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The Winter's Tale

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ACT III  SCENE I A sea-port in Sicilia. 
[Enter CLEOMENES and DION]
CLEOMENESThe climate's delicate, the air most sweet,
Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassing
The common praise it bears.
DIONI shall report,
For most it caught me, the celestial habits,5
Methinks I so should term them, and the reverence
Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice!
How ceremonious, solemn and unearthly
It was i' the offering!
CLEOMENESBut of all, the burst10
And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle,
Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense.
That I was nothing.
DIONIf the event o' the journey
Prove as successful to the queen,--O be't so!--15
As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy,
The time is worth the use on't.
CLEOMENESGreat Apollo
Turn all to the best! These proclamations,
So forcing faults upon Hermione,20
I little like.
DIONThe violent carriage of it
Will clear or end the business: when the oracle,
Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up,
Shall the contents discover, something rare25
Even then will rush to knowledge. Go: fresh horses!
And gracious be the issue!
[Exeunt]

Next: The Winter's Tale, Act 3, Scene 2
________

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