ACT I. Clown, his son. Servant to the old shepher u. Hermione, queen to Leontes. Perdita, daughter to Leontes and Hermione. Paulina, wife to Antigonus. Emilia, a lady, Two other ladies, attending the queen. Mopsa, Shepherdesses. Dorcas, Lords, ladies, and attendants; satyrs for a dance, shepherds, shepherdesses, guards, &c. [Scene, sometimes in Sicilia, sometimes in Bohemia. malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; SCENE I-Sicilia. An Antechamber in Leon-it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever tes' palace. Enter Camillo and Archidamus. Archidamus. 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 ne 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 magnificence came into my note. Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, phywent on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their sics the subject,' makes old hearts fresh: they, that life, to see him a man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? they should desire to live. Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire [Exeunt. to live on crutches till he had one. 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 in so rare-I know not what to say.--We will The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelli- Without a burden: time as long again gent of our insufficience, may, though they can-Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks : not praise us, as little accuse us. And yet we should, for perpetuity, Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, given freely. Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding With one we-thank-you, many thousands more instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utter-That go before it. ance. Leon. Stay your thanks awhile; Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to And pay them when you part. Bohemia. They were trained together in their Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow. childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, such an affection, which cannot choose but branch Or breed upon our absence: That may blow now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, necessities, made separation of their society, their This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd encounters, though not personal, have been royally To tire your royalty. attornied' with interchange of gifts, letters, loving_Leon." Pol. embassies; that they have seemed to be together, Than you can put us to't. (1) Nobly supplied by substitution of embassies. We are tougher, brother, No longer stay. longer. Leon. One seven-night (3) Affords a cordial to the state. (4) Nipping, I'll no gain-saying. S soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder, Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, sir, Leon. Yet of your royal presence [To Polixenes.] I'll ad venture You put me off with limber vows: But I, As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with Or I mistake you: 0, would her name were Grace! oaths, Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, You shall not go; a lady's verily is As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees, My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread verily, Pol. Than you to punish. Her. Not your gaoler then, But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you You were pretty lordings' then. Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two? i' the sun, And bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd, (1) Gests were the names of the stages where But once before I spoke to the purpose. When? Leon. Why, that was when Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death, Ere I could make thee open thy white hand, Her. [Giving her hand to Polixenes. Mam. Ay, my good lord. I'fecks? Why, that's my bawcock." What, hast smutch'd thy nose? They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain. (6) Setting aside original sin. (7) Trembling of the heart. (8) The tune played at the death of the deer. (9) Hearty fellow, We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain :|We are yours i'the garden: Shall's attend you [Observing Polixenes and Hermione. Upon his palm ?-How now, you wanton calf? Art thou my calf? Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots that I have,2 To be full like me :-yet, they say, we are Affection! thy infection stabs the centre: there? Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found, Be you beneath the sky:-I am angling now, [Aside. Observing Polixenes and Hermione. one. 12 [Exeunt Polixenes, Hermione, and attendants. Go, play, boy, play;-thy mother plays, and I Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and clamour Will be my knell.-Go, play, boy, play ;-There have been, Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now; Communicat'st with dreams;--(How can this be?)-Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm, With what's unreal thou coactive art, And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent, 5 Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou dost; (And that beyond commission; and I find it,) That little thinks she has been sluic'd in his absence, As mine, against their will: Should all despair Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it, It will let in and out the enemy, With bag and baggage: many a thousand of us -Have the disease, and feel't not.-How now, boy? Mam. I am like you, they say. How, my lord? What cheer? how is't with you, best brother? Her. You look, As if you held a brow of much distraction: Are you mov'd, my lord? Leon. No, in good carnest.How sometimes nature will betray its folly, Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines Of my boy's face, methoughts, I did recoil Twenty-three years; and saw myself unbreech'd, In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled, Lest it should bite its master, and so prove, As ornaments of do, too dangerous. How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, This squash, this gentleman :-mine honest friend, Will you take eggs for money?" Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight. Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole!- Are you so fond of your young prince, as we Pol. If you would seek us, Leon. Why, that's some comfort. What! Camillo there? Cam. Ay, my good lord. man. Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest [Exit Mamillius. Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer. Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold: When you cast out, it still came home. Leon. Didst note it? Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made His business more material. ing, 13 Sicilia is a so-forth: 'Tis far gone, When I shall gust4 it last.-How came't, Camillo, Cam. But so it is, it is not. Was this taken (5) May his share of life be a happy one! Leon. To bide upon't ;-Thou art not honest: or, Say, it be; 'tis true. It is; you lie, you lie : I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee; Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil, Cam. Who does infect her? Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, hanging That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I drawn, And tak'st it all for jest. Cam. My gracious lord, Leon. Have not you seen, Camillo, (But that's past doubt: you have; or your eye-glass Is thicker than a cuckold's horn;) or heard (For, to a vison so apparent, rumour Cannot be mute,) or thought (for cogitation Resides not in that man, that does not think it,) My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess, (Or else be impudently negative, Had servants true about me; that bare eyes Sir, my lord, I could do this; and that with no rash potion, Leon. Cam. I must believe you, sir; To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then say, I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't: My wife's a hobby-horse; deserves a name With the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only, (1) To hox is to hamstring. Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness Go then; and with a countenance as clear Leon. I'll do't, my lord (5) Maliciously, with effects openly hurtful. (6) i. e. Could any man so start off from pro priety? |