The Winter's Tale Read Online Free PDF

“sovereign mistress clouded so.” He urges Leontes to be “cured / Of this diseased opinion,” raising a recurring motif of sickness. Leontes asks Camillo to poison his friend. Camillo refuses, reiterating his belief in Hermione’s innocence, but Leontes flies into a rage and Camillo agrees, but only on condition that Leontes return afterward to a normal relationship with Hermione. Camillo urges Leontes to show “a countenance as clear / As friendship wears at feasts,” raising the motif of deceptive appearances.
    Lines 404–532: Alone, Camillo considers his dilemma: he must either kill Polixenes (thus committing regicide) or be disloyal to his king. As he muses that either option means “a break-neck” for him, Polixenes arrives. He is confused, as Leontes has just walked away without speaking to him. He questions Camillo, whose ambiguous reply of “I dare not know” rouses his suspicions. Polixenes demands that Camillo tell him the truth and Camillo confesses that he has been appointed to murder Polixenes by Leontes, who believes that he has “touched his queen / Forbiddenly.” He believes Polixenes whenhe protests his innocence, but points out that it would be easier to stop the tides than convince Leontes. Camillo suggests that Polixenes leave quickly, and that he will help him depart in secret if Polixenes will take him into his service. Polixenes agrees.
ACT 2 SCENE 1
    Lines 1–42: Hermione’s attendants tease Mamillius. Hermione asks Mamillius to tell her a “merry” story, but he says that “A sad tale’s best for winter,” drawing attention to the play’s title, and the opposing genres of comedy and tragedy. As he begins to whisper the story in his mother’s ear (a visual reminder of the imagined rumors in the previous scene), Leontes arrives.
    Lines 43–147: Leontes takes Polixenes’ and Camillo’s departure as proof of his suspicions. His paranoia seems to be escalating as he claims that not only did they conceal the supposed affair, but that there is “a plot” against his “life” and his “crown.” He tells an attendant to take Mamillius away before accusing Hermione of being pregnant with Polixenes’ child. Astonished, Hermione denies it, but Leontes makes a public declaration of her adultery and treachery. He orders that she be taken “to prison.” Hermione reiterates her innocence. Remaining dignified and calm, she asks the assembled lords to judge her with “thoughts so qualified as your charities” and requests that her ladies may attend her in prison as she is so heavily pregnant.
    Lines 148–232: Antigonus warns Leontes that his whole family will “suffer” if he is wrong. The Lords state their belief in Hermione’s innocence and Antigonus suggests that “some putter-on” has deceived Leontes. Leontes will not listen and tells them that he has sent Cleomenes and Dion to the oracle of Apollo’s temple in “sacred Delphos.” He claims that the oracle’s “spiritual counsel” will reveal the truth.
ACT 2 SCENE 2
    Antigonus’ wife, Paulina, arrives at the prison. Her outspoken character is evident as she criticizes the rules that prevent her from seeingthe queen. She asks to speak to one of Hermione’s attendants and the jailer goes to fetch Emilia, who brings news that Hermione has given birth to a daughter. Emilia reports that Hermione says that she is as innocent as her newborn child, reinforcing the oppositions
of innocence/guilt and childhood/adulthood that were established earlier. Paulina curses the “unsafe lunes” of the king and decides that she will tell him of his daughter’s birth. She tells Emilia to ask Hermione if she may take the baby to Leontes, suggesting that “he may soften at the sight o’th’child.” Emilia says that Hermione has had the same idea, and goes