'ACT I. Clown, his son. Servant to the old shepher u. Hermione, queen to Leontes. Perdita, daughter to Leontes and Hermione. Paulina, wife to Antigonus. Emilia, a ladys Two other ladies, attending the queen. Mopsa, Shepherdesses. Dorcas, Lords, ladies, and attendants; satyrs for 1 Lance, shepherds, shepherdesses, guards, &c. Scene, sometimes in Sicilia, sometimes in Bohemia. malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; SCENE I-Sicilia. An Antechamber in Leon-it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever tes' palace. Enter Camillo and Archidamus. Archidamus. IF you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which ne justly owes him. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, indeed,— Cam. 'Beseech you, Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledze: we cannot with such magnificence came into my note. Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, phy went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their sics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that life, to see him a man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? 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. Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Hermione, Mamillius, Camillo, and attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the wa''ry star have been in so rare-I know not what to say.--We will The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelli- Without a burden: time as long again gent of our insufficience, may, though they can-Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks: not 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 utter ance. 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; Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to And pay them when you part. Bohemia. They were trained together in their Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow. childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance such an affection, which cannot choose but branch Or breed upon our absence: That may blow now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, necessities, made separation of their society, their This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd encounters, though not personal, have been royally To tire your royalty. attornied' with interchange of gifts, letters, loving Leon. embassies; that they have seemed to be together, Than you can put us to't. w nds. Arch. I think, there is not in the world either (1) Nobly supplied by substitution of embassies. (2) Wide waste of country. We are tougher, brother No longer stay. longer. Pol. (3) Affords a cordial to the state. (4) Nipping I'll no gain-saying. S soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder, Leon. Tongue-tied, 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, Leon. Yet of your royal presence [To Polixenes.] I'll ad venture The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd, Her. Leon. Is he won yet? At my request, he would not. I Her. Leon. Never? Never, but once. Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't before? pr'ythee, tell me : Cram us with praise, and make us tongueless, Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, Leontes, As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying No, madam. You put me off with limbers vows: But I, Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with Or I mistake you: 0, would her name were Grave! 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? 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 verily, 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 gaoler then, But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two? i' the sun, And bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd, (1) Gests were the names of the stages where the king appointed to lie, during a royal progress. Indeed. (3) Tick. (4) Flimsy. (5) A diminutive of lords. It is Grace, indeed. Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: The one for ever earn'd a royal husband; The other, for some while a friend. [Giving her hand to Polixenes. Leon. Too hot, too hot: [Aside. To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. I have tremor cordis on me: my heart dances; But not for joy,-not joy.-This entertainment May a free face put on; derive a liberty From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, And well become the agent: it may, I grant: But to be paddling palms, and pinching fingers, As now they are; and making practis'd smiles, As in a looking-glass-and then to sigh, as 'west The mort o'the deer; 0, that is entertainmen! My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-Mamill.u. Art thou my boy? |