For Orpheus' lute was strung with poet's sinews; ACT V. A Lover in Solitude. How use doth breed a habit in a man! And, to the nightingale's complaining notes, Love unreturned. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved, Infidelity in a Friend. Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus, I am sorry I must never trust thee more, But count the world a stranger for thy sake. The private wound is deepest. Repentance. Who by repentance is not satisfied, Is not of heaven nor earth. Inconstancy in Man. O heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error ·000— WINTER'S TALE. Polixenes, King of Bohemia, is on a visit to his friend Leontes, King of Sicilia, and is about to take his leave, when he is induced, chiefly by the courteous solicitations of Hermione wife of Leontes, to prolong his visit. Suddenly Leontes, who has hitherto been a kind husband, changes his love for Hermione to the bitterest hate, orders her to prison, and commands Antigonus, a Sicilian lord, to take away her infant daughter, and leave the child exposed in a remote and desert place in Bohemia. An old shepherd finds the little princess and brings her up as his own child under the name of Perdita. When she has arrived at womanhood, she is encountered by Florizel, the son of Polixenes, and they become enamoured of each other, she being then supposed to be the daughter of the old shepherd. The play concludes with the discovery of the royal descent of Perdita, and Hermione (who for a number of years has been supposed to be dead, but who has been only in concealment) is restored to Leontes, who deeply repents of his cruel persecution of her. ACT I. Fondness of a Father for his Child. If at home, sir, He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter: Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy: To do this deed, Regicides hateful. Promotion follows; if I could find example ACT II. Eloquence of silent Innocence. The silence often of pure innocence Persuades, when speaking fails. Exposing an Infant. Come on, poor babe : Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens, To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say, Casting their savageness aside, have done Like offices of pity. ACT III. Innocence. Innocence shall make False accusation blush, and tyranny Tremble at patience. Despair of Pardon, But, O thou tyrant! Do not repent these things; for they are heavier Poor wretch, Infant exposed. That, for thy mother's fault, art thus exposed The day frowns more and more; thou art like to have A Rustic's Description of a Shipwreck. I would you did but see how it chafes, how it rages, how it takes up the shore! but that's not to the point. O, the most piteous cry of the poor souls! sometimes to see 'em, and not to see 'em; now the ship boring the moon with her main-mast; and anon swallowed with yest and froth, as you'd thrust a cork into a hogshead. And then for the land service,-To see how the bear tore out his shoulder-bone; how he cried to me for help, and said his name was Antigonus, a nobleman.-But to make an end of the ship: to see how the sea flap-dragoned * it:-but, first, how the poor souls roared, and the sea mocked them ;-and how the * Engulphed. poor gentleman roared, and the bear mocked him, both roaring louder than the sea or weather. ACT IV. True Love. He says, he loves my daughter; A Father the best Guest at his Son's Nuptials. Is, at the nuptial of his son, a guest That best becomes the table. Pray you, once more Is not your father grown incapable Of reasonable affairs? is he not stupid With age, and altering rheums? can he speak? hear? Know man from man? dispute his own estate? Lies he not bed-rid? and again does nothing, But what he did being childish? FLORIZEL. No, good sir: He has his health, and ampler strength, indeed, Than most have of his age. POLIXENES. By my white beard, You offer him, if this be so, a wrong Something unfilial. Reason, my son, Should choose himself a wife; but as good reason, The father (all whose joy is nothing else But fair posterity), should hold some counsel |