Other Sicilian Lords.

ARCHIDAMUS, a Lord of Bithynia.

Old Shepherd, reputed Father of Perdita.

Clown, his Son.

AUTOLICUS, a Roguish Pedlar.

A Mariner.

TIME, as Chorus.

HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes.

PERDITA, Daughter to Leontes and Hermiones

Wife to Antigonus.

PAULINA, Wife to

EMILIA, Attendant on the Queen.

Goaler, Shepherds, Shepherdesses, and Attendants. SCENE, partly in Sicilia, and partly in Bithynia. The plot taken from the old story-book of Dorastus and Faunia.

N B. The Country here call'd Bithynia hath in all former Edi tions 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 Polixenes was the King. This is a blunder and an abfurdity of which Shakespear in justice ought not to be thought capable: and as he hath turn'd quite anew the story contain'd in the old paltry book of Doraftus and Faunia, changing most of the main circumstances and all the names of the Perfons; it is probable he removed this impropriety and placed the scene in Bithynia, which the ignorance and negligence of the firit Tranfcribers or Printers night corrupt and bring back again to Bobemia by a less variation in the letters than they have been guilty of in numberless other places of this Work.

THE

WINTER'S TALE.

Arch.

ACT I

SCENE I.

A Palace. Enter Camillo, and Archidamus.

I

F you shall chance, Camillo, to vifit Bithynia, on the like occafion whereon my fervices are now on foot, you shall fee, as I have faid, great difference betwixt our Bithynia and your

Sicilia.

Cam. I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia means to pay Bithynia the vifitation which he justly owes

him.

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

Cam. 'Befeech you

Arch. Verily I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge, we cannot with fuch magnificence-in so rare-I know not what to fay-we will give you fleepy drinks, that your senses (unintelligent of our infufficience) may, tho' 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 inftructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himself over-kind to Bithynias VOL. IV,

B

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 incounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied with enterchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies, 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!

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 Mamillus: it is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my note.

4

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child, one that, indeed, physicks 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 else be content to die?

Cam. Yes, if there were no other excuse why they should defire 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 ftar hath been The shepherd's note, fince 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 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: there may blow
Some sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too early: befides, I have stay'd

To To tire your Royalty.

Leo. We are tougher, brother,

Than you can put us to't.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leo. One sev'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. Press me not, 'beseech you!

There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'th'world
So foon 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,
To 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, until
You had drawn oaths from him not to stay: you, Sir,
Charge him too coldly. Tell him you are fure
All in Bithynia's well: this fatisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward,

Leo. Well faid, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong;

But let him fay so then, and let him go;
But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,

We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure [To Polixenes.

The borrow of a week. When at Bithynia
You take my Lord, I'll give you my commiffion
To let him there a month, behind the geste
Prefix'd for's parting: yet, good heed, Leontes;

I love thee not a jar o' th' clock behind

What Lady she her Lord,

Pol. No, Madam.

Her. Nay, but you will.

Pol. I may not verily.
Her. Verily?

You'll stay?

You

B2

You put me off with limber vows; but I
Tho' you would feek t'unfphere the stars with paths,

Should yet fay, 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 prifoner,

How fay you

Not like a guest? so you shall pay your fees
When you depart, and save your thanks.
My prifoner? or my guest? by your dread verily,
One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your guest then, Madam:
To be your prifoner, should import offending;
Which is for me less eafie to commit,
Than you to punish.

Hir. Not your goaler then,

But your kind hoftess; 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'd lambs, that did frisk i'th' fun,

And bleat the one at th'other: what we chang di

Was innocence for innocence; we knew not

The doctrine of ill-doing, no nor dream'd

That any did: had we pursu'd that life,

And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven

Boldly, not guilty; th' impofition clear'd

Hereditary ours.

Her. By this we gather

You have tript fince.

Pol. O my most sacred Lady,

:

:

Temptations have since then been born to's; for
In those unftedg'd days was my wife a girl;
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes

Of my young play-fellow.

Her, Oh! Grace to boot!

:

Of