- » ‘eS BS t S \ , by

jee pape . (Co A g zl Ue

RS |||: " OPA DY Vr
LEE Lee eon MEE 5
SON ge 80 ge»

    

IX

a Fs

M em\iey”
INE WINTERS ALE,

EONTES was the King of Sicily, and his dearest friend was Polixenes,
King of Bohemia. They had been brought up together and only
separated when they reached man’s estate and each had to go and rule
over his kingdom. After many years, when each was married and had
a son, Polixenes came to stay with Leontes in Sicily.

Leontes was a violent-tempered man and rather silly, and he took
it into his stupid head that his wife, Hermione, liked Polixenes better
than she did him, her own husband. When once he had got this into
his head, nothing could put it out; and he ordered one of his lords,
Camillo, to put a poison in Polixenes’ wine. Camillo tried to dissuade
him from this wicked action, but finding he was not to be moved,
pretended to consent. He then told Polixenes what was proposed