高中英語閱讀素材英語名著TheWintersTale冬天的故事

THEWINTER'STALE

THEWINTERSTALE

WilliamShakespeare

1611

THEWINTER'STALE

DramatisPersonae

LEONTES,KingofSiciliaMAMILLIUS,hisson,theyoungPrince

ofSiciliaCAMILLO,lordofSiciliaANTIGONUS,"""CLEOMENES,"

""DION,"""POLIXENES,KingofBohemiaFLORIZEL,hisson,

PrinceofBohemiaARCHIDAMUS,alordofBohemiaOLDSHEPHERD,

reputedfatherofPerditaCLOWN,hissonAUTOLYCUS,arogueA

MARINERAGAOLERTIME,asChorus

HERMIONE,QueentoLeontesPERDITA,daughtertoLeontesand

HermionePAULINA,wifetoAntigonusEMILIA,aladyattendingonthe

QueenMOPSA,shepherdessDORCAS,"

OtherLords,Gentlemen,Ladies,Officers,Servants,Shepherds,

Shepherdesses

Scene:SiciliaandBohemia

THEWINTER'STALE

ACTL

THEWINTER'STALE

SCENEI.Sicilia.ThepalaceofLEONTES

EnterCAMILLOandARCHIDAMUS

ARCHIDAMUS.Ifyoushallchance,Camillo,tovisitBohemia,on

thelikeoccasionwhereonmyservicesarenowonfoot,youshallsee,asI

havesaid,greatdifferencebetwixtourBohemiaandyourSicilia.

CAMILLO.IthinkthiscomingsummertheKingofSiciliameanstopay

Bohemiathevisitationwhichhejustlyoweshim.ARCHIDAMUS.

Whereinourentertainmentshallshameuswewillbejustifiedinourloves;

forindeed-CAMILLO.Beseechyou-ARCHIDAMUS.Verily,Ispeakit

inthefreedomofmyknowledge:wecannotwithsuchmagnificence,inso

rare-1knownotwhattosay.Wewillgiveyousleepydrinks,thatyour

senses,unintelligentofourinsufficience,may,thoughtheycannotpraise

us,aslittleaccuseus.CAMILLO.Youpayagreatdealtoodearforwhat's

givenfreely.ARCHIDAMUS.Believeme,Ispeakasmyunderstanding

instructsmeandasminehonestyputsittoutterance.CAMILLO.Sicilia

cannotshowhimselfoverkindtoBohemia.Theyweretrain'dtogetherin

theirchildhoods;andthererootedbetwixtthemthensuchanaffection

whichcannotchoosebutbranchnow.Sincetheirmorematuredignities

androyalnecessitiesmadeseparationoftheirsociety,theirencounters,

thoughnotpersonal,havebeenroyallyattomeyedwithinterchangeof

gifts,letters,lovingembassies;thattheyhaveseem'dtobetogether,

thoughabsent;shookhands,asoveravast;andembrac'dasitwerefrom

theendsofopposedwinds.Theheavenscontinuetheirloves!

ARCHIDAMUS.Ithinkthereisnotintheworldeithermaliceormatterto

alterit.YouhaveanunspeakablecomfortofyouryoungPrinceMamillius;

itisagentlemanofthegreatestpromisethatevercameintomynote.

CAMILLO.Iverywellagreewithyouinthehopesofhim.Itisagallant

child;onethatindeedphysicsthesubject,makesoldheartsfresh;theythat

wentoncrutcheserehewasborndesireyettheirlifetoseehimaman.

ARCHIDAMUS.Wouldtheyelsebecontenttodie?CAMILLO.Yes;if

therewerenootherexcusewhytheyshoulddesiretolive.

ARCHIDAMUS.IftheKinghadnoson,theywoulddesiretoliveon

crutchestillhehadone.Exeunt

THEWINTER'STALE

THEWINTER'STALE

SCENEII.Sicilia.ThepalaceofLEONTES

EnterLEONTES,POLIXENES,HERMIONE,MAMILLIUS,

CAMILLO,andATTENDANTS

POLIXENES.Ninechangesofthewat'rystarhathbeenThe

shepherd'snotesincewehaveleftourthroneWithoutaburden.Timeas

longagainWouldbefill'dup,mybrother,withourthanks;Andyetwe

shouldforperpetuityGohenceindebt.Andtherefore,likeacipher,Yet

standinginrichplace,ImultiplyWithone'Wethankyou'manythousands

moeThatgobeforeit.LEONTES.Stayyourthanksawhile,Andpay

themwhenyoupart.POLIXENES.Sir,that'sto-morrow.Iamquestion'd

bymyfearsofwhatmaychanceOrbreeduponourabsence,thatmay

blowNosneapingwindsathome,tomakeussay'Thisisputforthtoo

truly.'Besides,Ihavestay'dTotireyourroyalty.LEONTES.Weare

tougher,brother,Thanyoucanputusto't.POLIXENES.Nolongerstay.

LEONTES.Onesev'nightlonger.POLIXENES.Verysooth,to-morrow.

LEONTES.We'llpartthetimebetween'sthen;andinthatI'llno

gainsaying.POLIXENES.Pressmenot,beseechyou,so.Thereisno

tonguethatmoves,none,nonei'th'world,Sosoonasyourscouldwinme.

Soitshouldnow,Weretherenecessityinyourrequest,although'Twere

needfulIdeniedit.MyaffairsDoevendragmehomeward;whichto

hinderWereinyourloveawhiptome;mystayToyouachargeand

trouble.Tosaveboth,Farewell,ourbrother.LEONTES.Tongue-tied,our

Queen?Speakyou.HERMIONE.Ihadthought,sir,tohaveheldmy

peaceuntilYouhaddrawnoathsfromhimnottostay.You,sir,Charge

himtoocoldly.TellhimyouaresureAllinBohemia'swell-this

satisfactionTheby-gonedayproclaim'd.Saythistohim,He'sbeatfrom

hisbestward.LEONTES.Wellsaid,Hermione.HERMIONE.Totellhe

longstoseehissonwerestrong;Butlethimsaysothen,andlethimgo;

Butlethimswearso,andheshallnotstay;We'llthwackhimhencewith

distaffs.[ToPOLIXENES]YetofyourroyalpresenceI'lladventurethe

borrowofaweek.WhenatBohemiaYoutakemylord,I'llgivehimmy

commissionTolethimthereamonthbehindthegestPrefix'dfor's

parting.-Yet,gooddeed,Leontes,Ilovetheenotajaro'th'clockbehind

THEWINTER'STALE

Whatladysheherlord.-You'llstay?POLIXENES.No,madam.

HERMIONE.Nay,butyouwill?POLIXENES.Imaynot,verily.

HERMIONE.Verily!Youputmeoffwithlimbervows;butI,Thoughyou

wouldseekt'unspherethestarswithoaths,Shouldyetsay'Sir,nogoing.'

Verily,Youshallnotgo;alady's'verily'isAspotentasalord's.Willgoyet?

Forcemetokeepyouasaprisoner,Notlikeaguest;soyoushallpayyour

feesWhenyoudepart,andsaveyourthanks.Howsayyou?Myprisoner

ormyguest?Byyourdread'verily,'Oneofthemyoushallbe.

POLIXENES.Yourguest,then,madam:Tobeyourprisonershould

importoffending;WhichisformelesseasytocommitThanyoutopunish.

HERMIONE.Notyourgaolerthen,Butyourkindhostess.Come,I'll

questionyouOfmylord'stricksandyourswhenyouwereboys.Youwere

prettylordingsthen!POLIXENES.Wewere,fairQueen,Twoladsthat

thoughttherewasnomorebehindButsuchadayto-morrowasto-day,

Andtobeboyeternal.HERMIONE.WasnotmylordTheverierwago'th'

two?POLIXENES.Wewereastwinn'dlambsthatdidfriski'th'sunAnd

bleattheoneatth'other.Whatwechang'dWasinnocenceforinnocence;

weknewnotThedoctrineofill-doing,nordream'dThatanydid.Hadwe

pursu'dthatlife,Andourweakspiritsne'erbeenhigherrear'dWith

strongerblood,weshouldhaveanswer'dheavenBoldly'Notguilty,'the

impositionclear'dHereditaryours.HERMIONE.BythiswegatherYou

havetripp'dsince.POLIXENES.Omymostsacredlady,Temptations

havesincethenbeenbornto's,forInthoseunfledg'ddayswasmywifea

girl;Yourpreciousselfhadthennotcross'dtheeyesOfmyyoung

playfellow.HERMIONE.Gracetoboot!Ofthismakenoconclusion,lest

yousayYourqueenandIaredevils.Yet,goon;Th'offenceswehave

madeyoudowe'llanswer,Ifyoufirstsinn'dwithus,andthatwithusYou

didcontinuefault,andthatyouslipp'dnotWithanybutwithus.

LEONTES.Ishewonyet?HERMIONE.He'llstay,mylord.LEONTES.

Atmyrequesthewouldnot.Hermione,mydearest,thouneverspok'stTo

betterpurpose.HERMIONE.Never?LEONTES.Neverbutonce.

HERMIONE.What!HaveItwicesaidwell?Whenwas'tbefore?Iprithee

tellme;cram'swithpraise,andmake'sAsfatastamethings.Onegood

deeddyingtonguelessSlaughtersathousandwaitinguponthat.Our

THEWINTER'STALE

praisesareourwages;youmayride'sWithonesoftkissathousand

furlongsereWithspurweheatanacre.Buttoth'goal:Mylastgooddeed

wastoentreathisstay;Whatwasmyfirst?Ithasaneldersister,OrI

mistakeyou.O,wouldhernamewereGrace!ButoncebeforeIspoketo

th'purpose-When?Nay,letmehave't;Ilong.LEONTES.Why,thatwas

whenThreecrabbedmonthshadsour'dthemselvestodeath,EreIcould

maketheeopenthywhitehandAndclapthyselfmylove;thendidstthou

utter'Iamyoursforever.'HERMIONE.'TisGraceindeed.Why,loyou

now,Ihavespoketoth'purposetwice:Theoneforeverearn'daroyal

husband;Th'otherforsomewhileafriend.[Givingherhandto

POLIXENES]LEONTES.[Aside]Toohot,toohot!Tominglefriendship

farisminglingbloods.Ihavetremorcordisonme;myheartdances,But

notforjoy,notjoy.ThisentertainmentMayafreefaceputon;derivea

libertyFromheartiness,frombounty,fertilebosom,Andwellbecomethe

agent.'Tmay,Igrant;Buttobepaddlingpalmsandpinchingfingers,As

nowtheyare,andmakingpractis'dsmilesAsinalooking-glass;andthen

tosigh,as'twereThemorto'th'deer.O,thatisentertainmentMybosom

likesnot,normybrows!Mamillius,Artthoumyboy?MAMILLIUS.Ay,

mygoodlord.LEONTES.I'fecks!Why,that'smybawcock.What!hast

smutch'dthynose?Theysayitisacopyoutofmine.Come,Captain,We

mustbeneat-notneat,butcleanly,Captain.Andyetthesteer,theheifer,

andthecalf,Areallcall'dneat.-StillvirginallingUponhispalm?-How

now,youwantoncalf,Artthoumycalf?MAMILLIUS.Yes,ifyouwill,

mylord.LEONTES.Thouwant'staroughpashandtheshootsthatIhave,

Tobefulllikeme;yettheysayweareAlmostaslikeaseggs.Womensay

so,Thatwillsayanything.ButweretheyfalseAso'er-dy'dblacks,aswind,

aswaters-falseAsdicearetobewish'dbyonethatfixesNobourn'twixt

hisandmine;yetwereittrueTosaythisboywerelikeme.Come,sirpage,

Lookonmewithyourwelkineye.Sweetvillain!Mostdear'st!mycoilop!

Canthydam?-may'tbe?Affection!thyintentionstabsthecentre.Thou

dostmakepossiblethingsnotsoheld,Communicat'stwithdreams-how

canthisbe?-Withwhat'sunrealthoucoactiveart,Andfellow'stnothing.

Then'tisverycredentThoumaystco-joinwithsomething;andthoudost-

Andthatbeyondcommission;andIfindit,Andthattotheinfectionofmy

THEWINTER'STALE

brainsAndhard'ningofmybrows.POLIXENES.WhatmeansSicilia?

HERMIONE.Hesomethingseemsunsettled.POLIXENES.How,mylord!

Whatcheer?Howis'twithyou,bestbrother?HERMIONE.YoulookAsif

youheldabrowofmuchdistraction.Areyoumov'd,mylord?LEONTES.

No,ingoodearnest.Howsometimesnaturewillbetrayitsfolly,Its

tenderness,andmakeitselfapastimeToharderbosoms!Lookingonthe

linesOfmyboy'sface,methoughtsIdidrecoilTwenty-threeyears;and

sawmyselfunbreech'd,Inmygreenvelvetcoat;mydaggermuzzl'd,Lest

itshouldbiteitsmasterandsoprove,Asornamentsoftdo,toodangerous.

Howlike,methought,Ithenwastothiskernel,Thissquash,this

gentleman.Minehonestfriend,Willyoutakeeggsformoney?

MAMILLIUS.No,mylord,I'llfight.LEONTES.Youwill?Why,happy

manbe'sdole!Mybrother,Areyousofondofyouryoungprinceaswe

Doseemtobeofours?POLIXENES.Ifathome,sir,He'sallmyexercise,

mymirth,mymatter;Nowmyswornfriend,andthenmineenemy;My

parasite,mysoldier,statesman,all.HemakesaJuly'sdayshortas

December,AndwithhisvaryingchildnesscuresinmeThoughtsthat

wouldthickmyblood.LEONTES.SostandsthissquireOffic'dwithme.

Wetwowillwalk,mylord,Andleaveyoutoyourgraversteps.Hermione,

Howthoulov'stusshowinourbrother'swelcome;Letwhatisdearin

Sicilybecheap;Nexttothyselfandmyyoungrover,he'sApparenttomy

heart.HERMIONE.Ifyouwouldseekus,Weareyoursi'th'garden.

Shall'sattendyouthere?LEONTES.Toyourownbentsdisposeyou;

you'llbefound,Beyoubeneaththesky.[Aside]Iamanglingnow,

ThoughyouperceivemenothowIgiveline.Goto,goto!Howsheholds

uptheneb,thebilltohim!AndarmsherwiththeboldnessofawifeTo

herallowinghusband!

ExeuntPOLIXENES,HERMIONE,andATTENDANTS

Gonealready!Inch-thick,knee-deep,o'erheadandearsafork'done!

Go,play,boy,play;thymotherplays,andIPlaytoo;butsodisgrac'da

part,whoseissueWillhissmetomygrave.ContemptandclamourWillbe

myknell.Go,play,boy,play.Therehavebeen,OrIammuchdeceiv'd,

cuckoldserenow;Andmanyamanthereis,evenatthispresent,Now

whileIspeakthis,holdshiswifebyth'armThatlittlethinksshehasbeen

THEWINTER'STALE

sluic'din'sabsence,Andhispondfish'dbyhisnextneighbour,bySir

Smile,hisneighbour.Nay,there'scomfortin't,Whilesothermenhave

gatesandthosegatesopen'd,Asmine,againsttheirwill.Shouldall

despairThathathrevoltedwives,thetenthofmankindWouldhang

themselves.Physicfor'tthere'snone;Itisabawdyplanet,thatwillstrike

Where'tispredominant;and'tispow'rfull,thinkit,Fromeast,west,north,

andsouth.Beitconcluded,Nobarricadoforabelly.Know't,Itwillletin

andouttheenemyWithbagandbaggage.Manythousandon'sHavethe

disease,andfeel'tnot.Hownow,boy!MAMILLIUS.Iamlikeyou,they

say.LEONTES.Why,that'ssomecomfort.What!Camillothere?

CAMILLO.Ay,mygoodlord.LEONTES.Goplay,Mamillius;thou'rtan

honestman.ExitMAMILLIUSCamillo,thisgreatsirwillyetstaylonger.

CAMILLO.Youhadmuchadotomakehisanchorhold;Whenyoucast

out,itstillcamehome.LEONTES.Didstnoteit?CAMILLO.Hewould

notstayatyourpetitions;madeHisbusinessmorematerial.LEONTES.

Didstperceiveit?[Aside]They'reherewithmealready;whisp'ring,

rounding,'Siciliaisaso-forth.''TisfargoneWhenIshallgustitlast.-

Howcame't,Camillo,Thathedidstay?CAMILLO.AtthegoodQueen's

entreaty.LEONTES.'AttheQueen's'be't.'Good'shouldbepertinent;But

soitis,itisnot.WasthistakenByanyunderstandingpatebutthine?For

thyconceitissoaking,willdrawinMorethanthecommonblocks.Not

noted,is't,Butofthefinernatures,bysomeseveralsOfhead-piece

extraordinary?LowermessesPerchancearetothisbusinesspurblind?Say.

CAMILLO.Business,mylord?IthinkmostunderstandBohemiastays

herelonger.LEONTES.Ha?CAMILLO.Staysherelonger.LEONTES.

Ay,butwhy?CAMILLO.TosatisfyyourHighness,andtheentreatiesOf

ourmostgraciousmistress.LEONTES.SatisfyTh'entreatiesofyour

mistress!Satisfy!Letthatsuffice.Ihavetrustedthee,Camillo,Withall

thenearestthingstomyheart,aswellMychamber-councils,wherein,

priest-like,thouHastcleans'dmybosom-1fromtheedepartedThy

penitentreform'd;butwehavebeenDeceiv'dinthyintegrity,deceiv'dIn

thatwhichseemsso.CAMILLO.Beitforbid,mylord!LEONTES.To

bideupon't:thouartnothonest;or,Ifthouinclin'stthatway,thouarta

coward,Whichhoxeshonestybehind,restrainingFromcourserequir'd;or

THEWINTER'STALE

elsethoumustbecountedAservantgraftedinmyserioustrust,And

thereinnegligent;orelseafoolThatseestagameplay'dhome,therich

stakedrawn,Andtak'stitallforjest.CAMILLO.Mygraciouslord,Imay

benegligent,foolish,andfearful:IneveryoneofthesenomanisfreeBut

thathisnegligence,hisfolly,fear,Amongtheinfinitedoingsoftheworld,

Sometimeputsforth.Inyouraffairs,mylord,IfeverIwerewilfull-

negligent,Itwasmyfolly;ifindustriouslyIplay'dthefool,itwasmy

negligence,Notweighingwelltheend;ifeverfearfulTodoathingwhere

Itheissuedoubted,WhereoftheexecutiondidcryoutAgainstthenon-

performance,'twasafearWhichoftinfectsthewisest.These,mylord,Are

suchallow'dinfirmitiesthathonestyIsneverfreeof.But,beseechyour

Grace,Beplainerwithme;letmeknowmytrespassByitsownvisage;if

Ithendenyit,'Tisnoneofmine.LEONTES.Ha'notyouseen,Camillo-

Butthat'spastdoubt;youhave,oryoureye-glassIsthickerthana

cuckold'shorn-orheard-FortoavisionsoapparentrumourCannotbe

mute-orthought-forcogitationResidesnotinthatmanthatdoesnot

think-Mywifeisslippery?Ifthouwiltconfess-Orelsebeimpudently

negative,Tohavenoreyesnorearsnorthought-thensayMywife'sa

hobby-horse,deservesanameAsrankasanyflax-wenchthatputsto

Beforehertroth-plight.Say'tandjustify't.CAMILLO.Iwouldnotbea

stander-bytohearMysovereignmistresscloudedso,withoutMypresent

vengeancetaken.Shrewmyheart!Youneverspokewhatdidbecomeyou

lessThanthis;whichtoreiterateweresinAsdeepasthat,thoughtrue.

LEONTES.Iswhisperingnothing?Isleaningcheektocheek?Ismeeting

noses?Kissingwithinsidelip?StoppingthecareerOflaughterwitha

sigh?-anoteinfallibleOfbreakinghonesty.Horsingfootonfoot?

Skulkingincorners?Wishingclocksmoreswift;Hours,minutes;noon,

midnight?AndalleyesBlindwiththepinandwebbuttheirs,theirsonly,

Thatwouldunseenbewicked-isthisnothing?Why,thentheworldandall

that'sin'tisnothing;Thecoveringskyisnothing;Bohemianothing;My

wifeisnothing;nornothinghavethesenothings,Ifthisbenothing.

CAMILLO.Goodmylord,becur'dOfthisdiseas'dopinion,andbetimes;

For'tismostdangerous.LEONTES.Sayitbe,'tistrue.CAMILLO.No,no,

mylord.LEONTES.Itis;youlie,youlie.Isaythouliest,Camillo,andI

THEWINTER'STALE

hatethee;Pronouncetheeagrosslout,amindlessslave,Orelsea

hoveringtemporizerthatCanstwiththineeyesatonceseegoodandevil,

Incliningtothemboth.Weremywife'sliverInfectedasherlife,shewould

notliveTherunningofoneglass.CAMILLO.Whodoesinfecther?

LEONTES.Why,hethatwearsherlikehermedal,hangingAbouthis

neck,Bohemia;who-ifIHadservantstrueaboutmethatbareeyesTosee

alikeminehonourastheirprofits,Theirownparticularthrifts,theywould

dothatWhichshouldundomoredoing.Ay,andthou,Hiscupbearer-

whomIfrommeanerformHavebench'dandrear'dtoworship;whomayst

see,Plainlyasheavenseesearthandearthseesheaven,HowIamgall'd-

mightstbespiceacupTogivemineenemyalastingwink;Whichdraught

tomewerecordial.CAMILLO.Sir,mylord,Icoulddothis;andthatwith

norashpotion,Butwithaling'ringdramthatshouldnotworkMaliciously

likepoison.ButIcannotBelievethiscracktobeinmydreadmistress,So

sovereignlybeinghonourable.Ihavelov'dthee-LEONTES.Makethat

thyquestion,andgorot!DostthinkIamsomuddy,sounsettled,To

appointmyselfinthisvexation;sullyThepurityandwhitenessofmy

sheets-Whichtopreserveissleep,whichbeingspottedIsgoads,thorns,

nettles,tailsofwasps;Givescandaltothebloodo'th'Prince,myson-

WhoIdothinkismine,andloveasmine-Withoutripemovingto't?

WouldIdothis?Couldmansoblench?CAMILLO.Imustbelieveyou,

sir.Ido;andwillfetchoffBohemiafor't;Providedthat,whenhe'sremov'd,

yourHighnessWilltakeagainyourqueenasyoursatfirst,Evenforyour

son'ssake;andtherebyforsealingTheinjuryoftonguesincourtsand

kingdomsKnownandalliedtoyours.LEONTES.Thoudostadviseme

EvensoasImineowncoursehavesetdown.I'llgivenoblemishtoher

honour,none.CAMILLO.Mylord,Gothen;andwithacountenanceas

clearAsfriendshipwearsatfeasts,keepwithBohemiaAndwithyour

queen.Iamhiscupbearer;Iffrommehehavewholesomebeverage,

Accountmenotyourservant.LEONTES.Thisisall:Do't,andthouhast

theonehalfofmyheart;Do'tnot,thousplit'stthineown.CAMILLO.I'll

do't,mylord.LEONTES.Iwillseemfriendly,asthouhastadvis'dme.

ExitCAMILLO.Omiserablelady!But,forme,WhatcasestandIin?I

mustbethepoisonerOfgoodPolixenes;andmygroundtodo'tIsthe

THEWINTER'STALE

obediencetoamaster;oneWho,inrebellionwithhimself,willhaveAll

thatarehissotoo.Todothisdeed,Promotionfollows.IfIcouldfind

exampleOfthousandsthathadstruckanointedkingsAndflourish'dafter,

I'dnotdo't;butsinceNorbrass,norstone,norparchment,bearsnotone,

Letvillainyitselfforswear't.ImustForsakethecourt.Todo't,orno,is

certainTomeabreak-neck.Happystarreignnow!HerecomesBohemia.

EnterPOLIXENES

POLIXENES.Thisisstrange.MethinksMyfavourherebeginsto

warp.Notspeak?Goodday,Camillo.CAMILLO.Hail,mostroyalsir!

POLIXENES.Whatisthenewsi'th'court?CAMILLO.Nonerare,my

lord.POLIXENES.TheKinghathonhimsuchacountenanceAshehad

lostsomeprovince,andaregionLov'dasheloveshimself;evennowI

methimWithcustomarycompliment,whenhe,Waftinghiseyestoth'

contraryandfallingAlipofmuchcontempt,speedsfromme;Soleaves

metoconsiderwhatisbreedingThatchangesthushismanners.

CAMILLO.Idarenotknow,mylord.POLIXENES.How,darenot!Do

not.Doyouknow,anddarenotBeintelligenttome?'Tisthereabouts;For,

toyourself,whatyoudoknow,youmust,Andcannotsayyoudarenot.

GoodCamillo,Yourchang'dcomplexionsaretomeamirrorWhichshows

meminechang'dtoo;forImustbeApartyinthisalteration,finding

Myselfthusalter'dwith't.CAMILLO.ThereisasicknessWhichputs

someofusindistemper;butIcannotnamethedisease;anditiscaughtOf

youthatyetarewell.POLIXENES.How!caughtofme?Makemenot

sightedlikethebasilisk;Ihavelook'donthousandswhohavespedthe

betterBymyregard,butkill'dnoneso.Camillo-Asyouarecertainlya

gentleman;theretoClerk-likeexperienc'd,whichnolessadornsOur

gentrythanourparents'noblenames,Inwhosesuccesswearegentle-1

beseechyou,Ifyouknowaughtwhichdoesbehovemyknowledge

Thereoftobeinform'd,imprison'tnotInignorantconcealment.

CAMILLO.Imaynotanswer.POLIXENES.Asicknesscaughtofme,and

yetIwell?Imustbeanswer'd.Dostthouhear,Camillo?Iconjurethee,by

allthepartsofmanWhichhonourdoesacknowledge,whereoftheleastIs

notthissuitofmine,thatthoudeclareWhatincidencythoudostguessof

harmIscreepingtowardme;howfaroff,hownear;Whichwaytobe

THEWINTER'STALE

prevented,iftobe;Ifnot,howbesttobearit.CAMILLO.Sir,Iwilltell

you;SinceIamcharg'dinhonour,andbyhimThatIthinkhonourable.

Thereforemarkmycounsel,Whichmustbeev'nasswiftlyfollowedasI

meantoutterit,orbothyourselfandmeCrylost,andsogoodnight.

POLIXENES.On,goodCamillo.CAMILLO.Iamappointedhimto

murderyou.POLIXENES.Bywhom,Camillo?CAMILLO.BytheKing.

POLIXENES.Forwhat?CAMILLO.Hethinks,nay,withallconfidence

heswears,Ashehadseen'torbeenaninstrumentToviceyouto't,that

youhavetouch'dhisqueenForbiddenly.POLIXENES.O,thenmybest

bloodturnToaninfectedjelly,andmynameBeyok'dwithhisthatdid

betraytheBest!TurnthenmyfreshestreputationtoAsavourthatmay

strikethedullestnostrilWhereIarrive,andmyapproachbeshunn'd,Nay,

hatedtoo,worsethanthegreat'stinfectionThate'erwasheardorread!

CAMILLO.SwearhisthoughtoverByeachparticularstarinheavenand

Byalltheirinfluences,youmayaswellForbidtheseafortoobeythe

moonAsorbyoathremoveorcounselshakeThefabricofhisfolly,

whosefoundationIspil'duponhisfaithandwillcontinueThestandingof

hisbody.POLIXENES.Howshouldthisgrow?CAMILLO.Iknownot;

butIamsure'tissafertoAvoidwhat'sgrownthanquestionhow'tisborn.

Ifthereforeyoudaretrustmyhonesty,Thatliesenclosedinthistrunk

whichyouShallbearalongimpawn'd,awayto-night.YourfollowersIwill

whispertothebusiness;Andwill,bytwosandthrees,atseveralposterns,

Clearthemo'th'city.Formyself,I'llputMyfortunestoyourservice,

whicharehereBythisdiscoverylost.Benotuncertain,For,bythehonour

ofmyparents,IHaveutt'redtruth;whichifyouseektoprove,Idarenot

standby;norshallyoubesaferThanonecondemn'dbytheKing'sown

mouth,thereonHisexecutionsworn.POLIXENES.Idobelievethee:I

sawhisheartin'sface.Givemethyhand;Bepilottome,andthyplaces

shallStillneighbourmine.Myshipsareready,andMypeopledidexpect

myhencedepartureTwodaysago.ThisjealousyIsforapreciouscreature;

asshe'srare,Mustitbegreat;and,ashisperson'smighty,Mustitbe

violent;andashedoesconceiveHeisdishonour'dbyamanwhichever

Profess'dtohim,why,hisrevengesmustInthatbemademorebitter.Fear

o'ershadesme.Goodexpeditionbemyfriend,andcomfortThegracious

THEWINTER'STALE

Queen,partofthistheme,butnothingOfhisill-ta'ensuspicion!Come,

Camillo;Iwillrespecttheeasafather,ifThoubear'stmylifeoffhence.

Letusavoid.CAMILLO.ItisinmineauthoritytocommandThekeysof

alltheposterns.PleaseyourHighnessTotaketheurgenthour.Come,sir,

away.Exeunt

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THEWINTER'STALE

ACTIL

THEWINTER'STALE

SCENEI.Sicilia.ThepalaceofLEONTES

EnterHERMIONE,MAMILLIUS,andLADIES

HERMIONE.Taketheboytoyou;hesotroublesme,'Tispast

enduring.FIRSTLADY.Come,mygraciouslord,ShallIbeyour

playfellow?MAMILLIUS.No,I'llnoneofyou.FIRSTLADY.Why,my

sweetlord?MAMILLIUS.You'llkissmehard,andspeaktomeasifI

wereababystill.Iloveyoubetter.SECONDLADY.Andwhyso,mylord?

MAMILLIUS.NotforbecauseYourbrowsareblacker;yetblackbrows,

theysay,Becomesomewomenbest;sothattherebenotToomuchhair

there,butinasemicircleOrahalf-moonmadewithapen.SECOND

LADY.Whotaught'tthis?MAMILLIUS.Ilearn'ditoutofwomen'sfaces.

Praynow,Whatcolourareyoureyebrows?FIRSTLADY.Blue,mylord.

MAMILLIUS.Nay,that'samock.Ihaveseenalady'snoseThathasbeen

blue,butnothereyebrows.FIRSTLADY.Harkye:TheQueenyour

motherroundsapace.WeshallPresentourservicestoafinenewprince

Oneofthesedays;andthenyou'dwantonwithus,Ifwewouldhaveyou.

SECONDLADY.SheisspreadoflateIntoagoodlybulk.Goodtime

encounterher!HERMIONE.Whatwisdomstirsamongstyou?Come,sir,

nowIamforyouagain.Prayyousitbyus,Andtell'satale.MAMILLIUS.