The Winter's Tale, with line numbers E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 132

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

Classic Shakespearean romance, with line numbers. According to Wikipedia: "The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, first published in the First Folio in 1623. Although it was listed as a comedy when it first appeared, some modern editors have relabeled the play a romance. Some critics, among them W. W. Lawrence ... consider it to be one of Shakespeare's "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."

Leseprobe

The Winter's Tale By William Shakespeare

published by Samizdat Express, Orange, CT, USA

established in 1974, offering over 14,000 books

Other romances by William Shakespeare:

Cymbelline

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

The Tempest

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Dramatis Personae

The Winter's Tale

Act I

Scene I Antechamber In Leontes' Palace.

Scene II A Room Of State In The Same.

Act II

Scene I A Room In Leontes' Palace.

Scene II A Prison.

Scene III A Room In Leontes' Palace.

Act III

Scene I A Sea-Port In Sicilia.

Scene II A Court Of Justice.

Scene III Bohemia. A Desert Country Near The Sea.

Act IV

Scene I:

Scene II Bohemia. The Palace Of Polixenes.

Scene III A Road Near The Shepherd's Cottage.

Scene IV The Shepherd's Cottage.

Act V

Scene I A Room In Leontes' Palace.

Scene II Before Leontes' Palace.

Scene III A Chapel In Paulina's House.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Leontes, King Of Sicilia.

Mamillius, Young Prince Of Sicilia.

Four Lords Of Sicilia

Camillo

Antigonus

Cleomenes

Dion

Polixenes, King Of Bohemia.

Florizel, Prince Of Bohemia.

Archidamus, A Lord Of Bohemia.

Old Shepherd, Reputed Father Of Perdita. (Shepherd:)

Clown, His Son.

Autolycus, A Rogue.

A Mariner. (Mariner:)

A Gaoler.  (Gaoler:)

Hermione, Queen To Leontes.

Perdita, Daughter To Leontes And Hermione.

Paulina, Wife To Antigonus.

Emilia, A Lady Attending On Hermione,

Shepherdesses

Mopsa

Dorcas

Other Lords and Gentlemen, Ladies, Officers, and Servants, SHEPHERDs, and SHEPHERDesses.

 (First Lord:)

 (Gentleman:)

 (First Gentleman:)

 (Second Gentleman:)

 (Third Gentleman:)

 (First Lady:)

 (Second Lady:)

 (Officer:)

 (Servant:)

 (First Servant:)

 (Second Servant:)

Time as Chorus.

SCENE Sicilia, and Bohemia.

THE WINTER'S TALE

ACT I

SCENE I Antechamber in LEONTES' palace.

[Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS]

(1) ARCHIDAMUS If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on

 the like occasion whereon my services are now on

 foot, you shall see, as I have said, great

 difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia.

CAMILLO I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia

 means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him.

ARCHIDAMUS Wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will be

(10) justified in our loves; for indeed--

CAMILLO Beseech you,--

ARCHIDAMUS Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge:

 we cannot with such magnificence--in so rare--I know

 not what to say. We will give you sleepy drinks,

 that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience,

 may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse

 us.

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

(20) ARCHIDAMUS Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me

 and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

CAMILLO 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 branch now. Since their

 more mature dignities and royal necessities made

 separation of their society, their encounters,

(30) though not personal, have been royally attorneyed

 with interchange of gifts, letters, loving

 embassies; that they have seemed to be together,

 though absent, shook hands, as over a vast, and

 embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed

 winds. The heavens continue their loves!

ARCHIDAMUS I think there is not in the world either malice or

 matter to alter it. You have an unspeakable

 comfort of your young prince Mamillius: it is a

 gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came

(40) into my note.

CAMILLO 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.

ARCHIDAMUS Would they else be content to die?

CAMILLO Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should

 desire to live.

ARCHIDAMUS If the king had no son, they would desire to live

(50) on crutches till he had one.

[Exeunt]

SCENE II A room of state in the same.

[Enter LEONTES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, POLIXENES, CAMILLO, and ATTENDANTS]

(1) POLIXENES Nine changes of the watery star hath been

 The shepherd's note since we have left our throne

 Without a burthen: time as long again

 Would be find 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 moe

 That go before it.

LEONTES                   Stay your thanks a while;

 And pay them when you part.

(10) POLIXENES           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 stay'd

 To tire your royalty.

LEONTES           We are tougher, brother,

 Than you can put us to't.

POLIXENES           No longer stay.

LEONTES One seven-night longer.

POLIXENES           Very sooth, to-morrow.

LEONTES We'll part the time between's then; and in that

 I'll no gainsaying.

POLIXENES           Press me not, beseech you, so.

(20) There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world,

 So soon as yours could win me: so it should now,

 Were there necessity in your request, although

 'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

 Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder

 Were in your love a whip to me; my stay

 To you a charge and trouble: to save both,

 Farewell, our brother.

LEONTES           Tongue-tied, our queen?

 speak you.

HERMIONE I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until

 You have drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,

(30) Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure

 All in Bohemia's well; this satisfaction

 The by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him,

 He's beat from his best ward.

LEONTES           Well said, Hermione.

HERMIONE To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong:

 But let him say so then, and let him go;

 But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,

 We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

 Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure

 The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia

(40) You take my lord, I'll give him my commission

 To let him there a month behind the gest

 Prefix'd for's parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,

 I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind

 What lady-she her lord. You'll stay?

POLIXENES           No, madam.

HERMIONE Nay, but you will?

POLIXENES                   I may not, verily.

HERMIONE Verily!

 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,

(50) You shall not go: a lady's 'Verily' 's

 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 depart, and save your thanks. How say you?

 My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread 'Verily,'

 One of them you shall be.

POLIXENES           Your guest, then, madam:

 To be your prisoner should import offending;

 Which is for me less easy to commit

 Than you to punish.

HERMIONE           Not your gaoler, then,

(60) But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you

 Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys:

 You were pretty lordings then?

POLIXENES           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.

HERMIONE           Was not my lord

 The verier wag o' the two?

POLIXENES We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun,

 And bleat the one at the other: what we changed

 Was innocence for innocence; we knew not

(70) The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd

 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 clear'd

 Hereditary ours.

HERMIONE                   By this we gather

 You have tripp'd since.

POLIXENES           O my most sacred lady!

 Temptations have since then been born to's; for

 In those unfledged days was my wife a girl;

 Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes

 Of my young play-fellow.

(80) HERMIONE           Grace to boot!

 Of this make no conclusion, lest you say

 Your 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 us

 You did continue fault and that you slipp'd not

 With any but with us.

LEONTES           Is he won yet?

HERMIONE He'll stay my lord.

LEONTES           At my request he would not.

 Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest

 To better purpose.

HERMIONE                Never?

LEONTES           Never, but once.

(90) HERMIONE What! have I twice said well? when was't before?

 I prithee tell me; cram's with praise, and make's

 As fat as tame things: one good deed dying tongueless

 Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that.

 Our praises are our wages: you may ride's

 With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere

 With spur we beat an acre. But to the goal:

 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?

(100) Nay, let me have't; I long.

LEONTES           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 yours for ever.'

HERMIONE           'Tis grace indeed.

 Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice:

 The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;

 The other for some while a friend.

LEONTES [Aside]  Too hot, too hot!

 To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods.

(110) 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; 't may, I grant;

 But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers,

 As now they are, and making practised smiles,

 As in a looking-glass, and then to sigh, as 'twere

 The mort o' the deer; O, that is entertainment

 My bosom likes not, nor my brows! Mamillius,

 Art thou my boy?

MAMILLIUS            Ay, my good lord.

(120) LEONTES           I' fecks!

 Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast

 smutch'd thy nose?

 They say it is 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

 Upon his palm!--How now, you wanton calf!

 Art thou my calf?

MAMILLIUS                   Yes, if you will, my lord.

LEONTES Thou want'st a rough pash and the shoots that I have,

 To be full like me: yet they say we are

(130) Almost as like as eggs; women say so,

 That will say anything but were they false

 As o'er-dyed 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 true

 To say this boy were like me. Come, sir page,

 Look on me with your welkin eye: sweet villain!

 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,

(140) Communicatest with dreams;--how can this be?--

 With what's unreal thou coactive art,

 And fellow'st nothing: then 'tis very credent

 Thou mayst 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.

POLIXENES           What means Sicilia?

HERMIONE He something seems unsettled.

POLIXENES           How, my lord!

 What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?

HERMIONE           You look

 As if you held a brow of much distraction

 Are you moved, my lord?

(150) LEONTES           No, in good earnest.

 How sometimes nature will betray its folly,

 Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime

 To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines

 Of my boy's face, methoughts 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,

(160) This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest friend,

 Will you take eggs for money?

MAMILLIUS No, my lord, I'll fight.

LEONTES You will! why, happy man be's dole! My brother,

 Are you so fond of your young prince as we

 Do seem to be of ours?

POLIXENES           If at home, sir,

 He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter,

 Now my sworn friend and then mine enemy,

 My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all:

 He makes a July's day short as December,

(170) And with his varying childness cures in me

 Thoughts that would thick my blood.

LEONTES           So stands this squire

 Officed with me: we two will walk, my lord,

 And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione,

 How thou lovest us, show in our brother's welcome;

 Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap:

 Next to thyself and my young rover, he's

 Apparent to my heart.

HERMIONE           If you would seek us,

 We are yours i' the garden: shall's attend you there?

LEONTES To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,

(180) Be you beneath the sky. [Aside]  I am angling now,

 Though you perceive me not how I give line.

 Go to, go to!

 How she holds up the neb, the bill to him!

 And arms her with the boldness of a wife

 To her allowing husband!

[Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE, and ATTENDANTS]

           Gone already!

 Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and

 ears a fork'd one!

 Go, play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and I

 Play too, but so disgraced a part, whose issue

 Will hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour

 Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play.

(190) There have been,

 Or I am much deceived, cuckolds ere now;

 And many a man there is, even at this present,

 Now while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm,

 That little thinks she has been sluiced in's absence

 And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by

 Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't

 Whiles other men have gates and those gates open'd,

 As mine, against their will. Should all despair

 That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind

(200) Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none;

 It is a bawdy planet, that will strike

 Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it,

 From east, west, north and south: be it concluded,

 No barricado for a belly; know't;

 It will let in and out the enemy

 With bag and baggage: many thousand on's

 Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!

MAMILLIUS I am like you, they say.

LEONTES           Why that's some comfort.

 What, Camillo there?

(210) CAMILLO Ay, my good lord.

LEONTES Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man.

[Exit MAMILLIUS]

 Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.

CAMILLO You had much ado to make his anchor hold:

 When you cast out, it still came home.

LEONTES           Didst note it?

CAMILLO He would not stay at your petitions: made

 His business more material.

LEONTES           Didst perceive it?

 [Aside]  They're here with me already, whispering, rounding

 'Sicilia is a so-forth:' 'tis far gone,

 When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo,

 That he did stay?

(220) CAMILLO           At the good queen's entreaty.

LEONTES At the queen's be't: 'good' should be pertinent

 But, so it is, it is not. Was this taken

 By any understanding pate but thine?

 For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in