ACT I. SCENE I-Sicilia. An 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 said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which ne justly owes him. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves : for, indeed,— Cam. 'Beseech you, Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence Clown, his son. Servant to the old shepher. Hermione, queen to Leontes. Perdita, daughter to Leontes and Hermione. Paulina, wife to Antigonus. Emilia, a lady, Two other ladies, Mopsa, attending the queen. Dorcas, Shepherdesses. Lords, ladies, and attendants; satyrs for a dance, shepherds, shepherdesses, guards, &c. Scene, sometimes in Sicilia, sometimes in Bohemia. malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius ; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note. Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, phywent on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their sics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that life, to see him a man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. SCENE II-The same. A room of state in the palace. Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Hermione, Mamillius, Camillo, and attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been in so rare-I know not what to say.--We will The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelli-Without a burden: time as long again gent of our insufficience, may, though they can- Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks: not praise us, as little accuse us. Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utter ance. And yet we should, for perpetuity, Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, given freely. Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, With one we-thank-you, many thousands more That go before it. Leon. Stay your thanks awhile; Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to And pay them when you part. Bohemia. They were trained together in their Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow. childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, such an affection, which cannot choose but branch Or breed upon our absence: That may blow now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, necessities, made separation of their society, their This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd encounters, though not personal, have been royally To tire your royalty. attornied' with interchange of gifts, letters, loving Leon. embassies; that they have seemed to be together, Than you can put us to't. (1) Nobly supplied by substitution of embassies. We are tougher, brother, No longer stay. longer. Pol. (3) Affords a cordial to the state. (4) Nipping. You have tripp'd since. Pol. Grace to boot! Leon. Is he won yet? Her. He'll stay, my lord. At my request, he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st Yet of your royal presence [To Polixenes.] I'll ad- Leon. venture The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia You take my lord, I'll give him my commission, Never? Never, hut once. Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't before? What lady she her lord. You'll stay? Pol. No, madam. I may not, verily. Her. Verily! Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. You put me off with limber vows: But I, Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace! [Giving her hand to Polixenes. To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two? The mort o'the deer; O, that is entertainment there? We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain: We are yours i'the garden: Shall's attend you [Observing Polixenes and Hermione. Upon his palm?-How now, you wanton calf? Art thou my calf? Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots To be full like me:-yet, they say, we are be? Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be [Aside. Observing Polixenes and Hermione. [Exeunt Polixenes, Hermione, and attendants. Go, play, boy, play;-thy mother plays, and I Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and clamour Will be my knell.-Go, play, boy, play; -There have been, Affection! thy infection stabs the centre: With what's unreal thou coactive art, 5 And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent, Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou dost; (And that beyond commission; and I find it,) And that to the infection of my brains, Pol. And hardening of my brows. What means Sicilia? Her. He something seems unsettled. What cheer? how is't with you, best brother? Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now; And many a man there is, even at this present, That little thinks she has been sluic'd in his absence, open'd, As mine, against their will: Should all despair With bag and baggage: many a thousand of us Pol. How, my lord? You look, As if you held a brow of much distraction: Are you mov'd, my lord? Leon. But so it is, it is not. Was this taken Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most under- Bohemia stays here longer. (8) May his share of life be a happy one! |