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  • Title: The Winter's Tale (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Hardin Aasand

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-367-0

    Copyright Hardin Aasand. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Hardin Aasand
    Peer Reviewed

    The Winter's Tale (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Winters Tale. 291
    Clo. His vices you would say: there's no vertue whipt
    1760out of the Court: they cherish it to make it stay there;
    and yet it will no more but abide.
    Aut. Vices I would say (Sir.) I know this man well,
    he hath bene since an Ape-bearer, then a Processe-seruer
    (a Bayliffe) then hee compast a Motion of the Prodigall
    1765sonne, and married a Tinkers wife, within a Mile where
    my Land and Liuing lyes; and (hauing flowne ouer ma-
    ny knauish professions) he setled onely in Rogue: some
    call him Autolicus.
    Clo. Out vpon him: Prig, for my life Prig: he haunts
    1770Wakes, Faires, and Beare-baitings.
    Aut. Very true sir: he sir hee: that's the Rogue that
    put me into this apparrell.
    Clo. Not a more cowardly Rogue in all Bohemia; If
    you had but look'd bigge, and spit at him, hee'ld haue
    1775runne.
    Aut. I must confesse to you (sir) I am no fighter: I am
    false of heart that way, & that he knew I warrant him.
    Clo. How do you now?
    Aut. Sweet sir, much better then I was: I can stand,
    1780and walke: I will euen take my leaue of you, & pace soft-
    ly towards my Kinsmans.
    Clo. Shall I bring thee on the way?
    Aut. No, good fac'd sir, no sweet sir.
    Clo. Then fartheewell, I must go buy Spices for our
    1785sheepe-shearing. Exit.
    Aut. Prosper you sweet sir. Your purse is not hot e-
    nough to purchase your Spice: Ile be with you at your
    sheepe-shearing too: If I make not this Cheat bring out
    another, and the sheere
    rs proue sheepe, let me be vnrold,
    1790and my name put in the booke of Vertue.


    Song. Iog-on, Iog-on, the foot-path way,
    And merrily hent the Stile-a:
    A merry heart goes all the day,
    Your sad tyres in a Mile-a.
    Exit.


    1795Scena Quarta.


    Enter Florizell, Perdita, Shepherd, Clowne, Polixenes, Ca-
    millo, Mopsa, Dorcas, Seruants, Autolicus.
    Flo. These your vnvsuall weeds, to each part of you
    Do's giue a life: no Shepherdesse, but Flora
    1800Peering in Aprils front. This your sheepe-shearing,
    Is as a meeting of the petty Gods,
    And you the Queene on't.
    Perd. Sir: my gracious Lord,
    To chide at your extreames, it not becomes me:
    1805(Oh pardon, that I name them:) your high selfe
    The gracious marke o'th' Land, you haue obscur'd
    With a Swaines wearing: and me (poore lowly Maide)
    Most Goddesse-like prank'd vp: But that our Feasts
    In euery Messe, haue folly; and the Feeders
    1810Digest with a Custome, I should blush
    To see you so attyr'd: sworne I thinke,
    To shew my selfe a glasse.
    Flo. I blesse the time
    When my good Falcon, made her flight a-crosse
    1815Thy Fathers ground.
    Perd. Now Ioue affoord you cause:
    To me the difference forges dread (your Greatnesse
    Hath not beene vs'd to feare:) euen now I tremble
    To thinke your Father, by some accident
    1820Should passe this way, as you did: Oh the Fates,
    How would he looke, to see his worke, so noble,
    Vildely bound vp? What would he say? Or how
    Should I (in these my borrowed Flaunts) behold
    The sternnesse of his presence?
    1825Flo. Apprehend
    Nothing but iollity: the Goddes themselues
    (Humbling their Deities to loue) haue taken
    The shapes of Beasts vpon them. Iupiter,
    Became a Bull, and bellow'd: the greene Neptune
    1830A Ram, and bleated: and the Fire-roab'd-God
    Golden Apollo, a poore humble Swaine,
    As I seeme now. Their transformations,
    Were neuer for a peece of beauty, rarer,
    Nor in a way so chaste: since my desires
    1835Run not before mine honor: nor my Lusts
    Burne hotter then my Faith.
    Perd. O but Sir,
    Your resolution cannot hold, when 'tis
    Oppos'd (as it must be) by th' powre of the King:
    1840One of these two must be necessities,
    Which then will speake, that you must change this pur-(pose,
    Or I my life.
    Flo. Thou deer'st Perdita,
    With these forc'd thoughts, I prethee darken not
    1845The Mirth o'th' Feast: Or Ile be thine (my Faire)
    Or not my Fathers. For I cannot be
    Mine owne, nor any thing to any, if
    I be not thine. To this I am most constant,
    Though destiny say no. Be merry (Gentle)
    1850Strangle such thoughts as these, with any thing
    That you behold the while. Your guests are comming:
    Lift vp your countenance, as it were the day
    Of celebration of that nuptiall, which
    We two haue sworne shall come.
    1855Perd. O Lady Fortune,
    Stand you auspicious.
    Flo. See, your Guests approach,
    Addresse your selfe to entertaine them sprightly,
    And let's be red with mirth.
    1860Shep. Fy (daughter) when my old wife liu'd: vpon
    This day, she was both Pantler, Butler, Cooke,
    Both Dame and Seruant: Welcom'd all: seru'd all,
    Would sing her song, and dance her turne: now heere
    At vpper end o'th Table; now, i'th middle:
    1865On his shoulder, and his: her face o' fire
    With labour, and the thing she tooke to quench it
    She would to each one sip. You are retyred,
    As if you were a feasted one: and not
    The Hostesse of the meeting: Pray you bid
    1870These vnknowne friends to's welcome, for it is
    A way to make vs better Friends, more knowne.
    Come, quench your blushes, and present your selfe
    That which you are, Mistris o'th' Feast. Come on,
    And bid vs welcome to your sheepe-shearing,
    1875As your good flocke shall prosper.
    Perd. Sir, welcome:
    It is my Fathers will, I should take on mee
    The Hostesseship o'th' day: you're welcome sir.
    Giue me those Flowres there (Dorcas.) Reuerend Sirs,
    1880For you, there's Rosemary, and Rue, these keepe
    Seeming, and sauour all the Winter long:
    Grace, and Remembrance be to you both,
    And welcome to our Shearing.
    Bb2 Pol.
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