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THE

WINTER'S TALE'.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

I

An Antichamber in Leontes's Palace.

Enter Camillo, and Archidamus.

ARCHIDAMUS.

F you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occafion whereon my fervices 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 juftly owes him.

The Winter's Tale.] This play, throughout, is written in the very spirit of its author. And in telling this homely and fimple, tho' agreeable, country tale, Our feeteft Shakespeare, Fancy's child, Warbles his native wood-notes wild. Milton. This was neceffary to obferve in

mere juftice to the Play, as the meannefs of the fable, and the extravagant conduct of it, had mifled fome of great name into a wrong judgment of its merit; which, as far as it regards fentiment and character, is fcarce inferior to any in the whole collection. WARBURTON.

Arch.

Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us 2, we will be juftified in our love; for, indeed,Cam. 'Befeech 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.

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 utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot fhew himfelf over-kind to Bohemia; they were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then fuch an affection, which cannot chufe but branch now. Since their more mature dignities and royal neceffities made feperation of their fociety, their incounters, though not perfonal, have been royally attornied 3 with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embaffies; that they have seem'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 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 promife, 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 fubject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went

2- our entertainment, &c.] Though we cannot give you equal entertainment, yet the confcioufnefs of our good-will fhall justify us.

3-royally attornied] No

bly supplied by fubftitution of embaffies, &c.

4 phyficks the fubje,] Affords a cordial to the, ftate; has the power of affuaging the fenfe of mifery.

on

on crutches, ere he was born, defire yet their life to fee 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 II.

Opens to the Prefence.

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

Pol

N

INE Changes of the watry ftar hath been
The thepherd's note, fince we have left our
Throne

Without a burden: time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we fhould, 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 queftion'd by my fears, of what may chance,
Or breed upon our abfence, that may blow.

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No fneaping winds at home, to make us fay, "This is put forth too truly." Besides, I have stay'd 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.

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 should 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,
Farewel, 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 best ward.

'Leo. Well faid, Hermione.

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

But let him fay fo then, and let him go;
But let him fwear fo, and he fhall not stay;
We'll thwack him hence with diftaffs.

Yet of your royal prefence I'll adventure

than be beholden to this correc

tion, alters it to.

[To Polixenes.

Some freaping winds.

and fo deftroys the whole fenti

there may blow

- ment.

WARBURTON.

The

The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my Lord, I'll give you my commiffion",
To let him there a month, behind the geft'
Prefix'd for's parting: yet (good heed) Leontes3,
I love thee not a jar o'th' clock behind
What lady fhe her lord. You'll stay?
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' unfphere the stars 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 gueft; fo you fhall pay your fees,
When you depart, and fave your thanks. How fay
you?

My prifoner? or my gueft? by your dread verily,
One of them you fhall be.

Pol. Your gueft then, Madam:

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

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