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For better times to come :-Friar, advise him; I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's

that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost bis head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

[Unmufles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, for his sake [To ISABELLA.

Is he pardon'd: And, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye :-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
I find an apt remission in myself: (your's.
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;-
You, sirrah, [To Lucio.] that knew me for a
fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman ;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,
That you extol me thus ?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, Sir, and hang'd after.— Proclaim it, Provost, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him swear himself, there's one Whom he begot with child,) let her appear, + Incontinence. Thoughtless practice.

• Requites.

And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your bighness, do not marry me to a whore; Your highness said even now, made you a duke: good my lord, do not recom pense me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt mur her.

Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithaf
Remit thy other forfeits: -Take him to prison:
And see our pleasure berein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and banging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.— She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you r store.

Joy to you, Mariana !-love her, Angelo:
I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.—
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much good

ness:

There's more behind, that is more gratulate.
Thanks, Provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place →→
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you bome
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's:
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is your's, and what is your's is
mine :-

So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all shodd
know.
[Exeunt.

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WINTER'S TALE.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

TO the story-book, or Pleasant History (as it is called) of Dorastus and Fawnia, written by Robert Greene, M.A we are indebted for Shakspeare's Winter's Tale. The parts of Antigonus, Paulina, and Autolycus, are of the poet's own invention; and many circumstances of the novel are omitted in the drama. Mr. Walpole ranks it among the historic plays of Shakspeare, and says it was certainly presented, (in compliment to Queen Elizabeth) as an indirect apology for her mother, Anne Boleyn; the unreasonable jealousy and violent conduct of Leontes, forming a true portrait of Henry VIII. who generally made the law the engine of his passions. Several passages, it must be confessed, strongly favour this plausible conjecture, and seem to apply to the real history much closer than to the fable. But Malone and Sir William Blackstone refer to other passages, which would strengthen a contrary opinion; to one, in particular, which could scarcely be in. tended for the ear of her, who had put the Queen of Scots to death. It was, however, probably written immediately upon Elizabeth's death; nor could it fail of being very agreeable to James her successor. An nattention to dramatic rules, so common with Shakspeare, is perhaps more glaringly apparent in this than in any other of his productions; and Pope and Dryden have made it the subject of some ill-advised censure. But had Shakspeare been acquainted with these rules, (which he certainly was not,) the exquisite talent displayed in his writings, is a sufficient apology for the freedom with which he has set them aside. His inexhaustible genius was not to be restrained, nor the restless disposition of an English audience to be gratified, by a close and reverent adherence to the classical uuities of the stage. Hence such a breach in time and probability, as producing, at a rustic festival, a lovely woman, fit to be married, who but a few minutes before, had been deposited on the sea-shore, an infant in swaddling clothes. Hence the celerity with which seas are crossed, countries traversed, battles fought, and marriages accomplished. The Winter's Tale, however, with all its contradictions---with a mean fable, extravagantly conducted---is scarcely inferior to any of Shakspeare's plays. It contains much excellent sentiment, several strongly-marked characters, and a tissue of events fully justifying the title ;---for a jumble of improbable incidents, some merry and some sad, is the legitimate feature of a Christmas story. Still it must be observed, that though the origin and progress of jealousy are always unaccountable, the sudden transition of Leontes from a state of perfect friendship and affection to that of hatred and vindictive rage, is not accompanied by any apparent circumstances to render it probable or natural. Paulina's character is novel, and very pleasingly imagined; and Hermione's defence is not less beautiful and pathetic than its prototype in Henry VIII. Autolycus, the king of beggars and of pedlars, is one of the most arch and amusing scoundrels ever designed by our poet. His songs are all exceedingly spirited.

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An old Shepherd, reputed jather of Perdita.
Clown, his Son.

Servant to the old Shepherd,
AUTOLYCUS, a Rogue.

TIME, as Chorus.

HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes.

PERDITA, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione.
PAULINA, Wife to Antigonus.

EMILIA, a Lady,

}

Two other Ladies, Attending the Queen.

MOPSA,

DORCAS,

} Shepherdesses.

Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Satyrs for a dance.

Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Guards, &c.

SCENE--sometimes in Sicilia; sometimes in Bohemia.

ACT I.

SCENE 1.-Sicilia.-An Antechamber in
LEONTES' Palace.

Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS.
Arch. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit
Bohemia, on the like occasion whereen my
services are now on foot, you shall see as I

have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia.

Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bonemia the visitation which he justly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, in deed,

Can. 'Beseech you,-

Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my | To you a charge and trouble: to save both, knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence- Farewell, our brother.

in so rare-I know not what to say.--We will Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen ↑ speak you give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, un- Her. I had thought, Sir, to have bead my intelligent of our insufficience, inay, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us.

Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely.

Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understand. ing instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to

ulterance.

peace, until

You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay.
You, Sir,

Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are suce,
All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction
The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Leon. Well said, Hermione.

Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were

strong:

Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but But let him say so then, and let him go; branch now. Since their more mature dignities, But let him swear so, and be shall not stay, and royal necessities, made separation of their We'll thwack him bence with distaffs.society, their encounters, though not personal, Yet of your royal presence [To POLIVINIS have been royally attornied, with interchange I'll adventure

of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have The borrow of a week. When at Bobenia seemed to be together, though absent; shook You take my lord, I'll give him my coRIES hands, as over a vast ; and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an un-I speakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note.

Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, 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 live.

Arch. If the king bad no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one.

[Exeunt. SCENE II-The same.-A Room of state in the Palace.

Eater LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MA-
MILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants.
Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have
been
(throne
The shepherd's note, since we have left our
Without a burden: time as long again
Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply,
With one we-thank-you, many thousands more
That go before it.

Leon. Stay your thanks awhile;
And pay them when you part.
Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears, of what may
chance,

Or breed upon our absence: That may blow
No sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have
To tire your royalty.

Leon. We are tougher, brother,

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[stay'd

Leon. We'll part the time between's then: and in that

I'll no gain-saying.

Pol. Press me not, 'beseech yon, so;

There is no tongue that moves, none, none i'the
world,
[now,
So soon as your's, could win me: so it should
Wore there necessity in your request, although
'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

Do even drag me homeward: which to binder,
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay,

Nobly supplied by substitution of embassies."
Wide waste of country.
Afforda a cordial to the state.
} Nipping

sion,

To let him there a month, behind the gest* Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, • Leontes,

love thee not a jar o'the clock behind
What lady she her lord.-You'll stay f
Pol. No, madam.

Her. Nay, but you will?
Pol. I may not, verily.
Her. Verily !

You put me off with limber § vows: But 1,
Though you would seek to unsphere the stars
with oaths,

Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily,
You shall not go; a lady's verily is
As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet!
Force me to keep you as a prisoner,
Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees,
When you depait, and save your thanks. H
say you?

My prisoner? or my guest! by your wa
One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your guest then, inadam :

To be your prisoner, should import offending ;
Which is for me less easy to commit,
Than you to punish.

Her. Not your jailer then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question yea
Of my lord's tricks, and your's, when you we.t
boys;

You were pretty lordings then.
Pol. We were, fair queri,

Two lads, that thought there was no more be

bind,

But such a day to-morrow as to day,
And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my lord the verier wag othe

two?

Pol. We were as twin'd lambs, that dad fisk

i'the sun,

And bleat the one at the other: what we chanetj.
Was innocence for innocence; we knew E-{
The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dreamsˆd
That any did: Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd
heaven

Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clearˆd,
Hereditary our's.

Her. By this we gather,
You have tripp'd since.

Pol. O my most sacred lady,

Templations have since then been born to rs:
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a ri; (hư
Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes
Of my young playfellow.

Her. Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclusion; lest you say,
Your queen and I are devils: Yel, go cù;

• Gests were the names of the stages where the king
appointed to lie, during a royal progress.
Indee
1 Tick.
↑ Flimay-
I&dnutive of tors
¶ Setting aside original sin.

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Leon. Is he won yet?

Her. He'll stay, my lord.

Leon. At my request, he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st To better purpose.

Her. Never ?

Leon. Never, but once,

Her. What have I twice said well? when was't before?

I pr'ythee, tell me : Cram us with praise, and make us

As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongueless,

Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages: You may ride us,
With one soft kiss, a thousand furlongs, ere
With spur we beat an acre. But to the jail :-
My last good was, to entreat his stay;
What was my first? it has an elder sister,
Or I mistake you: Oh! would her name were
Grace !

But once before I spoke to the purpose: When?
Nay, let me have't; I long.

Leon. Why, that was when

Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand, And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter, I am your's for ever.

Her. It is Grace, indeed.[twice: Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose The one for ever earn'd a royal husband; The other, for some while a friend.

[Giving her hand to POLIXENES. Leon: Too hot, too hot : [Aside. To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. I have tremor cordis on me :-my heart dances; But not for joy,-not joy.-This entertainment May a free face put on; derive a liberty From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, And well become the agent; it may, I grant: But to be paddling palins, and pinching fingers, As now they are; and making practis'd smiles, As in a looking-glass ;-and then to sigh, as 'twere

The mort o'the deer; Oh! that is entertain

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They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain,

We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain:
And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf,
Are all call'd, neat.-Still virginalling

[Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE. Upon his palm ?-How now, you wanton calf? Art thou my calf?

Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord.
Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the
shoots that I have,

To be full like me :-yet, they say, we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will say any thing: But were they false
As o'er-died blacks, as wind, as waters; false
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
No bourn¶twixt his and mine; yet were it

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Most dear'st! my collop!-Can thy dam ?— may't be?

Affection thy intention stabs the centre:
Thou dost make possible, things not so held
Communicat'st with dreams;-(How can this
be ?)-

With what's unreal thou coactive art,

And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent, Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou dost;

(And that beyond commission; and I find it,)
And that to the infection of my brains,
And hardening of my brows.

Pol. What means Sicilia ?

Her. He something seems unsettled.
Pol. How, my lord?

What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?
Her. You look,

As if you held a brow of much distraction:
Are you mov'd, my lord?

Leon. No, in good earnest.-
How sometimes nature will betray its folly
Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime
To barder bosoms! Looking on the lines
Of my boy's face, methought, I did recoil
Twenty-three years; and saw myself unbreech'd,
In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled,
Lest it should bite its master, and so prove,
As ornaments oft do, too dangerous.
How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,
This quash,† this gentleman:-Mine honest
friend,

Will you take eggs for money? ↑

Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.

Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole !5-My brother,

Are you so fond of your young prince, as we
Do seem to be of our's?

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[Aside. Observing POLIXENES and HERHow she holds up the neb, the bill to him! And arms her with the boldness of a wife To her allowing husband! Gone already; Inch-thick, knee-deep; o'er head and cars a fork'd one. tt

[Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE, and Attendants.

Go, play, boy, play-thy mother plays, and I Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue Will hiss me to my grave; contempt and cla

mour

will be my knell.-Go, play, boy, play;- There have been,

Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the
arm,

• Credible. + Peacod. Will you be cajoled. May his share of life be a happy one. Heir apparent, next claimant. ¶ Moyth. Approving. 11 A horned one.

That little thinks she has been slut'd in his absence,

And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour: may, there's comfort
in't,
[open'd,
Whiles other men have gates; and those gates
As mine, against their will: Should all despair,
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physie for't there is

none;

It is a bawdy planet, that will strike Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it, [cluded, From east, west, north, and south: Be it conNo barricado for a belly; know it; It will let in and out the enemy,

With bag and baggage: many a thousand of us Have the disease, and feel't not. -How now, boy?

Mam. I am like you, they say. Leon. Why that's some comfort.What! Camillo there?

Cam. Ay, my good lord.

man.

Leon. Go play, Mamillias; thou'rt an honest (Exit MAMILLIUS. Camillo, this great Sir will yet stay longer. Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold;

When you cast out, it still came home.
Leon. Didst note it?

Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; His business more material. [made whispering,

Leon. Didst perceive it ?They're here with me already; rounding,

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Sicilia is a so-jorth: 'Tis far gone,

Amongst the infinite doings of the world,
Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord,
If ever I were wilful-negligent,
It was my folly; if industriously
I play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord;
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of. But, 'beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me; let me know my trespas
By its own visage: if I then deny it,
'Tis none of mine.

Leon. Have not you seen, Camille, (But that's past doubt: you have ; of your eyeglass

Is thicker than a cuckold's horn :) or beard,
(For, to a vision so apparent, rumour
Cannot be mute,) or thought, (for cogitation
Resides not in that man, that does not tănả đụ
My wife is slippery? If thon will coufess,
(Or else be impudently negative,
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought, then
say,

My wife's a hobby-horse: deserves a same
As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say it, and justify it.

Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to bear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken: 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did becoine you less
Than this; which to reiterate, were sim
As deep as that, though true.

Leon. Is whispering nothing?

When I shall gust it last.-How came't, Camillo, Is leaning cheek to cheek ? is meeting noses ↑ That he did stay?

Cam. At the good queen's entreaty.

Kissing with inside lip! stopping the career Of laughter with a sigh ? (a note infalible

Leon. At the queen's, be't: good, should be of breaking honesty :) horsing foot on foot !

pertinent;

But so it is, it is not. Was this faken
By any understanding pate but thine?
For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in

More than the common blocks :-Not noted, is't,
But of the finer natures? by some severals,
Of head-piece extraordinary ? lower messes, ‡
Perchance, are to this business purblind: say.
Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most un-
derstand

Bohemia stays here longer.

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Skulking in corners ? wishing clocks more <:11 Hours, minutes? noon, midnight! and all eyes

blind

With the pin and web, but their's, their's only, That would unseen be wicked! Is this mothe Why, then the world, and all that's in't, is 20thing;

The covering sky is nothing: Bobemia noflring; My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these wothings

If this be nothing.

Cam. Good my lord, be cur'd

Of this diseas'd opinion, and betitnes ;
For 'tis most dangerous.

Leon. Say, it be; 'tis true.

Cam. No, no, my lord.

Leon. It is; you lie, you lie :

I say thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee:
Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless stave ;
Or else a hovering temporizer, that
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evi,
Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver
Infected as ber life, she would not live
The running of one glass. +

Cam. Who does infect her?

Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, hanging

About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if 1

Had servants true about me: that bare eyes
To see alike mine honour as their profits,
Their own particular thrifts,-they would do

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