The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

Act 4 - Scene 1

Chorus as Time speaks.

Time : I, that please some, try all, both joy and terror [p]Of good and bad,
that makes and unfolds error, [p]Now take upon me, in the name of
Time, [p]To use my wings. Impute it not a crime [p]To me or my swift
passage, that I slide [p]O'er sixteen years and leave the growth
untried [p]Of that wide gap, since it is in my power [p]To o'erthrow
law and in one self-born hour [p]To plant and o'erwhelm custom. Let me
pass [p]The same I am, ere ancient'st order was [p]Or what is now
received: I witness to [p]The times that brought them in; so shall I
do [p]To the freshest things now reigning and make stale [p]The
glistering of this present, as my tale [p]Now seems to it. Your
patience this allowing, [p]I turn my glass and give my scene such
growing [p]As you had slept between: Leontes leaving, [p]The effects
of his fond jealousies so grieving [p]That he shuts up himself,
imagine me, [p]Gentle spectators, that I now may be [p]In fair
Bohemia, and remember well, [p]I mentioned a son o' the king's, which
Florizel [p]I now name to you; and with speed so pace [p]To speak of
Perdita, now grown in grace [p]Equal with wondering: what of her
ensues [p]I list not prophecy; but let Time's news [p]Be known when
'tis brought forth. [p]A shepherd's daughter, [p]And what to her
adheres, which follows after, [p]Is the argument of Time. Of this
allow, [p]If ever you have spent time worse ere now; [p]If never, yet
that Time himself doth say [p]He wishes earnestly you never may.

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