THE WINTERS TALE

IF

Actus Primus.

Scœna Prima.

[Antechamber in Leontes' palace.]

Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

Arch.

you shall chance (Camillo) to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now | onfoot, you shall see (as I have said) great dif- | ference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia. |

Cam. I thinke, this comming Summer, the King of Sicilia meanes to pay Bohemia the Visitation, which hee justly owes him.

10

Arch. Wherein our Entertainment shall shame us: we will be justified in our Loves: for indeed

Cam. 'Beseech you—

Arch. Verely I speake it in the freedome of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence-in so rare — I know not what to say-Wee will give you sleepie Drinkes, that your Sences (un-intelligent of our insufficience) may, though they cannot prayse us, as little ac

cuse us.

Cam. You pay a great deale to deare, for what's given freely.

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Arch. 'Beleeve me, I speake as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honestie puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himselfe over-kind to Bobemia: They were trayn'd together in their Child-hoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot chuse but braunch now. Since their more mature Dignities, and Royall Necessities, made seperation of their Societie, their Encounters (though not Personall) hath been Royally attornyed1 with enter-change of Gifts, Letters, loving Embassies, that they have seem'd to be together, though absent: shooke hands, as over a Vast;2 and embrac❜d as it were from the ends of opposed Winds. The Heavens continue their Loves. 1performed by proxy

Arch. I thinke 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 Promise, that ever came into my Note. 2 gulf

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 borne, desire yet their life, to see him a Man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? 43 Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse, why they should desire to live.

Arch. If the King had no Sonne, they would desire to live on Crutches till he had one.

Scœna Secunda.

[A room of state in the same.]

Exeunt.

Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, Camillo [and Attendants]. |

Pol. Nine Changes of the Watry-Starre hath been The Shepheards Note, since we have left our Throne 30. bath: have-2-4F.

Without a Burthen: Time as long againe

Would be fill'd up (my Brother) with our Thanks, And yet we should, for perpetuitie,

Goe hence in debt: And therefore, like a Cypher

(Yet standing in rich place) I multiply

With one we thanke you, many thousands moe, 10 That goe before it.

Leo. Stay your Thanks a while,

And pay them when you part.

Pol. Sir, that's to morrow:

I am question'd by my feares, of what may chance,
Or breed upon our absence, that may blow

No sneaping1 Winds at home, to make us say, 1nipping
This is put forth too truly: besides, I have stay'd

To tyre your Royaltie.

Leo. We are tougher (Brother)

Then you can put us to't.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leo. One Seve’night longer.

Pol. Very sooth, to morrow.

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Leo. Wee'le part the time betweene's then: and in that Ile no gaine-saying.

Pol. Presse me not ('beseech you) so:

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There is no Tongue that moves; none, none i'th' World
So soone as yours, could win me: so it should now,
Were there necessitie in your request, although
'Twere needfull I deny'd it. My Affaires
Doe even drag me home-ward: which to hinder,
Were (in your Love) a Whip to me; my stay,
To you a Charge, and Trouble: to save both,
Farewell (our Brother.)

Leo. Tongue-ty'd our Queene? speake you.
Her. I had thought (Sir) to have held
my peace, untill
You had drawne Oathes 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 proclaym'd, say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Leo. Well said, Hermione.

40

Her. To tell, he longs to see his Sonne, were strong:

But let him say so then, and let him goe;

But let him sweare so, and he shall not stay,
Wee'l thwack him hence with Distaffes.
Yet of your Royall presence, Ile adventure
The borrow of a Weeke. When at Bohemia
You take my Lord, Ile give him my Commission, 50
To let him there a Moneth, behind the Gest 1 1 period
Prefix'd for's parting: yet (good-deed)2 Leontes, 2 indeed
I love thee not a Jarre 3 o'th' Clock, behind
3 tick
What Lady she her Lord.

Pol. No, Madame.

Her. Nay, but you will?

Pol. I may not verely.

Her. Verely?

You'le stay?

You put me off with limber Vowes: but I,

Though you would seek t'unsphere the Stars with Oaths,

Should yet say, Sir, no going: Verely

You shall not goe; a Ladyes Verely' is

As potent as a Lords. Will you goe yet?
Force me to keepe you as a Prisoner,

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Not like a Guest: so you shall pay your Fees
When you depart, and save your Thanks. How say you?
My Prisoner? or my Guest? by your dread Verely,
One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your Guest then, Madame:

To be your Prisoner, should import offending;

62. Verely' is: 'Verily ' 's-STaunton, Grant White.

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Which is for me, lesse easie to commit,

Then you to punish.

Her. Not your Gaoler then,

But your kind Hostesse.

Of

my Lords Tricks, and

Come, Ile question you

yours, when you were Boyes:

You were pretty Lordings then?

Pol. We were (faire Queene)

Two Lads, that thought there was no more behind, But such a day to morrow, as to day,

And to be Boy eternall.

Her. Was not my Lord

The veryer Wag o'th'two?

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Pol. We were as twyn'd Lambs, that did frisk i' th' Sun, And bleat the one at th'other: what we chang'd,

Was Innocence, for Innocence: we knew not
The Doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd

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

And our weake Spirits ne're been higher rear'd

With stronger blood, we should have answer'd Heaven

Boldly, not guilty; the Imposition clear'd,
Hereditarie ours.

Her. By this we gather

You have tript since.

Pol. O my most sacred Lady,

Temptations have since then been borne to's: for
In those unfledg'd dayes, was my Wife a Girle;
Your precious selfe had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young Play-fellow.

Her. Grace to boot:

90

100

Of this make no conclusion, least you say
Your Queene and I are Devils: yet goe on,
Th'offences we have made you doe, wee'le answere,
If you first sinn'd with us: and that with us
You did continue fault; and that you slipt not