the queen's picture. Come, follow us; we'll be thy good masters.1 [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Room in Paulina's House. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PErdita, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords and Attendants. Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort That I have had of thee! Paul. What, sovereign sir, I did not well, I meant well. All my services, You have paid home: but that you have vouchsafed, With your crowned brother, and these your contracted Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, It is a surplus of your grace, which never My life may last to answer. Leon. O, Paulina, We honor you with trouble. But we came To see the statue of our queen: your gallery Have we passed through, not without much content In many singularities; but we saw not That which my daughter came to look upon, The statue of her mother. Paul. As she lived peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Excels whatever yet you looked upon, Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it To see the life as lively mocked, as ever Still sleep mocked death. Behold; and say, 'tis well. [PAUL. undraws a curtain and discovers a statue. I like your silence; it the more shows off Your wonder. But yet speak ;-first, you, my liege, Comes it not something near? Leon. Her natural posture ! 1 Good masters. It was a common petitionary phrase to ask a superior to be good lord, or good master to the supplicant. 2 The old copy reads lovely. Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed, Pol. O, not by much. Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence; Which lets go by some sixteen years, and makes her As she lived now. Leon. As now she might have done Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood, As now it coldly stands,) when first I wooed her! 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 fixed; the color'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 killed 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, If I had thought the sight of my poor image Would thus have wrought1 you, (for the stone is mine,) I'd not have showed it.2 Leon. Paul. No longer shall fancy May think anon it moves. Leon. Do not draw the curtain. you gaze on't; lest your Let be, let be. 'Would I were dead, but that, methinks, alreadyWhat was he that did make it?-See, my lord, Would you not deem, it breathed? and that those veins Did verily bear blood? Pol. Masterly done. The very life seems warm upon her lip. Leon. The fixture of her eye has motion in't, As we are mocked with art.3 Paul. I'll draw the curtain ; My lord's almost so far transported, that Leon. Paul. I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirred 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. The ruddiness upon her lip is wet; You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own With oily painting. 1 Worked, agitated. Shall I draw the curtain? 2 The folio reads, "I'd not have showed it." In the late edition of Malone's Shakspeare it stands, "I'll not have showed it." But surely this is erroneous. 3 As for as if. With has the force of by. 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 Paul. It is required, You do awake your faith. Then, all stand still, 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 pedestal. 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 wooed 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 lived, Or, how stolen 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, And pray your mother's blessing.-Turn, good lady; 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 preserved? where lived? how found Thy father's court? For thou shalt hear, that I— Gave hope, thou wast in being-have preserved Paul. There's time enough for that; Will wing me to some withered bough; and there Lament till I am lost. But how, is to be questioned; for I saw her, 1 You who by this discovery have gained what you desired. |