The Winter's Tale

The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare. Although listed as a comedy in the first Folio, modern editors have relabelled the play a romance. There has been a good deal of dispute over when the play was written, with dates ranging from 1594 to 1610 or 1611. It is sometimes considered to be one of the "problem plays" because the first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama, while the last two acts are comedic and supply a happy ending. Act I Camillo: You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely.Archidamus: Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance. Scene i You put me off with limber vows; but I,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'sAs 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 feesWhen you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?My prisoner or my guest? by your dread verily,One of them you shall be. Hermione, scene ii We were, fair queen,Two lads that thought there was no more behind,But such a day to-morrow as to-day,And to be boy eternal. Polixenes, scene ii What we chang'dWas innocence for innocence; we knew notThe doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'dThat any did. Polixenes, scene ii Of this make no conclusion, lest you sayYour queen and I are devils: yet, go on;The offences we have made you do, we'll answer,If you first sinn'd with us, and that with usYou did continue fault, and that you slipp'd notWith any but with us. Hermione, scene ii Leontes: Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'stTo better purpose.Hermione: Never?Leontes: Never, but once.Hermione: What! have I twice said well? when was't before? Scene ii My last good deed was to entreat his stay;What was my first? it has an elder sister,Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace!But once before I spoke to the purpose: when?Nay, let me have't; I long. Hermione, scene ii They say we areAlmost as like as eggs. Leontes, scene ii I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful;In every one of these no man is free,But that his negligence, his folly, fear,Among the infinite doings of the world,Sometime puts forth. In your affairs, my lord,If ever I were wilfull-negligent,It was my folly; if industriouslyI play'd the fool, it was my negligence,Not weighing well the end; if ever fearfulTo do a thing, where I the issue doubted,Whereof the execution did cry outAgainst the non-performance, 'twas a fearWhich oft infects the wisest. These, my lord,Are such allow'd infirmities that honestyIs never free of. But, beseech your grace,Be plainer with me; let me know my trespassBy its own visage; if I then deny it,'Tis none of mine. Camillo, scene ii You may as wellForbid the sea for to obey the moon,As, or by oath remove, or counsel shakeThe fabric of his folly, whose foundationIs pil'd upon his faith, and will continueThe standing of his body. Camillo, scene ii I am sure 'tis safer toAvoid what's grown than question how 'tis born. Camillo, scene ii This jealousyIs for a precious creature; as she's rare,Must it be great; and, as his person's mighty,Must it be violent: and as he does conceiveHe is dishonour'd by a man which everProfess'd to him, why, his revenges mustIn that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me. Polixenes, scene ii Act II There’s some ill planet reigns:I must be patient till the heavens look With an aspect more favourable. Good my lords,I am not prone to weeping, as our sexCommonly are — the want of which vain dewPerchance shall dry your pities — but I haveThat honourable grief lodg’d here, which burnsWorse than tears drown. Beseech you all, my lords,With thoughts so qualified as your charitiesShall best instruct you, measure me; and soThe king’s will be perform’d! Hermione, scene i The silence often of pure innocencePersuades, when speaking fails. Paulina, scene ii Act III It shall scarce boot me To say Not guilty; mine integrityBeing counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,Be so receiv'd. But thus, — if powers divineBehold our human actions (as they do),I doubt not, then, but innocence shall makeFalse accusation blush, and tyrannyTremble at patience. Hermione, scene ii Leontes: I ne'er heard yetThat any of these bolder vices wantedLess impudence to gainsay what they did,Than to perform it first.Hermione: That's true enough;Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me. Scene ii Tell me what blessings I have here alive,That I should fear to die? Therefore, proceed.But yet hear this; mistake me not; — no life, —I prize it not a straw: — but for mine honour,(Which I would free) if I shall be condemn'dUpon surmises — all proofs sleeping else,But what your jealousies awake, — I tell you'Tis rigour, and not law. — Your honours all,I do refer me to the oracle:Apollo be my judge! Hermione, scene ii Apollo's angry; and the heavens themselvesDo strike at my injustice. Leontes, scene ii What’s gone, and what’s past help,Should be past grief. Paulina, scene ii Exit, pursued by a Bear. Stage direction, scene iii Heavy matters, heavy matters! But look thee here, boy. Now bless thyself:thou met'st with things dying, I with things new-born. Shepherd, scene iii Act IV I, — that please some, try all; both joy and terrorOf good and bad; — that make and unfold error; —Now take upon me, in the name of Time,To use my wings. Impute it not a crimeTo me or my swift passage, that I slideO'er sixteen years, and leave the growth untriedOf that wide gap, since it is in my powerTo o'erthrow law, and in one self-born hourTo plant and o'erwhelm custom. Time, scene i A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles. Autolycus, scene ii A merry heart goes all the day,Your sad tires in a mile-a. Autolycus, scene ii O Proserpina,For the flowers now, that, frighted, thou let’st fallFrom Dis’s waggon! Daffodils,That come before the swallow dares, and takeThe winds of March with beauty; violets dim,But sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes,Or Cytherea’s breath; pale primroses,That die unmarried, ere they can beholdBright Phœbus in his strength, — a maladyMost incident to maids; bold oxlips, andThe crown-imperial; lilies of all kinds,The flower-de-luce being one! Perdita, scene iv When you do dance, I wish youA wave o’ the sea, that you might ever doNothing but that. Florizel, scene iv I love a ballad in print a’-life; for then we are sure they are true. Mopsa, scene iv To unpath'd waters, undream'd shores. Camillo, scene iv Act V I am asham'd: does not the stone rebuke me,For being more stone than it? Leontes, scene iii Still, methinks,There is an air comes from her! What fine chiselCould ever yet cut breath? Leontes, scene iii External links Winter's Tale