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.

A Mariner.

Goaler.

Servant to the old Shepherd.

Autolicus, a Rogue,

Time, as Chorus.

Hermione, Queen to Leontes.

Perdita, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione.

Paulina, Wife to Antigonus.

Emilia, Attendant on the Queen.

Two other Ladies.

Satyrs for a Dance, Shepherds, Shepherdeffes, Guards,

and Attendants.

SCENE, fometimes in Sicilia; sometimes, in

Bohemia.

THE

THE

WINTER's TALE.

ACTI.

SCENE, an Antichamber in Leontes's PALACE.

I

Enter Camillo, and Archidamus.

ARCHIDA MUS.

F you fhall 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 betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia.

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 justified in our loves; for, indeed,

Cam. 'Beseech 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.

VOL. III.

L

Cam.

Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely.

Arch. Believe me, I fpeak, as my Understanding inftructs me; and as mine honefty puts it to utter

ance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot fhew himself over-kind to Bohemia; they were train'd together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such 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; fhook hands, as over a Vast; 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 unfpeakable 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, phyficks the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches, ere he was born, defire yet their life to see him a man.

Arch. Would they elfe be content to die?

Cam. Yes, if there were no other excufe why they fhould defire to live.

Arch. If the King had no fon, they would defire to live on crutches 'till he had one.

SCENE opens to the Prefence.

Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, and Attendants.

Pol. The fhepherd's note, fince we have left our N

Ine Changes of the watry ftar hath been

Throne

Without

Without a burthen: time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cypher,
Yet ftanding in rich place, I multiply

With one, we thank you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leo. Stay your thanks a while;
And pay them, when you part.
Pol. Sir, that's to morrow:

I'm question'd by my fears, of what may chance,
Or breed upon our absence, that may blow
No fneaping winds at home, to make us fay,
"This is put forth too truly".
To tire your royalty.

Leo. We are tougher, brother,

Than you can put us to't.
Pol. No longer Stay.

Leo. One fev'n-night longer.
Pol. Very footh, to morrow.

Befides, I have stay'd

Leo. We'll part the time between's then: and in that I'll no gain-faying.

Pol. Prefs me not, 'befeech you, fo;

There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'th' world,
So foon as yours, could win me: fo it fhould now,
Were there neceffity in your request, altho'
"Twere needful I deny'd it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward; which to hinder,
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay,
To you a charge and trouble: to fave both,
Farewell, our brother.

Leo. Tongue-ty'd, our Queen? fpeak you.

Her. I had thought, Sir, to've held my peace, until
You'ad drawn oaths from him not to stay: you, Sir,
Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are fure,
All in Bohemia's well: this fatisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim'd; fay this to him,
He's beat from his beft ward.

Leo. Well faid, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to fee his fon, were strong,
L 2

But

But let him fay fo then, and let him go;
But let him fwear fo, and he shall not stay;
We'll thwack him hence with diftaffs.
Yet of your royal prefence I'll adventure

[To Polixenes.
The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commiffion,
To let him there a month, behind the geft (1)
Prefix'd for's parting: yet, (good deed) Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o'th' clock behind
What lady fhe her lord.

Pol. No, Madam.

You'll stay ?

Her. Nay, but you will?

Pol. I may not, verily.

Her. Verily?

You put me off with limber vows; but I,

Tho' you would feek t'unfphere the ftars with oaths,
Should yet fay, "Sir, no going: verily,
"You fhall not go;" a lady's verily is
As potent as a lord's. Will you go, yet?
Force me to keep you as a prifoner,

Not like a guest ; fo you fhall pay your fees,

When you depart, and fave your thanks. How fay you? My prifoner? or my guest? by your dread verily,

One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your Gueft then, Madam:

To be your prifoner, fhould import offending;
Which is for me lefs eafie to commit,

Than you to punish.

Her. Not your Goaler then,

But your kind Hoftefs; come, I'll queftion you
Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were boys:

(1)

behind the geft

Prefcrib'd for's parting:] I have not ventur'd to alter the Text, tho', I freely own, I can neither trace, nor underftand, the Phrase. I have suspected, that the Poet wrote;

Prefcrib'd for's parting.

behind the juft

i. e. the juft, precife, time; the inftant; (where Time is likewife understood) by an Elleipfis practis'd in all Tongues.

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