2 Gent. I thought, she had some great matter there in hand, for fhe hath privately, twice or thrice a-day, ever fince the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoycing? I Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benefit of accefs? every wink of an eye, fome new grace will be born: our abfence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along. [Exeunt. Aut. Now, had not I the dash of my former life in me, would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old man and his fon aboard the prince; told him, I heard them talk of a farthel, and I know not what: but he at that time, over-fond of the shepherd's daughter (fo he then took her to be) who began to be much seasick, and himself little better, extremity of weather continuing, this mystery remained undiscover'd. But 'tis all one to me; for had I been the finder out of this fecret, it would not have relish'd among my other difcredits. Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the bloffoms of their fortune. Shep. Come, boy, I am past more children; but thy fons and daughters will be all gentlemen born. Clo. You are well met, fir; [to Autolicus.] you denied to fight with me the other day, because I was no gentleman born : fee you these cloths? fay, you fee them not, and think me still no gentleman born: you were best say, these robes are not gentlemen born. Give me the lie; do; and try whether I am not now a gentleman born. Aut. I know, you are now, fir, a gentleman born. Clo. Ay, and have been fo any time these four hours. Clo. So you have; but I was a gentleman born before my father: for the king's fon took me by the hand, and call'd me brother; and then the two kings call'd my father brother; and VOL. II. Ffff then then the prince my brother, and the princefs my fifter call'd my father, father; and fo we wept: and there was the first gentlemanlike tears that ever we fhed. Shep. We may live, fon, to fhed many more. Clo. Ay, or elfe'twere hard luck, being in fo prepofterous estate as we are. Aut. I humbly befeech you, fir, to pardon me all the faults I have committed to your worship, and to give me your good report to the prince, my master. Shep. Pr'ythee, fon, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen. Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life? Aut. Ay, an it like your good worship. Clo. Give me thy hand; I will swear to the prince, thou art as honeft a true fellow as any is in Bithynia. Shep. You may fay it, but not fwear it. Clo. Not fwear it, now I am a gentleman? let boors and franklins fay it, I'll swear it. Shep. How if it be false, fon? Clo. If it be ne'er fo falfe, a true gentleman may fwear it in the behalf of his friend: and I'll fwear to the prince, thou art a tall fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know thou art no tall fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt be drunk; but I'll fwear it; and I would thou would't be a tall fellow of thy hands. Aut. I'll prove fo, fir, to my power. Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I do not wonder how thou dar'ft venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark! the kings and the princes our kindred are going to fee the queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy good masters. [Exeunt. SCENE Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, Leo. Lords, and Attendants. Grave and good Paulina, the great comfort Pau. What, fovereign fir, I did not well, I meant well; all my fervices You have pay'd home. But that you have youchsaf'd, It is a furplufs of your grace, which never My life may last to answer. Leo. O Paulina, We honour you with trouble; but we came Have we pass'd through, not without much content, In many fingularities; but we faw not That which my daughter came to look upon, Pau. As fhe liv'd peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Excels whatever yet you look'd upon, Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it Lonely, apart. But here it is: prepare To fee the life as lively mock'd, as ever Still fleep mock'd death: behold; and fay, 'tis well. [Pau. draws a curtain, and discovers Her. ftanding like a ftatue. I like your filence, it the more fhows off Your wonder: but yet fpeak; first you, my liege, Comes it not fomething near? Leo. Her natural posture! Chide me, dear ftone, that I may fay, indeed, Ffff 2 Thou Thou art Hermione; or, rather, thou art fhe, Pol. O, not by much. Pau. So much the more our carver's excellence, Which lets go by fome fixteen years, and makes her As fhe liv'd now. Leo. As now fhe might have done, So much to my good comfort, as it is Now piercing to my foul. O, thus she stood; As now it coldly ftands, when firft I woo'd her. Per. And give me leave, And do not say, 'tis fuperftition, that I kneel, and then implore her bleffing. Lady, Pau. O, patience; The statue is but newly fix'd; the colour's Not dry. Cam. My lord, your forrow was too fore lay'd on, Which fixteen winters cannot blow away, So many fummers dry; fcarce any joy Did ever fo long live; no forrow, But kill'd itself much fooner. Pol. Dear my brother, Let him that was the cause of this, have power Will piece up in himself. Pau. Indeed, my lord, If I had thought the fight of my poor image Would thus have wrought you, for the ftone is mine, Leo. Do not draw the curtain. Pau. No longer fhall you gaze on't, left your fancy May think anon, it move. Leo. Let be, let be: Would I were dead, but that, methinks, already What was he that did make it? fee, my lord, Would you not deem it breath'd; and that thofe veins Did verily bear blood? Pol. Masterly done! The very life feems warm upon her lip. Leo. The fixure of her eye has motion in't, As we were mock'd with art. Pau. I'll draw the curtain: My lord's almost so far transported, that Leo. O fweet Paulina, Make me to think fo twenty years together: I could afflict you further. Leo. Do, Paulina; For this affliction has a taste as sweet As any cordial comfort. Still, methinks, you; but There is an air comes from her. What fine chifel Pau. Good my lord, forbear: The ruddiness upon her lip is wet; You'll mar it, if you kifs it; ftain your own Leo. |