Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: The Winter's Tale (Modern)
  • Editor: Hardin Aasand
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-367-0

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Hardin Aasand
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Winter's Tale (Modern)

    [3.1]
    1145Enter Cleomines and Dion.
    Cleomines
    The climate's delicate, the air most sweet,
    Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassing
    The common praise it bears.
    Dion
    I shall report,
    1150For most it caught me, the celestial habits,
    Methinks I so should term them, and the reverence
    Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice,
    How ceremonious, solemn, and unearthly
    It was i'th'offering!
    1155Cleomines
    But of all, the burst
    And the ear-deafening voice o'th'oracle,
    Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense
    That I was nothing.
    Dion
    If th' event o'th' journey
    1160Prove as successful to the queen--O, be't so--
    As it hath been to us, rare, pleasant, speedy,
    The time is worth the use on't.
    Cleomines
    Great Apollo,
    Turn all to th'best! These proclamations,
    1165So forcing faults upon Hermione
    I little like.
    Dion
    The violent carriage of it
    Will clear or end the business when the oracle
    Thus by Apollo's great divine sealed up
    1170Shall the contents discover, something rare
    Even then will rush to knowledge. Go. Fresh horses!
    And gracious be the issue.
    Exeunt.