LEONTES, King of Sicilia MAMILLIUS, his Son. CAMILLO, ANTIGONUS, CLEOMENES, DION. Sicilian Lords. Another Sicilian Lord. ROGERO, a Sicilian Gentleman. An Attendant on the young Prince Mamillius. Officers of a Court of Judicature. POLIXENES, King of Bohemia. FLORIZEL, his Son. ARCHIDAMUS, a Bohemian Lord. A Mariner. Gaoler. An old Shepherd, reputed Father of Perdita. Clown, his Son. Servant to the old Shepherd. AUTOLYCUS, a Rogue. Time, as Chorus. HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes. PERDITA, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione. PAULINA, Wife to Antigonus. EMILIA, a Lady, Two other Ladies, MOPSA, DORCAS, } Attending the Queen. Shepherdesses. Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Satyrs for a Dance. Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Guards, &c. Scene, sometimes in Sicilia; sometimes in Bohemia. WINTER'S TALE. ACT I. SCENE 1.-Sicilia.- An Antechamber in LEONTES Palace. Enter CAMILLO, and ARCHIDAMUS. Arch. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for indeed,Cam. 'Beseech you,- Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificencein so rare-I know not what to say.---We will give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us. Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely. Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance. Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were train'd together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seem'd to be together, though absent: shook hands, as over a vast; and * Nobly supplied by substitution of embassies. + Wide waste of country. embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens 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 promise, 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, physics the subject*, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne Without a burden: time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; Leon. Stay your thanks a while; And pay them when you part. I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, Leon. We are tougher, brother, Than you can put us to't. Pol. No longer stay. Leon. One seven-night longer. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. Leon. We'll part the time between 's then : and in that I'll no gain-saying, • Affords a cordial to the state. + Nipping. Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so; There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? Speak you. until You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, Sir, The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him, Leon. Well said, Hermione. Her. To tell, he longs to see his son were strong: But let him say so then, and let him go; But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, We'll thwack him hence with distaffs Yet of your royal presence [To Polixenes.] I'll ad venture The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia_ What lady she her lord. You'll stay? Pol. No, madam. Her. Nay, but you will? Her. Verily! You put me off with limberý vows: but I, Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Force me to keep you as a prisoner, Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees, When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you? * Gests were the names of the stages where the king appointed to lie, during a royal progress. + Indeed. ‡ Tick, Flimsy. |