Winter's Tale

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ACT I
SCENE I. Antechamber in LEONTES' 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 sai, great
ifference !etwi"t our Bohemia an your Sicilia#
CAMILLO
I think, this coming summer, the $ing of Sicilia
means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he %ustly owes him#
ARCHIDAMUS
Wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will !e
%ustifie in our loves& for inee''
CAMILLO
Beseech you,''
ARCHIDAMUS
(erily, I speak it in the freeom of my knowlege)
we cannot with such magnificence''in so rare''I know
not what to say# We will give you sleepy rinks,
that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience,
may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse
us#
CAMILLO
*ou pay a great eal too ear for what's given freely#
ARCHIDAMUS
Believe me, I speak as my unerstaning instructs me
an as mine honesty puts it to utterance#
CAMILLO
Sicilia cannot show himself over'kin to Bohemia#
They were traine together in their chilhoos& an
there roote !etwi"t them then such an affection,
which cannot choose !ut !ranch now# Since their
more mature ignities an royal necessities mae
separation of their society, their encounters,
though not personal, have !een royally attorneye
with interchange of gifts, letters, loving
em!assies& that they have seeme to !e together,
though a!sent, shook hans, as over a vast, an
em!race, as it were, from the ens of oppose
wins# The heavens continue their loves+
ARCHIDAMUS
I think there is not in the worl either malice or
matter to alter it# *ou have an unspeaka!le
comfort of your young prince ,amillius) it is a
gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came
into my note#
CAMILLO
I very well agree with you in the hopes of him) it
is a gallant chil& one that inee physics the
su!%ect, makes ol hearts fresh) they that went on
crutches ere he was !orn esire yet their life to
see him a man#
ARCHIDAMUS
Woul they else !e content to ie-
CAMILLO
*es& if there were no other e"cuse why they shoul
esire to live#
ARCHIDAMUS
If the king ha no son, they woul esire to live
on crutches till he ha one#
Exeunt
SCENE II. A room of tate in the ame.
Enter LEONTES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, POLIXENES, CAMILLO, and Attendants
!OLI"ENES
.ine changes of the watery star hath !een
The shepher's note since we have left our throne
Without a !urthen) time as long again
Woul !e fin up, my !rother, with our thanks&
/n yet we shoul, for perpetuity,
0o hence in e!t) an therefore, like a cipher,
*et staning in rich place, I multiply
With one 'We thank you' many thousans moe
That go !efore it#
LEONTES
Stay your thanks a while&
/n pay them when you part#
!OLI"ENES
Sir, that's to'morrow#
I am 1uestion' !y my fears, of what may chance
2r !ree upon our a!sence& that may !low
.o sneaping wins at home, to make us say
'This is put forth too truly)' !esies, I have stay'
To tire your royalty#
LEONTES
We are tougher, !rother,
Than you can put us to't#
!OLI"ENES
.o longer stay#
LEONTES
2ne seven'night longer#
!OLI"ENES
(ery sooth, to'morrow#
LEONTES
We'll part the time !etween's then& an in that
I'll no gainsaying#
!OLI"ENES
3ress me not, !eseech you, so#
There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the worl,
So soon as yours coul win me) so it shoul now,
Were there necessity in your re1uest, although
'Twere neeful I enie it# ,y affairs
4o even rag me homewar) which to hiner
Were in your love a whip to me& my stay
To you a charge an trou!le) to save !oth,
5arewell, our !rother#
LEONTES
Tongue'tie, our 1ueen-
speak you#
HERMIONE
I ha thought, sir, to have hel my peace until
*ou have rawn oaths from him not to stay# *ou, sir,
Charge him too colly# Tell him, you are sure
/ll in Bohemia's well& this satisfaction
The !y'gone ay proclaim') say this to him,
6e's !eat from his !est war#
LEONTES
Well sai, 6ermione#
HERMIONE
To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong)
But let him say so then, an let him go&
But let him swear so, an he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with istaffs#
*et of your royal presence I'll aventure
The !orrow of a week# When at Bohemia
*ou take my lor, I'll give him my commission
To let him there a month !ehin the gest
3refi"' for's parting) yet, goo ee, 7eontes,
I love thee not a %ar o' the clock !ehin
What lay'she her lor# *ou'll stay-
!OLI"ENES
.o, maam#
HERMIONE
.ay, !ut you will-
!OLI"ENES
I may not, verily#
HERMIONE
(erily+
*ou put me off with lim!er vows& !ut I,
Though you woul seek to unsphere the
stars with oaths,
Shoul yet say 'Sir, no going#' (erily,
*ou shall not go) a lay's '(erily' 's
/s potent as a lor's# Will you go yet-
5orce me to keep you as a prisoner,
.ot like a guest& so you shall pay your fees
When you epart, an save your thanks# 6ow say you-
,y prisoner- or my guest- !y your rea '(erily,'
2ne of them you shall !e#
!OLI"ENES
*our guest, then, maam)
To !e your prisoner shoul import offening&
Which is for me less easy to commit
Than you to punish#
HERMIONE
.ot your gaoler, then,
But your kin hostess# Come, I'll 1uestion you
2f my lor's tricks an yours when you were !oys)
*ou were pretty lorings then-
!OLI"ENES
We were, fair 1ueen,
Two las that thought there was no more !ehin
But such a ay to'morrow as to'ay,
/n to !e !oy eternal#
HERMIONE
Was not my lor
The verier wag o' the two-
!OLI"ENES
We were as twinn' lam!s that i frisk i' the sun,
/n !leat the one at the other) what we change
Was innocence for innocence& we knew not
The octrine of ill'oing, nor ream'
That any i# 6a we pursue that life,
/n our weak spirits ne'er !een higher rear'
With stronger !loo, we shoul have answer' heaven
Bolly 'not guilty&' the imposition clear'
6ereitary ours#
HERMIONE
By this we gather
*ou have tripp' since#
!OLI"ENES
2 my most sacre lay+
Temptations have since then !een !orn to's& for
In those unflege ays was my wife a girl&
*our precious self ha then not cross' the eyes
2f my young play'fellow#
HERMIONE
0race to !oot+
2f this make no conclusion, lest you say
*our 1ueen an I are evils) yet go on&
The offences we have mae you o we'll answer,
If you first sinn' with us an that with us
*ou i continue fault an that you slipp' not
With any !ut with us#
LEONTES
Is he won yet-
HERMIONE
6e'll stay my lor#
LEONTES
/t my re1uest he woul not#
6ermione, my earest, thou never spokest
To !etter purpose#
HERMIONE
.ever-
LEONTES
.ever, !ut once#
HERMIONE
What+ have I twice sai well- when was't !efore-
I prithee tell me& cram's with praise, an make's
/s fat as tame things) one goo ee ying tongueless
Slaughters a thousan waiting upon that#
2ur praises are our wages) you may rie's
With one soft kiss a thousan furlongs ere
With spur we !eat an acre# But to the goal)
,y last goo ee was to entreat his stay)
What was my first- it has an eler sister,
2r I mistake you) 2, woul her name were 0race+
But once !efore I spoke to the purpose) when-
.ay, let me have't& I long#
LEONTES
Why, that was when
Three cra!!e months ha sour' themselves to eath,
Ere I coul make thee open thy white han
/n clap thyself my love) then ist thou utter
'I am yours for ever#'
HERMIONE
'Tis grace inee#
Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice)
The one for ever earn' a royal hus!an&
The other for some while a frien#
LEONTES
8/sie9 Too hot, too hot+
To mingle frienship far is mingling !loos#
I have tremor coris on me) my heart ances&
But not for %oy& not %oy# This entertainment
,ay a free face put on, erive a li!erty
5rom heartiness, from !ounty, fertile !osom,
/n well !ecome the agent& 't may, I grant&
But to !e paling palms an pinching fingers,
/s now they are, an making practise smiles,
/s in a looking'glass, an then to sigh, as 'twere
The mort o' the eer& 2, that is entertainment
,y !osom likes not, nor my !rows+ ,amillius,
/rt thou my !oy-
MAMILLIUS
/y, my goo lor#
LEONTES
I' fecks+
Why, that's my !awcock# What, hast
smutch' thy nose-
They say it is a copy out of mine# Come, captain,
We must !e neat& not neat, !ut cleanly, captain)
/n yet the steer, the heifer an the calf
/re all call' neat#''Still virginalling
:pon his palm+''6ow now, you wanton calf+
/rt thou my calf-
MAMILLIUS
*es, if you will, my lor#
LEONTES
Thou want'st a rough pash an the shoots that I have,
To !e full like me) yet they say we are
/lmost as like as eggs& women say so,
That will say anything !ut were they false
/s o'er'ye !lacks, as win, as waters, false
/s ice are to !e wish' !y one that fi"es
.o !ourn 'twi"t his an mine, yet were it true
To say this !oy were like me# Come, sir page,
7ook on me with your welkin eye) sweet villain+
,ost ear'st+ my collop+ Can thy am-''may't !e-''
/ffection+ thy intention sta!s the centre)
Thou ost make possi!le things not so hel,
Communicatest with reams&''how can this !e-''
With what's unreal thou coactive art,
/n fellow'st nothing) then 'tis very creent
Thou mayst co'%oin with something& an thou ost,
/n that !eyon commission, an I fin it,
/n that to the infection of my !rains
/n harening of my !rows#
!OLI"ENES
What means Sicilia-
HERMIONE
6e something seems unsettle#
!OLI"ENES
6ow, my lor+
What cheer- how is't with you, !est !rother-
HERMIONE
*ou look as if you hel a !row of much istraction
/re you move, my lor-
LEONTES
.o, in goo earnest#
6ow sometimes nature will !etray its folly,
Its tenerness, an make itself a pastime
To harer !osoms+ 7ooking on the lines
2f my !oy's face, methoughts I i recoil
Twenty'three years, an saw myself un!reech',
In my green velvet coat, my agger mu;;le,
7est it shoul !ite its master, an so prove,
/s ornaments oft o, too angerous)
6ow like, methought, I then was to this kernel,
This s1uash, this gentleman# ,ine honest frien,
Will you take eggs for money-
MAMILLIUS
.o, my lor, I'll fight#
LEONTES
*ou will+ why, happy man !e's ole+ ,y !rother,
/re you so fon of your young prince as we
4o seem to !e of ours-
!OLI"ENES
If at home, sir,
6e's all my e"ercise, my mirth, my matter,
.ow my sworn frien an then mine enemy,
,y parasite, my solier, statesman, all)
6e makes a <uly's ay short as 4ecem!er,
/n with his varying chilness cures in me
Thoughts that woul thick my !loo#
LEONTES
So stans this s1uire
2ffice with me) we two will walk, my lor,
/n leave you to your graver steps# 6ermione,
6ow thou lovest us, show in our !rother's welcome&
7et what is ear in Sicily !e cheap)
.e"t to thyself an my young rover, he's
/pparent to my heart#
HERMIONE
If you woul seek us,
We are yours i' the garen) shall's atten you there-
LEONTES
To your own !ents ispose you) you'll !e foun,
Be you !eneath the sky#
Aside
I am angling now,
Though you perceive me not how I give line#
0o to, go to+
6ow she hols up the ne!, the !ill to him+
/n arms her with the !olness of a wife
To her allowing hus!an+
Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE, and Attendants
0one alreay+
Inch'thick, knee'eep, o'er hea an
ears a fork' one+
0o, play, !oy, play) thy mother plays, an I
3lay too, !ut so isgrace a part, whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave) contempt an clamour
Will !e my knell# 0o, play, !oy, play#
There have !een,
2r I am much eceive, cuckols ere now&
/n many a man there is, even at this present,
.ow while I speak this, hols his wife !y the arm,
That little thinks she has !een sluice in's a!sence
/n his pon fish' !y his ne"t neigh!our, !y
Sir Smile, his neigh!our) nay, there's comfort in't
Whiles other men have gates an those gates open',
/s mine, against their will# Shoul all espair
That have revolte wives, the tenth of mankin
Woul hang themselves# 3hysic for't there is none&
It is a !awy planet, that will strike
Where 'tis preominant& an 'tis powerful, think it,
5rom east, west, north an south) !e it conclue,
.o !arricao for a !elly& know't&
It will let in an out the enemy
With !ag an !aggage) many thousan on's
6ave the isease, an feel't not# 6ow now, !oy+
MAMILLIUS
I am like you, they say#
LEONTES
Why that's some comfort# What, Camillo there-
CAMILLO
/y, my goo lor#
LEONTES
0o play, ,amillius& thou'rt an honest man#
Exit MAMILLIUS
Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer#
CAMILLO
*ou ha much ao to make his anchor hol)
When you cast out, it still came home#
LEONTES
4ist note it-
CAMILLO
6e woul not stay at your petitions) mae
6is !usiness more material#
LEONTES
4ist perceive it-
Aside
They're here with me alreay, whispering, rouning
'Sicilia is a so'forth)' 'tis far gone,
When I shall gust it last# 6ow came't, Camillo,
That he i stay-
CAMILLO
/t the goo 1ueen's entreaty#
LEONTES
/t the 1ueen's !e't) 'goo' shoul !e pertinent
But, so it is, it is not# Was this taken
By any unerstaning pate !ut thine-
5or thy conceit is soaking, will raw in
,ore than the common !locks) not note, is't,
But of the finer natures- !y some severals
2f hea'piece e"traorinary- lower messes
3erchance are to this !usiness pur!lin- say#
CAMILLO
Business, my lor+ I think most unerstan
Bohemia stays here longer#
LEONTES
6a+
CAMILLO
Stays here longer#
LEONTES
/y, !ut why-
CAMILLO
To satisfy your highness an the entreaties
2f our most gracious mistress#
LEONTES
Satisfy+
The entreaties of your mistress+ satisfy+
7et that suffice# I have truste thee, Camillo,
With all the nearest things to my heart, as well
,y cham!er'councils, wherein, priest'like, thou
6ast cleanse my !osom, I from thee eparte
Thy penitent reform') !ut we have !een
4eceive in thy integrity, eceive
In that which seems so#
CAMILLO
Be it for!i, my lor+
LEONTES
To !ie upon't, thou art not honest, or,
If thou inclinest that way, thou art a cowar,
Which ho"es honesty !ehin, restraining
5rom course re1uire& or else thou must !e counte
/ servant grafte in my serious trust
/n therein negligent& or else a fool
That seest a game play' home, the rich stake rawn,
/n takest it all for %est#
CAMILLO
,y gracious lor,
I may !e negligent, foolish an fearful&
In every one of these no man is free,
But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
/mong the infinite oings of the worl,
Sometime puts forth# In your affairs, my lor,
If ever I were wilful'negligent,
It was my folly& if inustriously
I play' the fool, it was my negligence,
.ot weighing well the en& if ever fearful
To o a thing, where I the issue ou!te,
Where of the e"ecution i cry out
/gainst the non'performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft infects the wisest) these, my lor,
/re such allow' infirmities that honesty
Is never free of# But, !eseech your grace,
Be plainer with me& let me know my trespass
By its own visage) if I then eny it,
'Tis none of mine#
LEONTES
6a' not you seen, Camillo,''
But that's past ou!t, you have, or your eye'glass
Is thicker than a cuckol's horn,''or hear,''
5or to a vision so apparent rumour
Cannot !e mute,''or thought,''for cogitation
=esies not in that man that oes not think,''
,y wife is slippery- If thou wilt confess,
2r else !e impuently negative,
To have nor eyes nor ears nor thought, then say
,y wife's a ho!!y'horse, eserves a name
/s rank as any fla"'wench that puts to
Before her troth'plight) say't an %ustify't#
CAMILLO
I woul not !e a staner'!y to hear
,y sovereign mistress cloue so, without
,y present vengeance taken) 'shrew my heart,
*ou never spoke what i !ecome you less
Than this& which to reiterate were sin
/s eep as that, though true#
LEONTES
Is whispering nothing-
Is leaning cheek to cheek- is meeting noses-
$issing with insie lip- stopping the career
2f laughing with a sigh-''a note infalli!le
2f !reaking honesty''horsing foot on foot-
Skulking in corners- wishing clocks more swift-
6ours, minutes- noon, minight- an all eyes
Blin with the pin an we! !ut theirs, theirs only,
That woul unseen !e wicke- is this nothing-
Why, then the worl an all that's in't is nothing&
The covering sky is nothing& Bohemia nothing&
,y wife is nothing& nor nothing have these nothings,
If this !e nothing#
CAMILLO
0oo my lor, !e cure
2f this isease opinion, an !etimes&
5or 'tis most angerous#
LEONTES
Say it !e, 'tis true#
CAMILLO
.o, no, my lor#
LEONTES
It is& you lie, you lie)
I say thou liest, Camillo, an I hate thee,
3ronounce thee a gross lout, a minless slave,
2r else a hovering tempori;er, that
Canst with thine eyes at once see goo an evil,
Inclining to them !oth) were my wife's liver
Infecte as her life, she woul not live
The running of one glass#
CAMILLO
Who oes infect her-
LEONTES
Why, he that wears her like a meal, hanging
/!out his neck, Bohemia) who, if I
6a servants true a!out me, that !are eyes
To see alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts, they woul o that
Which shoul uno more oing) ay, an thou,
6is cup!earer,''whom I from meaner form
6ave !enche an reare to worship, who mayst see
3lainly as heaven sees earth an earth sees heaven,
6ow I am galle,''mightst !espice a cup,
To give mine enemy a lasting wink&
Which raught to me were corial#
CAMILLO
Sir, my lor,
I coul o this, an that with no rash potion,
But with a lingering ram that shoul not work
,aliciously like poison) !ut I cannot
Believe this crack to !e in my rea mistress,
So sovereignly !eing honoura!le#
I have love thee,''
LEONTES
,ake that thy 1uestion, an go rot+
4ost think I am so muy, so unsettle,
To appoint myself in this ve"ation, sully
The purity an whiteness of my sheets,
Which to preserve is sleep, which !eing spotte
Is goas, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps,
0ive scanal to the !loo o' the prince my son,
Who I o think is mine an love as mine,
Without ripe moving to't- Woul I o this-
Coul man so !lench-
CAMILLO
I must !elieve you, sir)
I o& an will fetch off Bohemia for't&
3rovie that, when he's remove, your highness
Will take again your 1ueen as yours at first,
Even for your son's sake& an there!y for sealing
The in%ury of tongues in courts an kingoms
$nown an allie to yours#
LEONTES
Thou ost avise me
Even so as I mine own course have set own)
I'll give no !lemish to her honour, none#
CAMILLO
,y lor,
0o then& an with a countenance as clear
/s frienship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia
/n with your 1ueen# I am his cup!earer)
If from me he have wholesome !everage,
/ccount me not your servant#
LEONTES
This is all)
4o't an thou hast the one half of my heart&
4o't not, thou split'st thine own#
CAMILLO
I'll o't, my lor#
LEONTES
I will seem frienly, as thou hast avise me#
Exit
CAMILLO
2 misera!le lay+ But, for me,
What case stan I in- I must !e the poisoner
2f goo 3oli"enes& an my groun to o't
Is the o!eience to a master, one
Who in re!ellion with himself will have
/ll that are his so too# To o this ee,
3romotion follows# If I coul fin e"ample
2f thousans that ha struck anointe kings
/n flourish' after, I'l not o't& !ut since
.or !rass nor stone nor parchment !ears not one,
7et villany itself forswear't# I must
5orsake the court) to o't, or no, is certain
To me a !reak'neck# 6appy star, reign now+
6ere comes Bohemia#
Re-enter POLIXENES
!OLI"ENES
This is strange) methinks
,y favour here !egins to warp# .ot speak-
0oo ay, Camillo#
CAMILLO
6ail, most royal sir+
!OLI"ENES
What is the news i' the court-
CAMILLO
.one rare, my lor#
!OLI"ENES
The king hath on him such a countenance
/s he ha lost some province an a region
7ove as he loves himself) even now I met him
With customary compliment& when he,
Wafting his eyes to the contrary an falling
/ lip of much contempt, spees from me an
So leaves me to consier what is !reeing
That changeth thus his manners#
CAMILLO
I are not know, my lor#
!OLI"ENES
6ow+ are not+ o not# 4o you know, an are not-
Be intelligent to me) 'tis therea!outs&
5or, to yourself, what you o know, you must#
/n cannot say, you are not# 0oo Camillo,
*our change comple"ions are to me a mirror
Which shows me mine change too& for I must !e
/ party in this alteration, fining
,yself thus alter' with 't#
CAMILLO
There is a sickness
Which puts some of us in istemper, !ut
I cannot name the isease& an it is caught
2f you that yet are well#
!OLI"ENES
6ow+ caught of me+
,ake me not sighte like the !asilisk)
I have look' on thousans, who have spe the !etter
By my regar, !ut kill' none so# Camillo,''
/s you are certainly a gentleman, thereto
Clerk'like e"perience, which no less aorns
2ur gentry than our parents' no!le names,
In whose success we are gentle,''I !eseech you,
If you know aught which oes !ehove my knowlege
Thereof to !e inform', imprison't not
In ignorant concealment#
CAMILLO
I may not answer#
!OLI"ENES
/ sickness caught of me, an yet I well+
I must !e answer'# 4ost thou hear, Camillo,
I con%ure thee, !y all the parts of man
Which honour oes acknowlege, whereof the least
Is not this suit of mine, that thou eclare
What inciency thou ost guess of harm
Is creeping towar me& how far off, how near&
Which way to !e prevente, if to !e&
If not, how !est to !ear it#
CAMILLO
Sir, I will tell you&
Since I am charge in honour an !y him
That I think honoura!le) therefore mark my counsel,
Which must !e even as swiftly follow' as
I mean to utter it, or !oth yourself an me
Cry lost, an so goo night+
!OLI"ENES
2n, goo Camillo#
CAMILLO
I am appointe him to murer you#
!OLI"ENES
By whom, Camillo-
CAMILLO
By the king#
!OLI"ENES
5or what-
CAMILLO
6e thinks, nay, with all confience he swears,
/s he ha seen't or !een an instrument
To vice you to't, that you have touch' his 1ueen
5or!ienly#
!OLI"ENES
2, then my !est !loo turn
To an infecte %elly an my name
Be yoke with his that i !etray the Best+
Turn then my freshest reputation to
/ savour that may strike the ullest nostril
Where I arrive, an my approach !e shunn',
.ay, hate too, worse than the great'st infection
That e'er was hear or rea+
CAMILLO
Swear his thought over
By each particular star in heaven an
By all their influences, you may as well
5or!i the sea for to o!ey the moon
/s or !y oath remove or counsel shake
The fa!ric of his folly, whose founation
Is pile upon his faith an will continue
The staning of his !oy#
!OLI"ENES
6ow shoul this grow-
CAMILLO
I know not) !ut I am sure 'tis safer to
/voi what's grown than 1uestion how 'tis !orn#
If therefore you are trust my honesty,
That lies enclose in this trunk which you
Shall !ear along impawn', away to'night+
*our followers I will whisper to the !usiness,
/n will !y twos an threes at several posterns
Clear them o' the city# 5or myself, I'll put
,y fortunes to your service, which are here
By this iscovery lost# Be not uncertain&
5or, !y the honour of my parents, I
6ave utter' truth) which if you seek to prove,
I are not stan !y& nor shall you !e safer
Than one conemn' !y the king's own mouth, thereon
6is e"ecution sworn#
!OLI"ENES
I o !elieve thee)
I saw his heart in 's face# 0ive me thy han)
Be pilot to me an thy places shall
Still neigh!our mine# ,y ships are reay an
,y people i e"pect my hence eparture
Two ays ago# This %ealousy
Is for a precious creature) as she's rare,
,ust it !e great, an as his person's mighty,
,ust it !e violent, an as he oes conceive
6e is ishonour' !y a man which ever
3rofess' to him, why, his revenges must
In that !e mae more !itter# 5ear o'ershaes me)
0oo e"peition !e my frien, an comfort
The gracious 1ueen, part of his theme, !ut nothing
2f his ill'ta'en suspicion+ Come, Camillo&
I will respect thee as a father if
Thou !ear'st my life off hence) let us avoi#
CAMILLO
It is in mine authority to comman
The keys of all the posterns) please your highness
To take the urgent hour# Come, sir, away#
Exeunt
ACT II
SCENE I. A room in LEONTES' palace.
Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies
HERMIONE
Take the !oy to you) he so trou!les me,
'Tis past enuring#
#irt La$%
Come, my gracious lor,
Shall I !e your playfellow-
MAMILLIUS
.o, I'll none of you#
#irt La$%
Why, my sweet lor-
MAMILLIUS
*ou'll kiss me har an speak to me as if
I were a !a!y still# I love you !etter#
Secon$ La$%
/n why so, my lor-
MAMILLIUS
.ot for !ecause
*our !rows are !lacker& yet !lack !rows, they say,
Become some women !est, so that there !e not
Too much hair there, !ut in a semicircle
2r a half'moon mae with a pen#
Secon$ La$%
Who taught you this-
MAMILLIUS
I learnt it out of women's faces# 3ray now
What colour are your eye!rows-
#irt La$%
Blue, my lor#
MAMILLIUS
.ay, that's a mock) I have seen a lay's nose
That has !een !lue, !ut not her eye!rows#
#irt La$%
6ark ye&
The 1ueen your mother rouns apace) we shall
3resent our services to a fine new prince
2ne of these ays& an then you'l wanton with us,
If we woul have you#
Secon$ La$%
She is sprea of late
Into a gooly !ulk) goo time encounter her+
HERMIONE
What wisom stirs amongst you- Come, sir, now
I am for you again) pray you, sit !y us,
/n tell 's a tale#
MAMILLIUS
,erry or sa shall't !e-
HERMIONE
/s merry as you will#
MAMILLIUS
/ sa tale's !est for winter) I have one
2f sprites an go!lins#
HERMIONE
7et's have that, goo sir#
Come on, sit own) come on, an o your !est
To fright me with your sprites& you're powerful at it#
MAMILLIUS
There was a man''
HERMIONE
.ay, come, sit own& then on#
MAMILLIUS
4welt !y a churchyar) I will tell it softly&
*on crickets shall not hear it#
HERMIONE
Come on, then,
/n give't me in mine ear#
Enter LEONTES, with ANTIONUS, L!rds and !thers
LEONTES
Was he met there- his train- Camillo with him-
#irt Lor$
Behin the tuft of pines I met them& never
Saw I men scour so on their way) I eye them
Even to their ships#
LEONTES
6ow !lest am I
In my %ust censure, in my true opinion+
/lack, for lesser knowlege+ how accurse
In !eing so !lest+ There may !e in the cup
/ spier steep', an one may rink, epart,
/n yet partake no venom, for his knowlege
Is not infecte) !ut if one present
The a!horr' ingreient to his eye, make known
6ow he hath runk, he cracks his gorge, his sies,
With violent hefts# I have runk,
an seen the spier#
Camillo was his help in this, his paner)
There is a plot against my life, my crown&
/ll's true that is mistruste) that false villain
Whom I employ' was pre'employ' !y him)
6e has iscover' my esign, an I
=emain a pinch' thing& yea, a very trick
5or them to play at will# 6ow came the posterns
So easily open-
#irt Lor$
By his great authority&
Which often hath no less prevail' than so
2n your comman#
LEONTES
I know't too well#
0ive me the !oy) I am gla you i not nurse him)
Though he oes !ear some signs of me, yet you
6ave too much !loo in him#
HERMIONE
What is this- sport-
LEONTES
Bear the !oy hence& he shall not come a!out her&
/way with him+ an let her sport herself
With that she's !ig with& for 'tis 3oli"enes
6as mae thee swell thus#
HERMIONE
But I'l say he ha not,
/n I'll !e sworn you woul !elieve my saying,
6owe'er you lean to the naywar#
LEONTES
*ou, my lors,
7ook on her, mark her well& !e !ut a!out
To say 'she is a gooly lay,' an
The %ustice of your !earts will thereto a
'Tis pity she's not honest, honoura!le)'
3raise her !ut for this her without'oor form,
Which on my faith eserves high speech, an straight
The shrug, the hum or ha, these petty !rans
That calumny oth use''2, I am out''
That mercy oes, for calumny will sear
(irtue itself) these shrugs, these hums an ha's,
When you have sai 'she's gooly,' come !etween
Ere you can say 'she's honest)' !ut !e 't known,
5rom him that has most cause to grieve it shoul !e,
She's an aulteress#
HERMIONE
Shoul a villain say so,
The most replenish' villain in the worl,
6e were as much more villain) you, my lor,
4o !ut mistake#
LEONTES
*ou have mistook, my lay,
3oli"enes for 7eontes) 2 thou thing+
Which I'll not call a creature of thy place,
7est !ar!arism, making me the preceent,
Shoul a like language use to all egrees
/n mannerly istinguishment leave out
Betwi"t the prince an !eggar) I have sai
She's an aulteress& I have sai with whom)
,ore, she's a traitor an Camillo is
/ feerary with her, an one that knows
What she shoul shame to know herself
But with her most vile principal, that she's
/ !e'swerver, even as !a as those
That vulgars give !ol'st titles, ay, an privy
To this their late escape#
HERMIONE
.o, !y my life#
3rivy to none of this# 6ow will this grieve you,
When you shall come to clearer knowlege, that
*ou thus have pu!lish' me+ 0entle my lor,
*ou scarce can right me throughly then to say
*ou i mistake#
LEONTES
.o& if I mistake
In those founations which I !uil upon,
The centre is not !ig enough to !ear
/ school'!oy's top# /way with her+ to prison+
6e who shall speak for her is afar off guilty
But that he speaks#
HERMIONE
There's some ill planet reigns)
I must !e patient till the heavens look
With an aspect more favoura!le# 0oo my lors,
I am not prone to weeping, as our se"
Commonly are& the want of which vain ew
3erchance shall ry your pities) !ut I have
That honoura!le grief loge here which !urns
Worse than tears rown) !eseech you all, my lors,
With thoughts so 1ualifie as your charities
Shall !est instruct you, measure me& an so
The king's will !e perform'+
LEONTES
Shall I !e hear-
HERMIONE
Who is't that goes with me- Beseech your highness,
,y women may !e with me& for you see
,y plight re1uires it# 4o not weep, goo fools&
There is no cause) when you shall know your mistress
6as eserve prison, then a!oun in tears
/s I come out) this action I now go on
Is for my !etter grace# /ieu, my lor)
I never wish' to see you sorry& now
I trust I shall# ,y women, come& you have leave#
LEONTES
0o, o our !iing& hence+
Exit HERMIONE, "uarded# with Ladies
#irt Lor$
Beseech your highness, call the 1ueen again#
ANTI&ONUS
Be certain what you o, sir, lest your %ustice
3rove violence& in the which three great ones suffer,
*ourself, your 1ueen, your son#
#irt Lor$
5or her, my lor,
I are my life lay own an will o't, sir,
3lease you to accept it, that the 1ueen is spotless
I' the eyes of heaven an to you& I mean,
In this which you accuse her#
ANTI&ONUS
If it prove
She's otherwise, I'll keep my sta!les where
I loge my wife& I'll go in couples with her&
Than when I feel an see her no farther trust her&
5or every inch of woman in the worl,
/y, every ram of woman's flesh is false, If she !e#
LEONTES
6ol your peaces#
#irt Lor$
0oo my lor,''
ANTI&ONUS
It is for you we speak, not for ourselves)
*ou are a!use an !y some putter'on
That will !e amn' for't& woul I knew the villain,
I woul lan'amn him# Be she honour'flaw',
I have three aughters& the elest is eleven
The secon an the thir, nine, an some five&
If this prove true, they'll pay for't)
!y mine honour,
I'll gel 'em all& fourteen they shall not see,
To !ring false generations) they are co'heirs&
/n I ha rather gli! myself than they
Shoul not prouce fair issue#
LEONTES
Cease& no more#
*ou smell this !usiness with a sense as col
/s is a ea man's nose) !ut I o see't an feel't
/s you feel oing thus& an see withal
The instruments that feel#
ANTI&ONUS
If it !e so,
We nee no grave to !ury honesty)
There's not a grain of it the face to sweeten
2f the whole ungy earth#
LEONTES
What+ lack I creit-
#irt Lor$
I ha rather you i lack than I, my lor,
:pon this groun& an more it woul content me
To have her honour true than your suspicion,
Be !lame for't how you might#
LEONTES
Why, what nee we
Commune with you of this, !ut rather follow
2ur forceful instigation- 2ur prerogative
Calls not your counsels, !ut our natural gooness
Imparts this& which if you, or stupefie
2r seeming so in skill, cannot or will not
=elish a truth like us, inform yourselves
We nee no more of your avice) the matter,
The loss, the gain, the orering on't, is all
3roperly ours#
ANTI&ONUS
/n I wish, my liege,
*ou ha only in your silent %ugment trie it,
Without more overture#
LEONTES
6ow coul that !e-
Either thou art most ignorant !y age,
2r thou wert !orn a fool# Camillo's flight,
/e to their familiarity,
Which was as gross as ever touch' con%ecture,
That lack' sight only, nought for appro!ation
But only seeing, all other circumstances
,ae up to the ee, oth push on this proceeing)
*et, for a greater confirmation,
5or in an act of this importance 'twere
,ost piteous to !e wil, I have ispatch' in post
To sacre 4elphos, to /pollo's temple,
Cleomenes an 4ion, whom you know
2f stuff' sufficiency) now from the oracle
They will !ring all& whose spiritual counsel ha,
Shall stop or spur me# 6ave I one well-
#irt Lor$
Well one, my lor#
LEONTES
Though I am satisfie an nee no more
Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
0ive rest to the mins of others, such as he
Whose ignorant creulity will not
Come up to the truth# So have we thought it goo
5rom our free person she shoul !e confine,
7est that the treachery of the two fle hence
Be left her to perform# Come, follow us&
We are to speak in pu!lic& for this !usiness
Will raise us all#
ANTI&ONUS
8/sie9
To laughter, as I take it,
If the goo truth were known#
Exeunt
SCENE II. A prion.
Enter PAULINA, a ent$e%an, and Attendants
!AULINA
The keeper of the prison, call to him&
let him have knowlege who I am#
Exit ent$e%an
0oo lay,
.o court in Europe is too goo for thee&
What ost thou then in prison-
Re-enter ent$e%an, with the a!$er
.ow, goo sir,
*ou know me, o you not-
&aoler
5or a worthy lay
/n one whom much I honour#
!AULINA
3ray you then,
Conuct me to the 1ueen#
&aoler
I may not, maam)
To the contrary I have e"press commanment#
!AULINA
6ere's ao,
To lock up honesty an honour from
The access of gentle visitors+
Is't lawful, pray you,
To see her women- any of them- Emilia-
&aoler
So please you, maam,
To put apart these your attenants, I
Shall !ring Emilia forth#
!AULINA
I pray now, call her#
Withraw yourselves#
Exeunt ent$e%an and Attendants
&aoler
/n, maam,
I must !e present at your conference#
!AULINA
Well, !e't so, prithee#
Exit a!$er
6ere's such ao to make no stain a stain
/s passes colouring#
Re-enter a!$er, with EMILIA
4ear gentlewoman,
6ow fares our gracious lay-
EMILIA
/s well as one so great an so forlorn
,ay hol together) on her frights an griefs,
Which never tener lay hath !orn greater,
She is something !efore her time eliver'#
!AULINA
/ !oy-
EMILIA
/ aughter, an a gooly !a!e,
7usty an like to live) the 1ueen receives
,uch comfort in't& says ',y poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you#'
!AULINA
I are !e sworn
These angerous unsafe lunes i' the king,
!eshrew them+
6e must !e tol on't, an he shall) the office
Becomes a woman !est& I'll take't upon me)
If I prove honey'mouth' let my tongue !lister
/n never to my re'look' anger !e
The trumpet any more# 3ray you, Emilia,
Commen my !est o!eience to the 1ueen)
If she ares trust me with her little !a!e,
I'll show't the king an unertake to !e
6er avocate to the lou'st# We o not know
6ow he may soften at the sight o' the chil)
The silence often of pure innocence
3ersuaes when speaking fails#
EMILIA
,ost worthy maam,
*our honour an your gooness is so evient
That your free unertaking cannot miss
/ thriving issue) there is no lay living
So meet for this great erran# 3lease your layship
To visit the ne"t room, I'll presently
/c1uaint the 1ueen of your most no!le offer&
Who !ut to'ay hammer' of this esign,
But urst not tempt a minister of honour,
7est she shoul !e enie#
!AULINA
Tell her, Emilia#
I'll use that tongue I have) if wit flow from't
/s !olness from my !osom, let 't not !e ou!te
I shall o goo#
EMILIA
.ow !e you !lest for it+
I'll to the 1ueen) please you,
come something nearer#
&aoler
,aam, if't please the 1ueen to sen the !a!e,
I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
6aving no warrant#
!AULINA
*ou nee not fear it, sir)
This chil was prisoner to the wom! an is
By law an process of great nature thence
5ree an enfranchise, not a party to
The anger of the king nor guilty of,
If any !e, the trespass of the 1ueen#
&aoler
I o !elieve it#
!AULINA
4o not you fear) upon mine honour,
I will stan !etwi"t you an anger#
Exeunt
SCENE III. A room in LEONTES' palace.
Enter LEONTES, ANTIONUS, L!rds, and Ser&ants
LEONTES
.or night nor ay no rest) it is !ut weakness
To !ear the matter thus& mere weakness# If
The cause were not in !eing,''part o' the cause,
She the aulteress& for the harlot king
Is 1uite !eyon mine arm, out of the !lank
/n level of my !rain, plot'proof& !ut she
I can hook to me) say that she were gone,
0iven to the fire, a moiety of my rest
,ight come to me again# Who's there-
#irt Ser'ant
,y lor-
LEONTES
6ow oes the !oy-
#irt Ser'ant
6e took goo rest to'night&
'Tis hope his sickness is ischarge#
LEONTES
To see his no!leness+
Conceiving the ishonour of his mother,
6e straight ecline, roop', took it eeply,
5asten' an fi"' the shame on't in himself,
Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
/n ownright languish'# 7eave me solely) go,
See how he fares#
Exit Ser&ant
5ie, fie+ no thought of him)
The thought of my revenges that way
=ecoil upon me) in himself too mighty,
/n in his parties, his alliance& let him !e
:ntil a time may serve) for present vengeance,
Take it on her# Camillo an 3oli"enes
7augh at me, make their pastime at my sorrow)
They shoul not laugh if I coul reach them, nor
Shall she within my power#
Enter PAULINA, with a 'hi$d
#irt Lor$
*ou must not enter#
!AULINA
.ay, rather, goo my lors, !e secon to me)
5ear you his tyrannous passion more, alas,
Than the 1ueen's life- a gracious innocent soul,
,ore free than he is %ealous#
ANTI&ONUS
That's enough#
Secon$ Ser'ant
,aam, he hath not slept tonight& commane
.one shoul come at him#
!AULINA
.ot so hot, goo sir)
I come to !ring him sleep# 'Tis such as you,
That creep like shaows !y him an o sigh
/t each his neeless heavings, such as you
.ourish the cause of his awaking) I
4o come with wors as meicinal as true,
6onest as either, to purge him of that humour
That presses him from sleep#
LEONTES
What noise there, ho-
!AULINA
.o noise, my lor& !ut neeful conference
/!out some gossips for your highness#
LEONTES
6ow+
/way with that auacious lay+ /ntigonus,
I charge thee that she shoul not come a!out me)
I knew she woul#
ANTI&ONUS
I tol her so, my lor,
2n your ispleasure's peril an on mine,
She shoul not visit you#
LEONTES
What, canst not rule her-
!AULINA
5rom all ishonesty he can) in this,
:nless he take the course that you have one,
Commit me for committing honour, trust it,
6e shall not rule me#
ANTI&ONUS
7a you now, you hear)
When she will take the rein I let her run&
But she'll not stum!le#
!AULINA
0oo my liege, I come&
/n, I !eseech you, hear me, who profess
,yself your loyal servant, your physician,
*our most o!eient counsellor, yet that are
7ess appear so in comforting your evils,
Than such as most seem yours) I say, I come
5rom your goo 1ueen#
LEONTES
0oo 1ueen+
!AULINA
0oo 1ueen, my lor,
0oo 1ueen& I say goo 1ueen&
/n woul !y com!at make her goo, so were I
/ man, the worst a!out you#
LEONTES
5orce her hence#
!AULINA
7et him that makes !ut trifles of his eyes
5irst han me) on mine own accor I'll off&
But first I'll o my erran# The goo 1ueen,
5or she is goo, hath !rought you forth a aughter&
6ere 'tis& commens it to your !lessing#
La(in" d!wn the 'hi$d
LEONTES
2ut+
/ mankin witch+ 6ence with her, out o' oor)
/ most intelligencing !aw+
!AULINA
.ot so)
I am as ignorant in that as you
In so entitling me, an no less honest
Than you are ma& which is enough, I'll warrant,
/s this worl goes, to pass for honest#
LEONTES
Traitors+
Will you not push her out- 0ive her the !astar#
Thou otar+ thou art woman'tire, unrooste
By thy ame 3artlet here# Take up the !astar&
Take't up, I say& give't to thy crone#
!AULINA
5or ever
:nvenera!le !e thy hans, if thou
Takest up the princess !y that force !aseness
Which he has put upon't+
LEONTES
6e reas his wife#
!AULINA
So I woul you i& then 'twere past all ou!t
*ou'l call your chilren yours#
LEONTES
/ nest of traitors+
ANTI&ONUS
I am none, !y this goo light#
!AULINA
.or I, nor any
But one that's here, an that's himself, for he
The sacre honour of himself, his 1ueen's,
6is hopeful son's, his !a!e's, !etrays to slaner,
Whose sting is sharper than the swor's&
an will not''
5or, as the case now stans, it is a curse
6e cannot !e compell' to't''once remove
The root of his opinion, which is rotten
/s ever oak or stone was soun#
LEONTES
/ callat
2f !ounless tongue, who late hath !eat her hus!an
/n now !aits me+ This !rat is none of mine&
It is the issue of 3oli"enes)
6ence with it, an together with the am
Commit them to the fire+
!AULINA
It is yours&
/n, might we lay the ol prover! to your charge,
So like you, 'tis the worse# Behol, my lors,
/lthough the print !e little, the whole matter
/n copy of the father, eye, nose, lip,
The trick of's frown, his forehea, nay, the valley,
The pretty imples of his chin an cheek,
6is smiles,
The very moul an frame of han, nail, finger)
/n thou, goo goess .ature, which hast mae it
So like to him that got it, if thou hast
The orering of the min too, 'mongst all colours
.o yellow in't, lest she suspect, as he oes,
6er chilren not her hus!an's+
LEONTES
/ gross hag
/n, lo;el, thou art worthy to !e hang',
That wilt not stay her tongue#
ANTI&ONUS
6ang all the hus!ans
That cannot o that feat, you'll leave yourself
6arly one su!%ect#
LEONTES
2nce more, take her hence#
!AULINA
/ most unworthy an unnatural lor
Can o no more#
LEONTES
I'll ha' thee !urnt#
!AULINA
I care not)
It is an heretic that makes the fire,
.ot she which !urns in't# I'll not call you tyrant&
But this most cruel usage of your 1ueen,
.ot a!le to prouce more accusation
Than your own weak'hinge fancy, something savours
2f tyranny an will igno!le make you,
*ea, scanalous to the worl#
LEONTES
2n your allegiance,
2ut of the cham!er with her+ Were I a tyrant,
Where were her life- she urst not call me so,
If she i know me one# /way with her+
!AULINA
I pray you, o not push me& I'll !e gone#
7ook to your !a!e, my lor& 'tis yours)
<ove sen her
/ !etter guiing spirit+ What nees these hans-
*ou, that are thus so tener o'er his follies,
Will never o him goo, not one of you#
So, so) farewell& we are gone#
Exit
LEONTES
Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this#
,y chil- away with't+ Even thou, that hast
/ heart so tener o'er it, take it hence
/n see it instantly consume with fire&
Even thou an none !ut thou# Take it up straight)
Within this hour !ring me wor 'tis one,
/n !y goo testimony, or I'll sei;e thy life,
With what thou else call'st thine# If thou refuse
/n wilt encounter with my wrath, say so&
The !astar !rains with these my proper hans
Shall I ash out# 0o, take it to the fire&
5or thou set'st on thy wife#
ANTI&ONUS
I i not, sir)
These lors, my no!le fellows, if they please,
Can clear me in't#
Lor$
We can) my royal liege,
6e is not guilty of her coming hither#
LEONTES
*ou're liars all#
#irt Lor$
Beseech your highness, give us !etter creit)
We have always truly serve you, an !eseech you
So to esteem of us, an on our knees we !eg,
/s recompense of our ear services
3ast an to come, that you o change this purpose,
Which !eing so horri!le, so !looy, must
7ea on to some foul issue) we all kneel#
LEONTES
I am a feather for each win that !lows)
Shall I live on to see this !astar kneel
/n call me father- !etter !urn it now
Than curse it then# But !e it& let it live#
It shall not neither# *ou, sir, come you hither&
*ou that have !een so tenerly officious
With 7ay ,argery, your miwife there,
To save this !astar's life,''for 'tis a !astar,
So sure as this !ear's grey,
''what will you aventure
To save this !rat's life-
ANTI&ONUS
/ny thing, my lor,
That my a!ility may unergo
/n no!leness impose) at least thus much)
I'll pawn the little !loo which I have left
To save the innocent) any thing possi!le#
LEONTES
It shall !e possi!le# Swear !y this swor
Thou wilt perform my !iing#
ANTI&ONUS
I will, my lor#
LEONTES
,ark an perform it, see'st thou+ for the fail
2f any point in't shall not only !e
4eath to thyself !ut to thy lew'tongue wife,
Whom for this time we paron# We en%oin thee,
/s thou art liege'man to us, that thou carry
This female !astar hence an that thou !ear it
To some remote an esert place 1uite out
2f our ominions, an that there thou leave it,
Without more mercy, to its own protection
/n favour of the climate# /s !y strange fortune
It came to us, I o in %ustice charge thee,
2n thy soul's peril an thy !oy's torture,
That thou commen it strangely to some place
Where chance may nurse or en it# Take it up#
ANTI&ONUS
I swear to o this, though a present eath
6a !een more merciful# Come on, poor !a!e)
Some powerful spirit instruct the kites an ravens
To !e thy nurses+ Wolves an !ears, they say
Casting their savageness asie have one
7ike offices of pity# Sir, !e prosperous
In more than this ee oes re1uire+ /n !lessing
/gainst this cruelty fight on thy sie,
3oor thing, conemn' to loss+
Exit with the 'hi$d
LEONTES
.o, I'll not rear
/nother's issue#
Enter a Ser&ant
Ser'ant
3lease your highness, posts
5rom those you sent to the oracle are come
/n hour since) Cleomenes an 4ion,
Being well arrive from 4elphos, are !oth lane,
6asting to the court#
#irt Lor$
So please you, sir, their spee
6ath !een !eyon account#
LEONTES
Twenty'three ays
They have !een a!sent) 'tis goo spee& foretells
The great /pollo suenly will have
The truth of this appear# 3repare you, lors&
Summon a session, that we may arraign
2ur most isloyal lay, for, as she hath
Been pu!licly accuse, so shall she have
/ %ust an open trial# While she lives
,y heart will !e a !urthen to me# 7eave me,
/n think upon my !iing#
Exeunt
ACT III
SCENE I. A ea(port in Sicilia.
Enter CLEOMENES and DION
CLEOMENES
The climate's elicate, the air most sweet,
5ertile the isle, the temple much surpassing
The common praise it !ears#
DION
I shall report,
5or most it caught me, the celestial ha!its,
,ethinks I so shoul term them, an the reverence
2f the grave wearers# 2, the sacrifice+
6ow ceremonious, solemn an unearthly
It was i' the offering+
CLEOMENES
But of all, the !urst
/n the ear'eafening voice o' the oracle,
$in to <ove's thuner, so surprise my sense#
That I was nothing#
DION
If the event o' the %ourney
3rove as successful to the 1ueen,''2 !e't so+''
/s it hath !een to us rare, pleasant, speey,
The time is worth the use on't#
CLEOMENES
0reat /pollo
Turn all to the !est+ These proclamations,
So forcing faults upon 6ermione,
I little like#
DION
The violent carriage of it
Will clear or en the !usiness) when the oracle,
Thus !y /pollo's great ivine seal' up,
Shall the contents iscover, something rare
Even then will rush to knowlege# 0o) fresh horses+
/n gracious !e the issue+
Exeunt
SCENE II. A co)rt of *)tice.
Enter LEONTES, L!rds, and O))i'ers
LEONTES
This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce,
Even pushes 'gainst our heart) the party trie
The aughter of a king, our wife, an one
2f us too much !elove# 7et us !e clear'
2f !eing tyrannous, since we so openly
3rocee in %ustice, which shall have ue course,
Even to the guilt or the purgation#
3rouce the prisoner#
Officer
It is his highness' pleasure that the 1ueen
/ppear in person here in court# Silence+
Enter HERMIONE "uarded# PAULINA and Ladies attendin"
LEONTES
=ea the inictment#
Officer
8=eas9 6ermione, 1ueen to the worthy
7eontes, king of Sicilia, thou art here accuse an
arraigne of high treason, in committing aultery
with 3oli"enes, king of Bohemia, an conspiring
with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign
lor the king, thy royal hus!an) the pretence
whereof !eing !y circumstances partly lai open,
thou, 6ermione, contrary to the faith an allegiance
of a true su!%ect, ist counsel an ai them, for
their !etter safety, to fly away !y night#
HERMIONE
Since what I am to say must !e !ut that
Which contraicts my accusation an
The testimony on my part no other
But what comes from myself, it shall scarce !oot me
To say 'not guilty)' mine integrity
Being counte falsehoo, shall, as I e"press it,
Be so receive# But thus) if powers ivine
Behol our human actions, as they o,
I ou!t not then !ut innocence shall make
5alse accusation !lush an tyranny
Trem!le at patience# *ou, my lor, !est know,
Who least will seem to o so, my past life
6ath !een as continent, as chaste, as true,
/s I am now unhappy& which is more
Than history can pattern, though evise
/n play' to take spectators# 5or !ehol me
/ fellow of the royal !e, which owe
/ moiety of the throne a great king's aughter,
The mother to a hopeful prince, here staning
To prate an talk for life an honour 'fore
Who please to come an hear# 5or life, I pri;e it
/s I weigh grief, which I woul spare) for honour,
'Tis a erivative from me to mine,
/n only that I stan for# I appeal
To your own conscience, sir, !efore 3oli"enes
Came to your court, how I was in your grace,
6ow merite to !e so& since he came,
With what encounter so uncurrent I
6ave strain' to appear thus) if one %ot !eyon
The !oun of honour, or in act or will
That way inclining, haren' !e the hearts
2f all that hear me, an my near'st of kin
Cry fie upon my grave+
LEONTES
I ne'er hear yet
That any of these !oler vices wante
7ess impuence to gainsay what they i
Than to perform it first#
HERMIONE
That's true enough&
Through 'tis a saying, sir, not ue to me#
LEONTES
*ou will not own it#
HERMIONE
,ore than mistress of
Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not
/t all acknowlege# 5or 3oli"enes,
With whom I am accuse, I o confess
I love him as in honour he re1uire,
With such a kin of love as might !ecome
/ lay like me, with a love even such,
So an no other, as yourself commane)
Which not to have one I think ha !een in me
Both iso!eience an ingratitue
To you an towar your frien, whose love ha spoke,
Even since it coul speak, from an infant, freely
That it was yours# .ow, for conspiracy,
I know not how it tastes& though it !e ish'
5or me to try how) all I know of it
Is that Camillo was an honest man&
/n why he left your court, the gos themselves,
Wotting no more than I, are ignorant#
LEONTES
*ou knew of his eparture, as you know
What you have unerta'en to o in's a!sence#
HERMIONE
Sir,
*ou speak a language that I unerstan not)
,y life stans in the level of your reams,
Which I'll lay own#
LEONTES
*our actions are my reams&
*ou ha a !astar !y 3oli"enes,
/n I !ut ream' it# /s you were past all shame,''
Those of your fact are so''so past all truth)
Which to eny concerns more than avails& for as
Thy !rat hath !een cast out, like to itself,
.o father owning it,''which is, inee,
,ore criminal in thee than it,''so thou
Shalt feel our %ustice, in whose easiest passage
7ook for no less than eath#
HERMIONE
Sir, spare your threats)
The !ug which you woul fright me with I seek#
To me can life !e no commoity)
The crown an comfort of my life, your favour,
I o give lost& for I o feel it gone,
But know not how it went# ,y secon %oy
/n first'fruits of my !oy, from his presence
I am !arr', like one infectious# ,y thir comfort
Starr' most unluckily, is from my !reast,
The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth,
6ale out to murer) myself on every post
3roclaime a strumpet) with immoest hatre
The chil'!e privilege enie, which 'longs
To women of all fashion& lastly, hurrie
6ere to this place, i' the open air, !efore
I have got strength of limit# .ow, my liege,
Tell me what !lessings I have here alive,
That I shoul fear to ie- Therefore procee#
But yet hear this) mistake me not& no life,
I pri;e it not a straw, !ut for mine honour,
Which I woul free, if I shall !e conemn'
:pon surmises, all proofs sleeping else
But what your %ealousies awake, I tell you
'Tis rigor an not law# *our honours all,
I o refer me to the oracle)
/pollo !e my %uge+
#irt Lor$
This your re1uest
Is altogether %ust) therefore !ring forth,
/n in /pollos name, his oracle#
Exeunt 'ertain O))i'ers
HERMIONE
The Emperor of =ussia was my father)
2 that he were alive, an here !eholing
6is aughter's trial+ that he i !ut see
The flatness of my misery, yet with eyes
2f pity, not revenge+
Re-enter O))i'ers, with CLEOMENES and DION
Officer
*ou here shall swear upon this swor of %ustice,
That you, Cleomenes an 4ion, have
Been !oth at 4elphos, an from thence have !rought
The seal''up oracle, !y the han eliver'
2f great /pollo's priest& an that, since then,
*ou have not are to !reak the holy seal
.or rea the secrets in't#
CLEOMENES DION
/ll this we swear#
LEONTES
Break up the seals an rea#
Officer
8=eas9 6ermione is chaste&
3oli"enes !lameless& Camillo a true su!%ect& 7eontes
a %ealous tyrant& his innocent !a!e truly !egotten&
an the king shall live without an heir, if that
which is lost !e not foun#
Lor$
.ow !lesse !e the great /pollo+
HERMIONE
3raise+
LEONTES
6ast thou rea truth-
Officer
/y, my lor& even so
/s it is here set own#
LEONTES
There is no truth at all i' the oracle)
The sessions shall procee) this is mere falsehoo#
Enter Ser&ant
Ser'ant
,y lor the king, the king+
LEONTES
What is the !usiness-
Ser'ant
2 sir, I shall !e hate to report it+
The prince your son, with mere conceit an fear
2f the 1ueen's spee, is gone#
LEONTES
6ow+ gone+
Ser'ant
Is ea#
LEONTES
/pollo's angry& an the heavens themselves
4o strike at my in%ustice#
HERMIONE sw!!ns
6ow now there+
!AULINA
This news is mortal to the 1ueen) look own
/n see what eath is oing#
LEONTES
Take her hence)
6er heart is !ut o'ercharge& she will recover)
I have too much !elieve mine own suspicion)
Beseech you, tenerly apply to her
Some remeies for life#
Exeunt PAULINA and Ladies, with HERMIONE
/pollo, paron
,y great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle+
I'll reconcile me to 3oli"enes,
.ew woo my 1ueen, recall the goo Camillo,
Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy&
5or, !eing transporte !y my %ealousies
To !looy thoughts an to revenge, I chose
Camillo for the minister to poison
,y frien 3oli"enes) which ha !een one,
But that the goo min of Camillo tarie
,y swift comman, though I with eath an with
=ewar i threaten an encourage him,
.ot oing 't an !eing one) he, most humane
/n fill' with honour, to my kingly guest
:nclasp' my practise, 1uit his fortunes here,
Which you knew great, an to the ha;ar
2f all encertainties himself commene,
.o richer than his honour) how he glisters
Thorough my rust+ an how his pity
4oes my ees make the !lacker+
Re-enter PAULINA
!AULINA
Woe the while+
2, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it,
Break too#
#irt Lor$
What fit is this, goo lay-
!AULINA
What stuie torments, tyrant, hast for me-
What wheels- racks- fires- what flaying- !oiling-
In leas or oils- what ol or newer torture
,ust I receive, whose every wor eserves
To taste of thy most worst- Thy tyranny
Together working with thy %ealousies,
5ancies too weak for !oys, too green an ile
5or girls of nine, 2, think what they have one
/n then run ma inee, stark ma+ for all
Thy !y'gone fooleries were !ut spices of it#
That thou !etray'st 3oli"enes,'twas nothing&
That i !ut show thee, of a fool, inconstant
/n amna!le ingrateful) nor was't much,
Thou woulst have poison' goo Camillo's honour,
To have him kill a king) poor trespasses,
,ore monstrous staning !y) whereof I reckon
The casting forth to crows thy !a!y'aughter
To !e or none or little& though a evil
Woul have she water out of fire ere one't)
.or is't irectly lai to thee, the eath
2f the young prince, whose honoura!le thoughts,
Thoughts high for one so tener, cleft the heart
That coul conceive a gross an foolish sire
Blemish' his gracious am) this is not, no,
7ai to thy answer) !ut the last,''2 lors,
When I have sai, cry 'woe+' the 1ueen, the 1ueen,
The sweet'st, ear'st creature's ea,
an vengeance for't
.ot ropp' own yet#
#irt Lor$
The higher powers for!i+
!AULINA
I say she's ea& I'll swear't# If wor nor oath
3revail not, go an see) if you can !ring
Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye,
6eat outwarly or !reath within, I'll serve you
/s I woul o the gos# But, 2 thou tyrant+
4o not repent these things, for they are heavier
Than all thy woes can stir& therefore !etake thee
To nothing !ut espair# / thousan knees
Ten thousan years together, nake, fasting,
:pon a !arren mountain an still winter
In storm perpetual, coul not move the gos
To look that way thou wert#
LEONTES
0o on, go on
Thou canst not speak too much& I have eserve
/ll tongues to talk their !itterest#
#irt Lor$
Say no more)
6owe'er the !usiness goes, you have mae fault
I' the !olness of your speech#
!AULINA
I am sorry for't)
/ll faults I make, when I shall come to know them,
I o repent# /las+ I have show' too much
The rashness of a woman) he is touch'
To the no!le heart# What's gone an what's past help
Shoul !e past grief) o not receive affliction
/t my petition& I !eseech you, rather
7et me !e punish', that have mine you
2f what you shoul forget# .ow, goo my liege
Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman)
The love I !ore your 1ueen''lo, fool again+''
I'll speak of her no more, nor of your chilren&
I'll not remem!er you of my own lor,
Who is lost too) take your patience to you,
/n I'll say nothing#
LEONTES
Thou ist speak !ut well
When most the truth& which I receive much !etter
Than to !e pitie of thee# 3rithee, !ring me
To the ea !oies of my 1ueen an son)
2ne grave shall !e for !oth) upon them shall
The causes of their eath appear, unto
2ur shame perpetual# 2nce a ay I'll visit
The chapel where they lie, an tears she there
Shall !e my recreation) so long as nature
Will !ear up with this e"ercise, so long
I aily vow to use it# Come an lea me
:nto these sorrows#
Exeunt
SCENE III. +ohemia. A $eert co)ntr% near the ea.
Enter ANTIONUS with a Chi$d, and a Mariner
ANTI&ONUS
Thou art perfect then, our ship hath touch' upon
The eserts of Bohemia-
Mariner
/y, my lor) an fear
We have lane in ill time) the skies look grimly
/n threaten present !lusters# In my conscience,
The heavens with that we have in han are angry
/n frown upon 's#
ANTI&ONUS
Their sacre wills !e one+ 0o, get a!oar&
7ook to thy !ark) I'll not !e long !efore
I call upon thee#
Mariner
,ake your !est haste, an go not
Too far i' the lan) 'tis like to !e lou weather&
Besies, this place is famous for the creatures
2f prey that keep upon't#
ANTI&ONUS
0o thou away)
I'll follow instantly#
Mariner
I am gla at heart
To !e so ri o' the !usiness#
Exit
ANTI&ONUS
Come, poor !a!e)
I have hear, !ut not !elieve,
the spirits o' the ea
,ay walk again) if such thing !e, thy mother
/ppear' to me last night, for ne'er was ream
So like a waking# To me comes a creature,
Sometimes her hea on one sie, some another&
I never saw a vessel of like sorrow,
So fill' an so !ecoming) in pure white ro!es,
7ike very sanctity, she i approach
,y ca!in where I lay& thrice !ow' !efore me,
/n gasping to !egin some speech, her eyes
Became two spouts) the fury spent, anon
4i this !reak'from her) '0oo /ntigonus,
Since fate, against thy !etter isposition,
6ath mae thy person for the thrower'out
2f my poor !a!e, accoring to thine oath,
3laces remote enough are in Bohemia,
There weep an leave it crying& an, for the !a!e
Is counte lost for ever, 3erita,
I prithee, call't# 5or this ungentle !usiness
3ut on thee !y my lor, thou ne'er shalt see
Thy wife 3aulina more#' /n so, with shrieks
She melte into air# /ffrighte much,
I i in time collect myself an thought
This was so an no slum!er# 4reams are toys)
*et for this once, yea, superstitiously,
I will !e s1uare !y this# I o !elieve
6ermione hath suffer' eath, an that
/pollo woul, this !eing inee the issue
2f $ing 3oli"enes, it shoul here !e lai,
Either for life or eath, upon the earth
2f its right father# Blossom, spee thee well+
There lie, an there thy character) there these&
Which may, if fortune please, !oth !ree thee, pretty,
/n still rest thine# The storm !egins& poor wretch,
That for thy mother's fault art thus e"pose
To loss an what may follow+ Weep I cannot,
But my heart !lees& an most accurse am I
To !e !y oath en%oin' to this# 5arewell+
The ay frowns more an more) thou'rt like to have
/ lulla!y too rough) I never saw
The heavens so im !y ay# / savage clamour+
Well may I get a!oar+ This is the chase)
I am gone for ever#
Exit, *ursued +( a +ear
Enter a She*herd
Shepher$
I woul there were no age !etween si"teen an
three'an'twenty, or that youth woul sleep out the
rest& for there is nothing in the !etween !ut
getting wenches with chil, wronging the ancientry,
stealing, fighting''6ark you now+ Woul any !ut
these !oile !rains of nineteen an two'an'twenty
hunt this weather- They have scare away two of my
!est sheep, which I fear the wolf will sooner fin
than the master) if any where I have them, 'tis !y
the seasie, !rowsing of ivy# 0oo luck, an't !e thy
will what have we here+ ,ercy on 's, a !arne a very
pretty !arne+ / !oy or a chil, I woner- /
pretty one& a very pretty one) sure, some 'scape)
though I am not !ookish, yet I can rea
waiting'gentlewoman in the 'scape# This has !een
some stair'work, some trunk'work, some
!ehin'oor'work) they were warmer that got this
than the poor thing is here# I'll take it up for
pity) yet I'll tarry till my son come& he hallooe
!ut even now# Whoa, ho, hoa+
Enter C$!wn
Clo,n
6illoa, loa+
Shepher$
What, art so near- If thou'lt see a thing to talk
on when thou art ea an rotten, come hither# What
ailest thou, man-
Clo,n
I have seen two such sights, !y sea an !y lan+
!ut I am not to say it is a sea, for it is now the
sky) !etwi"t the firmament an it you cannot thrust
a !okin's point#
Shepher$
Why, !oy, how is it-
Clo,n
I woul you i !ut see how it chafes, how it rages,
how it takes up the shore+ !ut that's not the
point# 2, the most piteous cry of the poor souls+
sometimes to see 'em, an not to see 'em& now the
ship !oring the moon with her main'mast, an anon
swallowe with yest an froth, as you'l thrust a
cork into a hogshea# /n then for the
lan'service, to see how the !ear tore out his
shouler'!one& how he crie to me for help an sai
his name was /ntigonus, a no!leman# But to make an
en of the ship, to see how the sea flap'ragone
it) !ut, first, how the poor souls roare, an the
sea mocke them& an how the poor gentleman roare
an the !ear mocke him, !oth roaring louer than
the sea or weather#
Shepher$
.ame of mercy, when was this, !oy-
Clo,n
.ow, now) I have not winke since I saw these
sights) the men are not yet col uner water, nor
the !ear half ine on the gentleman) he's at it
now#
Shepher$
Woul I ha !een !y, to have helpe the ol man+
Clo,n
I woul you ha !een !y the ship sie, to have
helpe her) there your charity woul have lacke footing#
Shepher$
6eavy matters+ heavy matters+ !ut look thee here,
!oy# .ow !less thyself) thou mettest with things
ying, I with things new!orn# 6ere's a sight for
thee& look thee, a !earing'cloth for a s1uire's
chil+ look thee here& take up, take up, !oy&
open't# So, let's see) it was tol me I shoul !e
rich !y the fairies# This is some changeling)
open't# What's within, !oy-
Clo,n
*ou're a mae ol man) if the sins of your youth
are forgiven you, you're well to live# 0ol+ all gol+
Shepher$
This is fairy gol, !oy, an 'twill prove so) up
with't, keep it close) home, home, the ne"t way#
We are lucky, !oy& an to !e so still re1uires
nothing !ut secrecy# 7et my sheep go) come, goo
!oy, the ne"t way home#
Clo,n
0o you the ne"t way with your finings# I'll go see
if the !ear !e gone from the gentleman an how much
he hath eaten) they are never curst !ut when they
are hungry) if there !e any of him left, I'll !ury
it#
Shepher$
That's a goo ee# If thou mayest iscern !y that
which is left of him what he is, fetch me to the
sight of him#
Clo,n
,arry, will I& an you shall help to put him i' the groun#
Shepher$
'Tis a lucky ay, !oy, an we'll o goo ees on't#
Exeunt
ACT I-
SCE.E I)
Enter Ti%e, the Ch!rus
Time
I, that please some, try all, !oth %oy an terror
2f goo an !a, that makes an unfols error,
.ow take upon me, in the name of Time,
To use my wings# Impute it not a crime
To me or my swift passage, that I slie
2'er si"teen years an leave the growth untrie
2f that wie gap, since it is in my power
To o'erthrow law an in one self'!orn hour
To plant an o'erwhelm custom# 7et me pass
The same I am, ere ancient'st orer was
2r what is now receive) I witness to
The times that !rought them in& so shall I o
To the freshest things now reigning an make stale
The glistering of this present, as my tale
.ow seems to it# *our patience this allowing,
I turn my glass an give my scene such growing
/s you ha slept !etween) 7eontes leaving,
The effects of his fon %ealousies so grieving
That he shuts up himself, imagine me,
0entle spectators, that I now may !e
In fair Bohemia, an remem!er well,
I mentione a son o' the king's, which 5lori;el
I now name to you& an with spee so pace
To speak of 3erita, now grown in grace
E1ual with wonering) what of her ensues
I list not prophecy& !ut let Time's news
Be known when 'tis !rought forth#
/ shepher's aughter,
/n what to her aheres, which follows after,
Is the argument of Time# 2f this allow,
If ever you have spent time worse ere now&
If never, yet that Time himself oth say
6e wishes earnestly you never may#
Exit
SCENE II. +ohemia. The palace of !OLI"ENES.
Enter POLIXENES and CAMILLO
!OLI"ENES
I pray thee, goo Camillo, !e no more importunate)
'tis a sickness enying thee any thing& a eath to
grant this#
CAMILLO
It is fifteen years since I saw my country) though
I have for the most part !een aire a!roa, I
esire to lay my !ones there# Besies, the penitent
king, my master, hath sent for me& to whose feeling
sorrows I might !e some allay, or I o'erween to
think so, which is another spur to my eparture#
!OLI"ENES
/s thou lovest me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest of
thy services !y leaving me now) the nee I have of
thee thine own gooness hath mae& !etter not to
have ha thee than thus to want thee) thou, having
mae me !usinesses which none without thee can
sufficiently manage, must either stay to e"ecute
them thyself or take away with thee the very
services thou hast one& which if I have not enough
consiere, as too much I cannot, to !e more
thankful to thee shall !e my stuy, an my profit
therein the heaping frienships# 2f that fatal
country, Sicilia, prithee speak no more& whose very
naming punishes me with the remem!rance of that
penitent, as thou callest him, an reconcile king,
my !rother& whose loss of his most precious 1ueen
an chilren are even now to !e afresh lamente#
Say to me, when sawest thou the 3rince 5lori;el, my
son- $ings are no less unhappy, their issue not
!eing gracious, than they are in losing them when
they have approve their virtues#
CAMILLO
Sir, it is three ays since I saw the prince# What
his happier affairs may !e, are to me unknown) !ut I
have missingly note, he is of late much retire
from court an is less fre1uent to his princely
e"ercises than formerly he hath appeare#
!OLI"ENES
I have consiere so much, Camillo, an with some
care& so far that I have eyes uner my service which
look upon his removeness& from whom I have this
intelligence, that he is selom from the house of a
most homely shepher& a man, they say, that from
very nothing, an !eyon the imagination of his
neigh!ours, is grown into an unspeaka!le estate#
CAMILLO
I have hear, sir, of such a man, who hath a
aughter of most rare note) the report of her is
e"tene more than can !e thought to !egin from such a cottage#
!OLI"ENES
That's likewise part of my intelligence& !ut, I
fear, the angle that plucks our son thither# Thou
shalt accompany us to the place& where we will, not
appearing what we are, have some 1uestion with the
shepher& from whose simplicity I think it not
uneasy to get the cause of my son's resort thither#
3rithee, !e my present partner in this !usiness, an
lay asie the thoughts of Sicilia#
CAMILLO
I willingly o!ey your comman#
!OLI"ENES
,y !est Camillo+ We must isguise ourselves#
Exeunt
SCENE III. A roa$ near the Shepher$' cotta.e.
Enter AUTOL,CUS, sin"in"
AUTOL/CUS
When affoils !egin to peer,
With heigh+ the o"y over the ale,
Why, then comes in the sweet o' the year&
5or the re !loo reigns in the winter's pale#
The white sheet !leaching on the hege,
With heigh+ the sweet !irs, 2, how they sing+
4oth set my pugging tooth on ege&
5or a 1uart of ale is a ish for a king#
The lark, that tirra'lyra chants,
With heigh+ with heigh+ the thrush an the %ay,
/re summer songs for me an my aunts,
While we lie tum!ling in the hay#
I have serve 3rince 5lori;el an in my time
wore three'pile& !ut now I am out of service)
But shall I go mourn for that, my ear-
The pale moon shines !y night)
/n when I waner here an there,
I then o most go right#
If tinkers may have leave to live,
/n !ear the sow'skin !uget,
Then my account I well may, give,
/n in the stocks avouch it#
,y traffic is sheets& when the kite !uils, look to
lesser linen# ,y father name me /utolycus& who
!eing, as I am, littere uner ,ercury, was likewise
a snapper'up of unconsiere trifles# With ie an
ra! I purchase this caparison, an my revenue is
the silly cheat# 0allows an knock are too powerful
on the highway) !eating an hanging are terrors to
me) for the life to come, I sleep out the thought
of it# / pri;e+ a pri;e+
Enter C$!wn
Clo,n
7et me see) every 'leven wether tos& every to
yiels poun an o shilling& fifteen hunre
shorn# what comes the wool to-
AUTOL/CUS
8/sie9
If the springe hol, the cock's mine#
Clo,n
I cannot o't without counters# 7et me see& what am
I to !uy for our sheep'shearing feast- Three poun
of sugar, five poun of currants, rice,''what will
this sister of mine o with rice- But my father
hath mae her mistress of the feast, an she lays it
on# She hath mae me four an twenty nose'gays for
the shearers, three'man'song'men all, an very goo
ones& !ut they are most of them means an !ases& !ut
one puritan amongst them, an he sings psalms to
horn'pipes# I must have saffron to colour the waren
pies& mace& ates-''none, that's out of my note&
nutmegs, seven& a race or two of ginger, !ut that I
may !eg& four poun of prunes, an as many of
raisins o' the sun#
AUTOL/CUS
2 that ever I was !orn+
r!&e$$in" !n the "r!und
Clo,n
I' the name of me''
AUTOL/CUS
2, help me, help me+ pluck !ut off these rags& an
then, eath, eath+
Clo,n
/lack, poor soul+ thou hast nee of more rags to lay
on thee, rather than have these off#
AUTOL/CUS
2 sir, the loathsomeness of them offens me more
than the stripes I have receive, which are mighty
ones an millions#
Clo,n
/las, poor man+ a million of !eating may come to a
great matter#
AUTOL/CUS
I am ro!!e, sir, an !eaten& my money an apparel
ta'en from me, an these etesta!le things put upon
me#
Clo,n
What, !y a horseman, or a footman-
AUTOL/CUS
/ footman, sweet sir, a footman#
Clo,n
Inee, he shoul !e a footman !y the garments he
has left with thee) if this !e a horseman's coat,
it hath seen very hot service# 7en me thy han,
I'll help thee) come, len me thy han#
AUTOL/CUS
2, goo sir, tenerly, 2+
Clo,n
/las, poor soul+
AUTOL/CUS
2, goo sir, softly, goo sir+ I fear, sir, my
shouler'!lae is out#
Clo,n
6ow now+ canst stan-
AUTOL/CUS
83icking his pocket9
Softly, ear sir& goo sir, softly# *ou ha' one me
a charita!le office#
Clo,n
4ost lack any money- I have a little money for thee#
AUTOL/CUS
.o, goo sweet sir& no, I !eseech you, sir) I have
a kinsman not past three 1uarters of a mile hence,
unto whom I was going& I shall there have money, or
any thing I want) offer me no money, I pray you&
that kills my heart#
Clo,n
What manner of fellow was he that ro!!e you-
AUTOL/CUS
/ fellow, sir, that I have known to go a!out with
troll'my'ames& I knew him once a servant of the
prince) I cannot tell, goo sir, for which of his
virtues it was, !ut he was certainly whippe out of the court#
Clo,n
6is vices, you woul say& there's no virtue whippe
out of the court) they cherish it to make it stay
there& an yet it will no more !ut a!ie#
AUTOL/CUS
(ices, I woul say, sir# I know this man well) he
hath !een since an ape'!earer& then a
process'server, a !ailiff& then he compasse a
motion of the 3roigal Son, an marrie a tinker's
wife within a mile where my lan an living lies&
an, having flown over many knavish professions, he
settle only in rogue) some call him /utolycus#
Clo,n
2ut upon him+ prig, for my life, prig) he haunts
wakes, fairs an !ear'!aitings#
AUTOL/CUS
(ery true, sir& he, sir, he& that's the rogue that
put me into this apparel#
Clo,n
.ot a more cowarly rogue in all Bohemia) if you ha
!ut looke !ig an spit at him, he'l have run#
AUTOL/CUS
I must confess to you, sir, I am no fighter) I am
false of heart that way& an that he knew, I warrant
him#
Clo,n
6ow o you now-
AUTOL/CUS
Sweet sir, much !etter than I was& I can stan an
walk) I will even take my leave of you, an pace
softly towars my kinsman's#
Clo,n
Shall I !ring thee on the way-
AUTOL/CUS
.o, goo'face sir& no, sweet sir#
Clo,n
Then fare thee well) I must go !uy spices for our
sheep'shearing#
AUTOL/CUS
3rosper you, sweet sir+
Exit C$!wn
*our purse is not hot enough to purchase your spice#
I'll !e with you at your sheep'shearing too) if I
make not this cheat !ring out another an the
shearers prove sheep, let me !e unrolle an my name
put in the !ook of virtue+
Sin"s
<og on, %og on, the foot'path way,
/n merrily hent the stile'a)
/ merry heart goes all the ay,
*our sa tires in a mile'a#
Exit
SCENE I-. The Shepher$' cotta.e.
Enter -LORI.EL and PERDITA
#LORI0EL
These your unusual wees to each part of you
4o give a life) no shepheress, !ut 5lora
3eering in /pril's front# This your sheep'shearing
Is as a meeting of the petty gos,
/n you the 1ueen on't#
!ERDITA
Sir, my gracious lor,
To chie at your e"tremes it not !ecomes me)
2, paron, that I name them+ *our high self,
The gracious mark o' the lan, you have o!scure
With a swain's wearing, an me, poor lowly mai,
,ost goess'like prank' up) !ut that our feasts
In every mess have folly an the feeers
4igest it with a custom, I shoul !lush
To see you so attire, sworn, I think,
To show myself a glass#
#LORI0EL
I !less the time
When my goo falcon mae her flight across
Thy father's groun#
!ERDITA
.ow <ove affor you cause+
To me the ifference forges rea& your greatness
6ath not !een use to fear# Even now I trem!le
To think your father, !y some accient,
Shoul pass this way as you i) 2, the 5ates+
6ow woul he look, to see his work so no!le
(ilely !oun up- What woul he say- 2r how
Shoul I, in these my !orrow' flaunts, !ehol
The sternness of his presence-
#LORI0EL
/pprehen
.othing !ut %ollity# The gos themselves,
6um!ling their eities to love, have taken
The shapes of !easts upon them) <upiter
Became a !ull, an !ellow'& the green .eptune
/ ram, an !leate& an the fire'ro!e go,
0olen /pollo, a poor hum!le swain,
/s I seem now# Their transformations
Were never for a piece of !eauty rarer,
.or in a way so chaste, since my esires
=un not !efore mine honour, nor my lusts
Burn hotter than my faith#
!ERDITA
2, !ut, sir,
*our resolution cannot hol, when 'tis
2ppose, as it must !e, !y the power of the king)
2ne of these two must !e necessities,
Which then will speak, that you must
change this purpose,
2r I my life#
#LORI0EL
Thou earest 3erita,
With these force thoughts, I prithee, arken not
The mirth o' the feast# 2r I'll !e thine, my fair,
2r not my father's# 5or I cannot !e
,ine own, nor any thing to any, if
I !e not thine# To this I am most constant,
Though estiny say no# Be merry, gentle&
Strangle such thoughts as these with any thing
That you !ehol the while# *our guests are coming)
7ift up your countenance, as it were the ay
2f cele!ration of that nuptial which
We two have sworn shall come#
!ERDITA
2 lay 5ortune,
Stan you auspicious+
#LORI0EL
See, your guests approach)
/ress yourself to entertain them sprightly,
/n let's !e re with mirth#
Enter She*herd, C$!wn, MOPSA, DORCAS, and !thers, with POLIXENES and CAMILLO
dis"uised
Shepher$
5ie, aughter+ when my ol wife live, upon
This ay she was !oth pantler, !utler, cook,
Both ame an servant& welcome all, serve all&
Woul sing her song an ance her turn& now here,
/t upper en o' the ta!le, now i' the mile&
2n his shouler, an his& her face o' fire
With la!our an the thing she took to 1uench it,
She woul to each one sip# *ou are retire,
/s if you were a feaste one an not
The hostess of the meeting) pray you, !i
These unknown friens to's welcome& for it is
/ way to make us !etter friens, more known#
Come, 1uench your !lushes an present yourself
That which you are, mistress o' the feast) come on,
/n !i us welcome to your sheep'shearing,
/s your goo flock shall prosper#
!ERDITA
8To 327I>E.ES9 Sir, welcome)
It is my father's will I shoul take on me
The hostess'ship o' the ay#
T! CAMILLO
*ou're welcome, sir#
0ive me those flowers there, 4orcas# =everen sirs,
5or you there's rosemary an rue& these keep
Seeming an savour all the winter long)
0race an remem!rance !e to you !oth,
/n welcome to our shearing+
!OLI"ENES
Shepheress,
/ fair one are you''well you fit our ages
With flowers of winter#
!ERDITA
Sir, the year growing ancient,
.ot yet on summer's eath, nor on the !irth
2f trem!ling winter, the fairest
flowers o' the season
/re our carnations an streak' gillyvors,
Which some call nature's !astars) of that kin
2ur rustic garen's !arren& an I care not
To get slips of them#
!OLI"ENES
Wherefore, gentle maien,
4o you neglect them-
!ERDITA
5or I have hear it sai
There is an art which in their pieness shares
With great creating nature#
!OLI"ENES
Say there !e&
*et nature is mae !etter !y no mean
But nature makes that mean) so, over that art
Which you say as to nature, is an art
That nature makes# *ou see, sweet mai, we marry
/ gentler scion to the wilest stock,
/n make conceive a !ark of !aser kin
By !u of no!ler race) this is an art
Which oes men nature, change it rather, !ut
The art itself is nature#
!ERDITA
So it is#
!OLI"ENES
Then make your garen rich in gillyvors,
/n o not call them !astars#
!ERDITA
I'll not put
The i!!le in earth to set one slip of them&
.o more than were I painte I woul wish
This youth shoul say 'twere well an only therefore
4esire to !ree !y me# 6ere's flowers for you&
6ot lavener, mints, savoury, mar%oram&
The marigol, that goes to !e wi' the sun
/n with him rises weeping) these are flowers
2f mile summer, an I think they are given
To men of mile age# *ou're very welcome#
CAMILLO
I shoul leave gra;ing, were I of your flock,
/n only live !y ga;ing#
!ERDITA
2ut, alas+
*ou' !e so lean, that !lasts of <anuary
Woul !low you through an through#
.ow, my fair'st frien,
I woul I ha some flowers o' the spring that might
Become your time of ay& an yours, an yours,
That wear upon your virgin !ranches yet
*our maienheas growing) 2 3roserpina,
5or the flowers now, that frighte thou let'st fall
5rom 4is's waggon+ affoils,
That come !efore the swallow ares, an take
The wins of ,arch with !eauty& violets im,
But sweeter than the lis of <uno's eyes
2r Cytherea's !reath& pale primroses
That ie unmarrie, ere they can !ehol
Bight 3hoe!us in his strength''a malay
,ost incient to mais& !ol o"lips an
The crown imperial& lilies of all kins,
The flower'e'luce !eing one+ 2, these I lack,
To make you garlans of, an my sweet frien,
To strew him o'er an o'er+
#LORI0EL
What, like a corse-
!ERDITA
.o, like a !ank for love to lie an play on&
.ot like a corse& or if, not to !e !urie,
But 1uick an in mine arms# Come, take your flowers)
,ethinks I play as I have seen them o
In Whitsun pastorals) sure this ro!e of mine
4oes change my isposition#
#LORI0EL
What you o
Still !etters what is one# When you speak, sweet#
I'l have you o it ever) when you sing,
I'l have you !uy an sell so, so give alms,
3ray so& an, for the orering your affairs,
To sing them too) when you o ance, I wish you
/ wave o' the sea, that you might ever o
.othing !ut that& move still, still so,
/n own no other function) each your oing,
So singular in each particular,
Crowns what you are oing in the present ee,
That all your acts are 1ueens#
!ERDITA
2 4oricles,
*our praises are too large) !ut that your youth,
/n the true !loo which peepeth fairly through't,
4o plainly give you out an unstain' shepher,
With wisom I might fear, my 4oricles,
*ou woo' me the false way#
#LORI0EL
I think you have
/s little skill to fear as I have purpose
To put you to't# But come& our ance, I pray)
*our han, my 3erita) so turtles pair,
That never mean to part#
!ERDITA
I'll swear for 'em#
!OLI"ENES
This is the prettiest low'!orn lass that ever
=an on the green'swar) nothing she oes or seems
But smacks of something greater than herself,
Too no!le for this place#
CAMILLO
6e tells her something
That makes her !loo look out) goo sooth, she is
The 1ueen of curs an cream#
Clo,n
Come on, strike up+
DORCAS
,opsa must !e your mistress) marry, garlic,
To men her kissing with+
MO!SA
.ow, in goo time+
Clo,n
.ot a wor, a wor& we stan upon our manners#
Come, strike up+
Musi'/ Here a dan'e !) She*herds and She*herdesses
!OLI"ENES
3ray, goo shepher, what fair swain is this
Which ances with your aughter-
Shepher$
They call him 4oricles& an !oasts himself
To have a worthy feeing) !ut I have it
:pon his own report an I !elieve it&
6e looks like sooth# 6e says he loves my aughter)
I think so too& for never ga;e the moon
:pon the water as he'll stan an rea
/s 'twere my aughter's eyes) an, to !e plain#
I think there is not half a kiss to choose
Who loves another !est#
!OLI"ENES
She ances featly#
Shepher$
So she oes any thing& though I report it,
That shoul !e silent) if young 4oricles
4o light upon her, she shall !ring him that
Which he not reams of#
Enter Ser&ant
Ser'ant
2 master, if you i !ut hear the pelar at the
oor, you woul never ance again after a ta!our an
pipe& no, the !agpipe coul not move you) he sings
several tunes faster than you'll tell money& he
utters them as he ha eaten !allas an all men's
ears grew to his tunes#
Clo,n
6e coul never come !etter& he shall come in# I
love a !alla !ut even too well, if it !e oleful
matter merrily set own, or a very pleasant thing
inee an sung lamenta!ly#
Ser'ant
6e hath songs for man or woman, of all si;es& no
milliner can so fit his customers with gloves) he
has the prettiest love'songs for mais& so without
!awry, which is strange& with such elicate
!urthens of ilos an faings, '%ump her an thump
her&' an where some stretch'mouthe rascal woul,
as it were, mean mischief an !reak a foul gap into
the matter, he makes the mai to answer 'Whoop, o me
no harm, goo man&' puts him off, slights him, with
'Whoop, o me no harm, goo man#'
!OLI"ENES
This is a !rave fellow#
Clo,n
Believe me, thou talkest of an amira!le conceite
fellow# 6as he any un!raie wares-
Ser'ant
6e hath ri!!ons of an the colours i' the rain!ow&
points more than all the lawyers in Bohemia can
learnely hanle, though they come to him !y the
gross) inkles, caisses, cam!rics, lawns) why, he
sings 'em over as they were gos or goesses& you
woul think a smock were a she'angel, he so chants
to the sleeve'han an the work a!out the s1uare on't#
Clo,n
3rithee !ring him in& an let him approach singing#
!ERDITA
5orewarn him that he use no scurrilous wors in 's tunes#
Exit Ser&ant
Clo,n
*ou have of these pelars, that have more in them
than you'l think, sister#
!ERDITA
/y, goo !rother, or go a!out to think#
Enter AUTOL,CUS, sin"in"
AUTOL/CUS
7awn as white as riven snow&
Cyprus !lack as e'er was crow&
0loves as sweet as amask roses&
,asks for faces an for noses&
Bugle !racelet, necklace am!er,
3erfume for a lay's cham!er&
0olen 1uoifs an stomachers,
5or my las to give their ears)
3ins an poking'sticks of steel,
What mais lack from hea to heel)
Come !uy of me, come& come !uy, come !uy&
Buy las, or else your lasses cry) Come !uy#
Clo,n
If I were not in love with ,opsa, thou shoulst take
no money of me& !ut !eing enthralle as I am, it
will also !e the !onage of certain ri!!ons an gloves#
MO!SA
I was promise them against the feast& !ut they come
not too late now#
DORCAS
6e hath promise you more than that, or there !e liars#
MO!SA
6e hath pai you all he promise you& may !e, he has
pai you more, which will shame you to give him again#
Clo,n
Is there no manners left among mais- will they
wear their plackets where they shoul !ear their
faces- Is there not milking'time, when you are
going to !e, or kiln'hole, to whistle off these
secrets, !ut you must !e tittle'tattling !efore all
our guests- 'tis well they are whispering) clamour
your tongues, an not a wor more#
MO!SA
I have one# Come, you promise me a tawry'lace
an a pair of sweet gloves#
Clo,n
6ave I not tol thee how I was co;ene !y the way
an lost all my money-
AUTOL/CUS
/n inee, sir, there are co;eners a!roa&
therefore it !ehoves men to !e wary#
Clo,n
5ear not thou, man, thou shalt lose nothing here#
AUTOL/CUS
I hope so, sir& for I have a!out me many parcels of charge#
Clo,n
What hast here- !allas-
MO!SA
3ray now, !uy some) I love a !alla in print o'
life, for then we are sure they are true#
AUTOL/CUS
6ere's one to a very oleful tune, how a usurer's
wife was !rought to !e of twenty money'!ags at a
!urthen an how she longe to eat aers' heas an
toas car!onaoe#
MO!SA
Is it true, think you-
AUTOL/CUS
(ery true, an !ut a month ol#
DORCAS
Bless me from marrying a usurer+
AUTOL/CUS
6ere's the miwife's name to't, one ,istress
Tale'porter, an five or si" honest wives that were
present# Why shoul I carry lies a!roa-
MO!SA
3ray you now, !uy it#
Clo,n
Come on, lay it !y) an let's first see moe
!allas& we'll !uy the other things anon#
AUTOL/CUS
6ere's another !alla of a fish, that appeare upon
the coast on Wenesay the four'score of /pril,
forty thousan fathom a!ove water, an sung this
!alla against the har hearts of mais) it was
thought she was a woman an was turne into a col
fish for she woul not e"change flesh with one that
love her) the !alla is very pitiful an as true#
DORCAS
Is it true too, think you-
AUTOL/CUS
5ive %ustices' hans at it, an witnesses more than
my pack will hol#
Clo,n
7ay it !y too) another#
AUTOL/CUS
This is a merry !alla, !ut a very pretty one#
MO!SA
7et's have some merry ones#
AUTOL/CUS
Why, this is a passing merry one an goes to
the tune of 'Two mais wooing a man)' there's
scarce a mai westwar !ut she sings it& 'tis in
re1uest, I can tell you#
MO!SA
We can !oth sing it) if thou'lt !ear a part, thou
shalt hear& 'tis in three parts#
DORCAS
We ha the tune on't a month ago#
AUTOL/CUS
I can !ear my part& you must know 'tis my
occupation& have at it with you#
SON
AUTOL/CUS
0et you hence, for I must go
Where it fits not you to know#
DORCAS
Whither-
MO!SA
2, whither-
DORCAS
Whither-
MO!SA
It !ecomes thy oath full well,
Thou to me thy secrets tell#
DORCAS
,e too, let me go thither#
MO!SA
2r thou goest to the orange or mill#
DORCAS
If to either, thou ost ill#
AUTOL/CUS
.either#
DORCAS
What, neither-
AUTOL/CUS
.either#
DORCAS
Thou hast sworn my love to !e#
MO!SA
Thou hast sworn it more to me)
Then whither goest- say, whither-
Clo,n
We'll have this song out anon !y ourselves) my
father an the gentlemen are in sa talk, an we'll
not trou!le them# Come, !ring away thy pack after
me# Wenches, I'll !uy for you !oth# 3elar, let's
have the first choice# 5ollow me, girls#
Exit with DORCAS and MOPSA
AUTOL/CUS
/n you shall pay well for 'em#
-!$$!ws sin"in"
Will you !uy any tape,
2r lace for your cape,
,y ainty uck, my ear'a-
/ny silk, any threa,
/ny toys for your hea,
2f the new'st an finest, finest wear'a-
Come to the pelar&
,oney's a meler#
That oth utter all men's ware'a#
Exit
Re-enter Ser&ant
Ser'ant
,aster, there is three carters, three shephers,
three neat'hers, three swine'hers, that have mae
themselves all men of hair, they call themselves
Saltiers, an they have a ance which the wenches
say is a gallimaufry of gam!ols, !ecause they are
not in't& !ut they themselves are o' the min, if it
!e not too rough for some that know little !ut
!owling, it will please plentifully#
Shepher$
/way+ we'll none on 't) here has !een too much
homely foolery alreay# I know, sir, we weary you#
!OLI"ENES
*ou weary those that refresh us) pray, let's see
these four threes of hersmen#
Ser'ant
2ne three of them, !y their own report, sir, hath
ance !efore the king& an not the worst of the
three !ut %umps twelve foot an a half !y the s1uier#
Shepher$
7eave your prating) since these goo men are
please, let them come in& !ut 1uickly now#
Ser'ant
Why, they stay at oor, sir#
Exit
Here a dan'e !) twe$&e Sat(rs
!OLI"ENES
2, father, you'll know more of that hereafter#
T! CAMILLO
Is it not too far gone- 'Tis time to part them#
6e's simple an tells much#
T! -LORI.EL
6ow now, fair shepher+
*our heart is full of something that oes take
*our min from feasting# Sooth, when I was young
/n hane love as you o, I was wont
To loa my she with knacks) I woul have ransack'
The pelar's silken treasury an have pour' it
To her acceptance& you have let him go
/n nothing marte with him# If your lass
Interpretation shoul a!use an call this
*our lack of love or !ounty, you were straite
5or a reply, at least if you make a care
2f happy holing her#
#LORI0EL
2l sir, I know
She pri;es not such trifles as these are)
The gifts she looks from me are pack' an lock'
:p in my heart& which I have given alreay,
But not eliver'# 2, hear me !reathe my life
Before this ancient sir, who, it shoul seem,
6ath sometime love+ I take thy han, this han,
/s soft as ove's own an as white as it,
2r Ethiopian's tooth, or the fann'
snow that's !olte
By the northern !lasts twice o'er#
!OLI"ENES
What follows this-
6ow prettily the young swain seems to wash
The han was fair !efore+ I have put you out)
But to your protestation& let me hear
What you profess#
#LORI0EL
4o, an !e witness to 't#
!OLI"ENES
/n this my neigh!our too-
#LORI0EL
/n he, an more
Than he, an men, the earth, the heavens, an all)
That, were I crown' the most imperial monarch,
Thereof most worthy, were I the fairest youth
That ever mae eye swerve, ha force an knowlege
,ore than was ever man's, I woul not pri;e them
Without her love& for her employ them all&
Commen them an conemn them to her service
2r to their own perition#
!OLI"ENES
5airly offer'#
CAMILLO
This shows a soun affection#
Shepher$
But, my aughter,
Say you the like to him-
!ERDITA
I cannot speak
So well, nothing so well& no, nor mean !etter)
By the pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out
The purity of his#
Shepher$
Take hans, a !argain+
/n, friens unknown, you shall !ear witness to 't)
I give my aughter to him, an will make
6er portion e1ual his#
#LORI0EL
2, that must !e
I' the virtue of your aughter) one !eing ea,
I shall have more than you can ream of yet&
Enough then for your woner# But, come on,
Contract us 'fore these witnesses#
Shepher$
Come, your han&
/n, aughter, yours#
!OLI"ENES
Soft, swain, awhile, !eseech you&
6ave you a father-
#LORI0EL
I have) !ut what of him-
!OLI"ENES
$nows he of this-
#LORI0EL
6e neither oes nor shall#
!OLI"ENES
,ethinks a father
Is at the nuptial of his son a guest
That !est !ecomes the ta!le# 3ray you once more,
Is not your father grown incapa!le
2f reasona!le affairs- is he not stupi
With age an altering rheums- can he speak- hear-
$now man from man- ispute his own estate-
7ies he not !e'ri- an again oes nothing
But what he i !eing chilish-
#LORI0EL
.o, goo sir&
6e has his health an ampler strength inee
Than most have of his age#
!OLI"ENES
By my white !ear,
*ou offer him, if this !e so, a wrong
Something unfilial) reason my son
Shoul choose himself a wife, !ut as goo reason
The father, all whose %oy is nothing else
But fair posterity, shoul hol some counsel
In such a !usiness#
#LORI0EL
I yiel all this&
But for some other reasons, my grave sir,
Which 'tis not fit you know, I not ac1uaint
,y father of this !usiness#
!OLI"ENES
7et him know't#
#LORI0EL
6e shall not#
!OLI"ENES
3rithee, let him#
#LORI0EL
.o, he must not#
Shepher$
7et him, my son) he shall not nee to grieve
/t knowing of thy choice#
#LORI0EL
Come, come, he must not#
,ark our contract#
!OLI"ENES
,ark your ivorce, young sir,
Dis'!&erin" hi%se$)
Whom son I are not call& thou art too !ase
To !e acknowlege) thou a sceptre's heir,
That thus affect'st a sheep'hook+ Thou ol traitor,
I am sorry that !y hanging thee I can
But shorten thy life one week# /n thou, fresh piece
2f e"cellent witchcraft, who of force must know
The royal fool thou copest with,''
Shepher$
2, my heart+
!OLI"ENES
I'll have thy !eauty scratch' with !riers, an mae
,ore homely than thy state# 5or thee, fon !oy,
If I may ever know thou ost !ut sigh
That thou no more shalt see this knack, as never
I mean thou shalt, we'll !ar thee from succession&
.ot hol thee of our !loo, no, not our kin,
5ar than 4eucalion off) mark thou my wors)
5ollow us to the court# Thou churl, for this time,
Though full of our ispleasure, yet we free thee
5rom the ea !low of it# /n you, enchantment#''
Worthy enough a hersman) yea, him too,
That makes himself, !ut for our honour therein,
:nworthy thee,''if ever henceforth thou
These rural latches to his entrance open,
2r hoop his !oy more with thy em!races,
I will evise a eath as cruel for thee
/s thou art tener to't#
Exit
!ERDITA
Even here unone+
I was not much afear& for once or twice
I was a!out to speak an tell him plainly,
The selfsame sun that shines upon his court
6ies not his visage from our cottage !ut
7ooks on alike# Will't please you, sir, !e gone-
I tol you what woul come of this) !eseech you,
2f your own state take care) this ream of mine,''
Being now awake, I'll 1ueen it no inch farther,
But milk my ewes an weep#
CAMILLO
Why, how now, father+
Speak ere thou iest#
Shepher$
I cannot speak, nor think
.or are to know that which I know# 2 sir+
*ou have unone a man of fourscore three,
That thought to fill his grave in 1uiet, yea,
To ie upon the !e my father ie,
To lie close !y his honest !ones) !ut now
Some hangman must put on my shrou an lay me
Where no priest shovels in ust# 2 curse wretch,
That knew'st this was the prince,
an woulst aventure
To mingle faith with him+ :none+ unone+
If I might ie within this hour, I have live
To ie when I esire#
Exit
#LORI0EL
Why look you so upon me-
I am !ut sorry, not afear& elay',
But nothing alter') what I was, I am&
,ore straining on for plucking !ack, not following
,y leash unwillingly#
CAMILLO
0racious my lor,
*ou know your father's temper) at this time
6e will allow no speech, which I o guess
*ou o not purpose to him& an as harly
Will he enure your sight as yet, I fear)
Then, till the fury of his highness settle,
Come not !efore him#
#LORI0EL
I not purpose it#
I think, Camillo-
CAMILLO
Even he, my lor#
!ERDITA
6ow often have I tol you 'twoul !e thus+
6ow often sai, my ignity woul last
But till 'twere known+
#LORI0EL
It cannot fail !ut !y
The violation of my faith& an then
7et nature crush the sies o' the earth together
/n mar the sees within+ 7ift up thy looks)
5rom my succession wipe me, father& I
/m heir to my affection#
CAMILLO
Be avise#
#LORI0EL
I am, an !y my fancy) if my reason
Will thereto !e o!eient, I have reason&
If not, my senses, !etter please with maness,
4o !i it welcome#
CAMILLO
This is esperate, sir#
#LORI0EL
So call it) !ut it oes fulfil my vow&
I nees must think it honesty# Camillo,
.ot for Bohemia, nor the pomp that may
Be thereat glean', for all the sun sees or
The close earth wom!s or the profoun sea hies
In unknown fathoms, will I !reak my oath
To this my fair !elove) therefore, I pray you,
/s you have ever !een my father's honour' frien,
When he shall miss me,''as, in faith, I mean not
To see him any more,''cast your goo counsels
:pon his passion& let myself an fortune
Tug for the time to come# This you may know
/n so eliver, I am put to sea
With her whom here I cannot hol on shore&
/n most opportune to our nee I have
/ vessel ries fast !y, !ut not prepare
5or this esign# What course I mean to hol
Shall nothing !enefit your knowlege, nor
Concern me the reporting#
CAMILLO
2 my lor+
I woul your spirit were easier for avice,
2r stronger for your nee#
#LORI0EL
6ark, 3erita
Drawin" her aside
I'll hear you !y an !y#
CAMILLO
6e's irremovea!le,
=esolve for flight# .ow were I happy, if
6is going I coul frame to serve my turn,
Save him from anger, o him love an honour,
3urchase the sight again of ear Sicilia
/n that unhappy king, my master, whom
I so much thirst to see#
#LORI0EL
.ow, goo Camillo&
I am so fraught with curious !usiness that
I leave out ceremony#
CAMILLO
Sir, I think
*ou have hear of my poor services, i' the love
That I have !orne your father-
#LORI0EL
(ery no!ly
6ave you eserve) it is my father's music
To speak your ees, not little of his care
To have them recompense as thought on#
CAMILLO
Well, my lor,
If you may please to think I love the king
/n through him what is nearest to him, which is
*our gracious self, em!race !ut my irection)
If your more ponerous an settle pro%ect
,ay suffer alteration, on mine honour,
I'll point you where you shall have such receiving
/s shall !ecome your highness& where you may
En%oy your mistress, from the whom, I see,
There's no is%unction to !e mae, !ut !y''
/s heavens forefen+''your ruin& marry her,
/n, with my !est eneavours in your a!sence,
*our iscontenting father strive to 1ualify
/n !ring him up to liking#
#LORI0EL
6ow, Camillo,
,ay this, almost a miracle, !e one-
That I may call thee something more than man
/n after that trust to thee#
CAMILLO
6ave you thought on
/ place whereto you'll go-
#LORI0EL
.ot any yet)
But as the unthought'on accient is guilty
To what we willy o, so we profess
2urselves to !e the slaves of chance an flies
2f every win that !lows#
CAMILLO
Then list to me)
This follows, if you will not change your purpose
But unergo this flight, make for Sicilia,
/n there present yourself an your fair princess,
5or so I see she must !e, 'fore 7eontes)
She shall !e ha!ite as it !ecomes
The partner of your !e# ,ethinks I see
7eontes opening his free arms an weeping
6is welcomes forth& asks thee the son forgiveness,
/s 'twere i' the father's person& kisses the hans
2f your fresh princess& o'er an o'er ivies him
'Twi"t his unkinness an his kinness& the one
6e chies to hell an !is the other grow
5aster than thought or time#
#LORI0EL
Worthy Camillo,
What colour for my visitation shall I
6ol up !efore him-
CAMILLO
Sent !y the king your father
To greet him an to give him comforts# Sir,
The manner of your !earing towars him, with
What you as from your father shall eliver,
Things known !etwi"t us three, I'll write you own)
The which shall point you forth at every sitting
What you must say& that he shall not perceive
But that you have your father's !osom there
/n speak his very heart#
#LORI0EL
I am !oun to you)
There is some sap in this#
CAMILLO
/ cause more promising
Than a wil eication of yourselves
To unpath' waters, unream' shores, most certain
To miseries enough& no hope to help you,
But as you shake off one to take another&
.othing so certain as your anchors, who
4o their !est office, if they can !ut stay you
Where you'll !e loath to !e) !esies you know
3rosperity's the very !on of love,
Whose fresh comple"ion an whose heart together
/ffliction alters#
!ERDITA
2ne of these is true)
I think affliction may su!ue the cheek,
But not take in the min#
CAMILLO
*ea, say you so-
There shall not at your father's house these
seven years
Be !orn another such#
#LORI0EL
,y goo Camillo,
She is as forwar of her !reeing as
She is i' the rear our !irth#
CAMILLO
I cannot say 'tis pity
She lacks instructions, for she seems a mistress
To most that teach#
!ERDITA
*our paron, sir& for this
I'll !lush you thanks#
#LORI0EL
,y prettiest 3erita+
But 2, the thorns we stan upon+ Camillo,
3reserver of my father, now of me,
The meicine of our house, how shall we o-
We are not furnish' like Bohemia's son,
.or shall appear in Sicilia#
CAMILLO
,y lor,
5ear none of this) I think you know my fortunes
4o all lie there) it shall !e so my care
To have you royally appointe as if
The scene you play were mine# 5or instance, sir,
That you may know you shall not want, one wor#
The( ta$0 aside
Re-enter AUTOL,CUS
AUTOL/CUS
6a, ha+ what a fool 6onesty is+ an Trust, his
sworn !rother, a very simple gentleman+ I have sol
all my trumpery& not a counterfeit stone, not a
ri!!on, glass, pomaner, !rooch, ta!le'!ook, !alla,
knife, tape, glove, shoe'tie, !racelet, horn'ring,
to keep my pack from fasting) they throng who
shoul !uy first, as if my trinkets ha !een
hallowe an !rought a !eneiction to the !uyer)
!y which means I saw whose purse was !est in
picture& an what I saw, to my goo use I
remem!ere# ,y clown, who wants !ut something to
!e a reasona!le man, grew so in love with the
wenches' song, that he woul not stir his pettitoes
till he ha !oth tune an wors& which so rew the
rest of the her to me that all their other senses
stuck in ears) you might have pinche a placket, it
was senseless& 'twas nothing to gel a copiece of a
purse& I coul have file keys off that hung in
chains) no hearing, no feeling, !ut my sir's song,
an amiring the nothing of it# So that in this
time of lethargy I picke an cut most of their
festival purses& an ha not the ol man come in
with a whoo'!u! against his aughter an the king's
son an scare my choughs from the chaff, I ha not
left a purse alive in the whole army#
CAMILLO, -LORI.EL, and PERDITA '!%e )!rward
CAMILLO
.ay, !ut my letters, !y this means !eing there
So soon as you arrive, shall clear that ou!t#
#LORI0EL
/n those that you'll procure from $ing 7eontes''
CAMILLO
Shall satisfy your father#
!ERDITA
6appy !e you+
/ll that you speak shows fair#
CAMILLO
Who have we here-
Seein" AUTOL,CUS
We'll make an instrument of this, omit
.othing may give us ai#
AUTOL/CUS
If they have overhear me now, why, hanging#
CAMILLO
6ow now, goo fellow+ why shakest thou so- 5ear
not, man& here's no harm intene to thee#
AUTOL/CUS
I am a poor fellow, sir#
CAMILLO
Why, !e so still& here's no!oy will steal that from
thee) yet for the outsie of thy poverty we must
make an e"change& therefore iscase thee instantly,
''thou must think there's a necessity in't,''an
change garments with this gentleman) though the
pennyworth on his sie !e the worst, yet hol thee,
there's some !oot#
AUTOL/CUS
I am a poor fellow, sir#
Aside
I know ye well enough#
CAMILLO
.ay, prithee, ispatch) the gentleman is half
flaye alreay#
AUTOL/CUS
/re you in earnest, sir-
Aside
I smell the trick on't#
#LORI0EL
4ispatch, I prithee#
AUTOL/CUS
Inee, I have ha earnest) !ut I cannot with
conscience take it#
CAMILLO
:n!uckle, un!uckle#
-LORI.EL and AUTOL,CUS ex'han"e "ar%ents
5ortunate mistress,''let my prophecy
Come home to ye+''you must retire yourself
Into some covert) take your sweetheart's hat
/n pluck it o'er your !rows, muffle your face,
4ismantle you, an, as you can, isliken
The truth of your own seeming& that you may''
5or I o fear eyes over''to ship!oar
0et unescrie#
!ERDITA
I see the play so lies
That I must !ear a part#
CAMILLO
.o remey#
6ave you one there-
#LORI0EL
Shoul I now meet my father,
6e woul not call me son#
CAMILLO
.ay, you shall have no hat#
i&in" it t! PERDITA
Come, lay, come# 5arewell, my frien#
AUTOL/CUS
/ieu, sir#
#LORI0EL
2 3erita, what have we twain forgot+
3ray you, a wor#
CAMILLO
8/sie9 What I o ne"t, shall !e to tell the king
2f this escape an whither they are !oun&
Wherein my hope is I shall so prevail
To force him after) in whose company
I shall review Sicilia, for whose sight
I have a woman's longing#
#LORI0EL
5ortune spee us+
Thus we set on, Camillo, to the sea'sie#
CAMILLO
The swifter spee the !etter#
Exeunt -LORI.EL, PERDITA, and CAMILLO
AUTOL/CUS
I unerstan the !usiness, I hear it) to have an
open ear, a 1uick eye, an a nim!le han, is
necessary for a cut'purse& a goo nose is re1uisite
also, to smell out work for the other senses# I see
this is the time that the un%ust man oth thrive#
What an e"change ha this !een without !oot+ What
a !oot is here with this e"change+ Sure the gos o
this year connive at us, an we may o any thing
e"tempore# The prince himself is a!out a piece of
ini1uity, stealing away from his father with his
clog at his heels) if I thought it were a piece of
honesty to ac1uaint the king withal, I woul not
o't) I hol it the more knavery to conceal it&
an therein am I constant to my profession#
Re-enter C$!wn and She*herd
/sie, asie& here is more matter for a hot !rain)
every lane's en, every shop, church, session,
hanging, yiels a careful man work#
Clo,n
See, see& what a man you are now+
There is no other way !ut to tell the king
she's a changeling an none of your flesh an !loo#
Shepher$
.ay, !ut hear me#
Clo,n
.ay, !ut hear me#
Shepher$
0o to, then#
Clo,n
She !eing none of your flesh an !loo, your flesh
an !loo has not offene the king& an so your
flesh an !loo is not to !e punishe !y him# Show
those things you foun a!out her, those secret
things, all !ut what she has with her) this !eing
one, let the law go whistle) I warrant you#
Shepher$
I will tell the king all, every wor, yea, an his
son's pranks too& who, I may say, is no honest man,
neither to his father nor to me, to go a!out to make
me the king's !rother'in'law#
Clo,n
Inee, !rother'in'law was the farthest off you
coul have !een to him an then your !loo ha !een
the earer !y I know how much an ounce#
AUTOL/CUS
8/sie9 (ery wisely, puppies+
Shepher$
Well, let us to the king) there is that in this
farel will make him scratch his !ear#
AUTOL/CUS
8/sie9 I know not what impeiment this complaint
may !e to the flight of my master#
Clo,n
3ray heartily he !e at palace#
AUTOL/CUS
8/sie9 Though I am not naturally honest, I am so
sometimes !y chance) let me pocket up my pelar's e"crement#
Ta0es !)) his )a$se +eard
6ow now, rustics+ whither are you !oun-
Shepher$
To the palace, an it like your worship#
AUTOL/CUS
*our affairs there, what, with whom, the conition
of that farel, the place of your welling, your
names, your ages, of what having, !reeing, an any
thing that is fitting to !e known, iscover#
Clo,n
We are !ut plain fellows, sir#
AUTOL/CUS
/ lie& you are rough an hairy# 7et me have no
lying) it !ecomes none !ut traesmen, an they
often give us soliers the lie) !ut we pay them for
it with stampe coin, not sta!!ing steel& therefore
they o not give us the lie#
Clo,n
*our worship ha like to have given us one, if you
ha not taken yourself with the manner#
Shepher$
/re you a courtier, an't like you, sir-
AUTOL/CUS
Whether it like me or no, I am a courtier# Seest
thou not the air of the court in these enfolings-
hath not my gait in it the measure of the court-
receives not thy nose court'oor from me- reflect I
not on thy !aseness court'contempt- Thinkest thou,
for that I insinuate, or toa;e from thee thy
!usiness, I am therefore no courtier- I am courtier
cap'a'pe& an one that will either push on or pluck
!ack thy !usiness there) whereupon I comman thee to
open thy affair#
Shepher$
,y !usiness, sir, is to the king#
AUTOL/CUS
What avocate hast thou to him-
Shepher$
I know not, an't like you#
Clo,n
/vocate's the court'wor for a pheasant) say you
have none#
Shepher$
.one, sir& I have no pheasant, cock nor hen#
AUTOL/CUS
6ow !lesse are we that are not simple men+
*et nature might have mae me as these are,
Therefore I will not isain#
Clo,n
This cannot !e !ut a great courtier#
Shepher$
6is garments are rich, !ut he wears
them not hansomely#
Clo,n
6e seems to !e the more no!le in !eing fantastical)
a great man, I'll warrant& I know !y the picking
on's teeth#
AUTOL/CUS
The farel there- what's i' the farel-
Wherefore that !o"-
Shepher$
Sir, there lies such secrets in this farel an !o",
which none must know !ut the king& an which he
shall know within this hour, if I may come to the
speech of him#
AUTOL/CUS
/ge, thou hast lost thy la!our#
Shepher$
Why, sir-
AUTOL/CUS
The king is not at the palace& he is gone a!oar a
new ship to purge melancholy an air himself) for,
if thou !eest capa!le of things serious, thou must
know the king is full of grief#
Shepar$
So 'tis sai, sir& a!out his son, that shoul have
marrie a shepher's aughter#
AUTOL/CUS
If that shepher !e not in han'fast, let him fly)
the curses he shall have, the tortures he shall
feel, will !reak the !ack of man, the heart of monster#
Clo,n
Think you so, sir-
AUTOL/CUS
.ot he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy
an vengeance !itter& !ut those that are germane to
him, though remove fifty times, shall all come
uner the hangman) which though it !e great pity,
yet it is necessary# /n ol sheep'whistling rogue a
ram'tener, to offer to have his aughter come into
grace+ Some say he shall !e stone& !ut that eath
is too soft for him, say I raw our throne into a
sheep'cote+ all eaths are too few, the sharpest too easy#
Clo,n
6as the ol man e'er a son, sir, o you hear# an't
like you, sir-
AUTOL/CUS
6e has a son, who shall !e flaye alive& then
'nointe over with honey, set on the hea of a
wasp's nest& then stan till he !e three 1uarters
an a ram ea& then recovere again with
a1ua'vitae or some other hot infusion& then, raw as
he is, an in the hottest ay prognostication
proclaims, shall !e !e set against a !rick'wall, the
sun looking with a southwar eye upon him, where he
is to !ehol him with flies !lown to eath# But what
talk we of these traitorly rascals, whose miseries
are to !e smile at, their offences !eing so
capital- Tell me, for you seem to !e honest plain
men, what you have to the king) !eing something
gently consiere, I'll !ring you where he is
a!oar, tener your persons to his presence,
whisper him in your !ehalfs& an if it !e in man
!esies the king to effect your suits, here is man
shall o it#
Clo,n
6e seems to !e of great authority) close with him,
give him gol& an though authority !e a stu!!orn
!ear, yet he is oft le !y the nose with gol) show
the insie of your purse to the outsie of his han,
an no more ao# =emem!er 'stone,' an 'flaye alive#'
Shepher$
/n't please you, sir, to unertake the !usiness for
us, here is that gol I have) I'll make it as much
more an leave this young man in pawn till I !ring it you#
AUTOL/CUS
/fter I have one what I promise-
Shepher$
/y, sir#
AUTOL/CUS
Well, give me the moiety# /re you a party in this !usiness-
Clo,n
In some sort, sir) !ut though my case !e a pitiful
one, I hope I shall not !e flaye out of it#
AUTOL/CUS
2, that's the case of the shepher's son) hang him,
he'll !e mae an e"ample#
Clo,n
Comfort, goo comfort+ We must to the king an show
our strange sights) he must know 'tis none of your
aughter nor my sister& we are gone else# Sir, I
will give you as much as this ol man oes when the
!usiness is performe, an remain, as he says, your
pawn till it !e !rought you#
AUTOL/CUS
I will trust you# Walk !efore towar the sea'sie&
go on the right han) I will !ut look upon the
hege an follow you#
Clo,n
We are !lest in this man, as I may say, even !lest#
Shepher$
7et's !efore as he !is us) he was provie to o us goo#
Exeunt She*herd and C$!wn
AUTOL/CUS
If I ha a min to !e honest, I see 5ortune woul
not suffer me) she rops !ooties in my mouth# I am
courte now with a ou!le occasion, gol an a means
to o the prince my master goo& which who knows how
that may turn !ack to my avancement- I will !ring
these two moles, these !lin ones, a!oar him) if he
think it fit to shore them again an that the
complaint they have to the king concerns him
nothing, let him call me rogue for !eing so far
officious& for I am proof against that title an
what shame else !elongs to't# To him will I present
them) there may !e matter in it#
Exit
ACT -
SCENE I. A room in LEONTES' palace.
Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA, and Ser&ants
CLEOMENES
Sir, you have one enough, an have perform'
/ saint'like sorrow) no fault coul you make,
Which you have not reeem'& inee, pai own
,ore penitence than one trespass) at the last,
4o as the heavens have one, forget your evil&
With them forgive yourself#
LEONTES
Whilst I remem!er
6er an her virtues, I cannot forget
,y !lemishes in them, an so still think of
The wrong I i myself& which was so much,
That heirless it hath mae my kingom an
4estroy' the sweet'st companion that e'er man
Bre his hopes out of#
!AULINA
True, too true, my lor)
If, one !y one, you wee all the worl,
2r from the all that are took something goo,
To make a perfect woman, she you kill'
Woul !e unparallel'#
LEONTES
I think so# $ill'+
She I kill'+ I i so) !ut thou strikest me
Sorely, to say I i& it is as !itter
:pon thy tongue as in my thought) now, goo now,
Say so !ut selom#
CLEOMENES
.ot at all, goo lay)
*ou might have spoken a thousan things that woul
6ave one the time more !enefit an grace
*our kinness !etter#
!AULINA
*ou are one of those
Woul have him we again#
DION
If you woul not so,
*ou pity not the state, nor the remem!rance
2f his most sovereign name& consier little
What angers, !y his highness' fail of issue,
,ay rop upon his kingom an evour
Incertain lookers on# What were more holy
Than to re%oice the former 1ueen is well-
What holier than, for royalty's repair,
5or present comfort an for future goo,
To !less the !e of ma%esty again
With a sweet fellow to't-
!AULINA
There is none worthy,
=especting her that's gone# Besies, the gos
Will have fulfill' their secret purposes&
5or has not the ivine /pollo sai,
Is't not the tenor of his oracle,
That $ing 7eontes shall not have an heir
Till his lost chil !e foun- which that it shall,
Is all as monstrous to our human reason
/s my /ntigonus to !reak his grave
/n come again to me& who, on my life,
4i perish with the infant# 'Tis your counsel
,y lor shoul to the heavens !e contrary,
2ppose against their wills#
T! LEONTES
Care not for issue&
The crown will fin an heir) great /le"aner
7eft his to the worthiest& so his successor
Was like to !e the !est#
LEONTES
0oo 3aulina,
Who hast the memory of 6ermione,
I know, in honour, 2, that ever I
6a s1uare me to thy counsel+ then, even now,
I might have look' upon my 1ueen's full eyes,
6ave taken treasure from her lips''
!AULINA
/n left them
,ore rich for what they yiele#
LEONTES
Thou speak'st truth#
.o more such wives& therefore, no wife) one worse,
/n !etter use, woul make her sainte spirit
/gain possess her corpse, an on this stage,
Where we're offeners now, appear soul've"',
/n !egin, 'Why to me-'
!AULINA
6a she such power,
She ha %ust cause#
LEONTES
She ha& an woul incense me
To murer her I marrie#
!AULINA
I shoul so#
Were I the ghost that walk', I'l !i you mark
6er eye, an tell me for what ull part in't
*ou chose her& then I'l shriek, that even your ears
Shoul rift to hear me& an the wors that follow'
Shoul !e '=emem!er mine#'
LEONTES
Stars, stars,
/n all eyes else ea coals+ 5ear thou no wife&
I'll have no wife, 3aulina#
!AULINA
Will you swear
.ever to marry !ut !y my free leave-
LEONTES
.ever, 3aulina& so !e !lest my spirit+
!AULINA
Then, goo my lors, !ear witness to his oath#
CLEOMENES
*ou tempt him over'much#
!AULINA
:nless another,
/s like 6ermione as is her picture,
/ffront his eye#
CLEOMENES
0oo maam,''
!AULINA
I have one#
*et, if my lor will marry,''if you will, sir,
.o remey, !ut you will,''give me the office
To choose you a 1ueen) she shall not !e so young
/s was your former& !ut she shall !e such
/s, walk' your first 1ueen's ghost,
it shoul take %oy
To see her in your arms#
LEONTES
,y true 3aulina,
We shall not marry till thou !i'st us#
!AULINA
That
Shall !e when your first 1ueen's again in !reath&
.ever till then#
Enter a ent$e%an
&entleman
2ne that gives out himself 3rince 5lori;el,
Son of 3oli"enes, with his princess, she
The fairest I have yet !ehel, esires access
To your high presence#
LEONTES
What with him- he comes not
7ike to his father's greatness) his approach,
So out of circumstance an suen, tells us
'Tis not a visitation frame, !ut force
By nee an accient# What train-
&entleman
But few,
/n those !ut mean#
LEONTES
6is princess, say you, with him-
&entleman
/y, the most peerless piece of earth, I think,
That e'er the sun shone !right on#
!AULINA
2 6ermione,
/s every present time oth !oast itself
/!ove a !etter gone, so must thy grave
0ive way to what's seen now+ Sir, you yourself
6ave sai an writ so, !ut your writing now
Is coler than that theme, 'She ha not !een,
.or was not to !e e1uall'&'''thus your verse
5low' with her !eauty once) 'tis shrewly e!!',
To say you have seen a !etter#
&entleman
3aron, maam)
The one I have almost forgot,''your paron,''
The other, when she has o!tain' your eye,
Will have your tongue too# This is a creature,
Woul she !egin a sect, might 1uench the ;eal
2f all professors else, make proselytes
2f who she !ut !i follow#
!AULINA
6ow+ not women-
&entleman
Women will love her, that she is a woman
,ore worth than any man& men, that she is
The rarest of all women#
LEONTES
0o, Cleomenes&
*ourself, assiste with your honour' friens,
Bring them to our em!racement# Still, 'tis strange
Exeunt CLEOMENES and !thers
6e thus shoul steal upon us#
!AULINA
6a our prince,
<ewel of chilren, seen this hour, he ha pair'
Well with this lor) there was not full a month
Between their !irths#
LEONTES
3rithee, no more& cease& thou know'st
6e ies to me again when talk' of) sure,
When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches
Will !ring me to consier that which may
:nfurnish me of reason# They are come#
Re-enter CLEOMENES and !thers, with -LORI.EL and PERDITA
*our mother was most true to welock, prince&
5or she i print your royal father off,
Conceiving you) were I !ut twenty'one,
*our father's image is so hit in you,
6is very air, that I shoul call you !rother,
/s I i him, an speak of something willy
By us perform' !efore# ,ost early welcome+
/n your fair princess,''goess+''2, alas+
I lost a couple, that 'twi"t heaven an earth
,ight thus have stoo !egetting woner as
*ou, gracious couple, o) an then I lost''
/ll mine own folly''the society,
/mity too, of your !rave father, whom,
Though !earing misery, I esire my life
2nce more to look on him#
#LORI0EL
By his comman
6ave I here touch' Sicilia an from him
0ive you all greetings that a king, at frien,
Can sen his !rother) an, !ut infirmity
Which waits upon worn times hath something sei;e
6is wish' a!ility, he ha himself
The lans an waters 'twi"t your throne an his
,easure to look upon you& whom he loves''
6e !ae me say so''more than all the sceptres
/n those that !ear them living#
LEONTES
2 my !rother,
0oo gentleman+ the wrongs I have one thee stir
/fresh within me, an these thy offices,
So rarely kin, are as interpreters
2f my !ehin'han slackness# Welcome hither,
/s is the spring to the earth# /n hath he too
E"pose this paragon to the fearful usage,
/t least ungentle, of the reaful .eptune,
To greet a man not worth her pains, much less
The aventure of her person-
#LORI0EL
0oo my lor,
She came from 7i!ya#
LEONTES
Where the warlike Smalus,
That no!le honour' lor, is fear' an love-
#LORI0EL
,ost royal sir, from thence& from him, whose aughter
6is tears proclaim' his, parting with her) thence,
/ prosperous south'win frienly, we have cross',
To e"ecute the charge my father gave me
5or visiting your highness) my !est train
I have from your Sicilian shores ismiss'&
Who for Bohemia !en, to signify
.ot only my success in 7i!ya, sir,
But my arrival an my wife's in safety
6ere where we are#
LEONTES
The !lesse gos
3urge all infection from our air whilst you
4o climate here+ *ou have a holy father,
/ graceful gentleman& against whose person,
So sacre as it is, I have one sin)
5or which the heavens, taking angry note,
6ave left me issueless& an your father's !lest,
/s he from heaven merits it, with you
Worthy his gooness# What might I have !een,
,ight I a son an aughter now have look' on,
Such gooly things as you+
Enter a L!rd
Lor$
,ost no!le sir,
That which I shall report will !ear no creit,
Were not the proof so nigh# 3lease you, great sir,
Bohemia greets you from himself !y me&
4esires you to attach his son, who has''
6is ignity an uty !oth cast off''
5le from his father, from his hopes, an with
/ shepher's aughter#
LEONTES
Where's Bohemia- speak#
Lor$
6ere in your city& I now came from him)
I speak ama;ely& an it !ecomes
,y marvel an my message# To your court
Whiles he was hastening, in the chase, it seems,
2f this fair couple, meets he on the way
The father of this seeming lay an
6er !rother, having !oth their country 1uitte
With this young prince#
#LORI0EL
Camillo has !etray' me&
Whose honour an whose honesty till now
Enure all weathers#
Lor$
7ay't so to his charge)
6e's with the king your father#
LEONTES
Who- Camillo-
Lor$
Camillo, sir& I spake with him& who now
6as these poor men in 1uestion# .ever saw I
Wretches so 1uake) they kneel, they kiss the earth&
5orswear themselves as often as they speak)
Bohemia stops his ears, an threatens them
With ivers eaths in eath#
!ERDITA
2 my poor father+
The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have
2ur contract cele!rate#
LEONTES
*ou are marrie-
#LORI0EL
We are not, sir, nor are we like to !e&
The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first)
The os for high an low's alike#
LEONTES
,y lor,
Is this the aughter of a king-
#LORI0EL
She is,
When once she is my wife#
LEONTES
That 'once' I see !y your goo father's spee
Will come on very slowly# I am sorry,
,ost sorry, you have !roken from his liking
Where you were tie in uty, an as sorry
*our choice is not so rich in worth as !eauty,
That you might well en%oy her#
#LORI0EL
4ear, look up)
Though 5ortune, visi!le an enemy,
Shoul chase us with my father, power no %ot
6ath she to change our loves# Beseech you, sir,
=emem!er since you owe no more to time
Than I o now) with thought of such affections,
Step forth mine avocate& at your re1uest
,y father will grant precious things as trifles#
LEONTES
Woul he o so, I'l !eg your precious mistress,
Which he counts !ut a trifle#
!AULINA
Sir, my liege,
*our eye hath too much youth in't) not a month
'5ore your 1ueen ie, she was more worth such ga;es
Than what you look on now#
LEONTES
I thought of her,
Even in these looks I mae#
T! -LORI.EL
But your petition
Is yet unanswer'# I will to your father)
*our honour not o'erthrown !y your esires,
I am frien to them an you) upon which erran
I now go towar him& therefore follow me
/n mark what way I make) come, goo my lor#
Exeunt
SCENE II. +efore LEONTES' palace.
Enter AUTOL,CUS and a ent$e%an
AUTOL/CUS
Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation-
#irt &entleman
I was !y at the opening of the farel, hear the ol
shepher eliver the manner how he foun it)
whereupon, after a little ama;eness, we were all
commane out of the cham!er& only this methought I
hear the shepher say, he foun the chil#
AUTOL/CUS
I woul most glaly know the issue of it#
#irt &entleman
I make a !roken elivery of the !usiness& !ut the
changes I perceive in the king an Camillo were
very notes of amiration) they seeme almost, with
staring on one another, to tear the cases of their
eyes& there was speech in their um!ness, language
in their very gesture& they looke as they ha hear
of a worl ransome, or one estroye) a nota!le
passion of woner appeare in them& !ut the wisest
!eholer, that knew no more !ut seeing, coul not
say if the importance were %oy or sorrow& !ut in the
e"tremity of the one, it must nees !e#
Enter an!ther ent$e%an
6ere comes a gentleman that haply knows more#
The news, =ogero-
Secon$ &entleman
.othing !ut !onfires) the oracle is fulfille& the
king's aughter is foun) such a eal of woner is
!roken out within this hour that !alla'makers
cannot !e a!le to e"press it#
Enter a third ent$e%an
6ere comes the 7ay 3aulina's stewar) he can
eliver you more# 6ow goes it now, sir- this news
which is calle true is so like an ol tale, that
the verity of it is in strong suspicion) has the king
foun his heir-
Thir$ &entleman
,ost true, if ever truth were pregnant !y
circumstance) that which you hear you'll swear you
see, there is such unity in the proofs# The mantle
of ?ueen 6ermione's, her %ewel a!out the neck of it,
the letters of /ntigonus foun with it which they
know to !e his character, the ma%esty of the
creature in resem!lance of the mother, the affection
of no!leness which nature shows a!ove her !reeing,
an many other eviences proclaim her with all
certainty to !e the king's aughter# 4i you see
the meeting of the two kings-
Secon$ &entleman
.o#
Thir$ &entleman
Then have you lost a sight, which was to !e seen,
cannot !e spoken of# There might you have !ehel one
%oy crown another, so an in such manner that it
seeme sorrow wept to take leave of them, for their
%oy wae in tears# There was casting up of eyes,
holing up of hans, with countenances of such
istraction that they were to !e known !y garment,
not !y favour# 2ur king, !eing reay to leap out of
himself for %oy of his foun aughter, as if that
%oy were now !ecome a loss, cries '2, thy mother,
thy mother+' then asks Bohemia forgiveness& then
em!races his son'in'law& then again worries he his
aughter with clipping her& now he thanks the ol
shepher, which stans !y like a weather'!itten
conuit of many kings' reigns# I never hear of such
another encounter, which lames report to follow it
an unoes escription to o it#
Secon$ &entleman
What, pray you, !ecame of /ntigonus, that carrie
hence the chil-
Thir$ &entleman
7ike an ol tale still, which will have matter to
rehearse, though creit !e asleep an not an ear
open# 6e was torn to pieces with a !ear) this
avouches the shepher's son& who has not only his
innocence, which seems much, to %ustify him, !ut a
hankerchief an rings of his that 3aulina knows#
#irt &entleman
What !ecame of his !ark an his followers-
Thir$ &entleman
Wrecke the same instant of their master's eath an
in the view of the shepher) so that all the
instruments which aie to e"pose the chil were
even then lost when it was foun# But 2, the no!le
com!at that 'twi"t %oy an sorrow was fought in
3aulina+ She ha one eye ecline for the loss of
her hus!an, another elevate that the oracle was
fulfille) she lifte the princess from the earth,
an so locks her in em!racing, as if she woul pin
her to her heart that she might no more !e in anger
of losing#
#irt &entleman
The ignity of this act was worth the auience of
kings an princes& for !y such was it acte#
Thir$ &entleman
2ne of the prettiest touches of all an that which
angle for mine eyes, caught the water though not
the fish, was when, at the relation of the 1ueen's
eath, with the manner how she came to't !ravely
confesse an lamente !y the king, how
attentiveness woune his aughter& till, from one
sign of olour to another, she i, with an '/las,'
I woul fain say, !lee tears, for I am sure my
heart wept !loo# Who was most mar!le there change
colour& some swoone, all sorrowe) if all the worl
coul have seen 't, the woe ha !een universal#
#irt &entleman
/re they returne to the court-
Thir$ &entleman
.o) the princess hearing of her mother's statue,
which is in the keeping of 3aulina,''a piece many
years in oing an now newly performe !y that rare
Italian master, <ulio =omano, who, ha he himself
eternity an coul put !reath into his work, woul
!eguile .ature of her custom, so perfectly he is her
ape) he so near to 6ermione hath one 6ermione that
they say one woul speak to her an stan in hope of
answer) thither with all greeiness of affection
are they gone, an there they inten to sup#
Secon$ &entleman
I thought she ha some great matter there in han&
for she hath privately twice or thrice a ay, ever
since the eath of 6ermione, visite that remove
house# Shall we thither an with our company piece
the re%oicing-
#irt &entleman
Who woul !e thence that has the !enefit of access-
every wink of an eye some new grace will !e !orn)
our a!sence makes us unthrifty to our knowlege#
7et's along#
Exeunt ent$e%en
AUTOL/CUS
.ow, ha I not the ash of my former life in me,
woul preferment rop on my hea# I !rought the ol
man an his son a!oar the prince) tol him I hear
them talk of a farel an I know not what) !ut he
at that time, overfon of the shepher's aughter,
so he then took her to !e, who !egan to !e much
sea'sick, an himself little !etter, e"tremity of
weather continuing, this mystery remaine
uniscovere# But 'tis all one to me& for ha I
!een the finer out of this secret, it woul not
have relishe among my other iscreits#
Enter She*herd and C$!wn
6ere come those I have one goo to against my will,
an alreay appearing in the !lossoms of their fortune#
Shepher$
Come, !oy& I am past moe chilren, !ut thy sons an
aughters will !e all gentlemen !orn#
Clo,n
*ou are well met, sir# *ou enie to fight with me
this other ay, !ecause I was no gentleman !orn#
See you these clothes- say you see them not an
think me still no gentleman !orn) you were !est say
these ro!es are not gentlemen !orn) give me the
lie, o, an try whether I am not now a gentleman !orn#
AUTOL/CUS
I know you are now, sir, a gentleman !orn#
Clo,n
/y, an have !een so any time these four hours#
Shepher$
/n so have I, !oy#
Clo,n
So you have) !ut I was a gentleman !orn !efore my
father& for the king's son took me !y the han, an
calle me !rother& an then the two kings calle my
father !rother& an then the prince my !rother an
the princess my sister calle my father father& an
so we wept, an there was the first gentleman'like
tears that ever we she#
Shepher$
We may live, son, to she many more#
Clo,n
/y& or else 'twere har luck, !eing in so
preposterous estate as we are#
AUTOL/CUS
I hum!ly !eseech you, sir, to paron me all the
faults I have committe to your worship an to give
me your goo report to the prince my master#
Shepher$
3rithee, son, o& for we must !e gentle, now we are
gentlemen#
Clo,n
Thou wilt amen thy life-
AUTOL/CUS
/y, an it like your goo worship#
Clo,n
0ive me thy han) I will swear to the prince thou
art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia#
Shepher$
*ou may say it, !ut not swear it#
Clo,n
.ot swear it, now I am a gentleman- 7et !oors an
franklins say it, I'll swear it#
Shepher$
6ow if it !e false, son-
Clo,n
If it !e ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear
it in the !ehalf of his frien) an I'll swear to
the prince thou art a tall fellow of thy hans an
that thou wilt not !e runk& !ut I know thou art no
tall fellow of thy hans an that thou wilt !e
runk) !ut I'll swear it, an I woul thou woulst
!e a tall fellow of thy hans#
AUTOL/CUS
I will prove so, sir, to my power#
Clo,n
/y, !y any means prove a tall fellow) if I o not
woner how thou arest venture to !e runk, not
!eing a tall fellow, trust me not# 6ark+ the kings
an the princes, our kinre, are going to see the
1ueen's picture# Come, follow us) we'll !e thy
goo masters#
Exeunt
SCENE III. A chapel in !AULINA'S ho)e.
Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, -LORI.EL, PERDITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, L!rds, and
Attendants
LEONTES
2 grave an goo 3aulina, the great comfort
That I have ha of thee+
!AULINA
What, sovereign sir,
I i not well I meant well# /ll my services
*ou have pai home) !ut that you have vouchsafe,
With your crown' !rother an these your contracte
6eirs of your kingoms, my poor house to visit,
It is a surplus of your grace, which never
,y life may last to answer#
LEONTES
2 3aulina,
We honour you with trou!le) !ut we came
To see the statue of our 1ueen) your gallery
6ave we pass' through, not without much content
In many singularities& !ut we saw not
That which my aughter came to look upon,
The statue of her mother#
!AULINA
/s she live peerless,
So her ea likeness, I o well !elieve,
E"cels whatever yet you look' upon
2r han of man hath one& therefore I keep it
7onely, apart# But here it is) prepare
To see the life as lively mock' as ever
Still sleep mock' eath) !ehol, an say 'tis well#
PAULINA draws a 'urtain, and dis'!&ers HERMIONE standin" $i0e a statue
I like your silence, it the more shows off
*our woner) !ut yet speak& first, you, my liege,
Comes it not something near-
LEONTES
6er natural posture+
Chie me, ear stone, that I may say inee
Thou art 6ermione& or rather, thou art she
In thy not chiing, for she was as tener
/s infancy an grace# But yet, 3aulina,
6ermione was not so much wrinkle, nothing
So age as this seems#
!OLI"ENES
2, not !y much#
!AULINA
So much the more our carver's e"cellence&
Which lets go !y some si"teen years an makes her
/s she live now#
LEONTES
/s now she might have one,
So much to my goo comfort, as it is
.ow piercing to my soul# 2, thus she stoo,
Even with such life of ma%esty, warm life,
/s now it colly stans, when first I woo' her+
I am ashame) oes not the stone re!uke me
5or !eing more stone than it- 2 royal piece,
There's magic in thy ma%esty, which has
,y evils con%ure to remem!rance an
5rom thy amiring aughter took the spirits,
Staning like stone with thee#
!ERDITA
/n give me leave,
/n o not say 'tis superstition, that
I kneel an then implore her !lessing# 7ay,
4ear 1ueen, that ene when I !ut !egan,
0ive me that han of yours to kiss#
!AULINA
2, patience+
The statue is !ut newly fi"', the colour's .ot ry#
CAMILLO
,y lor, your sorrow was too sore lai on,
Which si"teen winters cannot !low away,
So many summers ry& scarce any %oy
4i ever so long live& no sorrow
But kill' itself much sooner#
!OLI"ENES
4ear my !rother,
7et him that was the cause of this have power
To take off so much grief from you as he
Will piece up in himself#
!AULINA
Inee, my lor,
If I ha thought the sight of my poor image
Woul thus have wrought you,''for the stone is mine''
I'l not have show' it#
LEONTES
4o not raw the curtain#
!AULINA
.o longer shall you ga;e on't, lest your fancy
,ay think anon it moves#
LEONTES
7et !e, let !e#
Woul I were ea, !ut that, methinks, alreay''
What was he that i make it- See, my lor,
Woul you not eem it !reathe- an that those veins
4i verily !ear !loo-
!OLI"ENES
,asterly one)
The very life seems warm upon her lip#
LEONTES
The fi"ture of her eye has motion in't,
/s we are mock' with art#
!AULINA
I'll raw the curtain)
,y lor's almost so far transporte that
6e'll think anon it lives#
LEONTES
2 sweet 3aulina,
,ake me to think so twenty years together+
.o settle senses of the worl can match
The pleasure of that maness# 7et 't alone#
!AULINA
I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr' you) !ut
I coul afflict you farther#
LEONTES
4o, 3aulina&
5or this affliction has a taste as sweet
/s any corial comfort# Still, methinks,
There is an air comes from her) what fine chisel
Coul ever yet cut !reath- 7et no man mock me,
5or I will kiss her#
!AULINA
0oo my lor, for!ear)
The ruiness upon her lip is wet&
*ou'll mar it if you kiss it, stain your own
With oily painting# Shall I raw the curtain-
LEONTES
.o, not these twenty years#
!ERDITA
So long coul I
Stan !y, a looker on#
!AULINA
Either for!ear,
?uit presently the chapel, or resolve you
5or more ama;ement# If you can !ehol it,
I'll make the statue move inee, escen
/n take you !y the han& !ut then you'll think''
Which I protest against''I am assiste
By wicke powers#
LEONTES
What you can make her o,
I am content to look on) what to speak,
I am content to hear& for 'tis as easy
To make her speak as move#
!AULINA
It is re1uire
*ou o awake your faith# Then all stan still&
2n) those that think it is unlawful !usiness
I am a!out, let them epart#
LEONTES
3rocee)
.o foot shall stir#
!AULINA
,usic, awake her& strike+
Musi'
'Tis time& escen& !e stone no more& approach&
Strike all that look upon with marvel# Come,
I'll fill your grave up) stir, nay, come away,
Be1ueath to eath your num!ness, for from him
4ear life reeems you# *ou perceive she stirs)
HERMIONE '!%es d!wn
Start not& her actions shall !e holy as
*ou hear my spell is lawful) o not shun her
:ntil you see her ie again& for then
*ou kill her ou!le# .ay, present your han)
When she was young you woo' her& now in age
Is she !ecome the suitor-
LEONTES
2, she's warm+
If this !e magic, let it !e an art
7awful as eating#
!OLI"ENES
She em!races him#
CAMILLO
She hangs a!out his neck)
If she pertain to life let her speak too#
!OLI"ENES
/y, an make't manifest where she has live,
2r how stolen from the ea#
!AULINA
That she is living,
Were it !ut tol you, shoul !e hoote at
7ike an ol tale) !ut it appears she lives,
Though yet she speak not# ,ark a little while#
3lease you to interpose, fair maam) kneel
/n pray your mother's !lessing# Turn, goo lay&
2ur 3erita is foun#
HERMIONE
*ou gos, look own
/n from your sacre vials pour your graces
:pon my aughter's hea+ Tell me, mine own#
Where hast thou !een preserve- where live- how foun
Thy father's court- for thou shalt hear that I,
$nowing !y 3aulina that the oracle
0ave hope thou wast in !eing, have preserve
,yself to see the issue#
!AULINA
There's time enough for that&
7est they esire upon this push to trou!le
*our %oys with like relation# 0o together,
*ou precious winners all& your e"ultation
3artake to every one# I, an ol turtle,
Will wing me to some wither' !ough an there
,y mate, that's never to !e foun again,
7ament till I am lost#
LEONTES
2, peace, 3aulina+
Thou shoulst a hus!an take !y my consent,
/s I !y thine a wife) this is a match,
/n mae !etween's !y vows# Thou hast foun mine&
But how, is to !e 1uestion'& for I saw her,
/s I thought, ea, an have in vain sai many
/ prayer upon her grave# I'll not seek far''
5or him, I partly know his min''to fin thee
/n honoura!le hus!an# Come, Camillo,
/n take her !y the han, whose worth an honesty
Is richly note an here %ustifie
By us, a pair of kings# 7et's from this place#
What+ look upon my !rother) !oth your parons,
That e'er I put !etween your holy looks
,y ill suspicion# This is your son'in'law,
/n son unto the king, who, heavens irecting,
Is troth'plight to your aughter# 0oo 3aulina,
7ea us from hence, where we may leisurely
Each one eman an answer to his part
3erform' in this wie gap of time since first
We were issever') hastily lea away#
Exeunt