The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

Act 3 - Scene 1

A sea-port in Sicilia.

Cleomenes : The climate's delicate, the air most sweet, [p]Fertile the isle, the
temple much surpassing [p]The common praise it bears.

Dion : I shall report, [p]For most it caught me, the celestial
habits, [p]Methinks I so should term them, and the reverence [p]Of the
grave wearers. O, the sacrifice! [p]How ceremonious, solemn and
unearthly [p]It was i' the offering!

Cleomenes : But of all, the burst [p]And the ear-deafening voice o' the
oracle, [p]Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense. [p]That I was
nothing.

Dion : If the event o' the journey [p]Prove as successful to the queen,--O
be't so!-- [p]As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy, [p]The
time is worth the use on't.

Cleomenes : Great Apollo [p]Turn all to the best! These proclamations, [p]So
forcing faults upon Hermione, [p]I little like.

Dion : The violent carriage of it [p]Will clear or end the business: when the
oracle, [p]Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up, [p]Shall the
contents discover, something rare [p]Even then will rush to knowledge.
Go: fresh horses! [p]And gracious be the issue!

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