THE

WINTER'S TALE

A

COMEDY.

Printed in the YEAR 1709.

L

Eontes, King of Sicilia.

Polixenes, King of Bohemia. Mamillius, Toung Prince of Sicilia. Florizel, Prince of Bohemia.

Archidamus, a Bohemian Lord.

Old Shepherd, reputed Father of Perdita.

Clown, his Son.

Autolicus, a Rogue,

Hermione, Queen to Leontes.

Perdita, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione. Paulina, Wife to Antigonus.

Emilia, a Lady attending on Hermione.

Mopfa,} Shepherdesses.

Dorcas,

Goaler, Shepherds, Shepherdeffes, and Attendants.

SCENE partly in Sicilia, and partly in

Bohemia.

THE

༡༥༠༦༡༥༠

THE

WINTER'S TALE.

ACT I. SCENE I.

SCENE A Palace.

Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

F

ARCHIDAMUS.

you fhall chance, Camillo, to vifit Bobemia, on the like occafion whereon my Services are now on foot, you fhall fee, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia,

Cam. I think, this common Summer, the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the Vifitation which he juftly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our Entertainment fhall fhame us: We will be juftified in our Loves; for indeed

Cam. 'Befeech you

I

Arch. Verily I fpeak it in the freedom of my knowledge; we cannot with fuch Magnificence-in fo rare. know not what to fay-We will give you fleepy Drinks, that your Senfes (unintelligent of our infufficience) may, tho' they cannot praife us, as little accufe us.

Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely.

Arch. Believe me, I fpeak as my Understanding inftructs me, and as mine Honefty puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot fhew himfelf over-kind to Bohemia; they were train'd together in their Childhoods; and there

rooted

rooted betwixt them then fuch an Affection, which can chufe but branch now. Since their more mature Dign ties, and Royal Neceffities, made feparation of their Society their Encounters, though not perfonal, have been royal attornied with enterchange of Gifts, Letters, loving Er baffies, that they have feem'd to be together, tho' abfent; fhook hands, as over a vaft Sea, and embrac'd as it wer from the ends of oppofed Winds. The Heav'ns continu their Loves.

Arch. I think there is not in the World, either Malice Matter to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of you young Prince Mamillius; it is a Gentleman of the greate 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, Phyficks the Subjec makes old Hearts fresh: They that went on Crutches e'er he was born, defire yet their Life to fee him a Man.

Arch. Would they elfe be content to die?

Cam. Yes, if there were no other excufe, why they should defire to live.

Arch. If the King had no Son, they would defire to live on Crutches 'till he had one.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, and Camillo
Pol. Nine changes of the watry Star 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 ftanding in rich place, I multiply

With one, we thank you, many thoufands more,
That go 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 Fears of what may chance,
Or breed upon our abfence, that may blow

No fneaping Winds at home, to make us fay,

This is put forth too truly: Befides, I have stay'd

To tire your Royalty.

Leo. We are tougher, Brother,

Than you can put us to't.

Pol. No longer stay.

Leo. One fev'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. Prefs me not, 'befeech you, fo;

There is no Tongue that moves; none, none i'th' World
So foon as yours, could win me: fo it fhould now,
Were there neceffity in your Requeft, 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 fave both,
Farewel, our Brother.

Leo. Tongue-ty'd, our Queen? fpeak you.

Her. I had thought, Sir, to have held my peace, until
You had drawn Oaths from him, not to ftay: You, Sir,
Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are fure
All in Bohemia's well: This Satisfaction

The by-gone-day proclaim'd; fay this to him,
He's beat from his beft Ward.

Leo. Well faid, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to fee his Son, were ftrong;

But let him fay fo then, and let him go;

But let him fwear fo, and he shall not stay,

We'll thwack him hence with Diftaffs.

Yet of your Royal Prefence, I'll adventure [To Polixenes.

The borrow of a Week. When at Bohemia

You take my Lord, I'll give him my Commiffion,
To let him there a Month, behind the Geft

Prefix'd for's parting: Yet, good heed, Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o'th' Clock behind
What Lady fhe her Lord. You'll stay?

Pol. No, Madam.

Her. Nay, but you will.
Pol. I may not verily.

Her.