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The Winter's Tale (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Hardin Aasand
Peer Reviewed
298
The Winters Tale.
2675Tell me (for you seeme to be honest plaine men) what you
haue to the King: being something gently consider'd, Ile
bring you where he is aboord, tender your persons to his
presence, whisper him in your behalfes; and if it be in
man, besides the King, to effect your Suites, here is man
2680shall doe it.
Clow. He seemes to be of great authoritie: close with
him, giue him Gold; and though Authoritie be a stub-
borne Beare, yet hee is oft led by the Nose with Gold:
shew the in-side of your Purse to the out-side of his
2685hand, and no more adoe. Remember ston'd, and flay'd
aliue.
Shep. And't please you (Sir) to vndertake the Businesse
for vs, here is that Gold I haue: Ile make it as much
more, and leaue this young man in pawne, till I bring it
2690you.
Aut. After I haue done what I promised?
Shep. I Sir.
Aut. Well, giue me the Moitie: Are you a partie in
this Businesse?
2695Clow. In some sort, Sir: but though my case be a pit-
tifull one, I hope I shall not be flayd out of it.
Aut. Oh, that's the case of the Shepheards Sonne:
hang him, hee'le be made an example.
Clow. Comfort, good comfort: We must to the King,
2700and shew our strange sights: he must know 'tis none of
your Daughter, nor my Sister: wee are gone else. Sir, I
will giue you as much as this old man do's, when the Bu-
sinesse is performed, and remaine (as he sayes) your pawne
till it be brought you.
2705Aut. I will trust you. Walke before toward the Sea-
side, goe on the right hand, I will but looke vpon the
Hedge, and follow you.
Clow. We are bless'd, in this man: as I may say, euen
bless'd.
2710Shep. Let's before, as he bids vs: he was prouided to
doe vs good.
Aut. If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would
not suffer mee: shee drops Booties in my mouth. I am
courted now with a double occasion: (Gold, and a means
2715to doe the Prince my Master good; which, who knowes
how that may turne backe to my aduancement?) I will
bring these two Moales, these blind-ones, aboord him: if
he thinke it fit to shoare them againe, and that the Com-
plaint they haue to the King, concernes him nothing, let
2720him call me Rogue, for being so farre officious, for I am
proofe against that Title, and what shame else belongs
to't: To him will I present them, there may be matter in
it.
Exeunt.


Actus Quintus. Scena Prima.


2725
Enter Leontes, Cleomines, Dion, Paulina, Seruants:
Florizel, Perdita.
Cleo. Sir, you haue done enough, and haue perform'd
A Saint-like Sorrow: No fault could you make,
Which you haue not redeem'd; indeed pay'd downe
2730More penitence, then done trespas: At the last
Doe, as the Heauens haue done; forget your euill,
With them, forgiue your selfe.
Leo. Whilest I remember
Her, and her Vertues, I cannot forget
2735My blemishes in them, and so still thinke of
The wrong I did my selfe: which was so much,
That Heire-lesse it hath made my Kingdome, and
Destroy'd the sweet'st Companion, that ere man
Bred his hopes out of, true.
2740Paul. Too true (my Lord:)
If one by one, you wedded all the World,
Or from the All that are, tooke something good,
To make a perfect Woman; she you kill'd,
Would be vnparallell'd.
2745Leo. I thinke so. Kill'd?
She I kill'd? I did so: but thou strik'st me
Sorely, to say I did: it is as bitter
Vpon thy Tongue, as in my Thought. Now, good now,
Say so but seldome.
2750Cleo. Not at all, good Lady:
You might haue spoken a thousand things, that would
Haue done the time more benefit, and grac'd
Your kindnesse better.
Paul. You are one of those
2755Would haue him wed againe.
Dio. If you would not so,
You pitty not the State, nor the Remembrance
Of his most Soueraigne Name: Consider little,
What Dangers, by his Highnesse faile of Issue,
2760May drop vpon his Kingdome, and deuoure
Incertaine lookers on. What were more holy,
Then to reioyce the former Queene is well?
What holyer, then for Royalties repayre,
For present comfort, and for future good,
2765To blesse the Bed of Maiestie againe
With a sweet Fellow to't?
Paul. There is none worthy,
(Respecting her that's gone:) besides the Gods
Will haue fulfill'd their secret purposes:
2770For ha's not the Diuine Apollo said?
Is't not the tenor of his Oracle,
That King Leontes shall not haue an Heire,
Till his lost Child be found? Which, that it shall,
Is all as monstrous to our humane reason,
2775As my Antigonus to breake his Graue,
And come againe to me: who, on my life,
Did perish with the Infant. 'Tis your councell,
My Lord should to the Heauens be contrary,
Oppose against their wills. Care not for Issue,
2780The Crowne will find an Heire. Great Alexander
Left his to th' Worthiest: so his Successor
Was like to be the best.
Leo. Good Paulina,
Who hast the memorie of Hermione
2785I know in honor: O, that euer I
Had squar'd me to thy councell: then, euen now,
I might haue look'd vpon my Queenes full eyes,
Haue taken Treasure from her Lippes.
Paul. And left them
2790More rich, for what they yeelded.
Leo. Thou speak'st truth:
No more such Wiues, therefore no Wife: one worse,
And better vs'd, would make her Sainted Spirit
Againe possesse her Corps, and on this Stage
2795(Where we Offendors now appeare) Soule-vext,
And begin, why to me?
Paul. Had she such power,
She had iust such cause.
Leo. She had, and would incense me
2800To murther her I marryed.
Paul. I