ACT 1
Scene 1
Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

...and your Sicilia.
I think this coming summer the King of
Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which
he justly owes him.

...loves. For indeed—
Beseech you—

...little accuse us.
You pay a great deal too dear for what’s given
freely.

...it to utterance.
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,
though not personal, hath 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.

...into my note.
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.

...content to die?
Yes, if there were no other excuse why they
should desire to live.

...he had one.
They exit.

Scene 2
Enter Leontes, Hermione, Mamillius, Polixenes, Camillo, and Attendants.

...What, Camillo there?
coming forward
Ay, my good lord.

...yet stay longer.
You had much ado to make his anchor hold.
When you cast out, it still came home.

...Didst note it?
He would not stay at your petitions, made
His business more material.

...he did stay?
At the good queen’s entreaty.

...business purblind? Say.
Business, my lord? I think most understand
Bohemia stays here longer.

... Ha?
Stays here longer.

...Ay, but why?
To satisfy your Highness and the entreaties
Of our most gracious mistress.

...which seems so.
Be it forbid, my lord!

...all for jest.
My gracious lord,
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 willful-negligent,
It was my folly; if industriously
I played 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 infects the wisest. These, my lord,
Are such allowed infirmities that honesty
Is never free of. But, beseech your Grace,
Be plainer with me; let me know my trespass
By its own visage. If I then deny it,
’Tis none of mine.

...and justify ’t.
I would not be a stander-by to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so without
My present vengeance taken. ’Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less
Than this, which to reiterate were sin
As deep as that, though true.

...this be nothing.
Good my lord, be cured
Of this diseased opinion, and betimes,
For ’tis most dangerous.

...be, ’tis true.
No, no, my lord.

...of one glass.
Who does infect her?

...me were cordial.
Sir, my lord,
I could do this, and that with no rash potion,
But with a ling’ring dram that should not work
Maliciously like poison. But I cannot
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress,
So sovereignly being honorable. I have loved thee—

...man so blench?
I must believe you, sir.
I do, and will fetch off Bohemia for ’t—
Provided that, when he’s removed, your Highness
Will take again your queen as yours at first,
Even for your son’s sake, and thereby for sealing
The injury of tongues in courts and kingdoms
Known and allied to yours.

...her honor, none.
My lord,
Go then, and with a countenance as clear
As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia
And with your queen. I am his cupbearer.
If from me he have wholesome beverage,
Account me not your servant.

...splitt’st thine own.
I’ll do ’t, my lord.

...hast advised me.
O miserable lady! But, for me,
What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner
Of good Polixenes, and my ground to do ’t
Is the obedience to a master, one
Who in rebellion with himself will have
All that are his so too. To do this deed,
Promotion follows. If I could find example
Of thousands that had struck anointed kings
And flourished after, I’d not do ’t. But since
Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment bears not one,
Let villainy itself forswear ’t. I must
Forsake the court. To do ’t or no is certain
To me a breakneck. Happy star reign now!
Here comes Bohemia.

...Good day, Camillo.
Hail, most royal sir.

...i’ th’ court?
None rare, my lord.

...thus his manners.
I dare not know, my lord.

...altered with ’t.
There is a sickness
Which puts some of us in distemper, but
I cannot name the disease, and it is caught
Of you that yet are well.

...In ignorant concealment.
I may not answer.

...to bear it.
Sir, I will tell you,
Since I am charged in honor and by him
That I think honorable. Therefore mark my counsel,
Which must be e’en as swiftly followed as
I mean to utter it, or both yourself and me
Cry lost, and so goodnight.

...On, good Camillo.
I am appointed him to murder you.

...By whom, Camillo?
By the King.

... For what?
He thinks, nay with all confidence he swears,
As he had seen ’t or been an instrument
To vice you to ’t, that you have touched his queen
Forbiddenly.

...heard or read.
Swear his thought over
By each particular star in heaven and
By all their influences, you may as well
Forbid the sea for to obey the moon
As or by oath remove or counsel shake
The fabric of his folly, whose foundation
Is piled upon his faith and will continue
The standing of his body.

...should this grow?
I know not. But I am sure ’tis safer to
Avoid what’s grown than question how ’tis born.
If therefore you dare trust my honesty,
That lies enclosèd in this trunk which you
Shall bear along impawned, away tonight!
Your followers I will whisper to the business,
And will by twos and threes at several posterns
Clear them o’ th’ city. For myself, I’ll put
My fortunes to your service, which are here
By this discovery lost. Be not uncertain,
For, by the honor of my parents, I
Have uttered truth—which if you seek to prove,
I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer
Than one condemned by the King’s own mouth, thereon
His execution sworn.

...Let us avoid.
It is in mine authority to command
The keys of all the posterns. Please your Highness
To take the urgent hour. Come, sir, away.
They exit.

ACT 4
Scene 2

...you never may.
Enter Polixenes and Camillo.

...to grant this.
It is fifteen years since I saw my country.
Though I have for the most part been aired abroad,
I desire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent
king, my master, hath sent for me, to whose feeling
sorrows I might be some allay—or I o’erween to
think so—which is another spur to my departure.

...approved their virtues.
Sir, it is three days since I saw the Prince.
What his happier affairs may be are to me unknown,
but I have missingly noted he is of late
much retired from court and is less frequent to his
princely exercises than formerly he hath appeared.

...an unspeakable estate.
I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a
daughter of most rare note. The report of her is
extended more than can be thought to begin from
such a cottage.

...thoughts of Sicilia.
I willingly obey your command.

...must disguise ourselves.
They exit.

Scene 4

...red with mirth.
Enter Shepherd, Shepherd’s Son, Mopsa, Dorcas, Shepherds and Shepherdesses, Servants, Musicians, and Polixenes and Camillo in disguise.

...You’re very welcome.
I should leave grazing, were I of your flock,
And only live by gazing.

...for this place.
He tells her something
That makes her blood look out. Good sooth, she is
The queen of curds and cream.

... Fairly offered.
This shows a sound affection.

...ewes and weep.
to Shepherd
Why, how now, father?
Speak ere thou diest.

...My leash unwillingly.
Gracious my lord,
You know your father’s temper. At this time
He will allow no speech, which I do guess
You do not purpose to him; and as hardly
Will he endure your sight as yet, I fear.
Then, till the fury of his Highness settle,
Come not before him.

...I think Camillo?
removing his disguise
Even he, my lord.

...to my affection.
Be advised.

...bid it welcome.
This is desperate, sir.

...me the reporting.
O my lord,
I would your spirit were easier for advice
Or stronger for your need.

...Perdita walk aside.
He’s irremovable,
Resolved for flight. Now were I happy if
His going I could frame to serve my turn,
Save him from danger, do him love and honor,
Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia
And that unhappy king, my master, whom
I so much thirst to see.

...leave out ceremony.
Sir, I think
You have heard of my poor services i’ th’ love
That I have borne your father?

...as thought on.
Well, my lord,
If you may please to think I love the King
And, through him, what’s nearest to him, which is
Your gracious self, embrace but my direction,
If your more ponderous and settled project
May suffer alteration. On mine honor,
I’ll point you where you shall have such receiving
As shall become your Highness, where you may
Enjoy your mistress—from the whom I see
There’s no disjunction to be made but by,
As heavens forfend, your ruin—marry her,
And with my best endeavors in your absence,
Your discontenting father strive to qualify
And bring him up to liking.

...trust to thee?
Have you thought on
A place whereto you’ll go?

...wind that blows.
Then list to me.
This follows: if you will not change your purpose
But undergo this flight, make for Sicilia,
And there present yourself and your fair princess,
For so I see she must be, ’fore Leontes.
She shall be habited as it becomes
The partner of your bed. Methinks I see
Leontes opening his free arms and weeping
His welcomes forth, asks thee, the son, forgiveness,
As ’twere i’ th’ father’s person; kisses the hands
Of your fresh princess; o’er and o’er divides him
’Twixt his unkindness and his kindness. Th’ one
He chides to hell and bids the other grow
Faster than thought or time.

...up before him?
Sent by the King your father
To greet him and to give him comforts. Sir,
The manner of your bearing towards him, with
What you, as from your father, shall deliver,
Things known betwixt us three, I’ll write you down,
The which shall point you forth at every sitting
What you must say, that he shall not perceive
But that you have your father’s bosom there
And speak his very heart.

...sap in this.
A course more promising
Than a wild dedication of yourselves
To unpathed waters, undreamed shores, most certain
To miseries enough; no hope to help you,
But as you shake off one to take another;
Nothing so certain as your anchors, who
Do their best office if they can but stay you
Where you’ll be loath to be. Besides, you know
Prosperity’s the very bond of love,
Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together
Affliction alters.

...in the mind.
Yea, say you so?
There shall not at your father’s house these seven years
Be born another such.

...rear our birth.
I cannot say ’tis pity
She lacks instructions, for she seems a mistress
To most that teach.

...appear in Sicilia.
My lord,
Fear none of this. I think you know my fortunes
Do all lie there. It shall be so my care
To have you royally appointed as if
The scene you play were mine. For instance, sir,
That you may know you shall not want, one word.
They step aside and talk.

...the whole army.
Camillo, Florizell, and Perdita come forward.
to Florizell
Nay, but my letters, by this means being there
So soon as you arrive, shall clear that doubt.

...from King Leontes—
Shall satisfy your father.

...speak shows fair.
noticing Autolycus
Who have we here?
We’ll make an instrument of this, omit
Nothing may give us aid.

...now, why, hanging.
How now, good fellow? Why shak’st thou so?
Fear not, man. Here’s no harm intended to thee.

...poor fellow, sir.
Why, be so still. Here’s nobody will steal that
from thee. Yet for the outside of thy poverty we
must make an exchange. Therefore discase thee
instantly—thou must think there’s a necessity in
’t—and change garments with this gentleman.
Though the pennyworth on his side be the worst,
yet hold thee, there’s some boot.
He hands Autolycus money.

...you well enough.
Nay, prithee, dispatch. The gentleman is half
flayed already.

...conscience take it.
Unbuckle, unbuckle.

Florizell and Autolycus exchange garments.
Fortunate mistress—let my prophecy
Come home to you!—you must retire yourself
Into some covert. Take your sweetheart’s hat
And pluck it o’er your brows, muffle your face,
Dismantle you, and, as you can, disliken
The truth of your own seeming, that you may—
For I do fear eyes over—to shipboard
Get undescried.

...bear a part.
No remedy.—
Have you done there?

...call me son.
Nay, you shall have no hat. He gives Florizell’s hat to Perdita.
Come, lady, come.—Farewell, my friend.

...word.They talk aside.
aside
What I do next shall be to tell the King
Of this escape, and whither they are bound;
Wherein my hope is I shall so prevail
To force him after, in whose company
I shall re-view Sicilia, for whose sight
I have a woman’s longing.

...to th’ seaside.
The swifter speed the better.
Camillo, Florizell, and Perdita exit.

ACT 5
Scene 3

...thy good masters.
Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizell, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, and Lords.

...color’s Not dry.
to Leontes, who weeps
My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on,
Which sixteen winters cannot blow away,
So many summers dry. Scarce any joy
Did ever so long live; no sorrow
But killed itself much sooner.

...She embraces him.
She hangs about his neck.
If she pertain to life, let her speak too.

...Hastily lead away.
They exit.