would hang themselves. Physic fort there is none; And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent, It is a bawdy planet, that will strike Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou dost ; Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it, (And that beyond commission ; and I find it,) From east, west, north, and south: Be it concluded, And that to the infection of my brains, No barricado for a belly; know it ; It will let in and out the enemy, With bag and baggage: many a thousand of us Her. He something seems unsettled. Have the disease, and feel't not.-How now, boy? Pol. How, my lord ? Mam. I am like you, they say. What cheer? how is't with you, best brother? Leo. Why, that's some comfort. Her. You look, | - What! Camillo there? As if you held a brow of much distraction : Cam. Ay, my good lord. Are you mov'd, my lord? Leo. Go play, Mamillius; Thou'rt an honest man. Lea. No, in good earnest. [Exit Mamillius. How sometimes nature will betray its folly, -Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer. Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold: To harder bosoms ! Looking on the lines When you cast out, it still came home. of my boy's face, methoughts, I did recoil Leo. Didst note it? Twenty-three years; and saw myself unbreechd, Cam. He would not stay at your petitions ; made. In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled, His business more material. Lest it should bite its master, and so prove, Leo. Didst perceive it? As ornaments oft do, too dangerous. They're here with me already; whispering, rounding, How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, Sicilia is a so-forth : 'Tis far gone, This squash, this gentleman:-Mine honest friend, When I shall gust it last.--How came't, Camillo, Will you take eggs for money? That he did stay? Сат. . At the good queen's entreaty. Leo. You will? why, happy man be his dole! Leo. At the queen's, bet: good, should be pertineut ; My brotber, But so it is, it is not. Was this taken Are you so fond of your young prince, as we By any understanding pate but thine? For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in More than the common blocks :--Not noted, is't, He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter: But of the finer natures? by some severals, Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy; Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes, My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all : Perchance, are to this business purblind : say. He makes a July's day short as December; Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most understand And, with his varying childness, cures in me Bohemia stays here longer. Thoughts that would thick my blood. Leo. Ha? Stays here longer. Offied with me: We two will walk, my lord, Leo. Ay, but why? And leave you to your graver steps.--Hermione, Cam. To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's welcome; Of our most gracious mistress. Let what is dear in Sicily, be cheap : Leo. Satisfy Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's The entreaties of your mistress ?--satisfy ?- Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo, With all the nearest things to my heart, as well We are yours i' the garden : Shall's attend you there? || My chamber-councils: wherein, priest-like, thou Leo. To your own bents dispose you: Fou'll be found, Hast cleans'd my bosom ; 1 from thee departed Cam. Be it forbid, my lord ! And arms her with the boldness of a wife Leo. To bide upon't ;-Thou art not honest : or, (Exeunt Polix. Her. and Attendants. If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward ; To her allowing husband ! Gone already; Whick boxes bonesty behind, restraining Frort course requird: Or clse thou must be counted About his neck, Bohemia : Who-if I Had servants true about me: that bare eyes To see alike mine honour as their profits, That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn, Their own particular thrifts,--they would do that And tak'st it all for jest. Which should undo more doing: Ay, and thou, Cam. My gracious lord, His cup-bearer,-whom I from meaner form I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful; Have bench'd, and reard to worship ; who may'st mere In every one of these po man is free, Plainly, as heaven sees earth, and earth sees heaven, But that his negligenee, his folly, fear, How I am galled,-might'st bespice a cup, Amongst the infinite doings of the world, To give mine enemy a lasting wink; Sometime puts forth : In your affairs, my lord, Which draught to me were cordial. If ever I were wilful-negligent, Сат. Sir, my lord, It was my folly; if industriously I could do this; and that with no rash potion, I play'd the fool, it was my negligence, But with a ling’ring dram, that should not work Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful Maliciously like poison : But I cannot To do a thing, where I the issue doubted, Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress, Whereof the execution did cry out So sovereignly being honourable. Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear I have lov'd thee, — Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord, Leo. Make't thy question, and Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty Dost think, I am so muddy, so unsettled, Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace, To appoint myself in this vexation? sully Be plainer with me; let me know my trespass The purity and whiteness of my sheets, By its own visage: If I then deny it, Which to preserve, is sleep; which being spotted, 'Tis none of mine. Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps ? Leo. Have not you seen, Camillo, Give scandal to the blood o' the prince, my son, (But that's past doubt: you have; or your eye-glass Who, I do think is mine, and love as mine; Is thicker than a cuckold's horn ;) or heard, Without right moving to't? Would I do this? (For, to a vision so apparent, rumour Could man so blench? Cannot be mute) or thought, (for cogitation Cam. I must believe you, sir ; Resides not in that man, that does not think it.) I do ; and will fetch off Bohemia for't: My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess, Provided, that wben he's remov'd, your highness (Or else be impudently negative, Will take again your queen, as yours at first ; To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought.) then say, Even for your son's sake ; and, thereby, for sealing My wife's a hobby-horse; deserves a name The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms As rank as any flax-weneh, that puts to Known and allied to yours. Before her troth plight: say it, and justify it. Leo. Thou dost advise me, Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear Even so as I mine own course have set down: My sovereign mistress clouded so, without I'll give no blemish to her honour, none. Go then ; and with a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia. As deep as that, though true. And with your queen : I am his cup-bearer ; Leo. Is whispering nothing? If from me he have wholesome beverage, Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses? Account me not your servant. Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career Lco. This is all : Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible Do't, and thou hast the one half of my heart; Of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot? Do't not, thou splitt'st thine own. Skulking in corners ? wishing clocks more swift? Cam. I'll do't, my lond. Hours, minutes ? noon, midnight ? and all eyes Leo. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advisd me. Who, in rebellion with himself, will have All that are his, so t00.-To do this deed, of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes; Promotion follows: if I could find example For 'tis most dangerous. of thousands, that had struck anointed kings, Leo. Say, it be ; 'tis true. And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since Cam. No, no, my lord. Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one', Leo. It is; you lie, you lie: Let villany itself forewear't. I must I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee; Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave; To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now! Or else a hovering temporizer, that Here comes Bohemia. Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil, Enter Polixenes. Inclining to them both : Were my wife's liver Pol. Infected as her life, she would not live My favour here begins to warp. Not speak ?The running of one glass. Good day, Camillo. Cam. Hail, most royal sir ! Leo. Why be, that wears her like ber medal, hanging Pol. What is the news i' the court? This is strange! methinks, |