'Hoping for further proof of her guilt, he sends two courtiers to consult the sacred Oracle of Apollo at Delphi.'
The Winter's Tale
Polixenes, King of Bohemia, has been on a lengthy visit to his old friend, Leontes, King of Sicilia. As the time comes for his friend to return home, Leontes begs him to stay a little longer, but Polixenes cannot be persuaded. However, when Queen Hermione asks him, he agrees to stay. Leontes becomes suspicious at this and takes it into his head that the two of them are guilty of adultery, convincing himself that the child Hermione is expecting is not his but Polixenes'.
He tries to persuade Camillo, a trusted courtier, to poison Polixenes but Camillo instead reveals the plot to Polixenes and flees with him to Bohemia. This only serves to fuel Leontes' rage. Before the court he accuses Hermione and has her imprisoned. Hoping for further proof of her guilt, he sends two courtiers to consult the sacred Oracle of Apollo at Delphi.
In prison Hermione gives birth to a daughter. Hoping that the sight of his child will bring Leontes to his senses, Paulina brings the baby to court. This, however, has exactly the opposite effect and Leontes orders Antigonus, Paulina's husband, to take the baby away and abandon it in the wilderness.
Leontes stages a trial at which Hermione strongly protests her innocence but to no avail. Even when the Oracle declares that she is innocent, and that Leontes is a tyrant who will die without an heir if his lost child is not found, he defies this sacred truth. When news is brought of the death of their other child, the boy Mamillius, Hermione collapses with grief. Shortly afterwards, news comes that she, too, is dead. Leontes is finally overcome with remorse and vows to spend the rest of his life in atonement.
Antigonus, guided by the appearance of Hermione in a dream, brings the baby to the deserted shore of Bohemia and names her Perdita. She is found by shepherds, who bring her up as their own.
Sixteen years pass. Perdita has grown up, and Prince Florizel, Polixenes' son has fallen in love with her, believing her to be a humble shepherd's daughter.
Polixenes, however, has got wind of his son's attachment and he and Camillo, now a trusted confidant, set off in disguise for Perdita's cottage. They arrive just in time for the sheep-shearing festival, of which Perdita is the 'queen'. During the celebrations Polixenes discovers that Florizel plans to marry Perdita without his father's consent and, throwing off his disguise, threatens to disinherit his son.
Camillo persuades the young couple to flee in disguise to Sicilia and present themselves to Leontes as ambassadors from Polixenes. Longing to see his homeland again after many years in Bohemia, Camillo hopes to then persuade Polixenes to go with him in persuit of his son.
The young couple arrive at court, where the penitent Leontes has spent the last sixteen yers in atonement. Barely have they been welcomed, however, when Polixenes himself arrives with Camillo, followed by Perdita's shepherd family.
Perdita's true identity is discovered, amid general rejoicing. To crown the occasion, Paulina takes Perdita and Leontes to see the statue which has been made in memory of Hermione.
