THE

WINTER's

TAL E.

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Another Sicilian Lord.

Archidamus, a Bohemian Lord.

Rogero, a Sicilian Gentleman.

An Attendant on the young Prince Mamillius.
Officers of a Court of Judicature.

Old Shepherd, reputed Father of Perdita.
Clown, his Son.

Hermione, Queen to Leontes.

Perdita, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione.

Paulina, Wife to Antigonus.

Emilia, Attendant on the Queen.

Two other Ladies.

Mopfa, Shepherdeffes.
Dorcas, S

}

Satyrs for a Dance, Shepherds, Shepherdeffes, Guards,

and Attendants.

SCENE, fometimes in Sicilia; fometimes in Bohemia.

THE

THE

WINTER'S TALE.

ACT I.

SCENE, an Antichamber in Leontes's

F

PALACE.

Enter Camillo, and Archidamus.

(1) ARCHIDA MUS.

you shall chance, Camillo, to vifit Bohemia, on the like occafion whereon my services are now on foot; you fhall fee, as I have faid, great difference be twixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia.

Cam.

(1) ARCHIDAMUs.] This is a character of that fort, which the old criticks have callă πρόσωπον προΐαλικόν : one entirely out of the action and argument of the Play, and introduc'd only to open fimething, neceffary to be known, previous to the action of the fable. Donatus, in his Preface to Terence's Fair Andrian, explains this character thus. Perfona autem protatica ea intelligitur, quæ femel inducta in Prin- . cipio Fabula, in nullis deinceps fabulæ partibus adhibetur. "By a Pro"tatick character we are to understand fuch a one, as is introduc'd in "the beginning, and never after appears in any part of the fable.” Such is Sofia in that Comedy of Terence; fuch, Davus in his Phormio ș

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and

Cam. I think, this coming fummer, the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the vifitation, which he justly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be juftified in our loves; for, indeed,

Cam. 'Befeech you

Arch. Verily, I fpeak it in the freedom of my knowledge; we cannot with fuch magnificence-in fo rare -I know not what to fay-we will give you fleepy drinks, that your fenfes (unintelligent of our infufficience) may, tho' they cannot praise us, as little accufe us. Cam, You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely.

Arch. Believe me, I fpeak, as my understanding instructs me; and as mine honefty puts it to utterance.

;

Cam. Sicilia cannot fhew himfelf over-kind to Bohemia; they were train'd together in their childhoods and there rooted betwixt them then fuch an affection, which cannot chufe but branch now. Since their more mature dignities and royal neceffities made feparation of their fociety, their incounters, though not perfonal, have been royally attornied with enterchange of gifts, letters, loving embaffies; that they have feem'd to be together, tho' abfent; shook hands, as over a vast sea; and embrac'd, as it were from the ends of oppofed winds. "The heav'ns continue their loves!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young Prince Mamillius: it is a gentleman of the greatest promife, that ever came into my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one, that indeed, phyficks the fubject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on

and Philotis and Syra, in his Mother in law. Such are the fervants of the Capulets and Montagues, in our author's Romeo and Juliet: the two gentlemen, who open his Cymbeline; the Sea-captain, in the second fcene of Twelfib-Night; and (tho' thrown into the middle of the play) of the fame nature are the gentlemen in King Henry VIII; who are introduc'd only to make the narratives of Bucking bam's arraign. ment, and Anne Bul'en's coronation..

crutches,