My evils conjur'd to remembrance; and Per. And give me leave; And do not say, 'tis superstition, that I kneel, and then implore her blessing.—Lady, Give me that hand of yours, to kiss. Paul. O, patience, The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's Not dry. Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on ; Which sixteen winters cannot blow away, So many summers, dry scarce any joy Did ever so long live; no sorrow, But kill'd itself much sooner. Pol. Dear my brother, Let him, that was the cause of this, have power Will piece up in himself. Paul. Indeed, my lord, mine,) I'd not have show'd it. Would I were dead, but that methinks already- veins Leon. The fixure of her eye has motion in't,1 As2 we are mock'd with art. Paul. I'll draw the curtain; My lord's almost so far transported, that He'll think anon, it lives. Leon. O sweet Paulina, Make me to think so twenty years together; No settled senses of the world can match The pleasure of that madness. Let't alone. Paul. I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr'd you: but I could afflict you further. Leon. Do, Paulina ; For this affliction has a taste as sweet As any cordial comfort.-Still, methinks, There is an air comes from her: What fine chisel Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock me, For I will kiss her. Paul. Good my lord, forbear: You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own Per. So long could I Either forbear, Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you By wicked powers. Leon. What you can make her do, I am content to look on: what to speak, I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy To make her speak, as move. (1) i. e. Though her eye be fixed, it seems to have motion in it. (2) As if. Paul. It is requir'd, You ao awake your faith: Then, all stand still; Or those, that think it is unlawful business I am about, let them depart. Leon. No foot shall stir. Paul. Proceed; Music; awake her: strike [Music. 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more: approach; Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come; I'll fill your grave up: stir; nay, come away; Bequeath to death your numbness, for from him Dear life redeems you. You perceive, she stirs : [Hermione comes down from the pea, stal. Start not her actions shall be holy, as, You hear, my spell is lawful: do not shun her, Until you see her die again; for then You kill her double: Nay, present your hand: When she was young, you woo'd her; now, in age, Is she become the suitor. Leon. O, she's warm! [Embracing her. If this be magic, let it be an art Lawful as eating. Pol. She embraces him. Cam. She hangs about his neck; If she pertain to life, let her speak too. Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has liv'd, Or, how stol'n from the dead. Paul. That she is living, Were it but told you, should be hooted at Like an old tale; but it appears, she lives, Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while.Please you to interpose, fair madam; kneel, And pray your mother's blessing.-Turn, good lady; Our Perdita is found. Her. [Presenting Per. who kneels to Her. You gods, look down, And from your sacred vials pour your graces Upon my daughter's head!-Tell me, mine own, Where hast thou been preserv'd? where liv'd? how found Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear, that I,Knowing by Paulina, that the oracle Gave hope thou wast in being,-have preserv'd Myself, to see the issue. Paul. Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there Leon. O peace, Paulina ; Thou should'st a husband take by my consent, As I by thine, a wife: this is a match, And made between's by vows. Thou hast found mine; But how, is to be question'd: for I saw her, As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said many A prayer upon her grave: I'll not seek far (For him, I partly know his mind,) to find thee An honourable husband :-Come, Camillo, And take her by the hand: whose worth, and honesty, Is richly noted; and here justified By us, a pair of kings.-Let's from this place.What?-Look upon my brother :-both your pardons, That e'er I put between your holy looks (1) You who by this discovery have gained what you desired. (2) Participate. Lead us from hence; where we may leisurely This play, as Dr. Warburton justly observes, is, with all its absurdities, very entertaining. The character of Autolycus is naturally conceived, and strongly represented. JOHNSON. |