The Winter's Tale

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The Winters Tale.

The Names of the Actors.

3370

Leontes, King of Sicillia.

3371

Mamillus, yong Prince of Sicillia.

3372

Camillo.

3373

Antigonus.

3374

Cleomines.

3375

Dion.Foure Lords of Sicillia.

3376

Hermione, Queene to Leontes.

3377

Perdita, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione.

3378

Paulina, wife to Antigonus.

3379

Emilia, a Lady.

3380

Polixenes, King of Bohemia.

3381

Florizell, Prince of Bohemia.

3382

Old Shepheard, reputed Father of Perdita.

3383

Clowne, his Sonne.

3384

Autolicus, a Rogue.

3385

Archidamus, a Lord of Bohemia.

3386

[Mariner.]

[Gaoler.]

Other Lords, [Ladies,] and Gentlemen, [Officers,] and Seruants.

3387

Shepheards, and [Mopsa, Dorcas, and other] Shephearddesses.

3388

Actus Primus. Scœna Prima.

Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

Arch.

If you shall chance (Camillo) to visit Bohemia, on

the like occasion whereon my seruices are now

on-foot, you shall see (as I haue 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

iustly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our Entertainment shall shame vs: we

will be iustified in our Loues: for indeed—

Cam. ’Beseech you—

Arch. Verely I speake it in the freedome of my know-

ledge: we cannot with such magnificence—in so rare—

I know not what to say—Wee will giue you sleepie

Drinkes, that your Sences (vn-intelligent of our insuffi-

cience) may, though they cannot prayse vs, as little ac-

cuse vs.

Cam. You pay a great deale to deare, for what’s giuen

freely.

Arch. ’Beleeue me, I speake as my vnderstanding in-

structs me, and as mine honestie puts it to vtterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himselfe ouer-kind to Bohe-

mia: 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 seperati-

on of their Societie, their Encounters (though not Perso-

nall) hath been Royally attornyed with enter-change of

Gifts, Letters, louing Embassies, that they haue seem’d to

be together, though absent: shooke hands, as ouer a Vast;

and embrac’d as it were from the ends of opposed Winds.

The Heauens continue their Loues.

Arch. I thinke there is not in the World, either Malice

or Matter, to alter it. You haue an vnspeakable comfort

of your young Prince Mamillius: it is a Gentleman of the

greatest Promise, that euer came into my Note.

Cam. I very well agree with you, in the hopes of him:

it is a gallant Child; one, that (indeed) Physicks the Sub-

iect, 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?

Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse, why they should

desire to liue.

Arch. If the King had no Sonne, they would desire to

liue on Crutches till he had one.Exeunt.

Scœna Secunda.

Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, Camillo.

Pol. Nine Changes of the Watry-Starre hath been

The Shepheards Note, since we haue left our Throne

Without a Burthen: Time as long againe

Would be fill’d vp (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,

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 vpon our absence, that may blow

No sneaping Winds at home, to make vs say,

This is put forth too truly: besides, I haue stay’d

To tyre your Royaltie.

Leo. We are tougher (Brother)

Then you can put vs to’t.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leo. One Seue’night longer.

Pol. Very sooth, to morrow.

Leo. Wee’le part the time betweene’s then: and in that

Ile no gaine-saying.

Pol. Presse me not (’beseech you) so:

There is no Tongue that moues; 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 euen drag me home-ward: which to hinder,

Were (in your Loue) a Whip to me; my stay,

To you a Charge, and Trouble: to saue both,

Farewell (our Brother.)

Leo. Tongue-ty’d our Queene? speake you.

Her. I had thought (Sir) to haue held my peace, vntill

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.

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 aduenture

The borrow of a Weeke. When at Bohemia

You take my Lord, Ile giue him my Commission,

To let him there a Moneth, behind the Gest

Prefix’d for’s parting: yet (good-deed) Leontes,

I loue thee not a Iarre o’th’ Clock, behind

100

What Lady she her Lord. You’le stay?

101

Pol. No, Madame.

102

Her. Nay, but you will?

103

Pol. I may not verely.

104

Her. Verely?

105

You put me off with limber Vowes: but I,

106

Though you would seek t’vnsphere the Stars with Oaths,

107

Should yet say, Sir, no going: Verely

108

You shall not goe; a Ladyes Verely’ is

109

As potent as a Lords. Will you goe yet?

110

Force me to keepe you as a Prisoner,

111

Not like a Guest: so you shall pay your Fees

112

When you depart, and saue your Thanks. How say you?

113

My Prisoner? or my Guest? by your dread Verely,

114

One of them you shall be.

115

Pol. Your Guest then, Madame:

116

To be your Prisoner, should import offending;

117

Which is for me, lesse easie to commit,

118

Then you to punish.

119

Her. Not your Gaoler then,

120

But your kind Hostesse. Come, Ile question you

121

Of my Lords Tricks, and yours, when you were Boyes:

122

You were pretty Lordings then?

123

Pol. We were (faire Queene)

124

Two Lads, that thought there was no more behind,

125

But such a day to morrow, as to day,

126

And to be Boy eternall.

127

Her. Was not my Lord

128

The veryer Wag o’th’ two?

129

Pol. We were as twyn’d Lambs, that did frisk i’th’ Sun,

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And bleat the one at th’other: what we chang’d,

131

Was Innocence, for Innocence: we knew not

132

The Doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream’d

133

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

134

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

135

With stronger blood, we should haue answer’d Heauen

136

Boldly, not guilty; the Imposition clear’d,

137

Hereditarie ours.

138

Her. By this we gather

139

You haue tript since.

140

Pol. O my most sacred Lady,

141

Temptations haue since then been borne to’s: for

142

In those vnfledg’d dayes, was my Wife a Girle;

143

Your precious selfe had then not cross’d the eyes

144

Of my young Play-fellow.

145

Her. Grace to boot:

146

Of this make no conclusion, least you say

147

Your Queene and I are Deuils: yet goe on,

148

Th’offences we haue made you doe, wee’le answere,

149

If you first sinn’d with vs: and that with vs

150

You did continue fault; and that you slipt not

151

With any, but with vs.

152

Leo. Is he woon yet?

153

Her. Hee’le stay (my Lord.)

154

Leo. At my request, he would not:

155

Hermione (my dearest) thou neuer spoak’st

156

To better purpose.

157

Her. Neuer?

158

Leo. Neuer, but once.

159

Her. What? haue I twice said well? when was’t before?

160

I prethee tell me: cram’s with prayse, and make’s

161

As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tonguelesse,

162

Slaughters a thousand, wayting vpon that.

163

Our prayses are our Wages. You may ride’s

164

With one soft Kisse a thousand Furlongs, ere

165

With Spur we heat an Acre. But to th’Goale:

166

My last good deed, was to entreat his stay.

167

What was my first? it ha’s an elder Sister,

168

Or I mistake you: O, would her Name were Grace.

169

But once before I spoke to th’ purpose? when?

170

Nay, let me haue’t: I long.

171

Leo. Why, that was when

172

Three crabbed Moneths had sowr’d themselues to death,

173

Ere I could make thee open thy white Hand:

174

A clap thy selfe, my Loue; then didst thou vtter,

175

I am yours for euer.

176

Her. ’Tis Grace indeed.

177

Why lo-you now; I haue spoke to th’ purpose twice:

178

The one, for euer earn’d a Royall Husband;

179

Th’other, for some while a Friend.

180

Leo. Too hot, too hot:

181

To mingle friendship farre, is mingling bloods.

182

I haue Tremor Cordis on me: my heart daunces,

183

But not for ioy; not ioy. This Entertainment

184

May a free face put on: deriue a Libertie

185

From Heartinesse, from Bountie, fertile Bosome,

186

And well become the Agent: ’t may; I graunt:

187

But to be padling Palmes, and pinching Fingers,

188

As now they are, and making practis’d Smiles

189

As in a Looking-Glasse; and then to sigh, as ’twere

190

The Mort o’th’Deere: oh, that is entertainment

191

My Bosome likes not, nor my Browes. Mamillius,

192

Art thou my Boy?

193

Mam. I, my good Lord.

194

Leo. I’fecks:

195

Why that’s my Bawcock: what? has’t smutch’d thy Nose?

196

They say it is a Coppy out of mine. Come Captaine,

197

We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, Captaine:

198

And yet the Steere, the Heycfer, and the Calfe,

199

Are all call’d Neat. Still Virginalling

200

Vpon his Palme? How now (you wanton Calfe)

201

Art thou my Calfe?

202

Mam. Yes, if you will (my Lord.)

203

Leo. Thou want’st a rough pash, & the shoots that I haue

204

To be full, like me: yet they say we are

205

Almost as like as Egges; Women say so,

206

(That will say any thing.) But were they false

207

As o’re-dy’d Blacks, as Wind, as Waters; false

208

As Dice are to be wish’d, by one that fixes

209

No borne ’twixt his and mine; yet were it true,

210

To say this Boy were like me. Come (Sir Page)

211

Looke on me with your Welkin eye: sweet Villaine,

212

Most dear’st, my Collop: Can thy Dam, may’t be

213

Affection? thy Intention stabs the Center.

214

Thou do’st make possible things not so held,

215

Communicat’st with Dreames (how can this be?)

216

With what’s vnreall: thou coactiue art,

217

And fellow’st nothing. Then ’tis very credent,

218

Thou may’st co-ioyne with something, and thou do’st,

219

(And that beyond Commission) and I find it,

220

(And that to the infection of my Braines,

221

And hardning of my Browes.)

222

Pol. What meanes Sicilia?

223

Her. He something seemes vnsetled.

224

Pol. How? my Lord?

225

Leo. What cheere? how is’t with you, best Brother?

226

Her. You look as if you held a Brow of much distraction:

227

Are you mou’d (my Lord?)

228

Leo. No, in good earnest.

229

How sometimes Nature will betray it’s folly?

230

It’s tendernesse? and make it selfe a Pastime

231

To harder bosomes? Looking on the Lynes

232

Of my Boyes face, me thoughts I did requoyle

233

Twentie three yeeres, and saw my selfe vn-breech’d,

234

In my greene Veluet Coat; my Dagger muzzel’d,

235

Least it should bite it’s Master, and so proue

236

(As Ornaments oft do’s) too dangerous:

237

How like (me thought) I then was to this Kernell,

238

This Squash, this Gentleman. Mine honest Friend,

239

Will you take Egges for Money?

240

Mam. No (my Lord) Ile fight.

241

Leo. You will: why happy man be’s dole. My Brother

242

Are you so fond of your young Prince, as we

243

Doe seeme to be of ours?

244

Pol. If at home (Sir)

245

He’s all my Exercise, my Mirth, my Matter;

246

Now my sworne Friend, and then mine Enemy;

247

My Parasite, my Souldier: States-man; all:

248

He makes a Iulyes day, short as December,

249

And with his varying child-nesse, cures in me

250

Thoughts, that would thick my blood.

251

Leo. So stands this Squire

252

Offic’d with me: We two will walke (my Lord)

253

And leaue you to your grauer steps. Hermione,

254

How thou lou’st vs, shew in our Brothers welcome;

255

Let what is deare in Sicily, be cheape:

256

Next to thy selfe, and my young Rouer, he’s

257

Apparant to my heart.

258

Her. If you would seeke vs,

259

We are yours i’th’Garden: shall’s attend you there?

260

Leo. To your owne bents dispose you: you’le be found,

261

Be you beneath the Sky: I am angling now,

262

(Though you perceiue me not how I giue Lyne)

263

Goe too, goe too.

264

How she holds vp the Neb? the Byll to him?

265

And armes her with the boldnesse of a Wife

266

To her allowing Husband. Gone already,

267

Ynch-thick, knee-deepe; ore head and eares a fork’d one.

268

Goe play (Boy) play: thy Mother playes, and I

269

Play too; but so disgrac’d a part, whose issue

270

Will hisse me to my Graue: Contempt and Clamor

271

Will be my Knell. Goe play (Boy) play, there haue been

272

(Or I am much deceiu’d) Cuckolds ere now,

273

And many a man there is (euen at this present,

274

Now, while I speake this) holds his Wife by th’Arme,

275

That little thinkes she ha’s been sluyc’d in’s absence,

276

And his Pond fish’d by his next Neighbor (by

277

Sir Smile, his Neighbor:) nay, there’s comfort in’t,

278

Whiles other men haue Gates, and those Gates open’d

279

(As mine) against their will. Should all despaire

280

That haue reuolted Wiues, the tenth of Mankind

281

Would hang themselues. Physick for’t, there’s none:

282

It is a bawdy Planet, that will strike

283

Where ’tis predominant; and ’tis powrefull: thinke it:

284

From East, West, North, and South, be it concluded,

285

No Barricado for a Belly. Know’t,

286

It will let in and out the Enemy,

287

With bag and baggage: many thousand on’s

288

Haue the Disease, and feele’t not. How now Boy?

289

Mam. I am like you say.

290

Leo. Why, that’s some comfort.

291

What? Camillo there?

292

Cam. I, my good Lord.

293

Leo. Goe play (Mamillius) thou’rt an honest man:

294

Camillo, this great Sir will yet stay longer.

295

Cam. You had much adoe to make his Anchor hold,

296

When you cast out, it still came home.

297

Leo. Didst note it?

298

Cam. He would not stay at your Petitions, made

299

His Businesse more materiall.

300

Leo. Didst perceiue it?

301

They’re here with me already; whisp’ring, rounding:

302

Sicilia is a so-forth: ’tis farre gone,

303

When I shall gust it last. How cam’t (Camillo)

304

That he did stay?

305

Cam. At the good Queenes entreatie.

306

Leo. At the Queenes be’t: Good should be pertinent,

307

But so it is, it is not. Was this taken

308

By any vnderstanding Pate but thine?

309

For thy Conceit is soaking, will draw in

310

More then the common Blocks. Not noted, is’t,

311

But of the finer Natures? by some Seueralls

312

Of Head-peece extraordinarie? Lower Messes

313

Perchance are to this Businesse purblind? say.

314

Cam. Businesse, my Lord? I thinke most vnderstand

315

Bohemia stayes here longer.

316

Leo. Ha?

317

Cam. Stayes here longer.

318

Leo. I, but why?

319

Cam. To satisfie your Highnesse, and the Entreaties

320

Of our most gracious Mistresse.

321

Leo. Satisfie?

322

Th’entreaties of your Mistresse? Satisfie?

323

Let that suffice. I haue trusted thee (Camillo)

324

With all the neerest things to my heart, as well

325

My Chamber-Councels, wherein (Priest-like) thou

326

Hast cleans’d my Bosome: I, from thee departed

327

Thy Penitent reform’d: but we haue been

328

Deceiu’d in thy Integritie, deceiu’d

329

In that which seemes so.

330

Cam. Be it forbid (my Lord.)

331

Leo. To bide vpon’t: thou art not honest: or

332

If thou inclin’st that way, thou art a Coward,

333

Which hoxes honestie behind, restrayning

334

From Course requir’d: or else thou must be counted

335

A Seruant, grafted in my serious Trust,

336

And therein negligent: or else a Foole,

337

That seest a Game play’d home, the rich Stake drawne,

338

And tak’st it all for ieast.

339

Cam. My gracious Lord,

340

I may be negligent, foolish, and fearefull,

341

In euery one of these, no man is free,

342

But that his negligence, his folly, feare,

343

Among the infinite doings of the World,

344

Sometime puts forth in your affaires (my Lord.)

345

If euer I were wilfull-negligent,

346

It was my folly: if industriously

347

I play’d the Foole, it was my negligence,

348

Not weighing well the end: if euer fearefull

349

To doe a thing, where I the issue doubted,

350

Whereof the execution did cry out

351

Against the non-performance, ’twas a feare

352

Which oft infects the wisest: these (my Lord)

353

Are such allow’d Infirmities, that honestie

354

Is neuer free of. But beseech your Grace

355

Be plainer with me, let me know my Trespas

356

By it’s owne visage; if I then deny it,

357

’Tis none of mine.

358

Leo. Ha’ not you seene Camillo?

359

(But that’s past doubt: you haue, or your eye-glasse

360

Is thicker then a Cuckolds Horne) or heard?

361

(For to a Vision so apparant, Rumor

362

Cannot be mute) or thought? (for Cogitation

363

Resides not in that man, that do’s not thinke)

364

My Wife is slipperie? If thou wilt confesse,

365

Or else be impudently negatiue,

366

To haue nor Eyes, nor Eares, nor Thought, then say

367

My Wife’s a Holy-Horse, deserues a Name

368

As ranke as any Flax-Wench, that puts to

369

Before her troth-plight: say’t, and iustify’t.

370

Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to heare

371

My Soueraigne Mistresse clouded so, without

372

My present vengeance taken: ’shrew my heart,

373

You neuer spoke what did become you lesse

374

Then this; which to reiterate, were sin

375

As deepe as that, though true.

376

Leo. Is whispering nothing?

377

Is leaning Cheeke to Cheeke? is meating Noses?

378

Kissing with in-side Lip? stopping the Cariere

379

Of Laughter, with a sigh? (a Note infallible