Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, Leon. O Paulina, We honour you with trouble: But we came To see the statue of our queen: your gallery That which my daughter came to look upon, The statue of her mother. Paul. As she liv'd peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it To see the life as lively mock'd, as ever Still sleep mock'd death: behold; and say, 'tis well. [Paulina undraws a curtain, and disco❤ vers a statuc. 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 !Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed, Thou art Hermione: or, rather, thou art she, In thy not chiding; for she was as tender, As infancy, and grace.-But yet, Paulina, Hermione was not so much wrinkled; nothing So aged, as this seems. 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 liv'd 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 woo'd her! For being more stone than it?-O, royal piece, 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 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, If I had thought, the sight of my poor image Would thus have wrought you (for the stone is mine), I'd not have show'd it. Leon. Do not draw the curtain. Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest your fancy May think anon, it moves. Leon. Let be, let be. Would I were dead, but that methinks already What was he, that did make ft?-See, my lord, Would you not deem, it breath'd? and that those veins Did verily bear blood? * Worked, agitated. Pol. Masterly done: The very fife seems warm upon her lip. Leon. The fixure of her eye has motion in't*, Ast we are mock'd with art. Paul. I'll draw the curtain; My lord's almost so far transported, that Leon. O sweet Paulina, Make me to think so twenty years together; 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 chizzel 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 Per. Stand by, a looker on. Paul. 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. e. Though her eye be fixed, it seems to have motion in it. + As if. I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy To make her speak, as move. Paul. It is requir'd, You do awake your faith: Then, all stand still; I am about, let them depart. Leon. No foot shall stir. Paul. Proceed; Musick; awake her: strike [Musick. '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 actious shall be holy, as, You kill her double; Nay, present your hand : Leon. O, she's warm! [Embracing her. 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, Her. [Presenting Perdita, who kneels to Hermione. 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,- Gave hope thou wast in being,-have preserv'd Paul. Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there Leon. O peace, Paulina; Thou should'st a husband take by my consent, 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 mauy 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.Look upon my brother:- both your par dons, What? 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), Is troth-plight to your daughter.-Good Paulina, Lead us from hence; where we may leisurely You who by this discovery have gained what you desired. + Participate. |