The Winters Tale

Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.

Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

Arch. If you shall chance (Camillo) to visit Bohemia, onthe like occasion whereon my seruices are nowon-foot, you shall see (as I haue said) great differencebetwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia

Cam. I thinke, this comming Summer, the King ofSicilia meanes to pay Bohemia the Visitation, which heeiustly owes him

Arch. Wherein our Entertainment shall shame vs: wewill be iustified in our Loues: for indeed- Cam. 'Beseech you- Arch. Verely I speake it in the freedome of my knowledge:we cannot with such magnificence- in so rare-I know not what to say- Wee will giue you sleepieDrinkes, that your Sences (vn-intelligent of our insufficience)may, though they cannot prayse vs, as little accusevs

   Cam. You pay a great deale to deare, for what's giuen
freely

   Arch. 'Beleeue me, I speake as my vnderstanding instructs
me, and as mine honestie puts it to vtterance

Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himselfe ouer-kind to Bohemia:They were trayn'd together in their Childhoods;and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection,which cannot chuse but braunch now. Since their moremature Dignities, and Royall Necessities, made seperationof their Societie, their Encounters (though not Personall)hath been Royally attornyed with enter-change ofGifts, Letters, louing Embassies, that they haue seem'd tobe together, though absent: shooke hands, as ouer a Vast;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 Maliceor Matter, to alter it. You haue an vnspeakable comfortof your young Prince Mamillius: it is a Gentleman of thegreatest 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 Subiect,makes old hearts fresh: they that went on Crutchesere he was borne, desire yet their life, to see him a Man

   Arch. 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.

Scoena Secunda.

Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, Camillo.

  Pol. Nine Changes of the Watry-Starre hath been
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,
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,
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,
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. One Seue' night longer

Pol. Very sooth, to morrow

   Leo. Wee'le part the time betweene's then: and in that
Ile no gaine-saying
...