THE WINTER's TALE. A C T I. SCENE, an Antichamber in Leontes's PALAC E. I Enter Camillo, and Archidamus. ARCHIDAMUS. IF you fhall chance, Camillo, to vifit Bohemia, on the like occafion whereon my services are now on foot; you fhall fee, as I have faid, great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming fummer, the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the vifitation, which he justly owes him. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves; for, indeed, Cam. 'Befeech you Arch. Verily, I fpeak it in the freedom of my knowledge; we cannot with fuch magnificence-in fo rare I know not what to fay-we will give you fleepy drinks, that your fenfes (unintelligent of our infufficience) may, tho' they cannot praise us, as little accufe us. VOL. III. L Cam. Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely. Arch. Believe me, I fpeak, as my Understanding inftructs me; and as mine honefty puts it to utter ance. Cam. Sicilia cannot fhew himself over-kind to Bobemia; they were train'd together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then fuch an affection, Since their more which cannot chufe but branch now. mature dignities and royal neceffities made feparation of their fociety, their incounters, though not perfonal, have been royally attornied with enterchange of gifts, letters, loving embaffies; that they have seem'd to be together, tho' abfent; fhook hands, as over a Vast; and embrac'd, as it were, from the ends of oppofed winds. The heav'ns continue their loves! Arch. I think, there is not in the world either ma lice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young Prince Mamillius: it is a gentleman of the greatest promife, that ever came into my note. : Cam. Ivery well agree with you in the hopes of him it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, phyficks the fubject, makes old hearts frefh: they, that went on crutches, ere he was born, defire yet their life to fee him a man. Arch. Would they elfe be content to die? Cam. Yes, if there were no other excuse why they fhould defire to live. Arch. If the King had no fon, they would defire to live on crutches 'till he had one. SCENE opens to the Prefence. Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, and Attendants. Pol. N The shepherd's note, fince we have left our Ine Changes of the watry ftar hath been Throne Without Without a burthen: time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cypher, With one, we thank you, many thousands more Leo. Stay your thanks a while; I'm queftion'd by my fears, of what may chance, Leo. We are tougher, brother, Than you can put us to't. Pol. No longer Stay. Leo. One fev'n-night longer. Pol. Very footh, to morrow. Leo. We'll part the time between's then: and in that I'll no gain-faying. Pol. Prefs me not, 'befeech you, fo; There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'th' world, Do even drag me homeward; which to hinder, Leo. Tongue-ty'd, our Queen? fpeak you. Her. I had thought, Sir, to've held my peace, until The by-gone day proclaim'd; fay this to him, Leo. Well faid, Hermione. Her. To tell, he longs to fee his fon, were strong, But But let him fay fo then, and let him go; [To Polixenes. You'll stay ? › What lady fhe her lord. Pol. I may not, verily. You put me off with limber vows; but I, Not like a gueft; fo you fhall pay your fees, When you depart, and fave your thanks. How fay you? My prifoner? or my guest? by your dread verily, One of them you shall be. Pol. Your Gueft then, Madam: To be your prifoner, fhould import offending; Than you to punish. Her. Not your Goaler then, But your kind Hoftefs; come, I'll queftion you (1) -behind the geft Preferib'd for's parting:] I have not ventur'd to alter the Text, tho', I freely own, I can neither trace, nor understand, the Phrase. I have fufpe&ted, that the Poet wrote; Prefcrib'd for's parting. behind the juft i. e. the juft, precife, time; the inftant; (where Time is likewife underfood) by an Elleipfis practis'd in all Tongues. You You were pretty lordings then? Pol. We were, fair Queen, Two lads, that thought there was no more behind, And to be boy eternal. Her. Was not my lord The verier wag o'th' two? Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i'th' And bleat the one at th' other: what we chang'd, Her. By this we gather, You have tript fince. Pol. O my most facred lady, Temptations have fince then been born to's: for Her. Grace to boot! Of this make no conclufion, left you fay, If Your Queen and I are devils. Yet, go on;- Leo. Is he won yet? Her. He'll ftay, my lord. Leo. At my request he would not: Hermione, my dearest, thou ne'er spok'st (2) th' Impofition clear'd, Hereditary ours. i. e. fetting afide Original Sin: bating That Impofition from the Offence of our firft Parents, we might have boldly protefted our Innocence to Heaven, against any Guilt committed by Ourselves. L 3 Το |