The Bodleian First Folio

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Reference: 2A1r - Comedies, p. 277

Left Column

The Winters Tale.

Actus Primus. Scœna Prima. [Act 1, Scene 1] Enter Camillo and Archidamus. Arch.

IF you shall chance ( Camillo) to visit Bohemia, on

the like occasion whereon my seruices are now

on‑foot, you shall see (as I haue said) great dif

ference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia.

Cam.

[5]

I thinke, this comming Summer, the King of

Sicilia meanes to pay Bohemia the Visitation, which hee

iustly owes him.

Arch.

Wherein our Entertainment shall shame vs: we

will be iustified in our Loues: for indeed———

Cam.

[10]

'Beseech you———

Arch.

Verely I speake it in the freedome of my know

ledge: we cannot with such magnificence——— in so rare——

I know not what to say——— Wee will giue you sleepie

Drinkes, that your Sences (vn‑intelligent of our insuffi

[15]

cience) may, though they cannot prayse vs, as little ac

cuse vs.

Cam.

You pay a great deale to deare, for what’s giuen

freely.

Arch.

'Beleeue me, I speake as my vnderstanding in

[20]

structs me, and as mine honestie puts it to vtterance.

Cam.

Sicilia cannot shew himselfe ouer‑kind to Bohe mia : They were trayn’d together in their Child‑hoods;

and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection,

which cannot chuse but braunch now. Since their more

[25]

mature Dignities, and Royall Necessities, made seperati

on of their Societie, their Encounters (though not Perso

nall) hath been Royally attornyed with enter‑change of

Gifts, Letters, louing Embassies, that they haue seem’d to

be together, though absent: shooke hands, as ouer a Vast;

[30]

and embrac’d as it were from the ends of opposed Winds.

The Heauens continue their Loues.

Arch.

I thinke there is not in the World, either Malice

or Matter, to alter it. You haue an vnspeakable comfort

of your young Prince Mamillius: it is a Gentleman of the

[35]

greatest Promise, that euer came into my Note.

Cam.

I very well agree with you, in the hopes of him:

it is a gallant Child; one, that (indeed) Physicks the Sub

iect, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on Crutches

ere he was borne, desire yet their life, to see him a Man.

Arch.

[40]

Would they else be content to die?

Cam.

Yes; if there were no other excuse, why they should

desire to liue.

Arch.

If the King had no Sonne, they would desire to

liue on Crutches till he had one.

Exeunt.

Scœna Secunda. [Act 1, Scene 2] Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, Camillo. Pol.

[45]

Nine Changes of the Watry‑Starre hath been

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[full image]

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The Shepheards Note, since we haue left our Throne Without a Burthen: Time as long againe Would be ﬁll’d vp (my Brother) with our Thanks, And yet we should, for perpetuitie,

[50]

Goe hence in debt: And therefore, like a Cypher (Yet standing in rich place) I multiply With one we thanke you, many thousands moe, That goe before it. Leo. Stay your Thanks a while,

[55]

And pay them when you part. Pol. Sir, that’s to morrow: I am question’d by my feares, of what may chance, Or breed vpon our absence, that may blow No sneaping Winds at home, to make vs say,

[60]

This is put forth too truly: besides, I haue stay’d To tyre your Royaltie. Leo. We are tougher (Brother) Then you can put vs to’t. Pol.

No longer stay.

Leo.

[65]

One Seue’night longer.

Pol.

Very sooth, to morrow.

Leo.

Wee’le part the time between’s then: and in that

Ile no gaine‑saying.

Pol. Presse me not ('beseech you) so:

[70]

There is no Tongue that moues; none, none i’th’World So soone as yours, could win me: so it should now, Were there necessitie in your request, although 'Twere needfull I deny’d it. My Affaires Doe euen drag me home‑ward: which to hinder,

[75]

Were (in your Loue) a Whip to me; my stay, To you a Charge, and Trouble: to saue both, Farewell (our Brother.) Leo.

Tongue‑ty’d our Queene? speake you.

Her. I had thought (Sir) to haue held my peace, vntill

[80]

You had drawne Oathes 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, He’s beat from his best ward. Leo.

[85]

Well said, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to see his Sonne, were strong: But let him say so then, and let him goe; But let him sweare so, and he shall not stay, Wee’l thwack him hence with Distaffes.

[90]

Yet of your Royall presence, Ile aduenture The borrow of a Weeke. When at Bohemia You take my Lord, Ile giue him my Commission, To let him there a Moneth, behind the Gest Preﬁx’d for’s parting: yet (good‑deed) Leontes,

[95]

I loue thee not a Iarre o’th’Clock, behind Aa What

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Actus Primus. Scœna Prima. [Act 1, Scene 1] Enter Camillo and Archidamus. Arch.

IF you shall chance ( Camillo) to visit Bohemia, on

the like occasion whereon my seruices are now

on‑foot, you shall see (as I haue said) great dif

ference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia.

Cam.

[5]

I thinke, this comming Summer, the King of

Sicilia meanes to pay Bohemia the Visitation, which hee

iustly owes him.

Arch.

Wherein our Entertainment shall shame vs: we

will be iustified in our Loues: for indeed———

Cam.

[10]

'Beseech you———

Arch.

Verely I speake it in the freedome of my know

ledge: we cannot with such magnificence——— in so rare——

I know not what to say——— Wee will giue you sleepie

Drinkes, that your Sences (vn‑intelligent of our insuffi

[15]

cience) may, though they cannot prayse vs, as little ac

cuse vs.

Cam.

You pay a great deale to deare, for what’s giuen

freely.

Arch.

'Beleeue me, I speake as my vnderstanding in

[20]

structs me, and as mine honestie puts it to vtterance.

Cam.

Sicilia cannot shew himselfe ouer‑kind to Bohe mia : They were trayn’d together in their Child‑hoods;

and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection,

which cannot chuse but braunch now. Since their more

[25]

mature Dignities, and Royall Necessities, made seperati

on of their Societie, their Encounters (though not Perso

nall) hath been Royally attornyed with enter‑change of

Gifts, Letters, louing Embassies, that they haue seem’d to

be together, though absent: shooke hands, as ouer a Vast;

[30]

and embrac’d as it were from the ends of opposed Winds.

The Heauens continue their Loues.

Arch.

I thinke there is not in the World, either Malice

or Matter, to alter it. You haue an vnspeakable comfort

of your young Prince Mamillius: it is a Gentleman of the

[35]

greatest Promise, that euer came into my Note.

Cam.

I very well agree with you, in the hopes of him:

it is a gallant Child; one, that (indeed) Physicks the Sub

iect, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on Crutches

ere he was borne, desire yet their life, to see him a Man.

Arch.

[40]

Would they else be content to die?

Cam.

Yes; if there were no other excuse, why they should

desire to liue.

Arch.

If the King had no Sonne, they would desire to

liue on Crutches till he had one.

Exeunt.

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         <hi rend="italic">Sicilia</hi>cannot shew himselfe ouer‑kind to<hi rend="italic">Bohe
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      <lb n="23"/>and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection,
      <lb n="24"/>which cannot chuse but braunch now. Since their more
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      <lb n="26"/>on of their Societie, their Encounters (though not Perso
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      <lb n="28"/>Gifts, Letters, louing Embassies, that they haue seem’d to
      <lb n="29"/>be together, though absent: shooke hands, as ouer a Vast;
      <lb n="30"/>and embrac’d as it were from the ends of opposed Winds.
      <lb n="31"/>The Heauens continue their Loues.</p>
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      <lb n="34"/>of your young Prince<hi rend="italic">Mamillius</hi>: it is a Gentleman of the
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      <speaker rend="italic">Cam.</speaker>
      <p n="36">I very well agree with you, in the hopes of him:
      <lb n="37"/>it is a gallant Child; one, that (indeed) Physicks the Sub
      <lb n="38"/>iect, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on Crutches
      <lb n="39"/>ere he was borne, desire yet their life, to see him a Man.</p>
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   <sp who="#F-wt-arc">
      <speaker rend="italic">Arch.</speaker>
      <p n="40">Would they else be content to die?</p>
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   <sp who="#F-wt-cam">
      <speaker rend="italic">Cam.</speaker>
      <p n="41">Yes; if there were no other excuse, why they should
      <lb n="42"/>desire to liue.</p>
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   <sp who="#F-wt-arc">
      <speaker rend="italic">Arch.</speaker>
      <p n="43">If the King had no Sonne, they would desire to
      <lb n="44"/>liue on Crutches till he had one.</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

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The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.

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Reference: 2A1r - Comedies, p. 277