LEONTES, King of Sicilia.
POLIXENES, King of Bithynia.
MAMILLUS, Young Prince of Sicilia,
FLORIZEL, Prince of Bithynia.
CAMILLO,
ANTIGONUS,

Sicilian Lords.
CLEOMINES,
Dion,
Otber Sicilian Lords,
ARCHIDAMUS, a Lord of Bithynia.
Old Shepherd, reputed Fatber of Perdita.
Clown, bis Son.
AUTOLICUS, a Roguish Pedlar,
A Mariner.
TIME,' as Chorus.
HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes.
PERDITA, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione!
PAULINA, Wife to Antigonus.
EMILIA, Attendant on the Queen,

DORCA:, } Shepberdelles

.

Goaler, Shepherds, Shepberdesses, and Attendantso SCENE, partly in Sicilia, and partly in Bithynia. The plot taken from the old story- book of Doraftus and Faunia.

N B. The Country here callid Bithynia bath in all former Edje rions been printed Bohemia an inland kingdom fituated nearly in the center of Europe, whereas many of the great incid nts of the Play turn upon its being a maritime country of which Pol: xenes wis the King. 'This is a blunder and an absurdity of which Shakespear in justice ought not to be thought capable: and as he hath turn'd quite anew the story containd in the old paltry book of Doraftus and Faunia, changing most of the main circumstances and all the names of the Persons; it is probable he removed this impropriety and placed the scene in Bithynia, which the ignorance and negligence of the first Transcribers or Printers inight corrupt and bring back again to Bohe. mia by a lefs variation in the letters than they have been guilty of in numberless other places of this work.

THE

WINTER's TALE,

I

ACT I. SCENE I.

A palace. Enter Camillo, und Archidamuc. Arcb. F you fall chance, Camillo, to visit Bitbynia,

on the like occafion whereon my fervices are now on foot, you thall fee, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bithynia and your

Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia means to pay Bitbynia the vilitation which he justly owes bim.

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

Cam. 'Beseech you

Arcb. Verily.I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge we cannot with fuch magnificence-in so rare-I know not what to say—we will give you Neepy drinks, that your fenses" (unintelligent of car insufficience) may, tho' they cannot praise us, as little accuse us.

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

Arth. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot thew himself over-kind to Bitbynia's VOL, IV.

chee

they were train’d together in their childhoods ; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot chuse but branch now. Since their more mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their society, their incounterss though not personal, have been royally attornied with enterchange of gifts, letters, loving embaffies, that they have seem'd to be together, tho' absent ; shook hands, as over a vast sea, and embrac'd as it were from the ends of opposed winds. The heav'ns continue their love !

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

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 desire yet their life to see him a man.

Arcb. 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 fon, they would defire to live on crutches 'till he had one.

[Exeunt. SCENE II. Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillus,

Polixenes, Camillo, and Attendants.
Pol. Nine changes of the watry ttar hath been
The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne
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 standing in rich place, I multiply
With one we tbank you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leo. Stay your thanks a while,
And pay them when you part.

Pel. Sir, that's to-morrow :
I'm question’d by my fears, of what may chance
Or breed upon our absence : there may blow
Some sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too early : beldes, I have stay'd

TO

To

To tire your Royalty.

Léo. We are tougher, brother, Than you can put us to'ti

Pol. No longer stay,
Leo. One fev’n-night longer.
Pol. Very suoth, to-morrow.
Leo. We'll part the time between's then : and in that
l'H no gain-faying.

Pel. Press me not, 'befeech you !
There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'th'world
So soon as yours, could win me : so it should now
Were there necessity 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,

you a charge and trouble: to save both, Farewel, our brother !

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

Her. I had thought, Sir, to have held my peace, uncil You had drawn oaths from him not to stay : you, Sir, Charge him too coldly. Tell him you are sure All in Bitbynia's well : this satisfaction The by-gone day proclaim'd ; say this to him, He's beat from his best ward,

Leo. Well said, Hermione.

Her. To tell; he longs to see his fon, were frong i
But let him fay so then, and let him go z
But let him swear fo, and he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with diftaffs.
Yet of your royal presence P'll adventure [To Polixenes,
The borrow of a week. When at Birbynia.
You take my Lord, I'll give you my commission
To let him there a month, behind the geste
Prefix'd for's parţing: yet, good heed, Leontes ;
I love thee not a jar o'th' clock behind
What Lady'the her Lord, You'll ftay?

Pol. No, Madam.
Her. Nay, but you will.
Pol. I may not verily.
Her. Verily?

You put me off with limber vows ;but I,
Tho' you would seek t’ynfphere the stars with caths,
Should yet. say, Sir, no going : verilý
You shall not go ;. a Lady’s verily

, is
As potentàs a Lord’s. Will you go yet ?
Force me to keep you as a prifoner,
Not like a guest so you shall pay your fees
When you depart, and save your thanks. How lay you?
My prisoner? or my gueß ? by your dread verilyn
One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your guest then, Madam :
To be your prisoner, fould impost offending är
Which is for me less easie to commit,
Than you to punilh.

Hir. Not your goaler then,
But your kind hoftels ;. come, I'll question you:
Of my Lord's tricks and yours, when you were boys ::
You were pretty Lordings then ?

Pol. We were, fair Queen,
Two lads, that thought there was no more behind,
But such a day to-morrow as to-day,
And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my Lord the verier wag o'th'two ?

Pol. We were as twinn'a lambs, that did frisk i th' (waja
And bleat the one at th'other : what we chang dijua
Was innocence for innocence ; we knew not.
The doctrine of ill-doing, no nor dream'a:
That any did : had we pursu'd chat life,
And our weak spirits neper been-bigher rear'a
With ftronger blood, we should have answer'a heaven
Boldly, not guilty; th' imposition clear’d.
Hereditary ours.

Her. By this we gather:
You have tript fince.

Pol. O my moft sacred Lady,
Temptations have since then been born to's ; for:
In those unfledg’d days was my wife a girl ;
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young play-fellow.

Hey, Oh.. Grace to boot !