WINTER'S

TAL E.

PERSONS

DION,

Another Sicilian Lord.

ARCHIDAMUS, a Bohemian Lord.

ROGERO, a Sicilian Gentleman.

An Attendant on the young Prince MAMILLIUS.
Officers of a Court of Judicature.

Old Shepherd, reputed Father of PERDITA.
CLOWN, his Son,

HERMIONE, Queen to LEONTES.

PERDITA, Daughter to LEONTES and HERMIONE.

PAULINA, Wife to ANTIGONUS.

EMILIA, a Lady.

Two other Ladies.

MOPSA,

DORCAS,

} Shepherdeffes.

Satyrs for a Dance, Shepherds, Shepherdeffes, Guards, and

Attendants.

SCENE-Jometimes in SICILIA; fometimes in BOHEMIA.

THIS PLAY, founded on the well known story of Doraftus and Fawnia, was fuppofed to be written about the the year 1594; but Mr. Walpole places it in 1602, and confiders it as a fequel to Henry VIII, containing an indirect apology for the conduct of Anne Boleyn, in compli ment to Queen Elizabeth.

WINTER'S

TAL E.

ACT I. SCENE I.

An Antichamber in Leontes' Palace.

Arch. If

Enter Camillo, and Archidamus.

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

Cam. I think, this coming fummer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the vifitation which he justly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our entertainment fhall fhame us, will be juftified in our loves: for, indeed,

Cam. 'Beseech you,――――

b

we

a

on the like occafion]-as an attendant on your fovereign.

we will be juftified in our loves :]-our good will must atone for the deficiencies of our entertainment.

Arch. Verily, I fpeak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with fuch magnificence—in so rare—I know not what to fay. We will give you fleepy drinks; that your fenfes, unintelligent of our infufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accufe 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 honefty puts it to utterance.

Cam. Sicilia cannot fhew himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then fuch an affection, whch cannot chufe but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal neceffities, made feparation of their society, their encounters, though not perfonal, have been royally attorney'd, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embaffies; that they have feemed to be together, though abfent; fhook hands, as over a vaft: and embrac'd, as it were, from the ends of oppofed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

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

с

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: It is a gallant child; one that, indeed, phyficks the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, defire yet their life to see him a man. Arch. Would they elfe be content to die?

d

royally attorney'd,]-nobly fupplied.

fbook bands, as over a vaft:]-a wide extent of space :-alluding to the junction of two hands, extended from oppofite clouds, frequently exhibited in prints.

* phyficks the fubject,]-adminifters a cordial to the state. "The labour we delight in, phyficks pain."

MACBETH, Act II, Sc. 3.

Macb

Cam.

Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should defire to live.

Arch. If the king had no fon, they would defire to live on crutches 'till he had one.

SCENE II.

A Room of State.

[Exeunt.

Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, Camillo, and Attendants.

Pol. 'Nine changes of the watry star hath been
The shepherd's note, fince we 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 cypher,
Yet ftanding in rich place, I multiply,

With one we thank you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leo. Stay your thanks a while;

And pay them when you part.

Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance,
Or breed upon our absence: That may blow

h

No fneaping winds at home, to make us fay,

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

To tire your royalty.

Nine changes of the watry ftar hath been the shepherd's note,]—The thepherd hath noted nine changes of the moon.

% for perpetuity,]-confidering the length of our vifit.

That may blow]-Oh! that there may blow.

This is put forth too truly !]-This fpeech is ominous; these fears are just.