Chapter Act III of The Winter's Tale - Study Guide by William Shakespeare

funny, the way he tells his stories is, not least because he is in such a hurry to tell both them both at the same time. One has only to compare Miranda's reaction to the loss of the ship at the beginning of The Tempest to see how differently it could have been presented. Meanwhile the Shepherd has found the baby:

"Heavy matters! heavy matters! But look thee here, boy. Now bless thyself: thou mets't with things dying, I with things new born." (3.3.111-3)

The scene looks two ways, back at heavy matters, forwards at youth.