The Winter's Tale Act 1

ACT I.

SCENE I. ANTICHAMBER IN LEONTE'S PALACE. Enter Camillo, an 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.

I think this coming summer the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him.

Wherein our entertainment shall shame us. We will be justified in our loves.

For indeed— Beseech you.

Verily I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge. We cannot, with such magnificence, in 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.

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

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

Cecilia cannot show himself overkind 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 attorneyed with interchange of gifts letters loving embassies that they have seemed to be together though absent shook hands as over a vast and embraced as it were from the ends of opposed winds the heavens continue their.

Loves i think there is not in the world either malice or matter to alter it you have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince It is a gentleman of the greatest promise That ever came into my note.

I very well agree with you in the hopes of him. It is a gallant child, One that, indeed, physics the subject, Makes old hearts fresh. They that went on crutches ere he was born Desire yet their life to see him a man.

Would they else be content to die?

Yes, if there were no other excuse Why they should desire to live.

If the king had no son— They would desire to live on crutches till he had one.

Exeunt. Act I, Scene II. A room of state in the same. Anteliantes, Hermione, Mamilius, Polixenes, Camillo, and Attendance.

Nine changes of the watery star hath been the shepherd's note since we have left our throne without a burden. Time as long again would be fined 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 a while, and pay them when you part.

Sir, that's to-morrow. I am questioned by my fears of what may chance or breed upon our absence. That may blow no sneaking winds at home to make us say, this is put forth too truly. Besides, I have stayed to tire your royalty.

We are tougher, brother, than you can put us to it.

No longer stay.

One seven night longer.

Very sooth, to-morrow.

We'll part the.

Time between us, then, and in that I'll know gainsaying.

Press me not, beseech you so. There is no tongue that moves, none, none in the world, so soon as yours could win me. So it should now, were there necessity in your request, although it were 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.

Tongue-tied, our queen, speak you.

I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until you have 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 the bygone day proclaimed, say this to him, he's beat from his best ward.

Well said, Hermione.

To tell he longs to see his son, we're strong. But let him say so then, and let him go. But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure the borrow of a week. When at Bohemia you take my lord, I'll give him my commission to let him there A month behind the jest prefixed for his parting. Yet good deed, Leontes, I love thee not a jar of the clock Behind what lady she her lord. You'll stay?

No, madam.

Nay, but you will.

I may not, verily.

Verily?

You put me off with limber vows. But I, though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths, should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, you shall not go. A lady's verily's as potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Force me to keep you as a prisoner, not like a guest.' So you shall pay your fees when you depart and save your thanks. How say you, my prisoner or my guest? By your dread verily one of them you shall be.

Your guest, then, madam. To be your prisoner should import offending, which is for me less easy to commit than you to punish.

Not your jailer, then, but your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys. You were pretty lordings, then.

We were, fair queen. two lads that thought there was no more behind, but such a day to-morrow as to-day, and to be boy eternal.

Was not my lord the verier wag of the two?

We were as twinned lambs that did frisky the sun, and bleat the one at the other. What we changed was innocence for innocence. We knew not the doctrine of ill-doing, nor dreamed that any did. Had we pursued that life, and our weak spirits ne'er had been higher reared with stronger blood, we should have answered heaven boldly, not guilty.

the imposition cleared hereditary hours.

By this we gather you have tripped since.

O my most sacred lady, temptations have since then been born to us, for in those unfledged days was my wife a girl, your precious self had then not crossed the eyes of my young playfellow.

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 sinned with us, and that with us you did continue fault, and that you slipped not with any but with us.

Is he won yet?

He'll stay, my lord.

At my request he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest to better purpose.

Never?

Never but once.

What, have I twice said well? When was't before? I prithee, tell me. Crams with praise, and makes as fat as tame things. One good deed, dying tongueless, slaughters a thousand waiting upon that. Our praises are our wages. You may rise with one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere with spur we beat an acre. But to the goal. 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 it, I long.

Why, that was when three crabbed months Had soured 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.

Tis grace indeed! Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice— The one for ever earned a royal husband, The other for some while a friend.

Too hot, too hot! To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods. I have tremor cordis on me, My heart dances but not for joy, not joy. This entertainment may a free face put on, Derive a liberty from heartiness, from bounty, Fertile bosom, and well become the agent— may i grant but to be paddling palms and pinching fingers as now they are and making practised smiles as in a looking-glass and then to sigh as twere the mort of the deer oh that is entertainment my bosom likes not nor my brows mamilius art thou my boy.

Mam hi my good lord adolph if.

X why that's my bar cock what hast smutch'd thy nose they say it is 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 called neat still virginaling upon his palm how now you wanton calf art thou.

My calf yes if you will my lord thou.

Want'st a rough pash and the shoots that i have 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'erdyed blacks, as wind, as waters, false as dice are to be wished by one that fixes no born 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, most dearest, my collop, can I damn? May it be? Affection, thy intention stabs the centre, thou dost make possible things not so held, communicatest with dreams. how can this be with what's unreal thou co-active art and fellow'st nothing then tis very credent thou may'st cojoin 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.

What means cecilia he something seems unsettled.

How my lord what cheer how is't with you best brother.

You look as if you held a brow of much distraction. Are you moved, my lord?

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, unbreached, 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 colonel, this squash, this gentleman! Mine honest friend, will you take eggs for money?

No, my lord, I'll fight.

You will? Why, happy man, be a stole! My brother, are you so fond of your young prince as we do seem to be of ours?

If at home, sir, 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 his varying childish cures in me thoughts that would thick my blood.

So stands this squire officed with me. We two will walk, my lord, and leave you to your graver steps. Hermione, how thou lovest us, show in our brother's welcome. Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap. Next to thyself and my young rover, he's a parent to my heart.

If you would seek us, we are yours i' the garden. Shall's attend you there?

To your own bents dispose you. You'll be found, be you beneath the sky.

Aside.

I am angling now, though you perceive me not how I give line. Go to, go to, how she holds up the neb, the bill, to him. and arms her with the boldness of a wife to her allowing husband.

Exeunt, Polixenes, Hermione, and Attendance.

Gone already. Inch thick, knee deep, o'er head and ears, a forked one. Go play, boy, play. Thy mother plays, and I play too, but so disgraced a part whose issue will hiss me to my grave. Contempt and clamour will be mine now. Go play, boy, play. There have been, or I am much deceived, cuckolds ere now, and many a man there is, even at this present, now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm, that little thinks she has been sluiced in absence, and his pond fished by his next neighbour, by Sir Smile, his neighbour. Nay, there's comfort in it, whiles other men have gates, and those gates opened, as mine, against their will. should all despair that have revolted wise the tenth of mankind would

hang themselves physic for it there is none it is a body planet that will strike where tis predominant and tis powerful think it from east west north and south be it concluded no barricado for a belly know it it will let in and out the enemy with bag and baggage Many thousand on us have the disease, and feel it not. How now, boy?

I am like you, they say.

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

Aye, my good lord.

Go play, Mamilius. Thou art an honest man.

Exit Mamilius.

Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.

You had much ado to make his anchor hold. When you cast out, it still came home.

Didst note it?

He would not stay at your petitions made his business more material.

Didst perceive it aside they're here with me already whispering rounding cecilia is a so forth tis far gone when i shall gust it last how came it camillo that he did.

Stay at the good queen's entreaty.

At the queen's be it good should be pertinent but so it is it is not Was this taken by any understanding pate but thine? For thy conceit is soaking, Will draw in more than the common blocks. Not noted is it but of the finer natures, By some severals of headpiece extraordinary, Lower messes perchance to this business purblind, say.

Business, my lord, I think most understand Bohemia stays here longer.

Ha!

Stays here longer. ay but why to satisfy your highness and the entreaties of our most gracious mistress.

Sat the entreaties of your mistress satisfy let that suffice i have trusted thee camillo with all the nearest things to my heart as well my chamber counsels wherein priestlike thou hast cleansed my bosom i from thee departed thy penitent reformed but we have been deceived in thy integrity, deceived in that which seems so.

Be it forbid, my lord.

To bide upon it, thou art not honest, or, if thou inclinest that way, thou art a coward, which hoxes honesty behind, restraining from course required, or else thou must be counted a servant grafted in my serious trust, and therein negligent, or else a fool that seeth a game played home, the rich stake drawn, and taketh it all for jest.

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 among the infinite doings of the world sometime puts forth. In your affairs, my lord, if ever I were willful negligent, it was my folly. If industriously I played the fool, it was my negligence not weighing well the end. If ever fearful to do a thing were I the issue doubted where the execution did cry out against the non-performance, t'was a fear which oft infects the wisest. These, my lord, are allowed 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.

And not you seen, Camillo, but as passed out you have, Are your eyeglasses thicker than a cuckold's horn? Or heard, for to a vision so apparent Rumour cannot be mute, or thought, For cogitation resides not in that man that does not think, My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess, or else be impudently negative, To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought, Then say my wife's a hobby-horse, Deserves a name as rank as any flax-wench That puts two before her troth-plight. Say it, and justify it.

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 lip stopping the career of laughing with a sigh a note infallible of breaking honesty horsing foot on foot skulking in corners wishing clocks more swift hours minutes noon midnight and all eyes blind with the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only, that would unseen be wicked. Is this nothing? Why, then, the world and all that's in it is nothing. The covering sky is nothing, Bohemia nothing, my wife is nothing, nor nothing have these nothings if this be nothing.

Could my lord be cured of this diseased opinion, and betimes, for tis most dangerous.

Say it be, tis true.

No, no, my lord.

It is. You lie, you lie. I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee. Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave, or else a hovering temporizer, that canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil, inclining to them both. Were my wife's liver infected as her life, she would not live the running of one glass.

Who does infect her?

Why, he that wears her like a medal hanging about his neck, Bohemia, who, if I had servants true about me that bare eyes to see alike mine honor as their profits their own particular thrifts they would do that which should undo more doing i and thou his cupbearer whom i from meaner form have benched and reared to worship who mayst see plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven how i am gall'd mightst bespice a cup to give mine enemy a lasting wink which draught to me were cordial.

Sir my lord i could do this and that with no rash poison but with a lingering dram that should not work maliciously like poison I cannot believe this crack to be in my dread mistress, so sovereignly being honourable. I have loved thee.

Make that thy question, and go rot. Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled, 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. give scandal to the blood of the prince my son who i do think is mine and love as mine without ripe moving to it would i do this could man so blench.

I must believe you sir i do and will fetch off bohemia for it provided that when he's removed 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.

There dost advise me even so, as I mine own course have set down. I'll give no blemish to her honour, none.

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 cup-bearer. If from me he have wholesome beverage, account me not your servant.

This is all. Do it, and thou hast the one half of my heart. Do it not, thou split'st thine own.

I'll do it, my lord.

I will seem friendly, as thou hast advised me.

Exit.

O miserable lady! But for me, what case stand I in? I must be the poisoner of good Polixenes, and my ground to do it is the obedience to a master. One who in rebellion with himself will have all that are his, so too. To do this deed, promotion follows. If I could find example of thousands that had struck anointed kings and flourished after, I'd not do it. But since nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one, let villainy itself forswear it. I must forsake the court.

To do it or no is certain to me a breakneck. O happy star, reign now! Here comes Bohemia.

This is strange.

Methinks my favour here begins to warp, not speak. Good day, Camillo.

CAMILLO. Hail! Most royal, sir.

What is the news of the court?

None rare, my lord.

The king hath on him such a countenance, as he had lost some province, and a region loved as he loves himself. Even now I met him with customary compliment. when he, wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling a lip of much contempt, speeds from me, and so leaves me to consider what is breeding that changeth thus his manners.

I dare not know, my lord.

How? Dare not? Do not? Do you know, and dare not? Be intelligent to me, that is thereabouts, for to yourself what you do know you must, and cannot say you dare not. Good Camillo, Your changed complexions are to me a mirror which shows me mine changed too, for I must be a party in this alteration, finding myself thus altered with it.

There is a sickness which puts some of us in distemper, but I cannot name the disease. And it is caught of you that yet are well.

How? Caught of me? Make me not sighted like the basilisk. I have looked on thousands who have sped the better by my regard, but killed none so. Camillo. as you are certainly a gentleman, thereto clerk-like experienced, which no less adorns our gentry than our parents' noble names, in whose success we are gentle. I beseech you, if you know aught which does behoove my knowledge, thereof to be informed, imprisoned not in ignorant concealment.

I may not answer.

A sickness caught of me, and yet I well. I must be answered. Dost thou hear, Camillo? i conjure thee by all the parts of man which honour does acknowledge whereof the least is not this suit of mine that thou declare what incidency thou dost guess of harm is creeping toward me how far off how near which way to be prevented if to be if not how best to bear it.

Sir i will tell you since i am charged in honour and by him that i think honourable therefore Mark my counsel, which must be even as swiftly followed as I mean to utter it, or both yourself and me cry lost, and so good night. I am appointed him to murder you.

By whom, Camillo?

By the king.

For what?

He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, as he had seemed to have been an instrument to vice you to it, that you have touched his queen forbiddenly.

Oh!

Then my best blood turn to an infected jelly, and my name be yoked with his that did betray the best. Turn then my freshest reputation to a savour that may strike the dullest nostril where I arrive, and my approach be shunned, nay hated too, worse than the greatest infection that e'er was heard or read.

Swear his thought over by each particular star in heaven and by all their influences you may as well forbid the sea for to obey the moon as or by oath remove or counsel shake the fabric of his folly whose foundation is piled upon his faith and will continue the standing of his body.

How should this grow i know not.

But i am sure tis safer to avoid what's grown than question how tis born If therefore you dare trust my honesty, that lies enclosed in this trunk which you shall bear along in pond, away, to-night, your followers I will whisper to the business, and will by twos and threes at several posterns clear them of the city. For myself I'll put my fortunes to your service, which are here by this discovery lost, but not uncertain, for by the honour of my parents I have uttered truth. which, if you seek to prove, I dare not stand by, nor shall you be safer than one condemned by the king's own mouth thereon his execution sworn.

I do believe thee. I saw his heart in's face. Give me thy hand. Be pilot to me, and thy places shall still neighbour mine. My ships are ready, and my people did expect my hand's departure two days ago. This jealousy is for a precious creature. As she's rare, must it be great. and as his person's mighty must it be violent, and as he does conceive he is dishonoured by a man which ever professed to him, why his revenges must in that be made more bitter, fear o'ershades me. Good expedition be my friend, and comfort the gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing of his ill-tamed suspicion. Come, Camillo, I will respect thee as a father, if thou bear'st my life off hence. Let us avoid.

It is in mine authority to command the keys of all the posterns. Please, your highness, to take the urgent hour.

Come, sir, away.

Exeunt. End of Act 1

The Winter's Tale Act 1

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