cshamburg@njcu.

edu

Christopher Shamburg

Winta: The 7-Minute Winters Tale

Narration
1) Stay your thanks a while; and pay them when you part.

Leontes is the King of Sicilia, and he wants his friend King Polixenes to visit longer (1). But Polixenes wants to go home (2). Leontes wife Hermione convinces Polixenes to stay (3). But, Leontes gets jealous (4)very jealous (5). Leontes orders Polixenes to be poisoned (6) and puts Hermione in prison (7). King Polixenes escapes to his home country of Bohemia, and Hermione gives birth to a girl named Perdita in prison (8). Leontes orders his servant Antigonus to abandon the baby in a foreign land (9). Then news comesHermione is dead (10). Leontes sends some men to the all knowing oracle to ask for the truth about the situation. The answer comes back (11). Leontes is sorry (12). But its too late. His wife is dead and his baby is gone. Antigonus has taken Perdita to Bohemia and leaves her in an abandoned place (13). Antigonus exits, pursued by bear. Then a shepherd and a clown find the baby (14). The shepherd and the clown raise the child Perdita. 16 years pass (15). Prince Florizel, the son of King Polixenes falls in love with the teenage Perdita (16). King Polixenes wants to find out about his sons romanceso he goes in secret with a friend (17).

2) Press me not. 3) He'll stay my lord. 4) Too hot, too hot! 5) Is whispering nothing? Is leaning cheek to cheek? Skulking in corners? 6) How I am galled,--mightst bespice a cup, to give mine enemy a lasting wink 7) Away with her! to prison! 8) Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours. 9) Bear it to some remote and desert place. 10) I say she's dead; I'll swear. 11) Hermione is chaste. Polixenes blameless. 12) I have deserved all tongues to talk their bitterest. 13) There weep and leave it crying; and, for the babe is counted lost forever, Perdita. 14) I with things newborn. Here's a sight for thee! 15) Impute it not a crime To me or my swift passage, that I slide O'er sixteen years. 16) I fear, the angle that plucks our son thither 17) We must disguise ourselves.

cshamburg@njcu.edu

Christopher Shamburg

They go to a party and danceits a party where people cut the wool off of sheep (18) (19). King Polixenes doesnt like this romance (20). Perdita, Prince Florizel, the shepherd, and the clown meet a thief--Autolycus-- who helps them escape by changing clothes with Prince Florizel (21). They run off to Sicilia to escape Polixenes (22). Leontes meets the group (23). Polixenes and his friends show up and everyone figures out who Perdita really is (24). So the daughter of Leontes is alive and is going to marry the son of Polixeneseveryone is happy. Except Leontes remembers that his wife Hermione died all of those years ago. He takes Perdita to a statue of her dead mother, Hermione (25). But waitits moving! (26) (27)

18) She dances featly 19) He hath songs for man or woman, of all sizes 20) Is it not too far gone? 'Tis time to part them. 21) Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance. 22) Fortune speed us! 23) Prince Florizel, Son of Polixenes, with his princess, the fairest I have yet beheld, desires access to your high presence. 24) Our king, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter. 25) My daughter came to look upon, The statue of her mother. 26) She stirs.

Everyone is happy. (28)

27) O, she's warm! 28) Go together, You precious winners all!