THE WINTER's TALE. ACT I. SCENE, an Antichamber in Leontes's PALACE. Enter Camillo, and Archidamus. F (1) ARCHIDAMUS. 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 Sisilia means to pay Bohemia the vifitation, which he justly owes him. Arch. (1) ARCHIDAM A MUS. This is a Character of that Sort, which the old Criticks have call'door wellov: One entirely out of the Action and Argument of the Play, and introduc'd only to open Something, neceffary to be known, previous to the Action of the Fable. Donatus, in his Preface to Terence's Fair Andrian, explains this Character thus. Perfona autem protatica ea intelligitur, quæ femel inducta in Principio Fabule, in nullis deinceps fabule partibus adhibetur. By a Pro"tatick Character we are to understand fuch a One, as is introduc'd in "the Beginning, and never after appears in any Part of the Fable. Such is Sofia in that Comedy of Terence; Such, Davus in his Phormio; and Philotis and Syra, in his Mother-in-law. Such are the Servants of the Capulets and Mountagues, in our Author's Romeo and Juliet: the Vo L. III. F Two Arch. Wherein our entertainment fhall fhame us, we will be justified in our loves; for, indeed, Cam. 'Beseech 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. 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 utterance. Cam, Sicilia cannot fhew, himself over-kind to Bohemia; they were train'd together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then fuch an affection, which cannot chufe but branch now. Since their more mature dignities and royal neceffities made separation of their fociety, their incounters, though not perfonal, have been royally attornied with enterchange of gifts, letters, loving embaffies; that they have feem'd to be together, tho' abfent; fhook hands, as over a Vaft; 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 malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young Prince Mamillius: it is a gentleman of the greateft promife, 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, phyficks. the fubject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches, ere he was born, defire yet their life to fee him a man. Two Gentlemen, who open his Cymbeline; the Sea-Captain, in the Second Scene of Twelfthnight; and (tho' thrown into the Middle of the Play) of the fame Nature are the Gentlemen in K. Henry VIII; who are introduced only to make the Narratives of Buckingham's Arraignment, and Anne Bullen's Coronation. Arch. Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes, if there were no other excufe 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. Nine Changes of the watry star hath been 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; Pol. Sir, that's to morrow: I'm question'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, So foon as yours, could win me: fo it fhould now, Were there neceffity in your request, altho' 'Twere needful I deny'd it. My affairs 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 let him fay fo then, and let him go; But let him fwear fo, and he shall not stay; [To-Polixenes. The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia What lady the her lord. You'll stay? Her. Nay, but you will. Pol. I may not, verily. Her. Verily? You put me off with limber vows; but I, Tho' you would seek t'unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet fay, "Sir, no going: verily, (2) 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. Í have fufpected, that the Poet wrote; behind the just Preferib'd for's parting. i. e. the juft, precife, time; the inftant; (where Time is likewife underftood) by an Elleipfis practis'd in all Tongues. It is familiar with us to fay, I'll do fuch a thing just now. use their Adverb juftement (eo ipfo tempore) precisement, à point nommé. And in the fame manner the French "You "You fhall not go; a lady's verily is Not like a gueft? fo you fhall pay your fees, When you depart, and fave your thanks. How fay you? 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 question you Pol. We were, fair Queen, Two lads, that thought there was no more behind, But fuch a day to morrow as to day, 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, And our weak fpirits ne'er been higher rear'd Her. By this we gather, You have tript fince. Pol. O my moft facred lady, Temptations have fince then been born to's: for (3) 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 Our felves. |