WINTER'S TALE. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. TO the story-book, or Pleasant History (as it is called) of Dorastus and Pawnia, written by Robert Grerne, M. 4 we ra 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 plausille 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 conld 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 mattention to dramatic rules, so common with Shakspeare, is perhaps more glaringly apparent in this than 19 any other of his productions; and Pope and Drvdeu have made it the subject of some ill-advised censure. But had Shakspeare been acquainted with these ruler, (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 muities 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 crosseil, countries traversed, battles fought, and marriages accomplished. The Winter's Tale, how. ever, with all its contradictions---with a mean fable, extravagantly conducted---is scarcely inferior to any of Shakspeare's plays. It contains much exvellent 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 appareut 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 cur poet. His songs are all exceedingly spirited DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. LEONTES, King of Sicilia. Servant to the old Shepherd. MAMILLIUS, his Son. AUTOLYCUS, a Rogue. CAMILLO, Time, as ('horus. ANTIGONUS, Sicilian Lords. HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes. PERDITA, Daughter to Leontes and Hermione. PAULINA, Wife to Antigonus. MOPSA, DORCAS, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants ; Satyrs for Jailer. a dance. An old Shepherd, reputed jather of Perdita. Cloun, his Son. Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Guards, &c. SCENE--sometimes in Sicilia ; sometimes in Bohemia. An Attendant on the young Prince Manillius. Ewo other Ladies, } Attending the Queen. } Shepherdesses. ACT I. bave said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia. SCENE 1.- Sicilia.-An Antechamber in Com. I thiuk, this coming summer, the king LEONTES' Palace. of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation Enter Camillo and ARCHIDAMUS. which he justly owes him. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame Arch. If yon shall chance, Camillo, to visit us, we will be justified in our loves : for, iu. Bohemia, on the like occasion whereen my deed, -services are now on foot, you shall see as 11 Cam, '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 mayuiticence Farewell, our brother, in so rare--I know not what to say.----We will Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen ? speak you. pive you sleepy drinks; that your senses, un. Her. I had thought, Sir, to bave held my intelligent of our insufficience, inay, though they peace, until cannot praise us, as little accuse us. You bad drawn oaths from him, not to stay. Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for wbat's You, Sir, given freely. Charge him too coldly : Tell him, you are sure, Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understand. All in Bobemia's well: this satisfaction ing instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to The by-gone day proclaim'd ; say this to him, utterance. He's beat froin bis best ward. Cam. Sicilia cannot show binself over-kind Leon. Well said, Hermione. to Bobemia. They were trained together in Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them strong : then such an affection, which cannot choose but But let bim say so then, and let him go ; branch now. Since their more mature dignities, But let him swear so, and he 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 POLIXENES.) bave been royally attornied, with interchange I'll adventure of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have the borrow of a week. When at Bohemia seemed to be together, though absent ; shook | You take my lord, i'll give him my commishands, as over a vast ; t and embraced, as it were, sion, from the ends of opposed winds. The beavens To let him there a month, behind the gest. continue their loves ! Pretix'd for bis parung : yet, good deed, + LeArch. I think, there is not in the world either ontes, malice, or matter, to alter it. You bave an un- I love thee not a jar o'the clock bebiud speakable comfort of your young prince Mamil. What lady she her lord.--You'll stay? lius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, Pol. No, madam. that ever came into my note. Her. Nay, but you will ? Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes Pol. I may not, verily. of him : it is a gallant child ; one that, indeed, Her. Verily! physics the subject. I makes old hearts fresh : You put me off with limber ý vows : But I, they, that went on crutches ere he was born, Though you would seek to unsphere the stars desire yet their life, to see him a man. with oaths, Arch. Would they else be content to die? Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why you shall not go; a lady's verily is they should desire to live. As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Arch. If the king had no son, they would de- Force me to keep you as a prisoner, sire to live on crutcbes till he had one. Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees, (Exeunt. When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you? (verily, SCENE II.-The same.- A Room of state in My prisoner ? or my guest ? by your dread the Palace. One of them you shall be. Pol. Your guest then, madam : Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, VA- To be your prisoner, should import offending ; MILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Which is for me less easy to commit, Pol. Nine cbanges of the wat'ry star have Than you to panish. been (throue Her. Not your jailer then, The shepherd's note, since we have left our But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you Without a burden : time as long again of my lord's tricks, and your's, wben you were Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; boys; And yet we should, for perpetuity, You were pretty lordings || then. Go hence in debt : And therefore, like a cipher, Pol. We were, fair queen, Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, Two lads, that thought there was no more beWith one we-thank-you, many thousands more biud, That go before it. But such a day to-morrow as to day, Leon. Stay your thanks awhile ; And to be boy eternal. And pay them when you pari. Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o'the Pol. Sir, that's in-morrow. two? I am question'd by my fears, of what may Pol. We were as twind'd lambs, that did frisk chaace, Or breed upon our absence : That may blow And bleat the one at the other : wbat we chang'd, No sneaping winds at home, to make us say, Was innocence for innocence; we knew not This is put forth too truly! Besides, I bave The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd To tire your royalty. (stay'u That any did : Had we pursued that life, Leon. We are tougher, brother, And our weak spirits ne'er been bigher rear'd Than you can put us to't. With stronger blood, we should have answered Pol. No longer stay. heaven Leon. One seven-night longer. Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition cleard, Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. Hereditary our's. I Leon. We'll part the time between's tben : Her. By this we gather, and in that You bave tripp'd since. L'Il no gain-saying. Pol. O my most sacred lady, Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so ; Templations have since then been born to as: There is no tongue that moves, bone, none i'the in those untedg'd days was my wife a girl; (for world, (now, Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes So soon as your's, could win me : 80 it should of my young playfellow. Were there necessity in your request, although Her. Grace to boot ! 'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs of this make no conclusion ; lest you say, Do even drag me homeward : which to binder, Your queen and I are devils : Yet, go ou; Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay, • Gests were the names of the stages where the king appointed to lie, during a royal progress. • Nobly supplied by substitution of embassies. + Tudeed. Tick. Flimay. Wide waste of country. i Adiminutive of lords. 1 Affordo a cordial to the state. Nipping Setting aside original ein. i'the sun, The offences we have made you do, we'll an-, Most dear'st ! my collop !-Can thy dain swer ; may't be ? If you first sind'd with us, and that with us Affection ! thy intention stabs the centre : You did continue fault, and that you slipp'd not Thou dost make possible, tbings not so held With any but with us. Communicat'st with dreams ;-(How can this Leon. Is he won yet? be 1) Her. He'll stay, my lord. with what's unreal thou coactive art, Leon. At my request, be would not. And fellow'st nothing : Then, 'tis very credent, Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou To better purpose. dost; Her. Never ? (And that beyond commission; and I find it,) Leon. Never, but once, And that to the infection of my brains, Her. What I have I twice said well? when And hardening of my brows. was't before ? Pol. Waat means Sicilia I pr’ythee, tell me : Cram is with praise, and Her. He something seems unsettled. make us Pol. How, my lord ? As fat as tame things : One good deed, dying what cheer? how is't with you, best brotber? tongueless, Her. You look, Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. As if you held a brow of much distraction : Our praises are our wages : You may ride us, Are you mov'd, my lord ? With one sost kiss, a thousand furlongs, ere Leon. No, in good earnest.With spar we heat an acre. But to the jail :- How sometimes nature will betray its folly My last good was, to entreat bis stay; Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime Wbat was my first ? it has an elder sister, To barder bosoins ! Looking on the lines Or I mistake you : Ob! would ber name were or iny boy's face, methought, I did recoil Grace ! Twenty-three years; and saw inyself unbreech't, But once before I spoke to the purpose : When? In my green velvet coat ; my dagger muzzled, Nay, let me have't ; I long. Lest it should bite its master, and so prove, Leon. Why, that was when As ornaments oft do, too dangerous. Three crabbed months bad sour'd themselves to How like, methought, I then was to this keraci, death, This quash, this gentleman :-Mine bouest Ere I could make thec open thy white hand, friend, And clap thyself iny love; theu didst thou utter, Will you take eggs for money? I I am your's for ever. Mam. No, my lord, l'Il tight. Her. It is Grace, indeed. (twice : Leon. You will? why, happy inan be bis Why, lo you don, í bave spoke to the purpose dole ! 5-My brother, The one for ever earu'd a royal husband; Are you so fond of your young prince, as we The other, for some while a friend. Do seem to be of our's (Giving her hand to POLIXENES. Pol. If at home, Sir, Loon. Too hot, too bot : (Aside. He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter: To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy; I have tremor cordis on me :--my heart dances; My parasite, iny soldier, statestaan, all : But not for joy,—not joy.—This entertainment He makes a July's day short as December ; May a free ce put on; derive a liberty And with big varying childness, cures in me From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, Thoughts that would thick my blood. And well become the agent; it may, I grant : Leon. So stands this squire But to be paddling palms, and pinching fingers, Offic'd with me: We two will walk, my lord, As now they are ; and making practis'd smiles, And leave you to your graver steps.--Hermione, As in a looking-glass s--and then to sigh, as How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's wel. 'twere come ; Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's Her. If you would seek us, We are your's i'the garden : Shall's attend you Leon. l'recks ? there? Why that's my bawcock. # What, hast smutch'd Leon. To your own bents dispose you : you'll thy nose be found, They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, cap. Be you beneath the sky :-1 am angling now tain, Though you perceive une not how I give line. We must be neat ; not neat, but cleanly, captain : Go to, go to i And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf, (Aside. Observing POLIXENES and HERAre all callid, neat.-Still virginalling ý MIONE. (Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE. How she holds up the neb, the bill to him ! Upon his palı ?- How now, you wanton calf's And arms her with the boldness of a wife Art thou my call? To her allowing '* husband ! Gone already ; Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Iuch-thick, knee-deep ; o'er head and ears a Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the fork'd one.it shoots ihat I bave, I (Eseunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE, and To be full like me :--yet, they say, we are Attendants. - Almost as like as eggs ; wonien say so, Go, play, boy, play ;-thy mother plays, and I That will say any thing : But were they false Play tvo; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issne As o'er-died blacks, as wind, as waters; false Will biss me to my grave; coutempt and cla. As dice are to be wisb'd, by one that fixes mour No bourn & twixt his and mine ; yet were it will be my knell.-Go, play, boy, play ;- There true have been, To say this boy were like me.-Come, Sir page, or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now; Look on me with your welkin ** eye: Swee: And many a man there is, even at this present, villain ! Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by lie • Trembling of the heart. arm, + The tune played at the death of the deer. 1 Hearty fellow. 1. e. Playing with her fingers as if on a spinnet. • Credible. + Tcacod. 1 Will you be cajo ed. Thou wautest a rough head, and the budding hords May his share of life be a happy one. that I have Iller appareut, next claimant. Meulb. • Blue. 14 A horued one. |
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