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King Leontes of Sicilia has falsely accused his wife Hermione of bearing
an illegitimate child fathered by his friend Polixenes. He has ordered
his courtier, Antigonus, to abandon the infant on a foreign shore.
Antigonus reluctantly complies in order to save the baby, named Perdita,
from being murdered by its jealous father. A storm brews as Antigonus
bids farewell to the child, and he exits "pursued by a bear."
An old peasant enters in search of sheep lost by his adolescent son.
He discovers the baby and decides to rescue it. The son arrives after
having seen Antigonus devoured by the bear and his ship sunk in the
storm. The two discover that a cache of gold has been left with the
baby for them.
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[* these require the latest version of RealPlayer which
can be downloaded free here]
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