The ship which had conveyed Antigonus with the infant princess away from her father’s kingdom, was driven onshore upon the Bohemian territory, over which Polixenes reigned.  Leaving the child there, Antigonus started to return to his ship; but a savage bear met and destroyed him, so that Leontes never heard how his commands had been fulfilled.

When poor Hermione had sent her baby in Paulina’s care to be shown to her royal father, she had dressed it in its richest robes, and thus it remained when Antigonus left it.  Besides, he pinned a paper to its mantle upon which the name Perdita was written.

Happily, a kind-hearted shepherd found the deserted infant, and took it home to his wife, who cherished it as her own.  But they concealed the fact from every one; and lest the tale of the jewels upon Perdita’s little neck should be noised abroad, he sold some of them, and leaving that part of the country, bought herds of sheep, and became a wealthy shepherd.

Little Perdita grew up as sweet and lovely as her unknown mother; yet she was supposed to be only a shepherd’s child.

Polixenes of Bohemia had one only son—­Florizel by name; who, hunting near the shepherd’s dwelling, saw the fair maiden, whose beauty and modesty soon won his love.  Disguising himself as a private gentleman, instead of appearing as the king’s son, Florizel took the name of Doricles, and came visiting at the shepherd’s dwelling.  So often was he there, and thus so frequently missed at court, that people began to watch his movements, and soon discovered that he loved the pretty maiden Perdita.

When this news was carried to Polixenes, he called upon his faithful servant Camillo to go with him to the shepherd’s house; and they arrived there in disguise just at the feast of sheep-shearing, when there was a welcome for every visitor.

It was a busy scene.  There was dancing on the green, young lads and lassies were chaffering with a peddler for his goods, sports were going on everywhere; yet Florizel and Perdita sat apart, talking happily to each other.

No one could have recognized the king; even Florizel did not observe him as he drew near enough to listen to the conversation of the young people.  Perdita’s way of speaking charmed him much—­it seemed something very different to the speech of a shepherd’s daughter; and, turning to Camillo, Polixenes said: 

        “Nothing she does or seems
  But tastes of something greater than her self,
  Too noble for this place.”

Then he spoke to the old shepherd, asking the name of the youth who talked to his daughter.

“They call him Doricles,” said the man; adding, too, that if he indeed loved Perdita, he would receive with her something he did not reckon on.  By this the shepherd meant a part of her rich jewels which he had not sold, but kept carefully until such time as she should marry.  Polixenes turned to his son, telling him jestingly that he should have bought some gift for his fair maid—­not let the peddler go without seeking anything for her.