THE WINTER'S TALE The "oracle of Delphos" plays a very important part in the drama of The Winter's Tale. The insanely jealous king, Leontes, has ordered his innocent wife to prison and, notwithstanding the contrary opinion of everybody else, is so sure of the soundness of his groundless suspicions that he confidently sends two of the lords of his court to the oracle to there get a pronouncement upon the subject. In Scene I, Act II: Leontes: Yet, for a greater confirmation,— For in an act of this importance 'twere Most piteous to be wild,-I have dispatch'd in To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple, Of stuff'd sufficiency. Now, from the oracle They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had, First Lord: Well done, my lord. Leontes: Though I am satisfied and need no more Give rest to the minds of others, such as he Come up to the truth. So have we thought it good From our free person she should be confin'd, Antigonus [Aside]: To laughter, as I take it, If the good truth were known. Meantime he orders Antigonus to take the babe Perdita to some remote and desert place out of his dominions. Leontes: To some remote and desart place quite out Of our dominions; and that there thou leave it, Following this the two messengers entrusted with the mission to the oracle return. At the end of Act II we have this: Servant: Please your highness, posts From those you sent to the oracle are come Being well arriv'd from Delphos, are both landed, 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 first scene in Act III is a seaport and the returning lords, coming ashore, discuss in their conversation the impressions received from the country and the temple they have visited. Cleomenes: Dion: Enter Cleomenes and Dion. The climate's delicate, the air most sweet, I shall report, For most it caught me, the celestial habits,— reverence Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! Cleomenes: Dion: But of all, the burst And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle, If the event o' the journey Prove as successful to the queen,-O, be't so!- Cleomenes: Great Apollo Turn all to the best! These proclamations, Dion: So forcing faults upon Hermione, The violent carriage of it Will clear or end the business: when the oracle, Shall the contents discover, something_rare Even then will rush to knowledge.-Go:-fresh horses! And gracious to the issue! When the queen was brought to trial, protesting her innocence, and being brutally arraigned by the king, the returning messengers reach the court with their important document: Re-enter Officers, with Cleomenes and Dion. Officer: You here shall swear upon this sword of justice, Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd Cleomenes and Dion: Leontes: All this we swear. Break up the seals, and read. Officer: Lords: 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! Now blessed be the great Apollo! Hermione: Praised! |