SOURCE: "The Winter's Tale; or, Filling Up the Graves," in Shakespeare and the Theatre of Wonder, Cambridge University Press, 1996, pp. 125-75.

In the following essay, Bishop provides an overview of The Winter's Tale, focusing on the characterization, the sources of Leontes' paranoia, and the mythological and narrative patterns that structure the play.

O what venerable creatures did the agèd seem! Immortal Cherubims! And the young men glittering and sparkling Angels, and maids strange seraphic pieces of life and beauty! I knew not that they were born or should die; but all things abided eternally.

Thomas Traherne

Gib Deine Hand, Du schön und zart Gebild!
 Bin Freund und komme nicht zu strafen.
 Sei guten Muts, ich bin nicht wild.
 Sollst sanft in meinen Armen schlafen!

Der Tod und das Mädchen

Dum stupet et medio gaudet fallique veretur,
 rursus amans rursusque manu sua vota retractat;
 corpus erat...