New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-14
WINTERS TALE At BURTONS.


All the great masters of the dramatic art have
shunk iustinctvely from creating matter as well as
form and have always sought to suit their story tO
the interests and the passions of the hour Homer IN
his subjects. appealed to the national vanity Of the
vaincst of people, Millions epic has spiritual inter
est al wide as Christianity aud Shakespeare either in
his historic dramas impaired instruction to an awaken
ed age II sting for knowledge and unable to obtain it
from other sources than the pulpit or the stage, or
chose plots whose features were already familiar to his
audience in ballads, plays or tales. If Shakespeare had
Travelled often for material to other lands and drawn
thctouchng story of the Moor and other of his beaut
full creations from the legends of Gerald Ceniteo and
other Italian novelists whose works abOunded IN En-
gland about his time he was at least indebted to one
Of his own Merle England for the structure on
which lie reared the enchanted castle of The Win
ters Tale" Among the frequenters OF the ae-houses
round the Globe Theater u little before Shak speares
time. was one Richard Greene, joyous being, full OF
wit and infinite mcrriment, and most popular with the
pay.rocrs of the time He was man of much natu
raI though crude and unframed genius, and wrote
many stories and some dramas which were of good
rcrute in his day Among the former n little
romance called PaudOstO, " The Triumph Of Time,
which was printed in 1888. This novel or tale, named
in after editions Dorasus Tourna," has been re-
Gently reprinted by Collier and from 1t Shakespeare
drew the whole plot Of The Winters Tale, following
.he narrative so closely with but occasional alter
alton of name and reverse of the personality OF the
incident. that the strange anachronisns with which
he has been reproached as blemishes are to be
found in the text Of Greene, particularly the men
ton Of the Emperor of Russia who in those days
one of Epcands lovers the storm on the shores OF
Bohcu.ia. an inland country and the Island of Del
phos geographical bunder for Apolos oracle was at
Pieces.
II was on a cold night-somewhat Ike the last, and
exactly at the same period of the season-two hundred
and forty-fve years ago, that "The Winters Tale,
thus born saw the light in the old Globe Theater on
the Barkside 1t was OF those tale. ust suited 10
lend beguilng interest to the long Winter nights,
and which from its simplicity was not only attractive
and Ineligible to childhood but by the fairy influence
of is romantic poetry transported even manhood back
to the golden age. 1t at once became popular with
the town and hundreds focked from their own fire.
sides to laugh over the rogush rickery Of the merry
pickpocket and pedder Autoycus, and linger with
delight upon the rustic ieast of Perdta. 1t met too
with the favor of power, which, though not so
cruel ard despOtic in those days, even then of
some consideration The critics applauded and,
model for those OF the order Of the present day aad
curious instance of tie at in It's antiquity annex
notice by one Dr.. Simon Fonnan, preserved in the
A.bmolean MSS. in the British Museums, which de-
scrbes the plot with quaint aud ingenious brevty
that more aspiring modern critics might initiate with
effect
observe there how Leones King Of Stella, was
overcome with jealousy Of his wife with the King of
Bohemia, bis friend that came to him, and
how be cOntrived his death, and would have
ID nod rHA
gave the King of Bohemia warning and fled
with him 10 Bohemia. Remember also how he
sent to the Oracle of Apollo, and the answer that
she was guiiless, and that the King was jealous
etc. and how except the child found again that
lost, tie king should die without lssue-lor the
child was carried INTO Bohemia, and there laid IN
forest al, brought up by shepherd, and the King Of
BolemH's married that wench; and how they ned
into Stella to Leoutes, and the shepherd having
shown the letter If the nobleman whom Leontcs sent
II was that child and by the jewels found about her
she was known 10 BE- Leontess daughter. aud was
then sixteen years old. Remember salsO the rogue
AutOycu,l that came IN, all tattered, and how he
feigned him sick and to have been robbed OF al be
had. and bow he cOZened the poor Of al his
morey and afterward came 10 the sheep-shear with q
pedders pack, and there cozened them again of all
their money; and how he changed apparel with the
King If Bohemia SOD and then how he turned court
ir etc BeVGre q trusting begg0rs or farming tef-
lcrs!'
The echo OF this applause soon reached the ears Of
ROYALTY. and the world not being then radical and
"out Of iont and there being House Of Smith, as
in modern tines To disturb the wishes Of The House Of
Stualt the players and the play both brought to
the Palace Of Whitehall and exhibited before King
lanes on the 5th Of Nov, 1911. Indeel, Walpole
worked incenously TO make out that Shakespeare
wrote the Winters Tale in compliment to Queen Bess,
ss an indirect apology for her mother, Anna Boleyn
The unreasonable jealousy Of Leon'e7 and bis violent