WINTER'S TALE.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

An

TO the story-book, or Pleasant History (as it is called) of Dorastus and Pawnia, written by Robert Greene, M.A we as indebted for Shakspeare's Winter's Tale. The parts of Antigonus, Paulina, and Autolycus, are of the poet's own invention; and many circumstances of the novel are omitted in the drama. Mr. Walpole ranks it among the historic plays of Shakspeare, and says it was certainly presented, (in compliment to Queen Elizabeth) as an indirect apology for her mother, Anne Boleyn; the unreasonable jealousy and violent conduct of Leontes, forming a true portrait of Henry VIII. who generally made the law the engine of his passions. Several passages, it must be confessed, strongly favour this plausible conjecture, and seem to apply to the real history much closer than to the fable. But Malone and Sir William Blackstone refer to other passages, which would strengthen a contrary opinion; to one, in particular, which could scarcely be in. tended for the ear of her, who had put the Queen of Scots to death. It was, however, probably written immediately upon Elizabeth's death; nor could it fail of being very agreeable to James her successor, Inattention to dramatic rules, so common with Shakspeare, is perhaps more glaringly apparent in this than in any other of his productions; and Pope and Dryden have made it the subject of some ill-advised censure. But had Shakspeare been acquainted with these rules, (which he certainly was not,) the exquisite talent displayed in his writings, is a sufficient apology for the freedom with which he has set them aside. His inexhaustible genius was not to be restrained, nor the restless disposition of an English audience to be gratified, by a close and reverent adherence to the classical nuities of the stage. Hence such a breach in time and probability, as producing, at a rustic festival, a lovely woman, fit to be married, who but a few minutes before, had been deposited on the sea-shore, an infant in swaddling clothes. Hence the celerity with which seas are crossed, countries traversed, battles fought, and marriages accomplished. The Winter's Tale, however, with all its contradictions---with a mean fable, extravagantly conducted--is scarcely inferior to any of Shakspeare's plays. It contains much excellent sentiment, several strongly-marked characters, and a tissue of events fully justifying the title ;---for a jumble of improbable incidents, some merry and some sad, is the legitimate feature of a Christmas story. Still it must be observed, that though the origin and progress of jealousy are always unaccountable, the sudden transition of Leontes from a state of perfect friendship and affection to that of hatred and vindictive rage, is not accompanied by any apparent circumstances to render it probable or natural. Paulina's character is novel, and very pleasingly imagined; and Hermione's defence is not less beautiful and pathetic than its prototype in Henry VIII. Autolycus, the king of beggars and of pedlars, is one of the most arch and amusing scoundrels ever designed by cur poet. His songs are all exceedingly spirited.

Another Sicilian Lord.

ROGERO, a Sicilian Gentleman,

Servant to the old Shepherd.

AUTOLYCUS, a Rogue.

TIME, as ('horus.

HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes.

PERDITA, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione.
PAULINA, Wife to Antigonus.

EMILIA, a Lady,

An Attendant on the young Prince Mamillius. Two other Ladies, Attending the Queen.

Officers of a Court of Judicature.

POLIXENES, King of Bohemia.

FLORIZEL, his Son.

ARCHIDAMUS, a Bohemian Lord.

A Mariner.

Jailer.

An old Shepherd, reputed jather of Perdita.
Clown, his Son.

Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Guards, &c.

SCENE--sometimes in Sicilia; sometimes in Bohemia.

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 whereen my
services are now on foot, you shall see as 1

have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia.

Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bonemia the visitation which he justly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, in. deed,-

Cam. 'Beseech you

Farewell, our brother.

Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my | To you a charge and trouble: to save both, knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence in 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.

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen ? speak you.
Her. I had thought, Sir, to bave held my
peace, until

You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay.
You, Sir,

Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure,
All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction
The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from bis best ward.

Leon. Well said, Hermione.
Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were
strong:

Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but But let him say so then, and let him go; branch now. Since their more mature dignities, But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, and royal necessities, made separation of their We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.society, their encounters, though not personal, Yet of your royal presence [To POLIXENES.} have been royally attornied, with interchange I'll adventure of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia seemed to be together, though absent; shook You take my lord, I'll give him my commishands, as over a vast; + and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The beavens continue their loves!

sion,

To let him there a month, behind the gest* Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, † Leontes,

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an un-I love thee not a jar ‡ o'the clock behind speakable comfort of your young prince Mamil- What lady she her lord.-You'll stay? lius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, Pol. No, madam. that ever came into my note. Her. Nay, but you will? Pol. 1 may not, verily. Her. Verily !

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.

been

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MA-
MILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants.
Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have
[throue
The shepherd's note, since we have left our
Without a burden: 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 cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply,
With one we-thank-you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leon. Stay your thanks awhile;
And pay them when you part.

Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears, of what may
chance,

Or breed upon our absence: That may blow
No sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have
To tire your royalty.

Leon. We are tougher, brother,

[stay'd

Leon. We'll part the time between's then:

and in that

I'll no gain-saying.

Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so;
There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'the
world,
[now,
So soon as your's, could win me so it should
Were there necessity in your request, although
'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder,
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay,

• Nobly supplied by substitution of embassies.
Wide waste of country.
Affords a cordial to the state.
§ Nipping

You put me off with limber vows: But I,
Though you would seek to unsphere the stars
with 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?
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?
[verily,
My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread
One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your guest then, madam :

To be your prisoner, should import offending;
Which is for me less easy to commit,
Than you to punish.

Her. Not your jailer then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you
Of my lord's tricks, and your's, when you were
boys;

You were pretty lordings | then.
Pol. We were, fair queen,

Two lads, that thought there was no more be-
hind,

But such a day to-morrow as to day,
And to be boy eternal.

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

Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk

i'the sun,

And bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd,
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd
That any did: Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd
heaven

Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,
Hereditary our's.¶

Her. By this we gather,
You have tripp'd since.

Pol. O my most sacred lady,

Temptations have since then been born to as:
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl; [for
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young playfellow.

Her. Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclusion; lest you say,
Your queen and I are devils: Yet, go on;

Gests were the names of the stages where the king appointed to lie, during a royal progress.

A diminutive of lords.

Indeed.

1 Tick.

Setting aside original ein.

Flimsy.