LEONTES, King of Sicilia.
MAMILLIUS, his Son.

CAMILLO,
ANTIGONUS,

CLEOMENES,

DION,

}

Sicilian Lords.

Another Sicilian Lord.

ROGERO, a Sicilian Gentleman.

Officers of a Court of Judicature.

POLIXENES, King of Bohemia.

FLORIZEL, his Son.

ARCHIDAMUS, a Bohemian Lord.

A Mariner.

Gaoler.

An old Shepherd, reputed Father of Perdita.

Two other Ladies, attending the Queen.

DORSAS,

Shepherdesses.

Act First.

hands, as over a vast1; and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens

LEONTES' PALACE.

Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

Arch. 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 he 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 magnificencein so rare-I know not what to say. We will give you sleepy drinks: that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us.

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

Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied, 1 with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seemed to be together, though absent; shook 1 By proxy.

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physicks the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man.

Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes: if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live.

Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-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 The shepherd's note, sincewe have left our throne Without a burden: time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; And yet we should for perpetuity, Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, With one we-thank-you, many thousands more That go before it.

Stay your thanks awhile;

Leon.
And pay them when you part.
Pol.

Sir, that's to-morrow. I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, Or breed upon our absence: That may blow No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, 1 Wide waste. 2 Assuages trouble in. 3 Nipping.

Very sooth, to-morrow. Leon. We'll part the time between's then: I'll no gainsaying. [and in that Pol.

Press me not, 'beseech you so: There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world,

も

So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, Were there necessity in your request, although "Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder, Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay, To you a charge, and trouble: to save both, Farewell, our brother.

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. H. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace, until

You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, sir,

Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure, All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction. 1 The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him, He's beat from his best ward.

Leon.

Well said, Hermione.

H. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong; But let him say so then, and let him go; But let him say so, and he shall not stay, 1. We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

[To Polixenes.] Yet of your royal presence I'll

adventure

By this we gather,

You have tripp'd since.
Pol.

O my most sacred lady,
Temptations have since then been borntous: for
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl;
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young play-fellow.
Her.

Grace to boot! Of this make no conclusion; lest you say, Your queen and I are devils: Yet, go on; The offences we have made you do, we'll answer: If you first sinn'd with us, and that with us You did continue fault, and that you slipp'd not With any but with us. Leon.

Is he won yet?

Her. He'll stay, my lord.
Leon.

At my request, he would not,
Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st
To better purpose.
Her.

Leon.

Never?

Never, but once. Her. What? have I twice said well? when) was't before? [make us

tongueless,

I pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and
As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying
Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages: You may ride us,
With one soft kiss, a thousand furlongs, cre
With spur we heat an acre. But to the gaol;-
My last good deed was, to entreat his stay;
What was my first? it has an elder sister,
Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace
But once before I spoke to the purpose: When?
Nay, let me have't, I long.

Leon.

Why, that was when

Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to

death,

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,
And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter,
I am yours for ever.
Her.
It is Grace, indeed.- [twice:
Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose
The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;
The other, for some while a friend.

[Giving her hand to Polixenes.

Leon. [Aside.] Too hot, too hot: To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. I have tremor cordis1 on me:-my heart dances; But not for joy,-not joy. - This entertainment. May a free face put on: derive a liberty

1 Trembling of the heart.

S

From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, And well become the agent: it may, I grant: But as now they are, making practis'd smiles, As in a looking-glass; and then to sigh, as 'twere The mort o' the deer1; O, that is entertainment My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-Mamillius, Art thou my boy?

Mam

Leon.

Ay, my good lord.

I'fecks? [thy nose?Why that's my bawcock.2 What, hast smutch'd They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain, We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain: And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf, Are all call'd, neat,-Still virginalling3

[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 that I have, 5

To be full like me:-yet, they say we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will say anything: but were they false
As o'er-died blacks, as wind, as waters; false
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
No bourn 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true
To say this boy were like me.-Come, sir page,
Look on me with your welkin eye: Sweet
villain!
[be?
Most dear'st! my collop!-Canthy dam?-may't
Affection! thy intentions stabs the centre:
Thou dost make possible, things not so held,
Communicat'st with dreams; (How can this
With what's unreal thou co-active art, [be?) -
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,
And hardening of my brows.
Pol.

What means Sicilia?
Her. He something seems unsettled.
Pol.

How, my lord?

What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?
Her.
You look,
As if you held a brow of much distraction:
Are you mov'd, my lord?

Leon.
No, in good earnest.-
How sometimes nature will betray its folly,
Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime
To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines
Of my boy's face, methoughts, I did recoil
Twenty-three years: and saw myself unbreech'd,
In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled,
Lest it should bite its master, and so prove,
As ornaments oft do, too dangerous.

How like, methought, I then was to this kernal, This squash, 10 this gentleman: -Mine honest Will you take eggs for money?11

Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.

[friend,

Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole! 12 -My brother,

He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter:
Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all:
He makes a July's day short as December;
And, with its varying childness, cures in me
Thoughts that would thick my blood.

Leon.

So stands this squire Offic'd with me: We two will walk, my lord, And leave you to your graver steps-Hernione, How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's welLet what is dear in Sicily be cheap: (come; Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's Apparent1 to my heart. Her. If you would seek us, We are your's i' the garden: Shall's attend you there? [be found,

Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll Be you beneath the sky:-I am angling now, Though you perceive me not how I give line. Go to, go to! [Aside. Observing Pol. and Her.] How she holds up the neb, 2 the bill to him, And arms her with the boldness of a wife. To her allowing husband! Gone already.

[Exeunt Polixenes, Hermione, and Attendants.c

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,

Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife bythe arm,
That little thinks she's false: Should all despair,
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves; but many a thousand
of us

Have the disease and feel't not. How now,
Mam. I am like you, they say.

[boy?

Leon. Why, that's some comfort.What! Camillo there?

Cam. Ay, my good lord.

Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou 'rt an honest [Exit Mamillius.

man.

Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.
C. You had much ado to make his anchor hold,
When you cast out it still came home.
Leon.
Didst note it?

Cam. He would not stay at your petitions;
His business more material.
[made
Leon.

Didst perceive it?

They're herewith mealready; whispering round-
Sicilia is a so-forth; 'Tis far gone,
[ing,4
When I shall gust it last.-How cam 't, Camillo,
That he did stay?

Cam. At the good queen's entreaty.
Leon. At the queen's be't: good should be per-
But so it is, it is not. Was this taken [tinent;
By any understanding pate but thine?
For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in

More than the common blocks:-not noted, is 't, But of the finer natures? by some severals

My gracious lord,

I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;
In every one of these no man is free,
But that his negligence, his folly, fear,
Amongst the infinite doings of the world,
Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord,

If ever I were wilful-negligent,
It was my folly; if industriously

I play'd the fool, it was my negligence

Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out

Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord,
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me; let me know my trespass
By its own visage: if I then deny it,

"Tis none of mine.

To appoint myself in this vexation? sully
The purity and whiteness of my sheets,
Which to preserve, is sleep; which being spotted,
Is goads, thorns, nettles, tails of wasps?

Cannot be mute,) or thought (for cogitation

Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son,

My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,

Without ripe moving to't? Would I do this? Could man so blench2?

I must believe you, sir;

(Or else be impudently negative,

To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then say,
My wife's a woman that deserves a name
Too rank to mention: say it, and justify it.

Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this: which to reiterate, were sin
As deep as that, though true.

Is whispering nothing? Is leaning cheek to cheek? Is meeting noses? Kissing with inside lips? stopping the career Of laughter with a sigh? (a note infallible Of breaking honesty:) wishing clocks moreswift? 2 Hamstrings.

Cam.

I do: and will fetch off Bohemia for't: Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness Will take again your queen, as yours at first; Even for your son's sake: and, thereby, for sealing The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms Known and allied to yours.

Leon.

Thou dost advise me,
Even so as I mine own course have set down:
I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.
Cam. My lord,

Go then; and with a countenance as clear
As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia
And with your queen: I am his cupbearer;
1 Disorders of the eye.