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FOR __ COMPLETE SHAKESPEARE **** +["Small Print" V.12.08.93] + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + + +1611 + +THE WINTER'S TALE + +by William Shakespeare + + + +Dramatis Personae + + LEONTES, King of Sicilia + MAMILLIUS, his son, the young Prince of Sicilia + CAMILLO, lord of Sicilia + ANTIGONUS, " " " + CLEOMENES, " " " + DION, " " " + POLIXENES, King of Bohemia + FLORIZEL, his son, Prince of Bohemia + ARCHIDAMUS, a lord of Bohemia + OLD SHEPHERD, reputed father of Perdita + CLOWN, his son + AUTOLYCUS, a rogue + A MARINER + A GAOLER + TIME, as Chorus + + HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes + PERDITA, daughter to Leontes and Hermione + PAULINA, wife to Antigonus + EMILIA, a lady attending on the Queen + MOPSA, shepherdess + DORCAS, " + + Other Lords, Gentlemen, Ladies, Officers, Servants, Shepherds, + Shepherdesses + + SCENE: + Sicilia and Bohemia + + + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + +ACT I. SCENE I. +Sicilia. The palace of LEONTES + +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. + CAMILLO. I think this coming summer the King of Sicilia means to + pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him. + ARCHIDAMUS. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will be + justified in our loves; for indeed- + CAMILLO. Beseech you- + ARCHIDAMUS. 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. + CAMILLO. You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely. + ARCHIDAMUS. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me + and as mine honesty puts it to utterance. + CAMILLO. Sicilia cannot show himself overkind to Bohemia. They were + train'd 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 seem'd to be together, + though absent; shook hands, as over a vast; and embrac'd as it were + from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves! + ARCHIDAMUS. 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. + CAMILLO. 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. + ARCHIDAMUS. Would they else be content to die? + CAMILLO. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should + desire to live. + ARCHIDAMUS. If the King had no son, they would desire to live on + crutches till he had one. + Exeunt + + + + +SCENE II. +Sicilia. The palace of LEONTES + +Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, CAMILLO, and +ATTENDANTS + + POLIXENES. Nine changes of the wat'ry star hath been + The shepherd's note since 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 cipher, + Yet standing in rich place, I multiply + With one 'We thank you' many thousands moe + That go before it. + LEONTES. Stay your thanks a while, + And pay them when you part. + POLIXENES. 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 + 'This is put forth too truly.' Besides, I have stay'd + To tire your royalty. + LEONTES. We are tougher, brother, + Than you can put us to't. + POLIXENES. No longer stay. + LEONTES. One sev'night longer. + POLIXENES. Very sooth, to-morrow. + LEONTES. We'll part the time between's then; and in that + I'll no gainsaying. + POLIXENES. Press me not, beseech you, so. + There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' th' world, + 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. + LEONTES. Tongue-tied, our Queen? Speak you. + HERMIONE. 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 + The by-gone day proclaim'd. Say this to him, + He's beat from his best ward. + LEONTES. Well said, Hermione. + HERMIONE. To tell he longs to see his son were 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. + [To POLIXENES] 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 gest + Prefix'd for's parting.- Yet, good deed, Leontes, + I love thee not a jar o' th' clock behind + What lady she her lord.- You'll stay? + POLIXENES. No, madam. + HERMIONE. Nay, but you will? + POLIXENES. I may not, verily. + HERMIONE. Verily! + You put me off with limber vows; but I, + Though you would seek t' unsphere the stars with oaths, + Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily, + You shall not go; a lady's 'verily' is + As potent as a lord's. Will 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. + POLIXENES. Your guest, then, madam: + To be your prisoner should import offending; + Which is for me less easy to commit + Than you to punish. + HERMIONE. Not your gaoler 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! + POLIXENES. 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. + HERMIONE. Was not my lord + The verier wag o' th' two? + POLIXENES. We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' th' sun + And bleat the one at th' other. What we chang'd + Was innocence for innocence; we knew not + The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd + That any did. Had we pursu'd that life, + And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd + With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven + Boldly 'Not guilty,' the imposition clear'd + Hereditary ours. + HERMIONE. By this we gather + You have tripp'd since. + POLIXENES. O my most sacred lady, + Temptations have since then been born to 's, for + In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl; + Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes + Of my young playfellow. + HERMIONE. Grace to boot! + Of this make no conclusion, lest you say + Your queen and I are devils. Yet, go on; + Th' 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. + LEONTES. Is he won yet? + HERMIONE. He'll stay, my lord. + LEONTES. At my request he would not. + Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st + To better purpose. + HERMIONE. Never? + LEONTES. Never but once. + HERMIONE. What! Have I twice said well? When was't before? + I prithee tell me; cram's with praise, and make's + As fat as tame things. One good deed dying tongueless + Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that. + Our praises are our wages; you may ride's + With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere + With spur we heat an acre. But to th' 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 th' purpose- When? + Nay, let me have't; I long. + LEONTES. 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.' + HERMIONE. 'Tis Grace indeed. + Why, lo you now, I have spoke to th' purpose twice: + The one for ever earn'd a royal husband; + Th' other for some while a friend. + [Giving her hand to POLIXENES] + LEONTES. [Aside] 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. 'T may, I grant; + But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers, + As now they are, and making practis'd smiles + As in a looking-glass; and then to sigh, as 'twere + The mort o' th' deer. O, that is entertainment + My bosom likes not, nor my brows! Mamillius, + Art thou my boy? + MAMILLIUS. Ay, my good lord. + LEONTES. I' fecks! + Why, that's my bawcock. 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 call'd neat.- Still virginalling + Upon his palm?- How now, you wanton calf, + Art thou my calf? + MAMILLIUS. Yes, if you will, my lord. + LEONTES. 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'er-dy'd 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! + Most dear'st! my collop! Can thy dam?- may't be? + Affection! thy intention stabs the centre. + Thou dost make possible things not so held, + Communicat'st with dreams- how can this be?- + With what's unreal thou coactive art, + And fellow'st nothing. Then 'tis very credent + Thou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost- + And that beyond commission; and I find it, + And that to the infection of my brains + And hard'ning of my brows. + POLIXENES. What means Sicilia? + HERMIONE. He something seems unsettled. + POLIXENES. How, my lord! + What cheer? How is't with you, best brother? + HERMIONE. You look + As if you held a brow of much distraction. + Are you mov'd, my lord? + LEONTES. 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 muzzl'd, + Lest it should bite its master and so prove, + As ornaments oft do, too dangerous. + How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, + This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest friend, + Will you take eggs for money? + MAMILLIUS. No, my lord, I'll fight. + LEONTES. You will? Why, happy man be's dole! My brother, + Are you so fond of your young prince as we + Do seem to be of ours? + POLIXENES. 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 childness cures in me + Thoughts that would thick my blood. + LEONTES. So stands this squire + Offic'd with me. We two will walk, my lord, + And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione, + How thou lov'st us show in our brother's welcome; + Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap; + Next to thyself and my young rover, he's + Apparent to my heart. + HERMIONE. If you would seek us, + We are yours i' th' garden. Shall's attend you there? + LEONTES. 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 ATTENDANTS + + Gone already! + Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one! + 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 by th' arm + That little thinks she has been sluic'd in's absence, + And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by + Sir Smile, his neighbour. Nay, there's comfort in't, + Whiles other men have gates and those gates open'd, + As mine, against their will. Should all despair + That hath revolted wives, the tenth of mankind + Would hang themselves. Physic for't there's none; + It is a bawdy planet, that will strike + Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis pow'rfull, think it, + From east, west, north, and south. Be it concluded, + No barricado for a belly. Know't, + It will let in and out the enemy + With bag and baggage. Many thousand on's + Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy! + MAMILLIUS. I am like you, they say. + LEONTES. Why, that's some comfort. + What! Camillo there? + CAMILLO. Ay, my good lord. + LEONTES. Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man. + Exit MAMILLIUS + Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer. + CAMILLO. You had much ado to make his anchor hold; + When you cast out, it still came home. + LEONTES. Didst note it? + CAMILLO. He would not stay at your petitions; made + His business more material. + LEONTES. Didst perceive it? + [Aside] They're here with me already; whisp'ring, rounding, + 'Sicilia is a so-forth.' 'Tis far gone + When I shall gust it last.- How came't, Camillo, + That he did stay? + CAMILLO. At the good Queen's entreaty. + LEONTES. 'At the Queen's' be't. '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't, + But of the finer natures, by some severals + Of head-piece extraordinary? Lower messes + Perchance are to this business purblind? Say. + CAMILLO. Business, my lord? I think most understand + Bohemia stays here longer. + LEONTES. Ha? + CAMILLO. Stays here longer. + LEONTES. Ay, but why? + CAMILLO. To satisfy your Highness, and the entreaties + Of our most gracious mistress. + LEONTES. Satisfy + Th' 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-councils, wherein, priest-like, thou + Hast cleans'd my bosom- I from thee departed + Thy penitent reform'd; but we have been + Deceiv'd in thy integrity, deceiv'd + In that which seems so. + CAMILLO. Be it forbid, my lord! + LEONTES. To bide upon't: thou art not honest; or, + If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward, + Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining + From course requir'd; or else thou must be counted + A servant grafted in my serious trust, + And therein negligent; or else a fool + That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn, + And tak'st it all for jest. + CAMILLO. 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 wilfull-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 infects 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. + LEONTES. Ha' not you seen, Camillo- + But that's past doubt; you have, or your eye-glass + Is 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 to + Before her troth-plight. Say't and justify't. + CAMILLO. 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. + LEONTES. Is whispering nothing? + Is leaning cheek to cheek? Is meeting noses? + Kissing with inside lip? Stopping the career + Of laughter 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't is nothing; + The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing; + My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings, + If this be nothing. + CAMILLO. Good my lord, be cur'd + Of this diseas'd opinion, and betimes; + For 'tis most dangerous. + LEONTES. Say it be, 'tis true. + CAMILLO. No, no, my lord. + LEONTES. 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. + CAMILLO. Who does infect her? + LEONTES. Why, he that wears her like her medal, hanging + About his neck, Bohemia; who- if I + Had servants true about me that bare eyes + To see alike mine honour as their profits, + Their own particular thrifts, they would do that + Which should undo more doing. Ay, and thou, + His cupbearer- whom I from meaner form + Have bench'd and rear'd 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. + CAMILLO. Sir, my lord, + I could do this; and that with no rash potion, + But with a ling'ring dram that should not work + Maliciously like poison. But I cannot + Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress, + So sovereignly being honourable. + I have lov'd thee- + LEONTES. 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 o' th' Prince, my son- + Who I do think is mine, and love as mine- + Without ripe moving to 't? Would I do this? + Could man so blench? + CAMILLO. I must believe you, sir. + 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. + LEONTES. Thou dost advise me + Even so as I mine own course have set down. + I'll give no blemish to her honour, none. + CAMILLO. 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; + If from me he have wholesome beverage, + Account me not your servant. + LEONTES. This is all: + Do't, and thou hast the one half of my heart; + Do't not, thou split'st thine own. + CAMILLO. I'll do't, my lord. + LEONTES. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd me. Exit + CAMILLO. O miserable lady! But, for me, + What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner + Of good Polixenes; and my ground to do't + 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 flourish'd after, I'd not do't; but since + Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one, + Let villainy itself forswear't. I must + Forsake the court. To do't, or no, is certain + To me a break-neck. Happy star reign now! + Here comes Bohemia. + + Enter POLIXENES + + POLIXENES. This is strange. Methinks + My favour here begins to warp. Not speak? + Good day, Camillo. + CAMILLO. Hail, most royal sir! + POLIXENES. What is the news i' th' court? + CAMILLO. None rare, my lord. + POLIXENES. The King hath on him such a countenance + As he had lost some province, and a region + Lov'd as he loves himself; even now I met him + With customary compliment, when he, + Wafting his eyes to th' contrary and falling + A lip of much contempt, speeds from me; + So leaves me to consider what is breeding + That changes thus his manners. + CAMILLO. I dare not know, my lord. + POLIXENES. How, dare not! Do not. Do you know, and dare not + Be intelligent to me? 'Tis thereabouts; + For, to yourself, what you do know, you must, + And cannot say you dare not. Good Camillo, + Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror + Which shows me mine chang'd too; for I must be + A party in this alteration, finding + Myself thus alter'd with't. + CAMILLO. 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. + POLIXENES. How! caught of me? + Make me not sighted like the basilisk; + I have look'd on thousands who have sped the better + By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo- + As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto + Clerk-like experienc'd, 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 behove my knowledge + Thereof to be inform'd, imprison't not + In ignorant concealment. + CAMILLO. I may not answer. + POLIXENES. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well? + I must be answer'd. 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. + CAMILLO. Sir, I will tell you; + Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him + That I think honourable. Therefore mark my counsel, + Which must be ev'n as swiftly followed as + I mean to utter it, or both yourself and me + Cry lost, and so goodnight. + POLIXENES. On, good Camillo. + CAMILLO. I am appointed him to murder you. + POLIXENES. By whom, Camillo? + CAMILLO. By the King. + POLIXENES. For what? + CAMILLO. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, + As he had seen 't or been an instrument + To vice you to't, that you have touch'd his queen + Forbiddenly. + POLIXENES. O, then my best blood turn + To an infected jelly, and my name + Be yok'd 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 shunn'd, + Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection + That e'er was heard or read! + CAMILLO. 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 pil'd upon his faith and will continue + The standing of his body. + POLIXENES. How should this grow? + CAMILLO. 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 impawn'd, away to-night. + Your followers I will whisper to the business; + And will, by twos and threes, at several posterns, + Clear them o' th' city. For myself, I'll put + My fortunes to your service, which are here + By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain, + For, by the honour of my parents, I + Have utt'red truth; which if you seek to prove, + I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer + Than one condemn'd by the King's own mouth, thereon + His execution sworn. + POLIXENES. 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 hence 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 dishonour'd by a man which ever + Profess'd 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 this theme, but nothing + Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo; + I will respect thee as a father, if + Thou bear'st my life off hence. Let us avoid. + CAMILLO. 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 + + + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + +ACT II. SCENE I. +Sicilia. The palace of LEONTES + +Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and LADIES + + HERMIONE. Take the boy to you; he so troubles me, + 'Tis past enduring. + FIRST LADY. Come, my gracious lord, + Shall I be your playfellow? + MAMILLIUS. No, I'll none of you. + FIRST LADY. Why, my sweet lord? + MAMILLIUS. You'll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if + I were a baby still. I love you better. + SECOND LADY. And why so, my lord? + MAMILLIUS. Not for because + Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say, + Become some women best; so that there be not + Too much hair there, but in a semicircle + Or a half-moon made with a pen. + SECOND LADY. Who taught't this? + MAMILLIUS. I learn'd it out of women's faces. Pray now, + What colour are your eyebrows? + FIRST LADY. Blue, my lord. + MAMILLIUS. Nay, that's a mock. I have seen a lady's nose + That has been blue, but not her eyebrows. + FIRST LADY. Hark ye: + The Queen your mother rounds apace. We shall + Present our services to a fine new prince + One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us, + If we would have you. + SECOND LADY. She is spread of late + Into a goodly bulk. Good time encounter her! + HERMIONE. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now + I am for you again. Pray you sit by us, + And tell's a tale. + MAMILLIUS. Merry or sad shall't be? + HERMIONE. As merry as you will. + MAMILLIUS. A sad tale's best for winter. I have one + Of sprites and goblins. + HERMIONE. Let's have that, good sir. + Come on, sit down; come on, and do your best + To fright me with your sprites; you're pow'rfull at it. + MAMILLIUS. There was a man- + HERMIONE. Nay, come, sit down; then on. + MAMILLIUS. Dwelt by a churchyard- I will tell it softly; + Yond crickets shall not hear it. + HERMIONE. Come on then, + And give't me in mine ear. + + Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and OTHERS + + LEONTES. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him? + FIRST LORD. Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never + Saw I men scour so on their way. I ey'd them + Even to their ships. + LEONTES. How blest am I + In my just censure, in my true opinion! + Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accurs'd + In being so blest! There may be in the cup + A spider steep'd, and one may drink, depart, + And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge + Is not infected; but if one present + Th' abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known + How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides, + With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider. + Camillo was his help in this, his pander. + There is a plot against my life, my crown; + All's true that is mistrusted. That false villain + Whom I employ'd was pre-employ'd by him; + He has discover'd my design, and I + Remain a pinch'd thing; yea, a very trick + For them to play at will. How came the posterns + So easily open? + FIRST LORD. By his great authority; + Which often hath no less prevail'd than so + On your command. + LEONTES. I know't too well. + Give me the boy. I am glad you did not nurse him; + Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you + Have too much blood in him. + HERMIONE. What is this? Sport? + LEONTES. Bear the boy hence; he shall not come about her; + Away with him; and let her sport herself + [MAMILLIUS is led out] + With that she's big with- for 'tis Polixenes + Has made thee swell thus. + HERMIONE. But I'd say he had not, + And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying, + Howe'er you lean to th' nayward. + LEONTES. You, my lords, + Look on her, mark her well; be but about + To say 'She is a goodly lady' and + The justice of your hearts will thereto add + 'Tis pity she's not honest- honourable.' + Praise her but for this her without-door form, + Which on my faith deserves high speech, and straight + The shrug, the hum or ha, these petty brands + That calumny doth use- O, I am out!- + That mercy does, for calumny will sear + Virtue itself- these shrugs, these hum's and ha's, + When you have said she's goodly, come between, + Ere you can say she's honest. But be't known, + From him that has most cause to grieve it should be, + She's an adultress. + HERMIONE. Should a villain say so, + The most replenish'd villain in the world, + He were as much more villain: you, my lord, + Do but mistake. + LEONTES. You have mistook, my lady, + Polixenes for Leontes. O thou thing! + Which I'll not call a creature of thy place, + Lest barbarism, making me the precedent, + Should a like language use to all degrees + And mannerly distinguishment leave out + Betwixt the prince and beggar. I have said + She's an adultress; I have said with whom. + More, she's a traitor; and Camillo is + A federary with her, and one that knows + What she should shame to know herself + But with her most vile principal- that she's + A bed-swerver, even as bad as those + That vulgars give bold'st titles; ay, and privy + To this their late escape. + HERMIONE. No, by my life, + Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you, + When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that + You thus have publish'd me! Gentle my lord, + You scarce can right me throughly then to say + You did mistake. + LEONTES. No; if I mistake + In those foundations which I build upon, + The centre is not big enough to bear + A school-boy's top. Away with her to prison. + He who shall speak for her is afar off guilty + But that he speaks. + HERMIONE. There's some ill planet reigns. + I must be patient till the heavens look + With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords, + I am not prone to weeping, as our sex + Commonly are- the want of which vain dew + Perchance shall dry your pities- but I have + That honourable grief lodg'd here which burns + Worse than tears drown. Beseech you all, my lords, + With thoughts so qualified as your charities + Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so + The King's will be perform'd! + LEONTES. [To the GUARD] Shall I be heard? + HERMIONE. Who is't that goes with me? Beseech your highness + My women may be with me, for you see + My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools; + There is no cause; when you shall know your mistress + Has deserv'd prison, then abound in tears + As I come out: this action I now go on + Is for my better grace. Adieu, my lord. + I never wish'd to see you sorry; now + I trust I shall. My women, come; you have leave. + LEONTES. Go, do our bidding; hence! + Exeunt HERMIONE, guarded, and LADIES + FIRST LORD. Beseech your Highness, call the Queen again. + ANTIGONUS. Be certain what you do, sir, lest your justice + Prove violence, in the which three great ones suffer, + Yourself, your queen, your son. + FIRST LORD. For her, my lord, + I dare my life lay down- and will do't, sir, + Please you t' accept it- that the Queen is spotless + I' th' eyes of heaven and to you- I mean + In this which you accuse her. + ANTIGONUS. If it prove + She's otherwise, I'll keep my stables where + I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her; + Than when I feel and see her no farther trust her; + For every inch of woman in the world, + Ay, every dram of woman's flesh is false, + If she be. + LEONTES. Hold your peaces. + FIRST LORD. Good my lord- + ANTIGONUS. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves. + You are abus'd, and by some putter-on + That will be damn'd for't. Would I knew the villain! + I would land-damn him. Be she honour-flaw'd- + I have three daughters: the eldest is eleven; + The second and the third, nine and some five; + If this prove true, they'll pay for 't. By mine honour, + I'll geld 'em all; fourteen they shall not see + To bring false generations. They are co-heirs; + And I had rather glib myself than they + Should not produce fair issue. + LEONTES. Cease; no more. + You smell this business with a sense as cold + As is a dead man's nose; but I do see't and feel't + As you feel doing thus; and see withal + The instruments that feel. + ANTIGONUS. If it be so, + We need no grave to bury honesty; + There's not a grain of it the face to sweeten + Of the whole dungy earth. + LEONTES. What! Lack I credit? + FIRST LORD. I had rather you did lack than I, my lord, + Upon this ground; and more it would content me + To have her honour true than your suspicion, + Be blam'd for't how you might. + LEONTES. Why, what need we + Commune with you of this, but rather follow + Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative + Calls not your counsels; but our natural goodness + Imparts this; which, if you- or stupified + Or seeming so in skill- cannot or will not + Relish a truth like us, inform yourselves + We need no more of your advice. The matter, + The loss, the gain, the ord'ring on't, is all + Properly ours. + ANTIGONUS. And I wish, my liege, + You had only in your silent judgment tried it, + Without more overture. + LEONTES. How could that be? + Either thou art most ignorant by age, + Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight, + Added to their familiarity- + Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, + That lack'd sight only, nought for approbation + But only seeing, all other circumstances + Made up to th' deed- doth push on this proceeding. + Yet, for a greater confirmation- + For, in an act of this importance, 'twere + Most piteous to be wild- I have dispatch'd in post + To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple, + Cleomenes and Dion, whom you know + Of stuff'd sufficiency. Now, from the oracle + They will bring all, whose spiritual counsel had, + Shall stop or spur me. Have I done well? + FIRST LORD. Well done, my lord. + LEONTES. Though I am satisfied, and need no more + Than what I know, yet shall the oracle + Give rest to th' minds of others such as he + Whose ignorant credulity will not + Come up to th' truth. So have we thought it good + From our free person she should be confin'd, + Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence + Be left her to perform. Come, follow us; + We are to speak in public; for this business + Will raise us all. + ANTIGONUS. [Aside] To laughter, as I take it, + If the good truth were known. + Exeunt + + + + +SCENE II. +Sicilia. A prison + +Enter PAULINA, a GENTLEMAN, and ATTENDANTS + + PAULINA. The keeper of the prison- call to him; + Let him have knowledge who I am. Exit GENTLEMAN + Good lady! + No court in Europe is too good for thee; + What dost thou then in prison? + + Re-enter GENTLEMAN with the GAOLER + + Now, good sir, + You know me, do you not? + GAOLER. For a worthy lady, + And one who much I honour. + PAULINA. Pray you, then, + Conduct me to the Queen. + GAOLER. I may not, madam; + To the contrary I have express commandment. + PAULINA. Here's ado, to lock up honesty and honour from + Th' access of gentle visitors! Is't lawful, pray you, + To see her women- any of them? Emilia? + GAOLER. So please you, madam, + To put apart these your attendants, + Shall bring Emilia forth. + PAULINA. I pray now, call her. + Withdraw yourselves. Exeunt ATTENDANTS + GAOLER. And, madam, + I must be present at your conference. + PAULINA. Well, be't so, prithee. Exit GAOLER + Here's such ado to make no stain a stain + As passes colouring. + + Re-enter GAOLER, with EMILIA + + Dear gentlewoman, + How fares our gracious lady? + EMILIA. As well as one so great and so forlorn + May hold together. On her frights and griefs, + Which never tender lady hath borne greater, + She is, something before her time, deliver'd. + PAULINA. A boy? + EMILIA. A daughter, and a goodly babe, + Lusty, and like to live. The Queen receives + Much comfort in't; says 'My poor prisoner, + I am as innocent as you.' + PAULINA. I dare be sworn. + These dangerous unsafe lunes i' th' King, beshrew them! + He must be told on't, and he shall. The office + Becomes a woman best; I'll take't upon me; + If I prove honey-mouth'd, let my tongue blister, + And never to my red-look'd anger be + The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia, + Commend my best obedience to the Queen; + If she dares trust me with her little babe, + I'll show't the King, and undertake to be + Her advocate to th' loud'st. We do not know + How he may soften at the sight o' th' child: + The silence often of pure innocence + Persuades when speaking fails. + EMILIA. Most worthy madam, + Your honour and your goodness is so evident + That your free undertaking cannot miss + A thriving issue; there is no lady living + So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship + To visit the next room, I'll presently + Acquaint the Queen of your most noble offer + Who but to-day hammer'd of this design, + But durst not tempt a minister of honour, + Lest she should be denied. + PAULINA. Tell her, Emilia, + I'll use that tongue I have; if wit flow from't + As boldness from my bosom, let't not be doubted + I shall do good. + EMILIA. Now be you blest for it! + I'll to the Queen. Please you come something nearer. + GAOLER. Madam, if't please the Queen to send the babe, + I know not what I shall incur to pass it, + Having no warrant. + PAULINA. You need not fear it, sir. + This child was prisoner to the womb, and is + By law and process of great Nature thence + Freed and enfranchis'd- not a party to + The anger of the King, nor guilty of, + If any be, the trespass of the Queen. + GAOLER. I do believe it. + PAULINA. Do not you fear. Upon mine honour, I + Will stand betwixt you and danger. Exeunt + + + + +SCENE III. +Sicilia. The palace of LEONTES + +Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, LORDS, and SERVANTS + + LEONTES. Nor night nor day no rest! It is but weakness + To bear the matter thus- mere weakness. If + The cause were not in being- part o' th' cause, + She, th' adultress; for the harlot king + Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank + And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she + I can hook to me- say that she were gone, + Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest + Might come to me again. Who's there? + FIRST SERVANT. My lord? + LEONTES. How does the boy? + FIRST SERVANT. He took good rest to-night; + 'Tis hop'd his sickness is discharg'd. + LEONTES. To see his nobleness! + Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, + He straight declin'd, droop'd, took it deeply, + Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself, + Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, + And downright languish'd. Leave me solely. Go, + See how he fares. [Exit SERVANT] Fie, fie! no thought of him! + The very thought of my revenges that way + Recoil upon me- in himself too mighty, + And in his parties, his alliance. Let him be, + Until a time may serve; for present vengeance, + Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes + Laugh at me, make their pastime at my sorrow. + They should not laugh if I could reach them; nor + Shall she, within my pow'r. + + Enter PAULINA, with a CHILD + + FIRST LORD. You must not enter. + PAULINA. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me. + Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas, + Than the Queen's life? A gracious innocent soul, + More free than he is jealous. + ANTIGONUS. That's enough. + SECOND SERVANT. Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded + None should come at him. + PAULINA. Not so hot, good sir; + I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you, + That creep like shadows by him, and do sigh + At each his needless heavings- such as you + Nourish the cause of his awaking: I + Do come with words as medicinal as true, + Honest as either, to purge him of that humour + That presses him from sleep. + LEONTES. What noise there, ho? + PAULINA. No noise, my lord; but needful conference + About some gossips for your Highness. + LEONTES. How! + Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus, + I charg'd thee that she should not come about me; + I knew she would. + ANTIGONUS. I told her so, my lord, + On your displeasure's peril, and on mine, + She should not visit you. + LEONTES. What, canst not rule her? + PAULINA. From all dishonesty he can: in this, + Unless he take the course that you have done- + Commit me for committing honour- trust it, + He shall not rule me. + ANTIGONUS. La you now, you hear! + When she will take the rein, I let her run; + But she'll not stumble. + PAULINA. Good my liege, I come- + And I beseech you hear me, who professes + Myself your loyal servant, your physician, + Your most obedient counsellor; yet that dares + Less appear so, in comforting your evils, + Than such as most seem yours- I say I come + From your good Queen. + LEONTES. Good Queen! + PAULINA. Good Queen, my lord, good Queen- I say good Queen; + And would by combat make her good, so were I + A man, the worst about you. + LEONTES. Force her hence. + PAULINA. Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes + First hand me. On mine own accord I'll off; + But first I'll do my errand. The good Queen, + For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter; + Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing. + [Laying down the child] + LEONTES. Out! + A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' door! + A most intelligencing bawd! + PAULINA. Not so. + I am as ignorant in that as you + In so entitling me; and no less honest + Than you are mad; which is enough, I'll warrant, + As this world goes, to pass for honest. + LEONTES. Traitors! + Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard. + [To ANTIGONUS] Thou dotard, thou art woman-tir'd, unroosted + By thy Dame Partlet here. Take up the bastard; + Take't up, I say; give't to thy crone. + PAULINA. For ever + Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou + Tak'st up the Princess by that forced baseness + Which he has put upon't! + LEONTES. He dreads his wife. + PAULINA. So I would you did; then 'twere past all doubt + You'd call your children yours. + LEONTES. A nest of traitors! + ANTIGONUS. I am none, by this good light. + PAULINA. Nor I; nor any + But one that's here; and that's himself; for he + The sacred honour of himself, his Queen's, + His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander, + Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will not- + For, as the case now stands, it is a curse + He cannot be compell'd to 't- once remove + The root of his opinion, which is rotten + As ever oak or stone was sound. + LEONTES. A callat + Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her husband, + And now baits me! This brat is none of mine; + It is the issue of Polixenes. + Hence with it, and together with the dam + Commit them to the fire. + PAULINA. It is yours. + And, might we lay th' old proverb to your charge, + So like you 'tis the worse. Behold, my lords, + Although the print be little, the whole matter + And copy of the father- eye, nose, lip, + The trick of's frown, his forehead; nay, the valley, + The pretty dimples of his chin and cheek; his smiles; + The very mould and frame of hand, nail, finger. + And thou, good goddess Nature, which hast made it + So like to him that got it, if thou hast + The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours + No yellow in't, lest she suspect, as he does, + Her children not her husband's! + LEONTES. A gross hag! + And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd + That wilt not stay her tongue. + ANTIGONUS. Hang all the husbands + That cannot do that feat, you'll leave yourself + Hardly one subject. + LEONTES. Once more, take her hence. + PAULINA. A most unworthy and unnatural lord + Can do no more. + LEONTES. I'll ha' thee burnt. + PAULINA. I care not. + It is an heretic that makes the fire, + Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant + But this most cruel usage of your Queen- + Not able to produce more accusation + Than your own weak-hing'd fancy- something savours + Of tyranny, and will ignoble make you, + Yea, scandalous to the world. + LEONTES. On your allegiance, + Out of the chamber with her! Were I a tyrant, + Where were her life? She durst not call me so, + If she did know me one. Away with her! + PAULINA. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone. + Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours. Jove send her + A better guiding spirit! What needs these hands? + You that are thus so tender o'er his follies + Will never do him good, not one of you. + So, so. Farewell; we are gone. Exit + LEONTES. Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this. + My child! Away with't. Even thou, that hast + A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence, + And see it instantly consum'd with fire; + Even thou, and none but thou. Take it up straight. + Within this hour bring me word 'tis done, + And by good testimony, or I'll seize thy life, + With that thou else call'st thine. If thou refuse, + And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so; + The bastard brains with these my proper hands + Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire; + For thou set'st on thy wife. + ANTIGONUS. I did not, sir. + These lords, my noble fellows, if they please, + Can clear me in't. + LORDS. We can. My royal liege, + He is not guilty of her coming hither. + LEONTES. You're liars all. + FIRST LORD. Beseech your Highness, give us better credit. + We have always truly serv'd you; and beseech + So to esteem of us; and on our knees we beg, + As recompense of our dear services + Past and to come, that you do change this purpose, + Which being so horrible, so bloody, must + Lead on to some foul issue. We all kneel. + LEONTES. I am a feather for each wind that blows. + Shall I live on to see this bastard kneel + And call me father? Better burn it now + Than curse it then. But be it; let it live. + It shall not neither. [To ANTIGONUS] You, Sir, come you +hither. + You that have been so tenderly officious + With Lady Margery, your midwife there, + To save this bastard's life- for 'tis a bastard, + So sure as this beard's grey- what will you adventure + To save this brat's life? + ANTIGONUS. Anything, my lord, + That my ability may undergo, + And nobleness impose. At least, thus much: + I'll pawn the little blood which I have left + To save the innocent- anything possible. + LEONTES. It shall be possible. Swear by this sword + Thou wilt perform my bidding. + ANTIGONUS. I will, my lord. + LEONTES. Mark, and perform it- seest thou? For the fail + Of any point in't shall not only be + Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife, + Whom for this time we pardon. We enjoin thee, + As thou art liegeman to us, that thou carry + This female bastard hence; and that thou bear it + To some remote and desert place, quite out + Of our dominions; and that there thou leave it, + Without more mercy, to it own protection + And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune + It came to us, I do in justice charge thee, + On thy soul's peril and thy body's torture, + That thou commend it strangely to some place + Where chance may nurse or end it. Take it up. + ANTIGONUS. I swear to do this, though a present death + Had been more merciful. Come on, poor babe. + Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens + To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say, + Casting their savageness aside, have done + Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous + In more than this deed does require! And blessing + Against this cruelty fight on thy side, + Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! Exit with the child + LEONTES. No, I'll not rear + Another's issue. + + Enter a SERVANT + + SERVANT. Please your Highness, posts + From those you sent to th' oracle are come + An hour since. Cleomenes and Dion, + Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, + Hasting to th' court. + FIRST LORD. So please you, sir, their speed + Hath been beyond account. + LEONTES. Twenty-three days + They have been absent; 'tis good speed; foretells + The great Apollo suddenly will have + The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords; + Summon a session, that we may arraign + Our most disloyal lady; for, as she hath + Been publicly accus'd, so shall she have + A just and open trial. While she lives, + My heart will be a burden to me. Leave me; + And think upon my bidding. Exeunt + + + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + +ACT III. SCENE I. +Sicilia. On the road to the Capital + +Enter CLEOMENES and DION + + CLEOMENES. The climate's delicate, the air most sweet, + Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassing + The common praise it bears. + DION. I shall report, + For most it caught me, the celestial habits- + Methinks I so should term them- and the reverence + Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! + How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly, + It was i' th' off'ring! + CLEOMENES. But of all, the burst + And the ear-deaf'ning voice o' th' oracle, + Kin to Jove's thunder, so surpris'd my sense + That I was nothing. + DION. If th' event o' th' journey + Prove as successful to the Queen- O, be't so!- + As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy, + The time is worth the use on't. + CLEOMENES. Great Apollo + Turn all to th' best! These proclamations, + So forcing faults upon Hermione, + I little like. + DION. The violent carriage of it + Will clear or end the business. When the oracle- + Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up- + Shall the contents discover, something rare + Even then will rush to knowledge. Go; fresh horses. + And gracious be the issue! Exeunt + + + + +SCENE II. +Sicilia. A court of justice + +Enter LEONTES, LORDS, and OFFICERS + + LEONTES. This sessions, to our great grief we pronounce, + Even pushes 'gainst our heart- the party tried, + The daughter of a king, our wife, and one + Of us too much belov'd. Let us be clear'd + Of being tyrannous, since we so openly + Proceed in justice, which shall have due course, + Even to the guilt or the purgation. + Produce the prisoner. + OFFICER. It is his Highness' pleasure that the Queen + Appear in person here in court. + + Enter HERMIONE, as to her trial, PAULINA, and LADIES + + Silence! + LEONTES. Read the indictment. + OFFICER. [Reads] 'Hermione, Queen to the worthy Leontes, King of + Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in + committing adultery with Polixenes, King of Bohemia; and + conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign + lord the King, thy royal husband: the pretence whereof being by + circumstances partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the + faith and allegiance of true subject, didst counsel and aid them, + for their better safety, to fly away by night.' + HERMIONE. Since what I am to say must be but that + Which contradicts my accusation, and + The testimony on my part no other + But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me + To say 'Not guilty.' Mine integrity + Being counted falsehood shall, as I express it, + Be so receiv'd. But thus- if pow'rs divine + Behold our human actions, as they do, + I doubt not then but innocence shall make + False accusation blush, and tyranny + Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know- + Who least will seem to do so- my past life + Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, + As I am now unhappy; which is more + Than history can pattern, though devis'd + And play'd to take spectators; for behold me- + A fellow of the royal bed, which owe + A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, + The mother to a hopeful prince- here standing + To prate and talk for life and honour fore + Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it + As I weigh grief, which I would spare; for honour, + 'Tis a derivative from me to mine, + And only that I stand for. I appeal + To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes + Came to your court, how I was in your grace, + How merited to be so; since he came, + With what encounter so uncurrent I + Have strain'd t' appear thus; if one jot beyond + The bound of honour, or in act or will + That way inclining, hard'ned be the hearts + Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin + Cry fie upon my grave! + LEONTES. I ne'er heard yet + That any of these bolder vices wanted + Less impudence to gainsay what they did + Than to perform it first. + HERMIONE. That's true enough; + Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. + LEONTES. You will not own it. + HERMIONE. More than mistress of + Which comes to me in name of fault, I must not + At all acknowledge. For Polixenes, + With whom I am accus'd, I do confess + I lov'd him as in honour he requir'd; + With such a kind of love as might become + A lady like me; with a love even such, + So and no other, as yourself commanded; + Which not to have done, I think had been in me + Both disobedience and ingratitude + To you and toward your friend; whose love had spoke, + Ever since it could speak, from an infant, freely, + That it was yours. Now for conspiracy: + I know not how it tastes, though it be dish'd + For me to try how; all I know of it + Is that Camillo was an honest man; + And why he left your court, the gods themselves, + Wotting no more than I, are ignorant. + LEONTES. You knew of his departure, as you know + What you have underta'en to do in's absence. + HERMIONE. Sir, + You speak a language that I understand not. + My life stands in the level of your dreams, + Which I'll lay down. + LEONTES. Your actions are my dreams. + You had a bastard by Polixenes, + And I but dream'd it. As you were past all shame- + Those of your fact are so- so past all truth; + Which to deny concerns more than avails; for as + Thy brat hath been cast out, like to itself, + No father owning it- which is indeed + More criminal in thee than it- so thou + Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage + Look for no less than death. + HERMIONE. Sir, spare your threats. + The bug which you would fright me with I seek. + To me can life be no commodity. + The crown and comfort of my life, your favour, + I do give lost, for I do feel it gone, + But know not how it went; my second joy + And first fruits of my body, from his presence + I am barr'd, like one infectious; my third comfort, + Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast- + The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth- + Hal'd out to murder; myself on every post + Proclaim'd a strumpet; with immodest hatred + The child-bed privilege denied, which 'longs + To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried + Here to this place, i' th' open air, before + I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege, + Tell me what blessings I have here alive + That I should fear to die. Therefore proceed. + But yet hear this- mistake me not: no life, + I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour + Which I would free- if I shall be condemn'd + Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else + But what your jealousies awake, I tell you + 'Tis rigour, and not law. Your honours all, + I do refer me to the oracle: + Apollo be my judge! + FIRST LORD. This your request + Is altogether just. Therefore, bring forth, + And in Apollo's name, his oracle. + Exeunt certain OFFICERS + HERMIONE. The Emperor of Russia was my father; + O that he were alive, and here beholding + His daughter's trial! that he did but see + The flatness of my misery; yet with eyes + Of pity, not revenge! + + Re-enter OFFICERS, with CLEOMENES and DION + + OFFICER. You here shall swear upon this sword of justice + That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have + Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought + This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd + Of great Apollo's priest; and that since then + You have not dar'd to break the holy seal + Nor read the secrets in't. + CLEOMENES, DION. All this we swear. + LEONTES. Break up the seals and read. + OFFICER. [Reads] 'Hermione is chaste; Polixenes blameless; + Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent + babe truly begotten; and the King shall live without an heir, if + that which is lost be not found.' + LORDS. Now blessed be the great Apollo! + HERMIONE. Praised! + LEONTES. Hast thou read truth? + OFFICER. Ay, my lord; even so + As it is here set down. + LEONTES. There is no truth at all i' th' oracle. + The sessions shall proceed. This is mere falsehood. + + Enter a SERVANT + + SERVANT. My lord the King, the King! + LEONTES. What is the business? + SERVANT. O sir, I shall be hated to report it: + The Prince your son, with mere conceit and fear + Of the Queen's speed, is gone. + LEONTES. How! Gone? + SERVANT. Is dead. + LEONTES. Apollo's angry; and the heavens themselves + Do strike at my injustice. [HERMIONE swoons] + How now, there! + PAULINA. This news is mortal to the Queen. Look down + And see what death is doing. + LEONTES. Take her hence. + Her heart is but o'ercharg'd; she will recover. + I have too much believ'd mine own suspicion. + Beseech you tenderly apply to her + Some remedies for life. + Exeunt PAULINA and LADIES with HERMIONE + Apollo, pardon + My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle. + I'll reconcile me to Polixenes, + New woo my queen, recall the good Camillo- + Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy. + For, being transported by my jealousies + To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose + Camillo for the minister to poison + My friend Polixenes; which had been done + But that the good mind of Camillo tardied + My swift command, though I with death and with + Reward did threaten and encourage him, + Not doing it and being done. He, most humane + And fill'd with honour, to my kingly guest + Unclasp'd my practice, quit his fortunes here, + Which you knew great, and to the certain hazard + Of all incertainties himself commended, + No richer than his honour. How he glisters + Thorough my rust! And how his piety + Does my deeds make the blacker! + + Re-enter PAULINA + + PAULINA. Woe the while! + O, cut my lace, lest my heart, cracking it, + Break too! + FIRST LORD. What fit is this, good lady? + PAULINA. What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me? + What wheels, racks, fires? what flaying, boiling + In leads or oils? What old or newer torture + Must I receive, whose every word deserves + To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny + Together working with thy jealousies, + Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle + For girls of nine- O, think what they have done, + And then run mad indeed, stark mad; for all + Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it. + That thou betray'dst Polixenes, 'twas nothing; + That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant, + And damnable ingrateful. Nor was't much + Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's honour, + To have him kill a king- poor trespasses, + More monstrous standing by; whereof I reckon + The casting forth to crows thy baby daughter + To be or none or little, though a devil + Would have shed water out of fire ere done't; + Nor is't directly laid to thee, the death + Of the young Prince, whose honourable thoughts- + Thoughts high for one so tender- cleft the heart + That could conceive a gross and foolish sire + Blemish'd his gracious dam. This is not, no, + Laid to thy answer; but the last- O lords, + When I have said, cry 'Woe!'- the Queen, the Queen, + The sweet'st, dear'st creature's dead; and vengeance + For't not dropp'd down yet. + FIRST LORD. The higher pow'rs forbid! + PAULINA. I say she's dead; I'll swear't. If word nor oath + Prevail not, go and see. If you can bring + Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye, + Heat outwardly or breath within, I'll serve you + As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant! + Do not repent these things, for they are heavier + Than all thy woes can stir; therefore betake thee + To nothing but despair. A thousand knees + Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting, + Upon a barren mountain, and still winter + In storm perpetual, could not move the gods + To look that way thou wert. + LEONTES. Go on, go on. + Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserv'd + All tongues to talk their bitt'rest. + FIRST LORD. Say no more; + Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault + I' th' boldness of your speech. + PAULINA. I am sorry for't. + All faults I make, when I shall come to know them. + I do repent. Alas, I have show'd too much + The rashness of a woman! He is touch'd + To th' noble heart. What's gone and what's past help + Should be past grief. Do not receive affliction + At my petition; I beseech you, rather + Let me be punish'd that have minded you + Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege, + Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman. + The love I bore your queen- lo, fool again! + I'll speak of her no more, nor of your children; + I'll not remember you of my own lord, + Who is lost too. Take your patience to you, + And I'll say nothing. + LEONTES. Thou didst speak but well + When most the truth; which I receive much better + Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee, bring me + To the dead bodies of my queen and son. + One grave shall be for both. Upon them shall + The causes of their death appear, unto + Our shame perpetual. Once a day I'll visit + The chapel where they lie; and tears shed there + Shall be my recreation. So long as nature + Will bear up with this exercise, so long + I daily vow to use it. Come, and lead me + To these sorrows. Exeunt + + + + +SCENE III. +Bohemia. The sea-coast + +Enter ANTIGONUS with the CHILD, and a MARINER + + ANTIGONUS. Thou art perfect then our ship hath touch'd upon + The deserts of Bohemia? + MARINER. Ay, my lord, and fear + We have landed in ill time; the skies look grimly + And threaten present blusters. In my conscience, + The heavens with that we have in hand are angry + And frown upon 's. + ANTIGONUS. Their sacred wills be done! Go, get aboard; + Look to thy bark. I'll not be long before + I call upon thee. + MARINER. Make your best haste; and go not + Too far i' th' land; 'tis like to be loud weather; + Besides, this place is famous for the creatures + Of prey that keep upon't. + ANTIGONUS. Go thou away; + I'll follow instantly. + MARINER. I am glad at heart + To be so rid o' th' business. Exit + ANTIGONUS. Come, poor babe. + I have heard, but not believ'd, the spirits o' th' dead + May walk again. If such thing be, thy mother + Appear'd to me last night; for ne'er was dream + So like a waking. To me comes a creature, + Sometimes her head on one side, some another- + I never saw a vessel of like sorrow, + So fill'd and so becoming; in pure white robes, + Like very sanctity, she did approach + My cabin where I lay; thrice bow'd before me; + And, gasping to begin some speech, her eyes + Became two spouts; the fury spent, anon + Did this break from her: 'Good Antigonus, + Since fate, against thy better disposition, + Hath made thy person for the thrower-out + Of my poor babe, according to thine oath, + Places remote enough are in Bohemia, + There weep, and leave it crying; and, for the babe + Is counted lost for ever, Perdita + I prithee call't. For this ungentle business, + Put on thee by my lord, thou ne'er shalt see + Thy wife Paulina more.' so, with shrieks, + She melted into air. Affrighted much, + I did in time collect myself, and thought + This was so and no slumber. Dreams are toys; + Yet, for this once, yea, superstitiously, + I will be squar'd by this. I do believe + Hermione hath suffer'd death, and that + Apollo would, this being indeed the issue + Of King Polixenes, it should here be laid, + Either for life or death, upon the earth + Of its right father. Blossom, speed thee well! + [Laying down the child] + There lie, and there thy character; there these + [Laying down a bundle] + Which may, if fortune please, both breed thee, pretty, + And still rest thine. The storm begins. Poor wretch, + That for thy mother's fault art thus expos'd + To loss and what may follow! Weep I cannot, + But my heart bleeds; and most accurs'd am I + To be by oath enjoin'd to this. Farewell! + The day frowns more and more. Thou'rt like to have + A lullaby too rough; I never saw + The heavens so dim by day. [Noise of hunt within] A savage clamour! + Well may I get aboard! This is the chase; + I am gone for ever. Exit, pursued by a bear + + Enter an old SHEPHERD + + SHEPHERD. I would there were no age between ten and three and + twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there is + nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging + the ancientry, stealing, fighting- [Horns] Hark you now! Would + any but these boil'd brains of nineteen and two and twenty hunt + this weather? They have scar'd away two of my best sheep, which I + fear the wolf will sooner find than the master. If any where I + have them, 'tis by the sea-side, browsing of ivy. Good luck, an't + be thy will! What have we here? [Taking up the child] Mercy + on's, a barne! A very pretty barne. A boy or a child, I wonder? A + pretty one; a very pretty one- sure, some scape. Though I am not + bookish, yet I can read waiting-gentlewoman in the scape. This + has been some stair-work, some trunk-work, some behind-door-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 halloo'd + but even now. Whoa-ho-hoa! + + Enter CLOWN + + CLOWN. Hilloa, loa! + SHEPHERD. What, art so near? If thou'lt see a thing to talk on when + thou art dead and rotten, come hither. What ail'st thou, man? + CLOWN. I have seen two such sights, by sea and by land! But I am + not to say it is a sea, for it is now the sky; betwixt the + firmament and it you cannot thrust a bodkin's point. + SHEPHERD. Why, boy, how is it? + CLOWN. I would you did but see how it chafes, how it rages, how it + takes up the shore! But that's not to the point. O, the most + piteous cry of the poor souls! Sometimes to see 'em, and not to + see 'em; now the ship boring the moon with her mainmast, and anon + swallowed with yeast and froth, as you'd thrust a cork into a + hogshead. And then for the land service- to see how the bear tore + out his shoulder-bone; how he cried to me for help, and said his + name was Antigonus, a nobleman! But to make an end of the ship- + to see how the sea flap-dragon'd it; but first, how the poor + souls roared, and the sea mock'd them; and how the poor gentleman + roared, and the bear mock'd him, both roaring louder than the sea + or weather. + SHEPHERD. Name of mercy, when was this, boy? + CLOWN. Now, now; I have not wink'd since I saw these sights; the + men are not yet cold under water, nor the bear half din'd on the + gentleman; he's at it now. + SHEPHERD. Would I had been by to have help'd the old man! + CLOWN. I would you had been by the ship-side, to have help'd her; + there your charity would have lack'd footing. + SHEPHERD. Heavy matters, heavy matters! But look thee here, boy. + Now bless thyself; thou met'st with things dying, I with things + new-born. Here's a sight for thee; look thee, a bearing-cloth for + a squire's child! Look thee here; take up, take up, boy; open't. + So, let's see- it was told me I should be rich by the fairies. + This is some changeling. Open't. What's within, boy? + CLOWN. You're a made old man; if the sins of your youth are + forgiven you, you're well to live. Gold! all gold! + SHEPHERD. This is fairy gold, boy, and 'twill prove so. Up with't, + keep it close. Home, home, the next way! We are lucky, boy; and + to be so still requires nothing but secrecy. Let my sheep go. + Come, good boy, the next way home. + CLOWN. Go you the next way with your findings. I'll go see if the + bear be gone from the gentleman, and how much he hath eaten. They + are never curst but when they are hungry. If there be any of him + left, I'll bury it. + SHEPHERD. That's a good deed. If thou mayest discern by that which + is left of him what he is, fetch me to th' sight of him. + CLOWN. Marry, will I; and you shall help to put him i' th' ground. + SHEPHERD. 'Tis a lucky day, boy; and we'll do good deeds on't. + Exeunt + + + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + +ACT IV. SCENE I. + +Enter TIME, the CHORUS + + TIME. I, that please some, try all, both joy and terror + Of good and bad, that makes and unfolds error, + Now 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 slide + O'er sixteen years, and leave the growth untried + Of that wide gap, since it is in my pow'r + To o'erthrow law, and in one self-born hour + To plant and o'erwhelm custom. Let me pass + The same I am, ere ancient'st order was + Or what is now receiv'd. I witness to + The times that brought them in; so shall I do + To th' freshest things now reigning, and make stale + The glistering of this present, as my tale + Now seems to it. Your patience this allowing, + I turn my glass, and give my scene such growing + As you had slept between. Leontes leaving- + Th' effects of his fond jealousies so grieving + That he shuts up himself- imagine me, + Gentle spectators, that I now may be + In fair Bohemia; and remember well + I mention'd a son o' th' King's, which Florizel + I now name to you; and with speed so pace + To speak of Perdita, now grown in grace + Equal with wond'ring. What of her ensues + I list not prophesy; but let Time's news + Be known when 'tis brought forth. A shepherd's daughter, + And what to her adheres, which follows after, + Is th' argument of Time. Of this allow, + If ever you have spent time worse ere now; + If never, yet that Time himself doth say + He wishes earnestly you never may. Exit + + + + +SCENE II. +Bohemia. The palace of POLIXENES + +Enter POLIXENES and CAMILLO + + POLIXENES. I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate: 'tis + a sickness denying thee anything; a death to grant this. + CAMILLO. It is fifteen years since I saw my country; though I have + for the most part been aired abroad, I desire to lay my bones + there. Besides, the penitent King, my master, hath sent for me; + to whose feeling sorrows I might be some allay, or I o'erween to + think so, which is another spur to my departure. + POLIXENES. As thou lov'st me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest of thy + services by leaving me now. The need I have of thee thine own + goodness hath made. Better not to have had thee than thus to want + thee; thou, having made me businesses which none without thee can + sufficiently manage, must either stay to execute them thyself, or + take away with thee the very services thou hast done; which if I + have not enough considered- as too much I cannot- to be more + thankful to thee shall be my study; and my profit therein the + heaping friendships. Of that fatal country Sicilia, prithee, + speak no more; whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance + of that penitent, as thou call'st him, and reconciled king, my + brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and children are + even now to be afresh lamented. Say to me, when saw'st thou the + Prince Florizel, my son? Kings are no less unhappy, their issue + not being gracious, than they are in losing them when they have + approved their virtues. + CAMILLO. Sir, it is three days since I saw the Prince. What his + happier affairs may be are to me unknown; but I have missingly + noted he is of late much retired from court, and is less frequent + to his princely exercises than formerly he hath appeared. + POLIXENES. I have considered so much, Camillo, and with some care, + so far that I have eyes under my service which look upon his + removedness; from whom I have this intelligence, that he is + seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd- a man, they say, + that from very nothing, and beyond the imagination of his + neighbours, is grown into an unspeakable estate. + CAMILLO. I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a daughter of + most rare note. The report of her is extended more than can be + thought to begin from such a cottage. + POLIXENES. That's likewise part of my intelligence; but, 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 + question with the shepherd; from whose simplicity I think it not + uneasy to get the cause of my son's resort thither. Prithee be my + present partner in this business, and lay aside the thoughts of + Sicilia. + CAMILLO. I willingly obey your command. + POLIXENES. My best Camillo! We must disguise ourselves. + Exeunt + + + + +SCENE III. +Bohemia. A road near the SHEPHERD'S cottage + +Enter AUTOLYCUS, singing + + When daffodils begin to peer, + With heigh! the doxy over the dale, + Why, then comes in the sweet o' the year, + For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale. + + The white sheet bleaching on the hedge, + With heigh! the sweet birds, O, how they sing! + Doth set my pugging tooth on edge, + For a quart of ale is a dish for a king. + + The lark, that tirra-lirra chants, + With heigh! with heigh! the thrush and the jay, + Are summer songs for me and my aunts, + While we lie tumbling in the hay. + + I have serv'd Prince Florizel, and in my time wore three-pile; + but now I am out of service. + + But shall I go mourn for that, my dear? + The pale moon shines by night; + And when I wander here and there, + I then do most go right. + + If tinkers may have leave to live, + And bear the sow-skin budget, + Then my account I well may give + And in the stocks avouch it. + + My traffic is sheets; when the kite builds, look to lesser linen. + My father nam'd me Autolycus; who, being, I as am, litter'd under + Mercury, was likewise a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles. With + die and drab I purchas'd this caparison; and my revenue is the + silly-cheat. Gallows and knock are too powerful on the highway; + beating and hanging are terrors to me; for the life to come, I + sleep out the thought of it. A prize! a prize! + + Enter CLOWN + + CLOWN. Let me see: every 'leven wether tods; every tod yields pound + and odd shilling; fifteen hundred shorn, what comes the wool to? + AUTOLYCUS. [Aside] If the springe hold, the cock's mine. + CLOWN. I cannot do 't without counters. Let me see: what am I to + buy for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pound of sugar, five + pound of currants, rice- what will this sister of mine do with + rice? But my father hath made her mistress of the feast, and she + lays it on. She hath made me four and twenty nosegays for the + shearers- three-man song-men all, and very good ones; but they + are most of them means and bases; but one Puritan amongst them, + and he sings psalms to hornpipes. I must have saffron to colour + the warden pies; mace; dates- none, that's out of my note; + nutmegs, seven; race or two of ginger, but that I may beg; four + pound of prunes, and as many of raisins o' th' sun. + AUTOLYCUS. [Grovelling on the ground] O that ever I was born! + CLOWN. I' th' name of me! + AUTOLYCUS. O, help me, help me! Pluck but off these rags; and then, + death, death! + CLOWN. Alack, poor soul! thou hast need of more rags to lay on + thee, rather than have these off. + AUTOLYCUS. O sir, the loathsomeness of them offend me more than the + stripes I have received, which are mighty ones and millions. + CLOWN. Alas, poor man! a million of beating may come to a great matter. + AUTOLYCUS. I am robb'd, sir, and beaten; my money and apparel ta'en + from me, and these detestable things put upon me. + CLOWN. What, by a horseman or a footman? + AUTOLYCUS. A footman, sweet sir, a footman. + CLOWN. Indeed, he should be a footman, by the garments he has left + with thee; if this be a horseman's coat, it hath seen very hot + service. Lend me thy hand, I'll help thee. Come, lend me thy hand. + [Helping him up] + AUTOLYCUS. O, good sir, tenderly, O! + CLOWN. Alas, poor soul! + AUTOLYCUS. O, good sir, softly, good sir; I fear, sir, my shoulder + blade is out. + CLOWN. How now! Canst stand? + AUTOLYCUS. Softly, dear sir [Picks his pocket]; good sir, softly. + You ha' done me a charitable office. + CLOWN. Dost lack any money? I have a little money for thee. + AUTOLYCUS. No, good sweet sir; no, I beseech you, sir. I have a + kinsman not past three quarters of a mile hence, unto whom I was + going; I shall there have money or anything I want. Offer me no + money, I pray you; that kills my heart. + CLOWN. What manner of fellow was he that robb'd you? + AUTOLYCUS. A fellow, sir, that I have known to go about with + troll-my-dames; I knew him once a servant of the Prince. I cannot + tell, good sir, for which of his virtues it was, but he was + certainly whipt out of the court. + CLOWN. His vices, you would say; there's no virtue whipt out of the + court. They cherish it to make it stay there; and yet it will no + more but abide. + AUTOLYCUS. Vices, I would say, sir. I know this man well; he hath + been since an ape-bearer; then a process-server, a bailiff; then + he compass'd a motion of the Prodigal Son, and married a tinker's + wife within a mile where my land and living lies; and, having + flown over many knavish professions, he settled only in rogue. + Some call him Autolycus. + CLOWN. Out upon him! prig, for my life, prig! He haunts wakes, + fairs, and bear-baitings. + AUTOLYCUS. Very true, sir; he, sir, he; that's the rogue that put + me into this apparel. + CLOWN. Not a more cowardly rogue in all Bohemia; if you had but + look'd big and spit at him, he'd have run. + AUTOLYCUS. I must confess to you, sir, I am no fighter; I am false + of heart that way, and that he knew, I warrant him. + CLOWN. How do you now? + AUTOLYCUS. Sweet sir, much better than I was; I can stand and walk. + I will even take my leave of you and pace softly towards my kinsman's. + CLOWN. Shall I bring thee on the way? + AUTOLYCUS. No, good-fac'd sir; no, sweet sir. + CLOWN. Then fare thee well. I must go buy spices for our sheep-shearing. + AUTOLYCUS. Prosper you, sweet sir! Exit CLOWN + Your purse is not hot enough to purchase your spice. I'll be with + you at your sheep-shearing too. If I make not this cheat bring + out another, and the shearers prove sheep, let me be unroll'd, + and my name put in the book of virtue! + [Sings] + Jog on, jog on, the footpath way, + And merrily hent the stile-a; + A merry heart goes all the day, + Your sad tires in a mile-a. Exit + + + + +SCENE IV. +Bohemia. The SHEPHERD'S cottage + +Enter FLORIZEL and PERDITA + + FLORIZEL. These your unusual weeds to each part of you + Do give a life- no shepherdess, but Flora + Peering in April's front. This your sheep-shearing + Is as a meeting of the petty gods, + And you the Queen on't. + PERDITA. Sir, my gracious lord, + To chide at your extremes it not becomes me- + O, pardon that I name them! Your high self, + The gracious mark o' th' land, you have obscur'd + With a swain's wearing; and me, poor lowly maid, + Most goddess-like prank'd up. But that our feasts + In every mess have folly, and the feeders + Digest it with a custom, I should blush + To see you so attir'd; swoon, I think, + To show myself a glass. + FLORIZEL. I bless the time + When my good falcon made her flight across + Thy father's ground. + PERDITA. Now Jove afford you cause! + To me the difference forges dread; your greatness + Hath not been us'd to fear. Even now I tremble + To think your father, by some accident, + Should pass this way, as you did. O, the Fates! + How would he look to see his work, so noble, + Vilely bound up? What would he say? Or how + Should I, in these my borrowed flaunts, behold + The sternness of his presence? + FLORIZEL. Apprehend + Nothing but jollity. The gods themselves, + Humbling their deities to love, have taken + The shapes of beasts upon them: Jupiter + Became a bull and bellow'd; the green Neptune + A ram and bleated; and the fire-rob'd god, + Golden Apollo, a poor humble swain, + As I seem now. Their transformations + Were never for a piece of beauty rarer, + Nor in a way so chaste, since my desires + Run not before mine honour, nor my lusts + Burn hotter than my faith. + PERDITA. O, but, sir, + Your resolution cannot hold when 'tis + Oppos'd, as it must be, by th' pow'r of the King. + One of these two must be necessities, + Which then will speak, that you must change this purpose, + Or I my life. + FLORIZEL. Thou dearest Perdita, + With these forc'd thoughts, I prithee, darken not + The mirth o' th' feast. Or I'll be thine, my fair, + Or not my father's; for I cannot be + Mine own, nor anything to any, if + I be not thine. To this I am most constant, + Though destiny say no. Be merry, gentle; + Strangle such thoughts as these with any thing + That you behold the while. Your guests are coming. + Lift up your countenance, as it were the day + Of celebration of that nuptial which + We two have sworn shall come. + PERDITA. O Lady Fortune, + Stand you auspicious! + FLORIZEL. See, your guests approach. + Address yourself to entertain them sprightly, + And let's be red with mirth. + + Enter SHEPHERD, with POLIXENES and CAMILLO, disguised; + CLOWN, MOPSA, DORCAS, with OTHERS + + SHEPHERD. Fie, daughter! When my old wife liv'd, upon + This day she was both pantler, butler, cook; + Both dame and servant; welcom'd all; serv'd all; + Would sing her song and dance her turn; now here + At upper end o' th' table, now i' th' middle; + On his shoulder, and his; her face o' fire + With labour, and the thing she took to quench it + She would to each one sip. You are retired, + As if you were a feasted one, and not + The hostess of the meeting. Pray you bid + These unknown friends to's welcome, for it is + A way to make us better friends, more known. + Come, quench your blushes, and present yourself + That which you are, Mistress o' th' Feast. Come on, + And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing, + As your good flock shall prosper. + PERDITA. [To POLIXENES] Sir, welcome. + It is my father's will I should take on me + The hostess-ship o' th' day. [To CAMILLO] + You're welcome, sir. + Give me those flow'rs there, Dorcas. Reverend sirs, + For you there's rosemary and rue; these keep + Seeming and savour all the winter long. + Grace and remembrance be to you both! + And welcome to our shearing. + POLIXENES. Shepherdess- + A fair one are you- well you fit our ages + With flow'rs of winter. + PERDITA. Sir, the year growing ancient, + Not yet on summer's death nor on the birth + Of trembling winter, the fairest flow'rs o' th' season + Are our carnations and streak'd gillyvors, + Which some call nature's bastards. Of that kind + Our rustic garden's barren; and I care not + To get slips of them. + POLIXENES. Wherefore, gentle maiden, + Do you neglect them? + PERDITA. For I have heard it said + There is an art which in their piedness shares + With great creating nature. + POLIXENES. Say there be; + Yet nature is made better by no mean + But nature makes that mean; so over that art + Which you say adds to nature, is an art + That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry + A gentler scion to the wildest stock, + And make conceive a bark of baser kind + By bud of nobler race. This is an art + Which does mend nature- change it rather; but + The art itself is nature. + PERDITA. So it is. + POLIXENES. Then make your garden rich in gillyvors, + And do not call them bastards. + PERDITA. I'll not put + The dibble in earth to set one slip of them; + No more than were I painted I would wish + This youth should say 'twere well, and only therefore + Desire to breed by me. Here's flow'rs for you: + Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram; + The marigold, that goes to bed wi' th' sun, + And with him rises weeping; these are flow'rs + Of middle summer, and I think they are given + To men of middle age. Y'are very welcome. + CAMILLO. I should leave grazing, were I of your flock, + And only live by gazing. + PERDITA. Out, alas! + You'd be so lean that blasts of January + Would blow you through and through. Now, my fair'st friend, + I would I had some flow'rs o' th' spring that might + Become your time of day- and yours, and yours, + That wear upon your virgin branches yet + Your maidenheads growing. O Proserpina, + From the flowers now that, frighted, thou let'st fall + From Dis's waggon!- daffodils, + That come before the swallow dares, and take + The winds of March with beauty; violets, dim + But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes + Or Cytherea's breath; pale primroses, + That die unmarried ere they can behold + Bright Phoebus in his strength- a malady + Most incident to maids; bold oxlips, and + The crown-imperial; lilies of all kinds, + The flow'r-de-luce being one. O, these I lack + To make you garlands of, and my sweet friend + To strew him o'er and o'er! + FLORIZEL. What, like a corse? + PERDITA. No; like a bank for love to lie and play on; + Not like a corse; or if- not to be buried, + But quick, and in mine arms. Come, take your flow'rs. + Methinks I play as I have seen them do + In Whitsun pastorals. Sure, this robe of mine + Does change my disposition. + FLORIZEL. What you do + Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet, + I'd have you do it ever. When you sing, + I'd have you buy and sell so; so give alms; + Pray so; and, for the ord'ring your affairs, + To sing them too. When you do dance, I wish you + A wave o' th' sea, that you might ever do + Nothing but that; move still, still so, + And own no other function. Each your doing, + So singular in each particular, + Crowns what you are doing in the present deeds, + That all your acts are queens. + PERDITA. O Doricles, + Your praises are too large. But that your youth, + And the true blood which peeps fairly through't, + Do plainly give you out an unstain'd shepherd, + With wisdom I might fear, my Doricles, + You woo'd me the false way. + FLORIZEL. I think you have + As little skill to fear as I have purpose + To put you to't. But, come; our dance, I pray. + Your hand, my Perdita; so turtles pair + That never mean to part. + PERDITA. I'll swear for 'em. + POLIXENES. This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever + Ran on the green-sward; nothing she does or seems + But smacks of something greater than herself, + Too noble for this place. + CAMILLO. He tells her something + That makes her blood look out. Good sooth, she is + The queen of curds and cream. + CLOWN. Come on, strike up. + DORCAS. Mopsa must be your mistress; marry, garlic, + To mend her kissing with! + MOPSA. Now, in good time! + CLOWN. Not a word, a word; we stand upon our manners. + Come, strike up. [Music] + + Here a dance Of SHEPHERDS and SHEPHERDESSES + + POLIXENES. Pray, good shepherd, what fair swain is this + Which dances with your daughter? + SHEPHERD. They call him Doricles, and boasts himself + To have a worthy feeding; but I have it + Upon his own report, and I believe it: + He looks like sooth. He says he loves my daughter; + I think so too; for never gaz'd the moon + Upon the water as he'll stand and read, + As 'twere my daughter's eyes; and, to be plain, + I think there is not half a kiss to choose + Who loves another best. + POLIXENES. She dances featly. + SHEPHERD. So she does any thing; though I report it + That should be silent. If young Doricles + Do light upon her, she shall bring him that + Which he not dreams of. + + Enter a SERVANT + + SERVANT. O master, if you did but hear the pedlar at the door, you + would never dance again after a tabor and pipe; no, the bagpipe + could not move you. He sings several tunes faster than you'll + tell money; he utters them as he had eaten ballads, and all men's + ears grew to his tunes. + CLOWN. He could never come better; he shall come in. I love a + ballad but even too well, if it be doleful matter merrily set + down, or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung lamentably. + SERVANT. He hath songs for man or woman of all sizes; no milliner + can so fit his customers with gloves. He has the prettiest + love-songs for maids; so without bawdry, which is strange; with + such delicate burdens of dildos and fadings, 'jump her and thump + her'; and where some stretch-mouth'd rascal would, as it were, + mean mischief, and break a foul gap into the matter, he makes the + maid to answer 'Whoop, do me no harm, good man'- puts him off, + slights him, with 'Whoop, do me no harm, good man.' + POLIXENES. This is a brave fellow. + CLOWN. Believe me, thou talkest of an admirable conceited fellow. + Has he any unbraided wares? + SERVANT. He hath ribbons of all the colours i' th' rainbow; points, + more than all the lawyers in Bohemia can learnedly handle, though + they come to him by th' gross; inkles, caddisses, cambrics, + lawns. Why he sings 'em over as they were gods or goddesses; you + would think a smock were she-angel, he so chants to the + sleeve-hand and the work about the square on't. + CLOWN. Prithee bring him in; and let him approach singing. + PERDITA. Forewarn him that he use no scurrilous words in's tunes. + Exit SERVANT + CLOWN. You have of these pedlars that have more in them than you'd + think, sister. + PERDITA. Ay, good brother, or go about to think. + + Enter AUTOLYCUS, Singing + + Lawn as white as driven snow; + Cypress black as e'er was crow; + Gloves as sweet as damask roses; + Masks for faces and for noses; + Bugle bracelet, necklace amber, + Perfume for a lady's chamber; + Golden quoifs and stomachers, + For my lads to give their dears; + Pins and poking-sticks of steel- + What maids lack from head to heel. + Come, buy of me, come; come buy, come buy; + Buy, lads, or else your lasses cry. + Come, buy. + + CLOWN. If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou shouldst take no + money of me; but being enthrall'd as I am, it will also be the + bondage of certain ribbons and gloves. + MOPSA. I was promis'd them against the feast; but they come not too + late now. + DORCAS. He hath promis'd you more than that, or there be liars. + MOPSA. He hath paid you all he promis'd you. May be he has paid you + more, which will shame you to give him again. + CLOWN. Is there no manners left among maids? Will they wear their + plackets where they should bear their faces? Is there not + milking-time, when you are going to bed, or kiln-hole, to whistle + off these secrets, but you must be tittle-tattling before all our + guests? 'Tis well they are whisp'ring. Clammer your tongues, and + not a word more. + MOPSA. I have done. Come, you promis'd me a tawdry-lace, and a pair + of sweet gloves. + CLOWN. Have I not told thee how I was cozen'd by the way, and lost + all my money? + AUTOLYCUS. And indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; therefore it + behoves men to be wary. + CLOWN. Fear not thou, man; thou shalt lose nothing here. + AUTOLYCUS. I hope so, sir; for I have about me many parcels of charge. + CLOWN. What hast here? Ballads? + MOPSA. Pray now, buy some. I love a ballad in print a-life, for + then we are sure they are true. + AUTOLYCUS. Here's one to a very doleful tune: how a usurer's wife + was brought to bed of twenty money-bags at a burden, and how she + long'd to eat adders' heads and toads carbonado'd. + MOPSA. Is it true, think you? + AUTOLYCUS. Very true, and but a month old. + DORCAS. Bless me from marrying a usurer! + AUTOLYCUS. Here's the midwife's name to't, one Mistress Taleporter, + and five or six honest wives that were present. Why should I + carry lies abroad? + MOPSA. Pray you now, buy it. + CLOWN. Come on, lay it by; and let's first see moe ballads; we'll + buy the other things anon. + AUTOLYCUS. Here's another ballad, of a fish that appeared upon the + coast on Wednesday the fourscore of April, forty thousand fathom + above water, and sung this ballad against the hard hearts of + maids. It was thought she was a woman, and was turn'd into a cold + fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that lov'd her. + The ballad is very pitiful, and as true. + DORCAS. Is it true too, think you? + AUTOLYCUS. Five justices' hands at it; and witnesses more than my + pack will hold. + CLOWN. Lay it by too. Another. + AUTOLYCUS. This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one. + MOPSA. Let's have some merry ones. + AUTOLYCUS. Why, this is a passing merry one, and goes to the tune + of 'Two maids wooing a man.' There's scarce a maid westward but + she sings it; 'tis in request, I can tell you. + MOPSA. can both sing it. If thou'lt bear a part, thou shalt hear; + 'tis in three parts. + DORCAS. We had the tune on't a month ago. + AUTOLYCUS. I can bear my part; you must know 'tis my occupation. + Have at it with you. + + SONG + + AUTOLYCUS. Get you hence, for I must go + Where it fits not you to know. + DORCAS. Whither? + MOPSA. O, whither? + DORCAS. Whither? + MOPSA. It becomes thy oath full well + Thou to me thy secrets tell. + DORCAS. Me too! Let me go thither + MOPSA. Or thou goest to th' grange or mill. + DORCAS. If to either, thou dost ill. + AUTOLYCUS. Neither. + DORCAS. What, neither? + AUTOLYCUS. Neither. + DORCAS. Thou hast sworn my love to be. + MOPSA. Thou hast sworn it more to me. + Then whither goest? Say, whither? + + CLOWN. We'll have this song out anon by ourselves; my father and + the gentlemen are in sad talk, and we'll not trouble them. Come, + bring away thy pack after me. Wenches, I'll buy for you both. + Pedlar, let's have the first choice. Follow me, girls. + Exit with DORCAS and MOPSA + AUTOLYCUS. And you shall pay well for 'em. + Exit AUTOLYCUS, Singing + + Will you buy any tape, + Or lace for your cape, + My dainty duck, my dear-a? + Any silk, any thread, + Any toys for your head, + Of the new'st and fin'st, fin'st wear-a? + Come to the pedlar; + Money's a meddler + That doth utter all men's ware-a. + + Re-enter SERVANT + + SERVANT. Master, there is three carters, three shepherds, three + neat-herds, three swineherds, that have made themselves all men + of hair; they call themselves Saltiers, and they have dance which + the wenches say is a gallimaufry of gambols, because they are not + in't; but they themselves are o' th' mind, if it be not too rough + for some that know little but bowling, it will please + plentifully. + SHEPHERD. Away! We'll none on't; here has been too much homely + foolery already. I know, sir, we weary you. + POLIXENES. You weary those that refresh us. Pray, let's see these + four threes of herdsmen. + SERVANT. One three of them, by their own report, sir, hath danc'd + before the King; and not the worst of the three but jumps twelve + foot and a half by th' squier. + SHEPHERD. Leave your prating; since these good men are pleas'd, let + them come in; but quickly now. + SERVANT. Why, they stay at door, sir. Exit + + Here a dance of twelve SATYRS + + POLIXENES. [To SHEPHERD] O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter. + [To CAMILLO] Is it not too far gone? 'Tis time to part them. + He's simple and tells much. [To FLORIZEL] How now, fair + shepherd! + Your heart is full of something that does take + Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young + And handed love as you do, I was wont + To load my she with knacks; I would have ransack'd + The pedlar's silken treasury and have pour'd it + To her acceptance: you have let him go + And nothing marted with him. If your lass + Interpretation should abuse and call this + Your lack of love or bounty, you were straited + For a reply, at least if you make a care + Of happy holding her. + FLORIZEL. Old sir, I know + She prizes not such trifles as these are. + The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd + Up in my heart, which I have given already, + But not deliver'd. O, hear me breathe my life + Before this ancient sir, whom, it should seem, + Hath sometime lov'd. I take thy hand- this hand, + As soft as dove's down and as white as it, + Or Ethiopian's tooth, or the fann'd snow that's bolted + By th' northern blasts twice o'er. + POLIXENES. What follows this? + How prettily the young swain seems to wash + The hand was fair before! I have put you out. + But to your protestation; let me hear + What you profess. + FLORIZEL. Do, and be witness to't. + POLIXENES. And this my neighbour too? + FLORIZEL. And he, and more + Than he, and men- the earth, the heavens, and all: + That, were I crown'd the most imperial monarch, + Thereof most worthy, were I the fairest youth + That ever made eye swerve, had force and knowledge + More than was ever man's, I would not prize them + Without her love; for her employ them all; + Commend them and condemn them to her service + Or to their own perdition. + POLIXENES. Fairly offer'd. + CAMILLO. This shows a sound affection. + SHEPHERD. But, my daughter, + Say you the like to him? + PERDITA. I cannot speak + So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better. + By th' pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out + The purity of his. + SHEPHERD. Take hands, a bargain! + And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to't: + I give my daughter to him, and will make + Her portion equal his. + FLORIZEL. O, that must be + I' th' virtue of your daughter. One being dead, + I shall have more than you can dream of yet; + Enough then for your wonder. But come on, + Contract us fore these witnesses. + SHEPHERD. Come, your hand; + And, daughter, yours. + POLIXENES. Soft, swain, awhile, beseech you; + Have you a father? + FLORIZEL. I have, but what of him? + POLIXENES. Knows he of this? + FLORIZEL. He neither does nor shall. + POLIXENES. Methinks a father + Is at the nuptial of his son a guest + That best becomes the table. Pray you, once more, + Is not your father grown incapable + Of reasonable affairs? Is he not stupid + With age and alt'ring rheums? Can he speak, hear, + Know man from man, dispute his own estate? + Lies he not bed-rid, and again does nothing + But what he did being childish? + FLORIZEL. No, good sir; + He has his health, and ampler strength indeed + Than most have of his age. + POLIXENES. By my white beard, + You offer him, if this be so, a wrong + Something unfilial. Reason my son + Should choose himself a wife; but as good reason + The father- all whose joy is nothing else + But fair posterity- should hold some counsel + In such a business. + FLORIZEL. I yield all this; + But, for some other reasons, my grave sir, + Which 'tis not fit you know, I not acquaint + My father of this business. + POLIXENES. Let him know't. + FLORIZEL. He shall not. + POLIXENES. Prithee let him. + FLORIZEL. No, he must not. + SHEPHERD. Let him, my son; he shall not need to grieve + At knowing of thy choice. + FLORIZEL. Come, come, he must not. + Mark our contract. + POLIXENES. [Discovering himself] Mark your divorce, young sir, + Whom son I dare not call; thou art too base + To be acknowledg'd- thou a sceptre's heir, + That thus affects a sheep-hook! Thou, old traitor, + I am sorry that by hanging thee I can but + Shorten thy life one week. And thou, fresh piece + Of excellent witchcraft, who of force must know + The royal fool thou cop'st with- + SHEPHERD. O, my heart! + POLIXENES. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briers and made + More homely than thy state. For thee, fond boy, + If I may ever know thou dost but sigh + That thou no more shalt see this knack- as never + I mean thou shalt- we'll bar thee from succession; + Not hold thee of our blood, no, not our kin, + Farre than Deucalion off. Mark thou my words. + Follow us to the court. Thou churl, for this time, + Though full of our displeasure, yet we free thee + From the dead blow of it. And you, enchantment, + Worthy enough a herdsman- yea, him too + That makes himself, but for our honour therein, + Unworthy thee- if ever henceforth thou + These rural latches to his entrance open, + Or hoop his body more with thy embraces, + I will devise a death as cruel for thee + As thou art tender to't. Exit + PERDITA. Even here undone! + I was not much afeard; for once or twice + I was about to speak and tell him plainly + The self-same sun that shines upon his court + Hides not his visage from our cottage, but + Looks on alike. [To FLORIZEL] Will't please you, sir, be gone? + I told you what would come of this. Beseech you, + Of your own state take care. This dream of mine- + Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch farther, + But milk my ewes and weep. + CAMILLO. Why, how now, father! + Speak ere thou diest. + SHEPHERD. I cannot speak nor think, + Nor dare to know that which I know. [To FLORIZEL] O sir, + You have undone a man of fourscore-three + That thought to fill his grave in quiet, yea, + To die upon the bed my father died, + To lie close by his honest bones; but now + Some hangman must put on my shroud and lay me + Where no priest shovels in dust. [To PERDITA] O cursed +wretch, + That knew'st this was the Prince, and wouldst adventure + To mingle faith with him!- Undone, undone! + If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd + To die when I desire. Exit + FLORIZEL. Why look you so upon me? + I am but sorry, not afeard; delay'd, + But nothing alt'red. What I was, I am: + More straining on for plucking back; not following + My leash unwillingly. + CAMILLO. Gracious, my lord, + You know your father's temper. At this time + He will allow no speech- which I do guess + You do not purpose to him- and as hardly + Will he endure your sight as yet, I fear; + Then, till the fury of his Highness settle, + Come not before him. + FLORIZEL. I not purpose it. + I think Camillo? + CAMILLO. Even he, my lord. + PERDITA. How often have I told you 'twould be thus! + How often said my dignity would last + But till 'twere known! + FLORIZEL. It cannot fail but by + The violation of my faith; and then + Let nature crush the sides o' th' earth together + And mar the seeds within! Lift up thy looks. + From my succession wipe me, father; I + Am heir to my affection. + CAMILLO. Be advis'd. + FLORIZEL. I am- and by my fancy; if my reason + Will thereto be obedient, I have reason; + If not, my senses, better pleas'd with madness, + Do bid it welcome. + CAMILLO. This is desperate, sir. + FLORIZEL. So call it; but it does fulfil my vow: + I needs must think it honesty. Camillo, + Not for Bohemia, nor the pomp that may + Be thereat glean'd, for all the sun sees or + The close earth wombs, or the profound seas hides + In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath + To this my fair belov'd. Therefore, I pray you, + As you have ever been my father's honour'd friend, + When he shall miss me- as, in faith, I mean not + To see him any more- cast your good counsels + Upon his passion. Let myself and Fortune + Tug for the time to come. This you may know, + And so deliver: I am put to sea + With her who here I cannot hold on shore. + And most opportune to her need I have + A vessel rides fast by, but not prepar'd + For this design. What course I mean to hold + Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor + Concern me the reporting. + CAMILLO. O my lord, + I would your spirit were easier for advice. + Or stronger for your need. + FLORIZEL. Hark, Perdita. [Takes her aside] + [To CAMILLO] I'll hear you by and by. + CAMILLO. He's irremovable, + Resolv'd for flight. Now were I happy if + His going I could frame to serve my turn, + Save him from danger, do him love and honour, + Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia + And that unhappy king, my master, whom + I so much thirst to see. + FLORIZEL. Now, good Camillo, + I am so fraught with curious business that + I leave out ceremony. + CAMILLO. Sir, I think + You have heard of my poor services i' th' love + That I have borne your father? + FLORIZEL. Very nobly + Have you deserv'd. It is my father's music + To speak your deeds; not little of his care + To have them recompens'd as thought on. + CAMILLO. Well, my lord, + If you may please to think I love the King, + And through him what's nearest to him, which is + Your gracious self, embrace but my direction. + If your more ponderous and settled project + May suffer alteration, on mine honour, + I'll point you where you shall have such receiving + As shall become your Highness; where you may + Enjoy your mistress, from the whom, I see, + There's no disjunction to be made but by, + As heavens forfend! your ruin- marry her; + And with my best endeavours in your absence + Your discontenting father strive to qualify, + And bring him up to liking. + FLORIZEL. How, Camillo, + May this, almost a miracle, be done? + That I may call thee something more than man, + And after that trust to thee. + CAMILLO. Have you thought on + A place whereto you'll go? + FLORIZEL. Not any yet; + But as th' unthought-on accident is guilty + To what we wildly do, so we profess + Ourselves to be the slaves of chance and flies + Of every wind that blows. + CAMILLO. Then list to me. + This follows, if you will not change your purpose + But undergo this flight: make for Sicilia, + And there present yourself and your fair princess- + For so, I see, she must be- fore Leontes. + She shall be habited as it becomes + The partner of your bed. Methinks I see + Leontes opening his free arms and weeping + His welcomes forth; asks thee there 'Son, forgiveness!' + As 'twere i' th' father's person; kisses the hands + Of your fresh princess; o'er and o'er divides him + 'Twixt his unkindness and his kindness- th' one + He chides to hell, and bids the other grow + Faster than thought or time. + FLORIZEL. Worthy Camillo, + What colour for my visitation shall I + Hold up before him? + CAMILLO. Sent by the King your father + To greet him and to give him comforts. Sir, + The manner of your bearing towards him, with + What you as from your father shall deliver, + Things known betwixt us three, I'll write you down; + 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 bosom there + And speak his very heart. + FLORIZEL. I am bound to you. + There is some sap in this. + CAMILLO. A course more promising + Than a wild dedication of yourselves + To unpath'd waters, undream'd shores, most certain + To miseries enough; no hope to help you, + But as you shake off one to take another; + Nothing so certain as your anchors, who + Do their best office if they can but stay you + Where you'll be loath to be. Besides, you know + Prosperity's the very bond of love, + Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together + Affliction alters. + PERDITA. One of these is true: + I think affliction may subdue the cheek, + But not take in the mind. + CAMILLO. Yea, say you so? + There shall not at your father's house these seven years + Be born another such. + FLORIZEL. My good Camillo, + She is as forward of her breeding as + She is i' th' rear o' our birth. + CAMILLO. I cannot say 'tis pity + She lacks instructions, for she seems a mistress + To most that teach. + PERDITA. Your pardon, sir; for this + I'll blush you thanks. + FLORIZEL. My prettiest Perdita! + But, O, the thorns we stand upon! Camillo- + Preserver of my father, now of me; + The medicine of our house- how shall we do? + We are not furnish'd like Bohemia's son; + Nor shall appear in Sicilia. + CAMILLO. My lord, + Fear none of this. I think you know my fortunes + Do all lie there. It shall be so my care + To have you royally appointed as if + The scene you play were mine. For instance, sir, + That you may know you shall not want- one word. + [They talk aside] + + Re-enter AUTOLYCUS + + AUTOLYCUS. Ha, ha! what a fool Honesty is! and Trust, his sworn + brother, a very simple gentleman! I have sold all my trumpery; + not a counterfeit stone, not a ribbon, glass, pomander, brooch, + table-book, ballad, knife, tape, glove, shoe-tie, bracelet, + horn-ring, to keep my pack from fasting. They throng who should + buy first, as if my trinkets had been hallowed and brought a + benediction to the buyer; by which means I saw whose purse was + best in picture; and what I saw, to my good use I rememb'red. My + clown, who wants but something to be a reasonable man, grew so in + love with the wenches' song that he would not stir his pettitoes + till he had both tune and words, which so drew the rest of the + herd to me that all their other senses stuck in ears. You might + have pinch'd a placket, it was senseless; 'twas nothing to geld a + codpiece of a purse; I would have fil'd keys off that hung in + chains. No hearing, no feeling, but my sir's song, and admiring + the nothing of it. So that in this time of lethargy I pick'd and + cut most of their festival purses; and had not the old man come + in with whoobub against his daughter and the King's son and + scar'd my choughs from the chaff, I had not left a purse alive in + the whole army. + + CAMILLO, FLORIZEL, and PERDITA come forward + + CAMILLO. Nay, but my letters, by this means being there + So soon as you arrive, shall clear that doubt. + FLORIZEL. And those that you'll procure from King Leontes? + CAMILLO. Shall satisfy your father. + PERDITA. Happy be you! + All that you speak shows fair. + CAMILLO. [seeing AUTOLYCUS] Who have we here? + We'll make an instrument of this; omit + Nothing may give us aid. + AUTOLYCUS. [Aside] If they have overheard me now- why, hanging. + CAMILLO. How now, good fellow! Why shak'st thou so? + Fear not, man; here's no harm intended to thee. + AUTOLYCUS. I am a poor fellow, sir. + CAMILLO. Why, be so still; here's nobody will steal that from thee. + Yet for the outside of thy poverty we must make an exchange; + therefore discase thee instantly- thou must think there's a + necessity in't- and change garments with this gentleman. Though + the pennyworth on his side be the worst, yet hold thee, there's + some boot. [Giving money] + AUTOLYCUS. I am a poor fellow, sir. [Aside] I know ye well enough. + CAMILLO. Nay, prithee dispatch. The gentleman is half flay'd already. + AUTOLYCUS. Are you in earnest, sir? [Aside] I smell the trick on't. + FLORIZEL. Dispatch, I prithee. + AUTOLYCUS. Indeed, I have had earnest; but I cannot with conscience + take it. + CAMILLO. Unbuckle, unbuckle. + + FLORIZEL and AUTOLYCUS exchange garments + + Fortunate mistress- let my prophecy + Come home to ye!- you must retire yourself + Into some covert; take your sweetheart's hat + And pluck it o'er your brows, muffle your face, + Dismantle you, and, as you can, disliken + The truth of your own seeming, that you may- + For I do fear eyes over- to shipboard + Get undescried. + PERDITA. I see the play so lies + That I must bear a part. + CAMILLO. No remedy. + Have you done there? + FLORIZEL. Should I now meet my father, + He would not call me son. + CAMILLO. Nay, you shall have no hat. + [Giving it to PERDITA] + Come, lady, come. Farewell, my friend. + AUTOLYCUS. Adieu, sir. + FLORIZEL. O Perdita, what have we twain forgot! + Pray you a word. [They converse apart] + CAMILLO. [Aside] What I do next shall be to tell the King + Of this escape, and whither they are bound; + Wherein my hope is I shall so prevail + To force him after; in whose company + I shall re-view Sicilia, for whose sight + I have a woman's longing. + FLORIZEL. Fortune speed us! + Thus we set on, Camillo, to th' sea-side. + CAMILLO. The swifter speed the better. + Exeunt FLORIZEL, PERDITA, and CAMILLO + AUTOLYCUS. I understand the business, I hear it. To have an open + ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a + cut-purse; a good nose is requisite also, to smell out work for + th' other senses. I see this is the time that the unjust man doth + thrive. What an exchange had this been without boot! What a boot + is here with this exchange! Sure, the gods do this year connive + at us, and we may do anything extempore. The Prince himself is + about a piece of iniquity- stealing away from his father with his + clog at his heels. If I thought it were a piece of honesty to + acquaint the King withal, I would not do't. I hold it the more + knavery to conceal it; and therein am I constant to my profession. + + Re-enter CLOWN and SHEPHERD + + Aside, aside- here is more matter for a hot brain. Every lane's + end, every shop, church, session, hanging, yields a careful man work. + CLOWN. See, see; what a man you are now! There is no other way but + to tell the King she's a changeling and none of your flesh and blood. + SHEPHERD. Nay, but hear me. + CLOWN. Nay- but hear me. + SHEPHERD. Go to, then. + CLOWN. She being none of your flesh and blood, your flesh and blood + has not offended the King; and so your flesh and blood is not to + be punish'd by him. Show those things you found about her, those + secret things- all but what she has with her. This being done, + let the law go whistle; I warrant you. + SHEPHERD. I will tell the King all, every word- yea, and his son's + pranks too; who, I may say, is no honest man, neither to his + father nor to me, to go about to make me the King's brother-in-law. + CLOWN. Indeed, brother-in-law was the farthest off you could have + been to him; and then your blood had been the dearer by I know + how much an ounce. + AUTOLYCUS. [Aside] Very wisely, puppies! + SHEPHERD. Well, let us to the King. There is that in this fardel + will make him scratch his beard. + AUTOLYCUS. [Aside] I know not what impediment this complaint may + be to the flight of my master. + CLOWN. Pray heartily he be at palace. + AUTOLYCUS. [Aside] Though I am not naturally honest, I am so + sometimes by chance. Let me pocket up my pedlar's excrement. + [Takes off his false beard] How now, rustics! Whither are you bound? + SHEPHERD. To th' palace, an it like your worship. + AUTOLYCUS. Your affairs there, what, with whom, the condition of + that fardel, the place of your dwelling, your names, your ages, + of what having, breeding, and anything that is fitting to be + known- discover. + CLOWN. We are but plain fellows, sir. + AUTOLYCUS. A lie: you are rough and hairy. Let me have no lying; it + becomes none but tradesmen, and they often give us soldiers the + lie; but we pay them for it with stamped coin, not stabbing + steel; therefore they do not give us the lie. + CLOWN. Your worship had like to have given us one, if you had not + taken yourself with the manner. + SHEPHERD. Are you a courtier, an't like you, sir? + AUTOLYCUS. Whether it like me or no, I am a courtier. Seest thou + not the air of the court in these enfoldings? Hath not my gait in + it the measure of the court? Receives not thy nose court-odour + from me? Reflect I not on thy baseness court-contempt? Think'st + thou, for that I insinuate, that toaze from thee thy business, I + am therefore no courtier? I am courtier cap-a-pe, and one that + will either push on or pluck back thy business there; whereupon I + command the to open thy affair. + SHEPHERD. My business, sir, is to the King. + AUTOLYCUS. What advocate hast thou to him? + SHEPHERD. I know not, an't like you. + CLOWN. Advocate's the court-word for a pheasant; say you have none. + SHEPHERD. None, sir; I have no pheasant, cock nor hen. + AUTOLYCUS. How blessed are we that are not simple men! + Yet nature might have made me as these are, + Therefore I will not disdain. + CLOWN. This cannot be but a great courtier. + SHEPHERD. His garments are rich, but he wears them not handsomely. + CLOWN. He seems to be the more noble in being fantastical. + A great man, I'll warrant; I know by the picking on's teeth. + AUTOLYCUS. The fardel there? What's i' th' fardel? Wherefore that box? + SHEPHERD. Sir, there lies such secrets in this fardel and box which + none must know but the King; and which he shall know within this + hour, if I may come to th' speech of him. + AUTOLYCUS. Age, thou hast lost thy labour. + SHEPHERD. Why, Sir? + AUTOLYCUS. The King is not at the palace; he is gone aboard a new + ship to purge melancholy and air himself; for, if thou be'st + capable of things serious, thou must know the King is full of grief. + SHEPHERD. So 'tis said, sir- about his son, that should have + married a shepherd's daughter. + AUTOLYCUS. If that shepherd be not in hand-fast, let him fly; the + curses he shall have, the tortures he shall feel, will break the + back of man, the heart of monster. + CLOWN. Think you so, sir? + AUTOLYCUS. Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy and + vengeance bitter; but those that are germane to him, though + remov'd fifty times, shall all come under the hangman- which, + though it be great pity, yet it is necessary. An old + sheep-whistling rogue, a ram-tender, to offer to have his + daughter come into grace! Some say he shall be ston'd; but that + death is too soft for him, say I. Draw our throne into a + sheep-cote!- all deaths are too few, the sharpest too easy. + CLOWN. Has the old man e'er a son, sir, do you hear, an't like you, sir? + AUTOLYCUS. He has a son- who shall be flay'd alive; then 'nointed + over with honey, set on the head of a wasp's nest; then stand + till he be three quarters and a dram dead; then recover'd again + with aqua-vitae or some other hot infusion; then, raw as he is, + and in the hottest day prognostication proclaims, shall he be set + against a brick wall, the sun looking with a southward eye upon + him, where he is to behold him with flies blown to death. But + what talk we of these traitorly rascals, whose miseries are to be + smil'd at, their offences being so capital? Tell me, for you seem + to be honest plain men, what you have to the King. Being + something gently consider'd, I'll bring you where he is aboard, + tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your behalfs; + and if it be in man besides the King to effect your suits, here + is man shall do it. + CLOWN. He seems to be of great authority. Close with him, give him + gold; and though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led + by the nose with gold. Show the inside of your purse to the + outside of his hand, and no more ado. Remember- ston'd and + flay'd alive. + SHEPHERD. An't please you, sir, to undertake the business for us, + here is that gold I have. I'll make it as much more, and leave + this young man in pawn till I bring it you. + AUTOLYCUS. After I have done what I promised? + SHEPHERD. Ay, sir. + AUTOLYCUS. Well, give me the moiety. Are you a party in this business? + CLOWN. In some sort, sir; but though my case be a pitiful one, I + hope I shall not be flay'd out of it. + AUTOLYCUS. O, that's the case of the shepherd's son! Hang him, + he'll be made an example. + CLOWN. Comfort, good comfort! We must to the King and show our + strange sights. He must know 'tis none of your daughter nor my + sister; we are gone else. Sir, I will give you as much as this + old man does, when the business is performed; and remain, as he + says, your pawn till it be brought you. + AUTOLYCUS. I will trust you. Walk before toward the sea-side; go on + the right-hand; I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you. + CLOWN. We are blest in this man, as I may say, even blest. + SHEPHERD. Let's before, as he bids us. He was provided to do us good. + Exeunt SHEPHERD and CLOWN + AUTOLYCUS. If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would not + suffer me: she drops booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a + double occasion- gold, and a means to do the Prince my master + good; which who knows how that may turn back to my advancement? I + will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him. If he + think it fit to shore them again, and that the complaint they + have to the King concerns him nothing, let him call me rogue for + being so far officious; for I am proof against that title, and + what shame else belongs to't. To him will I present them. + There may be matter in it. Exit + + + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + +ACT V. SCENE I. +Sicilia. The palace of LEONTES + +Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA, and OTHERS + + CLEOMENES. Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd + A saint-like sorrow. No fault could you make + Which you have not redeem'd; indeed, paid down + More penitence than done trespass. At the last, + Do as the heavens have done: forget your evil; + With them forgive yourself. + LEONTES. Whilst I remember + Her and her virtues, I cannot forget + My blemishes in them, and so still think of + The wrong I did myself; which was so much + That heirless it hath made my kingdom, and + Destroy'd the sweet'st companion that e'er man + Bred his hopes out of. + PAULINA. True, too true, my lord. + If, one by one, you wedded all the world, + Or from the all that are took something good + To make a perfect woman, she you kill'd + Would be unparallel'd. + LEONTES. I think so. Kill'd! + She I kill'd! I did so; but thou strik'st me + Sorely, to say I did. It is as bitter + Upon thy tongue as in my thought. Now, good now, + Say so but seldom. + CLEOMENES. Not at all, good lady. + You might have spoken a thousand things that would + Have done the time more benefit, and grac'd + Your kindness better. + PAULINA. You are one of those + Would have him wed again. + DION. If you would not so, + You pity not the state, nor the remembrance + Of his most sovereign name; consider little + What dangers, by his Highness' fail of issue, + May drop upon his kingdom and devour + Incertain lookers-on. What were more holy + Than to rejoice the former queen is well? + What holier than, for royalty's repair, + For present comfort, and for future good, + To bless the bed of majesty again + With a sweet fellow to't? + PAULINA. There is none worthy, + Respecting her that's gone. Besides, the gods + Will have fulfill'd their secret purposes; + For has not the divine Apollo said, + Is't not the tenour of his oracle, + That King Leontes shall not have an heir + Till his lost child be found? Which that it shall, + Is all as monstrous to our human reason + As my Antigonus to break his grave + And come again to me; who, on my life, + Did perish with the infant. 'Tis your counsel + My lord should to the heavens be contrary, + Oppose against their wills. [To LEONTES] Care not for issue; + The crown will find an heir. Great Alexander + Left his to th' worthiest; so his successor + Was like to be the best. + LEONTES. Good Paulina, + Who hast the memory of Hermione, + I know, in honour, O that ever I + Had squar'd me to thy counsel! Then, even now, + I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes, + Have taken treasure from her lips- + PAULINA. And left them + More rich for what they yielded. + LEONTES. Thou speak'st truth. + No more such wives; therefore, no wife. One worse, + And better us'd, would make her sainted spirit + Again possess her corpse, and on this stage, + Where we offend her now, appear soul-vex'd, + And begin 'Why to me'- + PAULINA. Had she such power, + She had just cause. + LEONTES. She had; and would incense me + To murder her I married. + PAULINA. I should so. + Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'd bid you mark + Her eye, and tell me for what dull part in't + You chose her; then I'd shriek, that even your ears + Should rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd + Should be 'Remember mine.' + LEONTES. Stars, stars, + And all eyes else dead coals! Fear thou no wife; + I'll have no wife, Paulina. + PAULINA. Will you swear + Never to marry but by my free leave? + LEONTES. Never, Paulina; so be blest my spirit! + PAULINA. Then, good my lords, bear witness to his oath. + CLEOMENES. You tempt him over-much. + PAULINA. Unless another, + As like Hermione as is her picture, + Affront his eye. + CLEOMENES. Good madam- + PAULINA. I have done. + Yet, if my lord will marry- if you will, sir, + No remedy but you will- give me the office + To choose you a queen. She shall not be so young + As was your former; but she shall be such + As, walk'd your first queen's ghost, it should take joy + To see her in your arms. + LEONTES. My true Paulina, + We shall not marry till thou bid'st us. + PAULINA. That + Shall be when your first queen's again in breath; + Never till then. + + Enter a GENTLEMAN + + GENTLEMAN. One that gives out himself Prince Florizel, + Son of Polixenes, with his princess- she + The fairest I have yet beheld- desires access + To your high presence. + LEONTES. What with him? He comes not + Like to his father's greatness. His approach, + So out of circumstance and sudden, tells us + 'Tis not a visitation fram'd, but forc'd + By need and accident. What train? + GENTLEMAN. But few, + And those but mean. + LEONTES. His princess, say you, with him? + GENTLEMAN. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth, I think, + That e'er the sun shone bright on. + PAULINA. O Hermione, + As every present time doth boast itself + Above a better gone, so must thy grave + Give way to what's seen now! Sir, you yourself + Have said and writ so, but your writing now + Is colder than that theme: 'She had not been, + Nor was not to be equall'd.' Thus your verse + Flow'd with her beauty once; 'tis shrewdly ebb'd, + To say you have seen a better. + GENTLEMAN. Pardon, madam. + The one I have almost forgot- your pardon; + The other, when she has obtain'd your eye, + Will have your tongue too. This is a creature, + Would she begin a sect, might quench the zeal + Of all professors else, make proselytes + Of who she but bid follow. + PAULINA. How! not women? + GENTLEMAN. Women will love her that she is a woman + More worth than any man; men, that she is + The rarest of all women. + LEONTES. Go, Cleomenes; + Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends, + Bring them to our embracement. Exeunt + Still, 'tis strange + He thus should steal upon us. + PAULINA. Had our prince, + Jewel of children, seen this hour, he had pair'd + Well with this lord; there was not full a month + Between their births. + LEONTES. Prithee no more; cease. Thou know'st + He dies to me again when talk'd of. Sure, + When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches + Will bring me to consider that which may + Unfurnish me of reason. + + Re-enter CLEOMENES, with FLORIZEL, PERDITA, and + ATTENDANTS + + They are come. + Your mother was most true to wedlock, Prince; + For she did print your royal father off, + Conceiving you. Were I but twenty-one, + Your father's image is so hit in you + His very air, that I should call you brother, + As I did him, and speak of something wildly + By us perform'd before. Most dearly welcome! + And your fair princess- goddess! O, alas! + I lost a couple that 'twixt heaven and earth + Might thus have stood begetting wonder as + You, gracious couple, do. And then I lost- + All mine own folly- the society, + Amity too, of your brave father, whom, + Though bearing misery, I desire my life + Once more to look on him. + FLORIZEL. By his command + Have I here touch'd Sicilia, and from him + Give you all greetings that a king, at friend, + Can send his brother; and, but infirmity, + Which waits upon worn times, hath something seiz'd + His wish'd ability, he had himself + The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his + Measur'd, to look upon you; whom he loves, + He bade me say so, more than all the sceptres + And those that bear them living. + LEONTES. O my brother- + Good gentleman!- the wrongs I have done thee stir + Afresh within me; and these thy offices, + So rarely kind, are as interpreters + Of my behind-hand slackness! Welcome hither, + As is the spring to th' earth. And hath he too + Expos'd this paragon to th' fearful usage, + At least ungentle, of the dreadful Neptune, + To greet a man not worth her pains, much less + Th' adventure of her person? + FLORIZEL. Good, my lord, + She came from Libya. + LEONTES. Where the warlike Smalus, + That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd and lov'd? + FLORIZEL. Most royal sir, from thence; from him whose daughter + His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her; thence, + A prosperous south-wind friendly, we have cross'd, + To execute the charge my father gave me + For visiting your Highness. My best train + I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd; + Who for Bohemia bend, to signify + Not only my success in Libya, sir, + But my arrival and my wife's in safety + Here where we are. + LEONTES. The blessed gods + Purge all infection from our air whilst you + Do climate here! You have a holy father, + A graceful gentleman, against whose person, + So sacred as it is, I have done sin, + For which the heavens, taking angry note, + Have left me issueless; and your father's blest, + As he from heaven merits it, with you, + Worthy his goodness. What might I have been, + Might I a son and daughter now have look'd on, + Such goodly things as you! + + Enter a LORD + + LORD. Most noble sir, + That which I shall report will bear no credit, + Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great sir, + Bohemia greets you from himself by me; + Desires you to attach his son, who has- + His dignity and duty both cast off- + Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with + A shepherd's daughter. + LEONTES. Where's Bohemia? Speak. + LORD. Here in your city; I now came from him. + I speak amazedly; and it becomes + My marvel and my message. To your court + Whiles he was hast'ning- in the chase, it seems, + Of this fair couple- meets he on the way + The father of this seeming lady and + Her brother, having both their country quitted + With this young prince. + FLORIZEL. Camillo has betray'd me; + Whose honour and whose honesty till now + Endur'd all weathers. + LORD. Lay't so to his charge; + He's with the King your father. + LEONTES. Who? Camillo? + LORD. Camillo, sir; I spake with him; who now + Has these poor men in question. Never saw I + Wretches so quake. They kneel, they kiss the earth; + Forswear themselves as often as they speak. + Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them + With divers deaths in death. + PERDITA. O my poor father! + The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have + Our contract celebrated. + LEONTES. You are married? + FLORIZEL. We are not, sir, nor are we like to be; + The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first. + The odds for high and low's alike. + LEONTES. My lord, + Is this the daughter of a king? + FLORIZEL. She is, + When once she is my wife. + LEONTES. That 'once,' I see by your good father's speed, + Will come on very slowly. I am sorry, + Most sorry, you have broken from his liking + Where you were tied in duty; and as sorry + Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty, + That you might well enjoy her. + FLORIZEL. Dear, look up. + Though Fortune, visible an enemy, + Should chase us with my father, pow'r no jot + Hath she to change our loves. Beseech you, sir, + Remember since you ow'd no more to time + Than I do now. With thought of such affections, + Step forth mine advocate; at your request + My father will grant precious things as trifles. + LEONTES. Would he do so, I'd beg your precious mistress, + Which he counts but a trifle. + PAULINA. Sir, my liege, + Your eye hath too much youth in't. Not a month + Fore your queen died, she was more worth such gazes + Than what you look on now. + LEONTES. I thought of her + Even in these looks I made. [To FLORIZEL] But your petition + Is yet unanswer'd. I will to your father. + Your honour not o'erthrown by your desires, + I am friend to them and you. Upon which errand + I now go toward him; therefore, follow me, + And mark what way I make. Come, good my lord. Exeunt + + + + +SCENE II. +Sicilia. Before the palace of LEONTES + +Enter AUTOLYCUS and a GENTLEMAN + + AUTOLYCUS. Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation? + FIRST GENTLEMAN. I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard the + old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it; whereupon, after + a little amazedness, we were all commanded out of the chamber; + only this, methought I heard the shepherd say he found the child. + AUTOLYCUS. I would most gladly know the issue of it. + FIRST GENTLEMAN. I make a broken delivery of the business; but the + changes I perceived in the King and Camillo were very notes of + admiration. They seem'd almost, with staring on one another, to + tear the cases of their eyes; there was speech in their dumbness, + language in their very gesture; they look'd as they had heard of + a world ransom'd, or one destroyed. A notable passion of wonder + appeared in them; but the wisest beholder that knew no more but + seeing could not say if th' importance were joy or sorrow-but in + the extremity of the one it must needs be. + + Enter another GENTLEMAN + + Here comes a gentleman that happily knows more. The news, Rogero? + SECOND GENTLEMAN. Nothing but bonfires. The oracle is fulfill'd: + the King's daughter is found. Such a deal of wonder is broken out + within this hour that ballad-makers cannot be able to express it. + + Enter another GENTLEMAN + + Here comes the Lady Paulina's steward; he can deliver you more. + How goes it now, sir? This news, which is call'd true, is so like + an old tale that the verity of it is in strong suspicion. Has the + King found his heir? + THIRD GENTLEMAN. Most true, if ever truth were pregnant by + circumstance. That which you hear you'll swear you see, there is + such unity in the proofs. The mantle of Queen Hermione's; her + jewel about the neck of it; the letters of Antigonus found with + it, which they know to be his character; the majesty of the + creature in resemblance of the mother; the affection of nobleness + which nature shows above her breeding; and many other evidences- + proclaim her with all certainty to be the King's daughter. + Did you see the meeting of the two kings? + SECOND GENTLEMAN. No. + THIRD GENTLEMAN. Then you have lost a sight which was to be seen, + cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld one joy crown + another, so and in such manner that it seem'd sorrow wept to take + leave of them; for their joy waded in tears. There was casting up + of eyes, holding up of hands, with countenance of such + distraction that they were to be known by garment, not by favour. + Our king, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found + daughter, as if that joy were now become a loss, cries 'O, thy + mother, thy mother!' then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces + his son-in-law; then again worries he his daughter with clipping + her. Now he thanks the old shepherd, which stands by like a + weather-bitten conduit of many kings' reigns. I never heard of + such another encounter, which lames report to follow it and + undoes description to do it. + SECOND GENTLEMAN. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried + hence the child? + THIRD GENTLEMAN. Like an old tale still, which will have matter to + rehearse, though credit be asleep and not an ear open: he was + torn to pieces with a bear. This avouches the shepherd's son, who + has not only his innocence, which seems much, to justify him, but + a handkerchief and rings of his that Paulina knows. + FIRST GENTLEMAN. What became of his bark and his followers? + THIRD GENTLEMAN. Wreck'd the same instant of their master's death, + and in the view of the shepherd; so that all the instruments + which aided to expose the child were even then lost when it was + found. But, O, the noble combat that 'twixt joy and sorrow was + fought in Paulina! She had one eye declin'd for the loss of her + husband, another elevated that the oracle was fulfill'd. She + lifted the Princess from the earth, and so locks her in embracing + as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no more be + in danger of losing. + FIRST GENTLEMAN. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of + kings and princes; for by such was it acted. + THIRD GENTLEMAN. One of the prettiest touches of all, and that + which angl'd for mine eyes- caught the water, though not the + fish- was, when at the relation of the Queen's death, with the + manner how she came to't bravely confess'd and lamented by the + King, how attentivenes wounded his daughter; till, from one sign + of dolour to another, she did with an 'Alas!'- I would fain say- + bleed tears; for I am sure my heart wept blood. Who was most + marble there changed colour; some swooned, all sorrowed. If all + the world could have seen't, the woe had been universal. + FIRST GENTLEMAN. Are they returned to the court? + THIRD GENTLEMAN. No. The Princess hearing of her mother's statue, + which is in the keeping of Paulina- a piece many years in doing + and now newly perform'd by that rare Italian master, Julio + Romano, who, had he himself eternity and could put breath into + his work, would beguile nature of her custom, so perfectly he is + her ape. He so near to Hermione hath done Hermione that they say + one would speak to her and stand in hope of answer- thither with + all greediness of affection are they gone, and there they intend + to sup. + SECOND GENTLEMAN. I thought she had some great matter there in + hand; for she hath privately twice or thrice a day, ever since + the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. Shall we + thither, and with our company piece the rejoicing? + FIRST GENTLEMAN. Who would be thence that has the benefit of + access? Every wink of an eye some new grace will be born. Our + absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along. + Exeunt GENTLEMEN + AUTOLYCUS. Now, had I not the dash of my former life in me, would + preferment drop on my head. I brought the old man and his son + aboard the Prince; told him I heard them talk of a fardel and I + know not what; but he at that time over-fond of the shepherd's + daughter- so he then took her to be- who began to be much + sea-sick, and himself little better, extremity of weather + continuing, this mystery remained undiscover'd. But 'tis all one + to me; for had I been the finder-out of this secret, it would not + have relish'd among my other discredits. + + Enter SHEPHERD and CLOWN + + Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already + appearing in the blossoms of their fortune. + SHEPHERD. Come, boy; I am past moe children, but thy sons and + daughters will be all gentlemen born. + CLOWN. You are well met, sir. You denied to fight with me this + other day, because I was no gentleman born. See you these + clothes? Say you see them not and think me still no gentleman + born. You were best say these robes are not gentlemen born. Give + me the lie, do; and try whether I am not now a gentleman born. + AUTOLYCUS. I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born. + CLOWN. Ay, and have been so any time these four hours. + SHEPHERD. And so have I, boy. + CLOWN. So you have; but I was a gentleman born before my father; + for the King's son took me by the hand and call'd me brother; and + then the two kings call'd my father brother; and then the Prince, + my brother, and the Princess, my sister, call'd my father father. + And so we wept; and there was the first gentleman-like tears that + ever we shed. + SHEPHERD. We may live, son, to shed many more. + CLOWN. Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so preposterous + estate as we are. + AUTOLYCUS. I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the faults I + have committed to your worship, and to give me your good report + to the Prince my master. + SHEPHERD. Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are + gentlemen. + CLOWN. Thou wilt amend thy life? + AUTOLYCUS. Ay, an it like your good worship. + CLOWN. Give me thy hand. I will swear to the Prince thou art as + honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia. + SHEPHERD. You may say it, but not swear it. + CLOWN. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and franklins + say it: I'll swear it. + SHEPHERD. How if it be false, son? + CLOWN. If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear it in + the behalf of his friend. And I'll swear to the Prince thou art a + tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt not be drunk; but I + know thou art no tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt be + drunk. But I'll swear it; and I would thou wouldst be a tall + fellow of thy hands. + AUTOLYCUS. I will prove so, sir, to my power. + CLOWN. Ay, by any means, prove a tall fellow. If I do not wonder + how thou dar'st venture to be drunk not being a tall fellow, + trust me not. Hark! the kings and the princes, our kindred, are + going to see the Queen's picture. Come, follow us; we'll be thy + good masters. Exeunt + + + + +SCENE III. +Sicilia. A chapel in PAULINA's house + +Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, +LORDS and ATTENDANTS + + LEONTES. O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort + That I have had of thee! + PAULINA. What, sovereign sir, + I did not well, I meant well. All my services + You have paid home; but that you have vouchsaf'd, + With your crown'd brother and these your contracted + Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, + It is a surplus of your grace, which never + My life may last to answer. + LEONTES. O Paulina, + We honour you with trouble; but we came + To see the statue of our queen. Your gallery + Have we pass'd through, not without much content + In many singularities; but we saw not + That which my daughter came to look upon, + The statue of her mother. + PAULINA. As she liv'd peerless, + So her dead likeness, I do well believe, + Excels whatever yet you look'd upon + Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it + Lonely, apart. But here it is. Prepare + To see the life as lively mock'd as ever + Still sleep mock'd death. Behold; and say 'tis well. + [PAULINA draws a curtain, and discovers HERMIONE + standing like a statue] + I like your silence; it the more shows off + Your wonder; but yet speak. First, you, my liege. + Comes it not something near? + LEONTES. Her natural posture! + Chide me, dear stone, that I may say indeed + Thou art Hermione; or rather, thou art she + In thy not chiding; for she was as tender + As infancy and grace. But yet, Paulina, + Hermione was not so much wrinkled, nothing + So aged as this seems. + POLIXENES. O, not by much! + PAULINA. So much the more our carver's excellence, + Which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her + As she liv'd now. + LEONTES. As now she might have done, + So much to my good comfort as it is + Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood, + Even with such life of majesty- warm life, + As now it coldly stands- when first I woo'd her! + I am asham'd. Does not the stone rebuke me + For being more stone than it? O royal piece, + There's magic in thy majesty, which has + My evils conjur'd to remembrance, and + From thy admiring daughter took the spirits, + Standing like stone with thee! + PERDITA. And give me leave, + And do not say 'tis superstition that + I kneel, and then implore her blessing. Lady, + Dear queen, that ended when I but began, + Give me that hand of yours to kiss. + PAULINA. O, patience! + The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's + Not dry. + CAMILLO. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on, + Which sixteen winters cannot blow away, + So many summers dry. Scarce any joy + Did ever so long live; no sorrow + But kill'd itself much sooner. + POLIXENES. Dear my brother, + Let him that was the cause of this have pow'r + To take off so much grief from you as he + Will piece up in himself. + PAULINA. Indeed, my lord, + If I had thought the sight of my poor image + Would thus have wrought you- for the stone is mine- + I'd not have show'd it. + LEONTES. Do not draw the curtain. + PAULINA. No longer shall you gaze on't, lest your fancy + May think anon it moves. + LEONTES. Let be, let be. + Would I were dead, but that methinks already- + What was he that did make it? See, my lord, + Would you not deem it breath'd, and that those veins + Did verily bear blood? + POLIXENES. Masterly done! + The very life seems warm upon her lip. + LEONTES. The fixture of her eye has motion in't, + As we are mock'd with art. + PAULINA. I'll draw the curtain. + My lord's almost so far transported that + He'll think anon it lives. + LEONTES. O sweet Paulina, + Make me to think so twenty years together! + No settled senses of the world can match + The pleasure of that madness. Let 't alone. + PAULINA. I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr'd you; but + I could afflict you farther. + LEONTES. Do, Paulina; + For this affliction has a taste as sweet + As any cordial comfort. Still, methinks, + There is an air comes from her. What fine chisel + Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock me, + For I will kiss her. + PAULINA. Good my lord, forbear. + The ruddiness upon her lip is wet; + You'll mar it if you kiss it; stain your own + With oily painting. Shall I draw the curtain? + LEONTES. No, not these twenty years. + PERDITA. So long could I + Stand by, a looker-on. + PAULINA. Either forbear, + Quit presently the chapel, or resolve you + For more amazement. If you can behold it, + I'll make the statue move indeed, descend, + And take you by the hand, but then you'll think- + Which I protest against- I am assisted + By wicked powers. + LEONTES. What you can make her do + I am content to look on; what to speak + I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy + To make her speak as move. + PAULINA. It is requir'd + You do awake your faith. Then all stand still; + Or those that think it is unlawful business + I am about, let them depart. + LEONTES. Proceed. + No foot shall stir. + PAULINA. Music, awake her: strike. [Music] + 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach; + Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come; + I'll fill your grave up. Stir; nay, come away. + Bequeath to death your numbness, for from him + Dear life redeems you. You perceive she stirs. + [HERMIONE comes down from the pedestal] + Start not; her actions shall be holy as + You hear my spell is lawful. Do not shun her + Until you see her die again; for then + You kill her double. Nay, present your hand. + When she was young you woo'd her; now in age + Is she become the suitor? + LEONTES. O, she's warm! + If this be magic, let it be an art + Lawful as eating. + POLIXENES. She embraces him. + CAMILLO. She hangs about his neck. + If she pertain to life, let her speak too. + POLIXENES. Ay, and make it manifest where she has liv'd, + Or how stol'n from the dead. + PAULINA. That she is living, + Were it but told you, should be hooted at + Like an old tale; but it appears she lives + Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while. + Please you to interpose, fair madam. Kneel, + And pray your mother's blessing. Turn, good lady; + Our Perdita is found. + HERMIONE. You gods, look down, + And from your sacred vials pour your graces + Upon my daughter's head! Tell me, mine own, + Where hast thou been preserv'd? Where liv'd? How found + Thy father's court? For thou shalt hear that I, + Knowing by Paulina that the oracle + Gave hope thou wast in being, have preserv'd + Myself to see the issue. + PAULINA. There's time enough for that, + Lest they desire upon this push to trouble + Your joys with like relation. Go together, + You precious winners all; your exultation + Partake to every one. I, an old turtle, + Will wing me to some wither'd bough, and there + My mate, that's never to be found again, + Lament till I am lost. + LEONTES. O peace, Paulina! + Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent, + As I by thine a wife. This is a match, + And made between's by vows. Thou hast found mine; + But how, is to be question'd; for I saw her, + As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said many + A prayer upon her grave. I'll not seek far- + For him, I partly know his mind- to find thee + An honourable husband. Come, Camillo, + And take her by the hand whose worth and honesty + Is richly noted, and here justified + By us, a pair of kings. Let's from this place. + What! look upon my brother. Both your pardons, + That e'er I put between your holy looks + My ill suspicion. This your son-in-law, + And son unto the King, whom heavens directing, + Is troth-plight to your daughter. Good Paulina, + Lead us from hence where we may leisurely + Each one demand and answer to his part + Perform'd in this wide gap of time since first + We were dissever'd. Hastily lead away. Exeunt + +THE END + + + + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. 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