An old Shepherd, reputed Father of Perdita. AUTOLYCUS, a Rogue. Time, as Chorus. HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes. PERDITA, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione. PAULINA, Wife to Antigonus. EMILIA, a Lady attending on the Queen. Lords, Ladies, Gentlemen, and Attendants, Satyrs, Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Guards, &c. SCENE: Sometimes in Sicilia; sometimes in Bohemia. (276) THE WINTER'S TALE. ACT I. SCENE I. Sicilia. An Antechamber in LEONTES' Palace. Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS. ARCHIDAMUS. IF you shall Camion' my services are F 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. Camillo. I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will be justified in our loves: for, indeed, Cam. 'Beseech you, in Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence 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. (277) 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. Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were train'd together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attorneyed, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seem'd to be together, though absent; shook hands, as over a vast; and embrac'd, as it were, from the ends of opposed 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 promise 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, 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. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Polixenes. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne Without a burthen. Time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks: Go hence in debt. And therefore, like a cipher, With one 6 Leontes. Stay your thanks a while; And pay them when you part. I am question'd by my fears, Or breed upon our absence. Sir, that's to-morrow. of what may chance, That may blow No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, This is put forth too truly!' To tire your royalty. Leon. Besides, I have stay'd We are tougher, brother, No longer stay. Very sooth, to-morrow. Than you can put us to 't. Pol. Leon. One sev'-night longer. Pol. Leon. We'll part the time between 's, then and in that I'll no gainsaying. Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so; There is no tongue that moves, none, none i̇' th' world, So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder Leon. Tongue-ti'd, our Queen? Speak you. Hermione. 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 sure Leon. Well said, Hermione. Her. To tell he longs to see his son, were strong: But let him say 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 [to POLIXENES] I'll ad venture The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia Pol. Her. Nay, but you will? Pol. Her. Verily! You'll stay? No, Madam. I may not, verily. You put me off with limber vows: but I, Though you would seek t' unsphere the stars with oaths, |