Both Uses of
infirm
in
The Winter's Tale
- My gracious lord, I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful; In every one of these no man is free, But that his negligence, his folly, fear, Among the infinite doings of the world, Sometime puts forth: in your affairs, my lord, If ever I were wilful-negligent, It was my folly; if industriously I play'd the fool, it was my negligence, Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful To do a thing, where I the issue doubted, Whereof the execution did cry out Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear Which oft affects the wisest: these, my lord, Are such allow'd infirmities that honesty Is never free of.†
Scene 1.2 *infirmities = weaknesses from old age or disease
- By his command Have I here touch'd Sicilia, and from him Give you all greetings that a king, at friend, Can send his brother: and, but infirmity,— Which waits upon worn times,—hath something seiz'd His wish'd ability, he had himself The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his Measur'd, to look upon you; whom he loves, He bade me say so,—more than all the sceptres And those that bear them, living.†
Scene 5.1infirmity = weakness from old age or disease
Definition:
weak from old age or disease