Will deign to sip, or touch one drop of it. Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,- My hand is ready, may it do him ease! Pet. Why, there's a wench!-Come on, and kiss me, Kate. We three are married, but you two are sped.‡ And, being a winner, God give you good night! [To LUCENTIO. [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATH. Hor. Now go thy ways, thou hast tamed a curst shrew. Luc. "Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tamed so. [Exeunt. Another SICILIAN LORD. ROGERO, a Sicilian Gentleman. An ATTENDANT on the young OFFICERS of a Court of Judicature. ARCHIDAMUS, a Bohemian Lord. JAILER. An old SHEPHERD, reputed Father of Perdita. CLOWN, his Son. AUTOLYCUS, a Rogue. HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes. PAULINA, Wife to Antigonus. Two other LADIES, MOPSA, DORCAS, Attending the Queen. }Shepherdesses. LORDS, LADIES, and ATTENDANTS; SHEPHERDS, SHEPHERDESSES, SCENE, sometimes in Sicilia; sometimes in Bohemia. ACT I. SCENE I-Sicilia. An Antechamber in LEONTES's Palace. Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS. Arch. 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. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves:* for, indeed,— * Make it up by our love. Cam. 'Beseech you,Arch. 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. Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely. Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance. Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied,* with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seemed to be together, though absent; shook hands, as over a vast;† and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves! Arch. 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. Cam. 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. Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the wat❜ry star have been Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, With one we-thank-you, many thousands more That go before it. Leon. Stay your thanks awhile; And pay them when you part. Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow. I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, * Nobly supplied by ambassadors. † Waste. Or breed upon our absence.* That may blow No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, Leon. We are tougher, brother, Than you can put us to't. Pol. No longer stay. Leon. One seven-night longer. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. Leon. We'll part the time between's then: and in that I'll no gain-saying. Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you so; There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, Do even drag me homeward; which to hinder, Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. Her. 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, Leon. Well said, Hermione. Her. 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. Yet of your royal presence [To POLIXENES], I'll adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia You take my lord, Ill give him my commission, To let him there a month, behind the gest§ Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed,|| Leontes, I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind What lady she her lord.-You'll stay? Pol. No, Madam. Her. Nay, but you will? Pol. I may not, verily. Her. Verily! You put me off with limber** vows: But I, Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, You shall not go; a lady's verily is As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Force me to keep you as a prisoner, * (Oh!) + Nipping. The satisfactory intelligence we had yesterday. Tick. ** Flimsy. Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees, When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you? One of them you shall be. Pol. Your guest then, Madam: To be your prisoner, should import offending; Than you to punish. Her. Not your jailer then, But your kind hostess. Come I'll question you 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' the two? Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i' the sun, And bleat the one at the other: what we changed Was innocence for innocence; we knew not The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd That any did: Had we pursued that life, And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven Her. By this we gather, You have tripp'd since. Pol. O my most sacred lady, Temptations have since then been born to us: for Her. Grace to boot! Of this make no conclusion; lest you say, Your queen and I are devils: Yet, go on; The offences we have made you do, we'll answer; You did continue fault, and that you slipp'd not Leon. Is he won yet? Her. He'll stay, my lord. Leon. At my request he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest To better purpose. Her. Never? Leon. Never, but once. Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't before? I pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and make us As fat as tame things: One good deed dying tongueless, A diminutive of lords. + Setting aside original sin. Grace help me, |