now Leon. I think so. Kil'd! Cleo. You tempt him over-much. She I kill'd? I did so: but thou strikóst me Paul. Unless another Sorely, to say I did; it is as bitter As like Hermione as his her picture, Upon thy tongue, as in my thought: Now, good Affront his eye Cleo. Good madam,Say so but seldom. Paul. I have done. Cleo Not at all, good lady; Yet, if my lord will marry,-if you will, sir, You might have spoken a thousand things that No remedy, but you will give me the office would To choose you a queen; she shall not be so young Have done the time more benefit, and grac'd As was your former; but she shall be such, Your kindness better. As walk'd your first queen's ghost, it should take joy Paul. You are one of those, To see her in your arms. Would have him wed again. Leon. My true Paulina, Dion. If you would not so, We shall not marry, till thon bidd'st us. You pity not the state, nor the remembrance Paul. That Of his most sovereign dame; consider little, Shall be, when your first queen's again in breath; What dangers, by his highness' fail of issue Never till then. May drop upon his kingdom, and devour Enter a Gentleman. Incertain lookers-on. What were more holy, Gent One that gives out himself prince Florizel, Than to rejoice, the former queen is well ? Son of Polixenes, wich his princess, (she The fairest I have yet beheld,) desires access To your high presence. What with him ? he comes ng There is none worthy Like to his father s greatness : his approach, So out of circumstance, and sudden, tells us, 'Tis not a visitation fram'd, but forc'd By need, and accident. What train ? For has not the divine Apollo said, Gent. But few, Is't not the tenour of his oracle, And those but mean. That king Leontes shall not have an heir, Leon. Till his lost child be found? which, that it shall, His princess, say you, with him ; Is all as monstrous to our human reason, Gent. Ay, the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the sun shone bright on. As my Antigonus to break his grave, Paul. O Hermione, And come again to me; who, on my life, Did perish with the infant. 'Tis your counsel, As every present time doth boast itself Above a better, gone; so must thy grave My lord should to the heavens be contrary, Give way to what's seen now. Sir, you yourself Oppose against their wills.-Care not for issue ; Have said, and writ so, (but your writing now [ To LEONTES. Is colder than that theme,) She had not been, The crown will find an heir: Great Alexander Nor was not to be equalld;-thus your verse Left his to the worthiest; so his successor Flow'd with her beauty once; 'tis shrewdly ebb’d, To say you have seen a better. Pardon, madam; Who hast the memory of Hermione, The one I have almost forgot; (your pardon,) I know, in honour,—0, that ever I Had squar'd me to thy counsel !-then, even now, Will have your tongue too. This is such a creature, The other, when she has obtain'd your eye, I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes; Would she begin a sect, might quench the zeal Have taken treasure from her lips,Paul. And left them Of all professors else: make proselytes Of who she but bid follow. More rich for what they yielded. Paul. How? not women ? Leon. Thou speak’st truth. Genl. Women will love her, that she is a woman And better us'd, would make her sainted spirit The rarest of all women. Again possess her corps; and, on this stage, Leon. Go, Cleomenes; (Where we offerders now appear,) soul-vexed, Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends. Had she such Bring them to our embracement.--Still 'tis strange, power, She had just cause. (Ereunt CLEOMENES, Lords, and Gentlemen. He thus should 'steal upon us. Paut. Had our prince, To murder her I married. Paul. I should 80: (Jewel of children,) seen this hour, he had pair'd Well with this lord; there was not full a month Were I the ghost that walk’d, I'd bid you mark Between their births. Her eyes; and tell me, for what dull part in't Leon. You chose her: then I'd shriek, that even your ears Prythee, no more; thou know'st, Should rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd He dies to me again, when talk'd of : sure, When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches Should be, Remember mine! Leon. Stars, very stars, Will bring me to consider that, which may Unfurnish me of reason. They are come. Re-enterCLEOMENES, with FLORIZEL, PERDITA, and Attendants. Never to marry, but by my free leave ? Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince ; Leon. Never, Paulina : so be bless'd my spirit ! For she did print your royal father off, Purul. Then, good my lords, bear witness to his Conceiving you: Were I but twenty-one, oath my Your father's image is so hit in you, ! My marvel, and my message. To your court His very an, that I could call you brother, Whiles he was hast'ning, (in the chase, it seems, As I did him; and speak of something, wild!y Of this fair couple,) meets he on the way By us perform'd before. Most dearly welcome ! The father of this seeming lady, and And your fair princess, goddess !--0, alas ! Her brother, having both their country quitted I lost a couple, that 'twixt heaven and earth With this young prince. Might thus have stood, begetting wonder, as Flo. Camillo has betray'd me; You, gracious couple, do! and then i lost Whose honour, and whose honesty, till now, (All mine own folly,) the society, Endur'd all weathers. Amity too, of your brave father; whom, Lord. Lay't so to his charge; Though bearing misery, I desire my life He's with the king your father Once more to look upon. Leon. Who? Camillo ? Flo. By his command Lord. Camillo, sir; I spake with him: who now Have I here touched Sicilia : and from him Has these poor men in question. Never saw ! Give you all greetings, that a king, at friend, Wretches so quake: they kneel, they kiss the earth Can send his brother: and, but infirmity Forswear themselves as often as they speak : (Which waits upon worn times,) hath something Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them seiz'd With divers deaths in death. His wish'd ability, he had himself Per. O, my poor father! The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have Measur'd to look upon you; whom he loves Our contract celebrated. (He bade me say so,) more than all the sceptres, Leon. You are married ? And those that bear them, living. Flo. We are not, sir, nor are we like to be; Leon. O, my brother, The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first :(Good gentleman !) the wrongs I have done thee The odds for high and low's alike. stir Leon. My lord, Afresh within me; and these thy offices, Is this the daughter of a king ? So rarely kind, are as interpreters Flor. She is, Will come on very slowly. I am sorry, Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty, Good, my lord, That you might well enjoy her. She came from Libra. Flo. Dear, look op: Leon. Where the warlike Smalus, Though fortune, visible an enemy, That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd, and lov'd ? Should chase us, with my father; power no jot Flo. Most royal sir, from thence; from him, Hath she to change our loves.—'Beseech you, sir, whose daughter Remember since you ow'd no more to time His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her: thence Than I do now : with thought of such affections, (A prosperous south-wind friendly,) we have cross’d, Step forth mine advocate ; at your request, To execute the charge my father gave me, My father will grant precious things, as trifles. For visiting your highness: My best train 'Leon. Would he do go, I'd beg your precious I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd; mistress, Who for Bohemia bend, to signify Which he counts but a trifle. Not only my success in Libya, sir, Paul. Sir, my liege, But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety Your eye hath too much youth in't : not a month Here, where we'ar:. 'Fore your queen died, she was more worth such Leon The blessed gods gazes Purge all infection from our air, whilst you Than what you look on now, Do climate here! You have a holy father, Leon. I thought of her, A graceful gentleman; against whose person, Even in these looks I made.Rut your petition So sacred as it is, I have done sin: | To FLORIZEL, For which the heavens, taking angry note, Is yet unanswer'd: I will to your father; Have left me issueless; and your father's bless’d, Your honour not o'erthrown by your desires, (As he from heaven merits it,) with you, I am a friend to them, and you : upon which errand Worthy his goodness. What might I have been, I now go toward him : therefore follow me, Might í a son and daughter now have look”d on, And mark what way I make : Come, good my lord. Such goodly things as you ? [Ereunt Enter a Lord. SCENE II.- The same. Before the Palace. Lord. Most noble sir, Enter AUTOLYcus and a Gentleman. That which I shall report, will bear no credit, Aut. 'Beseech you, sir, were you present at this Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great sir, relation ? Bohemia greets you from himself by me 1st Gent. I was by at the opening of the fardel, Desires you to attach his son ; who has heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he (His dignity and duty both cast off,) found it: whereupon, after a little amazedness, we Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with were all commanded out of the chamber; only this, A shepherd's daughter. methought I heard the shepherd say, he found the Leon. Where's Bohemia ? speak. child. Lord. Here in the city; I now came from im : Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of 't I speak amazedly; and it becomes 1st Gent. I make a broken delivery of the basi ness. But the changes I perceived in the king, that the oracle was fulfilled: She lifted the princess and Camillo, were very notes of admiration : they from the earth; and so locks her in embracing, as seemed almost, with staring on one another, to tear if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no the cases of their eyes; there was speech in their more be in danger of losing. dumbness, language in their very gesture; they 1st Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the looked, as they had heard of a wor!d ranscmed, or audience of king: ar prices for by such ras it one destroyed : A ncuable passion of wonder ap- acted. peared in them: but the wisest beholder, that knew 3rd Gent. One of the prettiest touches of all, and no more but seeing, could not say, if the importance that which angled for mine eyes (caught the water, were joy, or sorrow : but in the extremity of the one, though not the fish,) was, when at the relation of it must needs be. the queen's death, with the manner how she came Enter another Gentleman. to it, (bravely confessed, and lamented by the king,) Here comes a gentleman, that, happily, knows more: one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an alas. how attentiveness wounded his daughter; till, from The news, Rogero ? 2nd Gent. Nothing but bonfires: The oracle is I would fain say, bleed tears; for, I am sure, my fulfilled; the king's daughter is found : such a deal heart wept blood. Who was most marble there, of wonder is broken out within this hour, that bal- changed colour; some swooned, all sorrowed : if all lad makers cannot be able to express it. the world could have seen it, the woe had been universal. Enter a third Gentleman. 1st Gent. Are they returned to the court ? Hire comes the lady Paulina's steward; he can de 3rd Gent. No: the princess hearing of her moliver you more.-How goes it now, sir ? this news, ther's statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina, which is called true, is so like an old tale, that the a piece many years in doing, and now newly perverity of it is in strong suspicion : Has the king formed by that rare Italian master, Julio Romano; found his heir ? who, had he himself eternity, and could put breath 3rd Gent. Mist true; if ever truth were pregnant into his work, would beguile nature of her custom, by circumstance, that, which you hear, you'll swear so perfectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermoine you see, there is such unity in the proofs. The hath done Hermione, that, they say, one would mantle of queen Hermione :-her jewel about the speak to her, and stand in hope of answer: thither, Deck of it:--the letters of Antigonus, found with it, with all greediness of affection, are they gone; and which they know to be his character :—the majesty there they intend to sup. of the creature, in resemblance of the mother;-the 2nd Gent. I thought, she had some great matter affection of nopleness, which nature shows above her there in hand; for she hath privately, twice or thrice breeding,--and many other evidences, proclaim her, a day, ever since the death of Hermione, visited with all certainty, to be the king's daughter. Did that removed house. Shall we thither, and with you see the meeting of the two kings ? our company piece the rejoicing ? 2nd Gent. No. 1st Gent. Who would be thence, that has the 3rd Gent. Then have you lost a sight, which was benefit of access? every wink of an eye, some new to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you grace will be born : our absence makes us unthrifty have beheld one joy crown another; so, and in such to our knowledge. Let's along. manner, that, it seemed, sorrow wept to take leave [Ereuni Gentlemen. of them; for their joy waded in tears. There was Aut. Now, had I not the dash of my former life casting up of eyes, bolding up of hands; with in me, would preferment drop on my head. I countenances of such distraction, that they were to brought the old man and his son aboard the Prince; be known by garment, not by favour. Our king, told him, I heard them talk of a fardel, and I know being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his not what; but he, at that time, over-fond of the found daughter; as if that joy were now become a shepherd's daughter, (so he then took her to be,)who loss, cries, 0, thy mother, try mother! then asks began to be much sea-sick, and himself little better, Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-extremity of weather continuing, this mystery relaw; then again worries he his daughter, with clip- mained undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me; for ping her; now he thanks the old shepherd, which had I been the finder out of this secret, it would not stands by, like a weather-bitten conduit of many have relished among my other discredits. kings' reigns. I never heard of such another en. counter, which lames report to follow it, and undoes Enter Shepherd and Clown. description to do it. Here come those I have done good to against my 2nd Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their that carried hence the child ? fortune. 3rd Gent. Like an old tale still; which will have Shep. Come, boy; I am past more children, but matter to rehearse, though credit be asleep, and not thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born. an ear open : He was torn to pieces by a bear; this Clo. You are well met, sir : You denied to fight avouches the shepherd's son; who has not only his with me this other day, because I was no gentlemau innocence (which seems much,) to justify nım, but born: See you these clothes ? say, you see thein a handkerchief and rings of his that Paulina knows.' nnt, and think me still no gentleman born: you 1st Gent. What became of his bark, and his fol. were best say, these robes are not gentlemen börn. lowers ? Give me the lie: do, and try whether I am not uuw 3rd Gent. Wrecked, the same instant of their a gentleman born master's death; and in the view of the shepherd : Aut. I know you are now, sir, a gentieinan born. so that all the instruments, which aided to expose Clo. Ay, and have been so any time these four the child, were even then lost, when it was found. hours. But, O, the noble combat, that, 'twixt joy and sor- Shep. And so have I, boy. row, was fought in Paulina ! She had one eye de- Clo. So you have .-but I was a {'entleman born clinod for the loss of her husband; another elevated before my father : for the king's son took me vy U the hand, and called me, brother; and then the two Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed, kings called my father, brother; and then the Thou art Hermione. or, rather, thou art she, prince, my brother, and the princess, my sister, In thy not chiding; for she was as tender, called my father, father; and so we wept: and there As infancy, and grace.—But yet, Paulina, was the first gentleman-like tears that ever we shed. Hermione was not so much wrinkled; nothing Shep. We may live, son, to shed many more. So aged, as this seems. 0, not by much. preposterous a state as we are. Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence; Aut. I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all Which lets go by some sixteen years, and makes her the faults I have committed to your worship, and to As she liv'd now. give me your good report to the prince my master. Leon. As now she might have done, Shep. Pr’ythee, son, do; for we must be gentle, So much to my good comfort, as it is now we are gentlemen. Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood, Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life? Even with such life of majesty, (warm life, Aut. Ay, an it like your good worship. As now it coldly stands,) when first I woo'd her! Clo. Give me thy hand : I will swear to the I am asham’d: Does not the stone rebuke me, prince, thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in F'or being more stone than it ?-0, royal piece, Bohemia. There's magic in thy majesty; which has Shep. You may say it, but not swear it. My evils conjur'd to remembrance; and Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman ? Let From thy admiring daughter took the spirits, boors and franklins say it, I'll swear it. Standing like stone with thee! Shep How if it be false, son ? Per. And give me leave ; Clo. If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may And do not say, 'tis superstition, that swear it, in the behalf of his friend :-And I'll swear I kneel, and then implore her blessing.–Lady, to the prince, thou art a tall fellow of thy hands, and Dear queen, that ended when I but began, that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know, thou art Give me that hand of yours, to kiss. no tall fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt be Paul. O, patience: drunk; but I'll swear it: and I would, and would'st The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's be a tall fellow of thy hands. Not dry. Aut. I will prove so, sir, to my power. Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on : Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: If I Which sixteen winters cannot blow away, do not wonder, how thou darest venture to be drunk, So many summers, dry: scarce any joy not being a tall fellow, trust me not.-Hark! the Did ever so long live; no sorrow, kings and the princes, our kindred, are going to see But kill'd itself much sooner. the queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy Pol. Dear my brother, good masters. (Exeunt. Let him, that was the cause of this, have power To take off so much grief from you, as he Paul. Indeed, my lord, If I had thought, the sight of my poor image Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, Would thus have wrought you (for the stone is CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and Attendants. I'd not have show'd it. (mine,) Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great Leon. Do not draw the curtain. comfort Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest your That I have had of thee! May think anon, it moves. [fancy Paul. What, sovereign sir, Leon, Let be, let be. I did not well, I meant well: All my services, Would I were dead, but that, methinks, alreadyYou have paid home : but that you have vouchsaf'd What was he, that did make it?-See, my lord, With your crown'd brother, and these your con- Would you not deem, it breath'd ? and that those tracted Did verily bear blood (veins Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit; Pol. Masterly done: It is a surplus of your grace, which never The very life seems warm upon her lip. My life may last to answer. Leon. The fixture of her eye has motion in't, Leon. 0, Paulina, As we are mock'd with art. We honour you with trouble: But we came Paul. I'll draw the curtain; To see the statue of our queen : your gallery My lord's almost so far transported, that Have we pass'd through, not without much content He'll think anon, it lives. In many singularities; but we saw not Leon. O sweet Paulina, That which my daughter came to look upon, Make me to think so twenty years together ; The statue of her mother. No settled senses of the world can motch Paul. As she liv'd peerless, The pleasure of that madness. Let't alone. So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Paul. I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirrd you Excels whatever yet you look'd upon, I could afflict you further. (but Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it Leon. Do, Paulina; Lonely, apart: But here it is : prepare For this affliction has a taste as sweet To see the life as lively mock'd, as ever As any cordial comfort.-Still, methinks, Still sleep mock'd death : behold; and say, 'tis well. There is an air comes from her. What fine chisel (PAULINA undraws a curtain, and discovers a statue. Could ever yet cut breath ? Let no man mock ine, I like your silence, it the more shows off For I will kiss her. Your wonder: But yet speak ;-first, you my liege. Paul. Good my lord, forbear : Comes it not something near ? The ruddiness upon her lip is wet; Leon. Her natural posture !- You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own With oily painting: Shall I draw the curtain ? Like an old tale; but it appears, she lives, Though yet she speak not." Mark a little while. Per. So long could [ Please you to interpose, fair madam; kneel, Stand by, a looker on. And pray your mother's blessing.–Turn, good lady; Paul. Either forbear, Our Perdita is found. Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you [Presenting PERDITA, who kneels to HERMIONE. For more amazement: If you can behold it, Her. You gods, look down, I'll make the statue move indeed ; descend, And from your sacred vials pour your graces And take you by the hand: but then you'll think, Upon my daughter's head !--Tell me, mine own, (Which I protest against,) I am assisted Where hast thou been preserv'd ? where liv'd ? how By wicked powers. found Leon. What you can make her do, Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear, that 1,I am content to look on : what to speak, Knowing by Paulina, that the oracle I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy Gare hope thou wast in being,—have preserv'd To make her speak, as moye. Myself, to see the issue. Paul. It is requir'd, Paul. There's time enough for that ; You do awake your faith : Then, all stand still ; Lest they desire, upon this push to trouble Or those, that think it is unlawful business Your joys with like relation.—Go together, I am about, let them depart. You precious winners all; your exultation Leon. Proceed; Partake to every one. 1, an old turtle, No foot shall stir. Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there Paul. Music; awake her : strike.- My mate, that's never to be found again, (Music. Lament till I am lost. "Tis time; descend; be stone no more: approach ; Leon. O peace, Paulina; Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come; Thou should'st a husband take by my consent, I'll fill your grave up: stir; day, come away; As I by thine, a wife; this is a match, [mine, Bequeath to death your numbness, for from him And made between's by vows. Thou hast found Dear life redeems you.--You perceive, she stirs ; But how, is to be question'd; for I saw her, (HERMIONE comes down from the pedestal. As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said many Start not: her actions shall be holy, as A prayer upon her grave: I'll not seek far You hear my spell is lawful: do not shun her, (For him, I partly know his mind,) to find thee Until you see her die again; for then An honourable husband :-Come, Camillo, You kill her double; Nay, present your hand: And take her by the hand : whose worth and honesty, When she was young, you woo'd her; now, in age, Is richly noted; and here justified Is she become the suitor. By us, a pair of kings.—Let's from this place.Leon. O, she's warm! (Embracing her. What ? – Look upon my brother:- both you: If this be magic, let it be an art pardons, Lawful as eating. That e'er I put between your holy looks My ill suspicion.—This your son-in-law, And son unto the king, (whom heavens directing) If she pertain to life, let her speak too. Is troth-plight to your daughter.-Good Paulina, Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has liv'd, Lead us from hence; where we may leisurely Or, how stol'n from the dead ? Each one demand, and answer to his part Paul. That she is living, Perform'd in this wide gap of time, since first Were it but told you, should be hooted at We were dissever'd : Hastily lead away. (Ezeuns |