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: 2B1r - Comedies, p. 289

Left Column


The Winters Tale.

can reade Waiting‑Gentlewoman in the scape: this has

beene some staire‑worke, some Trunke‑worke, some be­

hinde‑doore worke: they were warmer that got this,

[1495]

then the poore Thing is heere. Ile take it vp for pity, yet

Ile tarry till my sonne come: he hallow’d but euen now.

Whoa‑ho‑hoa.

Enter Clowne. Clo.

Hilloa, loa.

Shep.

What? art so neere? If thou’lt see a thing to

[1500]

talke on, when thou art dead and rotten, come hither:

what ayl’st thou, man?

Clo.

I haue seene two such sights, by Sea & by Land:

but I am not to say it is a Sea, for it is now the skie, be‑twixt

the Firmament and it, you cannot thrust a bodkins

[1505]

point.

Shep.

Why boy, how is it?

Clo.

I would you did but see how it chafes, how it ra­

ges, how it takes vp the shore, but that’s not to the point:

Oh, the most pitteous cry of the poore soules, sometimes

[1510]

to see 'em, and not to see 'em: Now the Shippe boaring

the Moone with her maine Mast, and anon swallowed

with yest and froth, as you’ld thrust a Corke into a hogs‑head.

And then for the Land‑seruice, to see how the

Beare tore out his shoulder‑bone, how he cride to mee

[1515]

for helpe, and said his name was Antigonus, a Nobleman:

But to make an end of the Ship, to see how the Sea flap­

dragon’d it: but first, how the poore soules roared, and

the sea mock’d them: and how the poore Gentleman roa­

red, and the Beare mock’d him, both roaring lowder

[1520]

then the sea, or weather.

Shep.

Name of mercy, when was this boy?

Clo.

Now, now: I haue not wink’d since I saw these

sights: the men are not yet cold vnder water, nor the

Beare halfe din’d on the Gentleman: he’s at it now.

Shep.
[1525]

Would I had bin by, to haue help’d the olde

man.

Clo.

I would you had beene by the ship side, to haue

help’d her; there your charity would haue lack’d footing.

Shep.

Heauy matters, heauy matters: but looke thee

[1530]

heere boy. Now blesse thy selfe: thou met’st with things

dying, I with things new borne. Here’s a sight for thee:

Looke thee, a bearing‑cloath for a Squires childe: looke

thee heere, take vp, take vp (Boy:) open’t: so, let’s see, it

was told me I should be rich by the Fairies. This is some

[1535]

Changeling: open’t: what’s within, boy?

Clo.

You’re a mad olde man: If the sinnes of your

youth are forgiuen you, you’re well to liue. Golde, all

Go d.

Shep.

This is Faiery Gold boy, and 'twill proue so: vp

[1540]

with’t, keepe it close: home, home, the next way. We

are luckie (boy) and to bee so still requires nothing but

secrecie. Let my sheepe go: Come (good boy) the next

way home.

Clo.

Go you the next way with your Findings, Ile go

[1545]

see if the Beare bee gone from the Gentleman, and how

much he hath eaten: they are neuer curst but when they

are hungry: if there be any of him left, Ile bury it.

Shep.

That’s a good deed: if thou mayest discerne by

that which is left of him, what he is, fetch me to th’sight

[1550]

of him.

Clowne.

'Marry will I: and you shall helpe to put him

i’th’ground.

Shep.

'Tis a lucky day, boy, and wee’l do good deeds

on’t.

Exeunt

Right Column


Actus Quartus. Scena Prima. [Act 4, Scene 1] Enter Time, the Chorus. Time.
[1555]
I that please some, try all: both ioy and terror Of good, and bad: that makes, and vnfolds error, Now take vpon me (in the name of Time) To vse my wings: Impute it not a crime To me, or my swift passage, that I slide
[1560]
Ore sixteene yeeres, and leaue the growth vntride Of that wide gap, since it is in my power To orethrow Law, and in one selfe‑borne howre To plant, and ore‑whelme Custome. Let me passe The same I am, ere ancient’st Order was,
[1565]
Or what is now receiu’d. I witnesse to The times that brought them in, so shall I do To th’freshest things now reigning, and make stale The glistering of this present, as my Tale Now seemes to it: your patience this allowing,
[1570]
I turne my glasse, and giue my Scene such growing As you had slept betweene: Leontes leauing Th’effects of his fond iealousies, so greeuing That he shuts vp himselfe. Imagine me (Gentle Spectators) that I now may be
[1575]
In faire Bohemia, and remember well, I mentioned a sonne o’th’Kings, which Florizell I now name to you: and with speed so pace To speake of Perdita, now growne in grace Equall with wond’ring. What of her insues
[1580]
I list not prophesie: but let Times newes Be knowne when 'tis brought forth. A shepherds daugh­ (ter And what to her adheres, which followes after, Is th’argument of Time: of this allow, If euer you haue spent time worse, ere now:
[1585]
If neuer, yet that Time himselfe doth say, He wishes earnestly, you neuer may.
Exit.
Scena Secunda. [Act 4, Scene 2] Enter Polixenes, and Camillo. Pol.

I pray thee (good Camillo) be no more importu­

nate: 'tis a sicknesse denying thee any thing: a death to

grant this.

Cam.
[1590]

It is fifteene yeeres since I saw my Countrey:

though I haue (for the most part) bin ayred abroad, I de­

sire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent King

(my Master) hath sent for me, to whose feeling sorrowes

I might be some allay, or I oreweene to thinke so) which

[1595]

is another spurre to my departure.

Pol.

As thou lou’st me ( Camillo) wipe not out the rest

of thy seruices, by leauing me now: the neede I haue of

thee, thine owne goodnesse hath made: better not to

haue had thee, then thus to want thee, thou hauing made

[1600]

me Businesses, (which none (without thee) can suffici­

ently manage) must either stay to execute them thy selfe,

or take away with thee the very seruices thou hast done:

which if I haue not enough considered (as too much I

cannot) to bee more thankefull to thee, shall bee my stu­

[1605]

die, and my profite therein, the heaping friendshippes.

Of that fatall Countrey Sicillia, prethee speake no more,

whose very naming, punnishes me with the remembrance Bb of

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Actus Quartus. Scena Prima. [Act 4, Scene 1] Enter Time, the Chorus. Time.
[1555]
I that please some, try all: both ioy and terror Of good, and bad: that makes, and vnfolds error, Now take vpon me (in the name of Time) To vse my wings: Impute it not a crime To me, or my swift passage, that I slide
[1560]
Ore sixteene yeeres, and leaue the growth vntride Of that wide gap, since it is in my power To orethrow Law, and in one selfe‑borne howre To plant, and ore‑whelme Custome. Let me passe The same I am, ere ancient’st Order was,
[1565]
Or what is now receiu’d. I witnesse to The times that brought them in, so shall I do To th’freshest things now reigning, and make stale The glistering of this present, as my Tale Now seemes to it: your patience this allowing,
[1570]
I turne my glasse, and giue my Scene such growing As you had slept betweene: Leontes leauing Th’effects of his fond iealousies, so greeuing That he shuts vp himselfe. Imagine me (Gentle Spectators) that I now may be
[1575]
In faire Bohemia, and remember well, I mentioned a sonne o’th’Kings, which Florizell I now name to you: and with speed so pace To speake of Perdita, now growne in grace Equall with wond’ring. What of her insues
[1580]
I list not prophesie: but let Times newes Be knowne when 'tis brought forth. A shepherds daugh­ (ter And what to her adheres, which followes after, Is th’argument of Time: of this allow, If euer you haue spent time worse, ere now:
[1585]
If neuer, yet that Time himselfe doth say, He wishes earnestly, you neuer may.
Exit.
 

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   <head rend="center">Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 4, Scene 1]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Time, the Chorus.</stage>
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      <l n="1555">I that please some, try all: both ioy and terror</l>
      <l n="1556">Of good, and bad: that makes, and vnfolds error,</l>
      <l n="1557">Now take vpon me (in the name of Time)</l>
      <l n="1558">To vse my wings: Impute it not a crime</l>
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      <l n="1566">The times that brought them in, so shall I do</l>
      <l n="1567">To th’freshest things now reigning, and make stale</l>
      <l n="1568">The glistering of this present, as my Tale</l>
      <l n="1569">Now seemes to it: your patience this allowing,</l>
      <l n="1570">I turne my glasse, and giue my Scene such growing</l>
      <l n="1571">As you had slept betweene:<hi rend="italic">Leontes</hi>leauing</l>
      <l n="1572">Th’effects of his fond iealousies, so greeuing</l>
      <l n="1573">That he shuts vp himselfe. Imagine me</l>
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      <l n="1575">In faire Bohemia, and remember well,</l>
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      <l n="1578">To speake of<hi rend="italic">Perdita</hi>, now growne in grace</l>
      <l n="1579">Equall with wond’ring. What of her insues</l>
      <l n="1580">I list not prophesie: but let Times newes</l>
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         <pc rend="turnunder">(</pc>ter</l>
      <l n="1582">And what to her adheres, which followes after,</l>
      <l n="1583">Is th’argument of Time: of this allow,</l>
      <l n="1584">If euer you haue spent time worse, ere now:</l>
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      <l n="1586">He wishes earnestly, you neuer may.</l>
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   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

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