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1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the busi- | and so locks her in einbracing, as if she would ness;--But the changes I perceived in the king, pin her to her heart, that she might no more and Camillo, were very notes of admiration | be in danger of losing. they seemed almost, with staring at one ano- 1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the ther, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was audience of kings aud princes; for by such was speech in their dumbness, language in their it acted. very gesture; they looked, as they bad heard 3 Gent. One of the prettiest touches of all, of a world ransom'd, or one destroyed: A no- and that which angled for mine eyes (caught table passion of wonder appeared in them: but the water, though not the fish,) was, when at the wisest beholder, that knew no more but see-the relation of the queen's death, with the ing, could not say, if the importance were joy, or sorrow: but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be..

Enter another GENTLEMAN.

Here comes a gentleman, that, happily, knows
The news, Rogero?
[more
2 Gent. Nothing but bonfires: The oracle is
fulfilled; the king's daughter is found: such a
deal of wonder is broken out within this hour,
that ballad-makers cannot be able to express it.

Enter a third GENTLEMAN.

Here comes the lady Paulina's steward; he can deliver you more.-How goes it now, Sir? this news, which is called true, is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in strong suspicion: Has the king found his heir?

3 Gent. Most true; if ever truth were preg. nant by circumstance: that, which you hear, you'll swear you see, there is such unity in the proofs. The mantle of queen Hermione:-her jewel about the neck of it :-the letters of Antigonus, found with it, which they know to be his character:-the majesty of the creature, in resemblance of the mother;-the affection of nobleness, which nature shows above her breeding, and many other evidences, proclaim ber, with all certainty, to be the king's daughter. Did you see the ineeting of the two kings? 2 Gent. No.

inanner how she came to it, (bravely confessed, and lamented by the king,) how attentiveness wounded his daughter: till, from one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an alas! [ would fain say, bleed tears; for, I am sure, my heart wept blood. Who was most marble there,⚫ changed colour; some swooned, all sorrowed; if all the world could have seen it, the woe had been universal.

1 Gent. Are they returned to the court? 3 Gent. No: the princess hearing of her mo ther's statue, which is in the keeping of Pau lina, a piece many years in doing, and now newly performed by that are Italian master, Julio Romano; who, had he himself eternity, and could put breath into his work, would beguile nature of her custom, so perfectly he is her ape he so near to Hermione bath done Hermione, that, they say, one would speak to her, and stand in hope of answer: thither, with all greediness of affection, are they gone'; and there they intend to sup.

2 Gent. I thought she had some great matter there in hand; for she hath privately, twice or thrice a day, ever since the death of HerInione, visited that removed house. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoicing?

1 Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benefit of access? every wink of an eye, some new grace will be born: our absence makes us 3 Gent. Then have you lost a sight, which unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along. was to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There [Exeunt GENTLEMEN. might you have beheld one joy crown another; Aut. Now, had I not the dash of my former so, and in such manner, that, it seemed, sorrow life in me, would preferment drop on my head. wept to take leave of them; for their joy waded I brought the old man and his son aboard the in tears. There was casting up of eyes, hold-prince; told him I heard him talk of a fardel, ing up of bands; with countenance of such and I know not what: but he at that time, distraction, that they were to be known by garment, not by favour. 1 Our king, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of bis found daughter; as if that joy were now become a loss, cries, O thy mother, thy mother! then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he is daughter, with clipping her; now be thanks the old shepherd, which stands by, like a weatherbitten conduit of many kings' reigns. I never heard of such another encounter, which lames report to follow it, and undoes description to

do it.

2 Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried hence the child?

over-fond of the shepherd's daughter, (so he then took her to be,) who began to be much sea-sick, and himself,) little better, extremity of weather continuing, this mystery remained uudiscovered. But 'tis all one to me: for had been the finder-out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits.

Enter SHEPHERD and CLOWN.

Here comes those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune.

Shep. Come, boy; I am past more children; but thy sons and daughters will be all gentle

шen born.

3 Gent. Like an old tale still; which will Clo. You are well met, Sir: You denied to have matter to rehearse, though credit be fight with me this other day, because I was no asleep, and not an ear open: he was torn to gentleman born; See you these clothes? say, pieces with a bear; this avonches the shep-you see them not, and think me still no genherd's son; who has not only his innocence tleman born: you were best say, these robes (which seems much,) to justify him, but a han-are not gentleman born. Give me the lie: do; kerchief and rings of his, that Paulina knows. and uy whether I am not now a gentleman 1 Gent. What became of his bark and his born. followers?

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Aut. I know you are now, Sir, a gentleman born.

Clo. Ay, and have been so any time these four hours.

Shep. And so have I, boy.

Clo. So you have :-but I was a gentleman boru before my father: for the king's son took me by the hand, and called me, brother; and then the two kings called my father, brother: and then the prince, my brother, and the prince cess, my sister, called my father, father; and

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So we wept; and there was the first gentleman- J Which lets go by some sixteen years, aud like tears that ever we shed.

Shep. We may live, son, to shed many more. Clo. Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so preposterous eзtate as we are.

Aut. I humbly beseech you, Sir, 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, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we an 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 honest a true fellow as any is in Bobemia.

Shep. You may say it, but not swear it. Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and franklius say it, I'll swear it. Shep. How if it be false, son?

Clo. If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear it, in the behalf of bis friend :-And I'll swear 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 bands, and that thou wilt be drunk; but I'll swear it and I would, thou would'st be a tall fellow of thy bands.

Aut. I will prove so, Sir, to my power. Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow : If I do not wonder, bow thou darest venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark! the kings and the princes, our kindred, are going to see the queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy good masters.

[Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in PAULINA'S House.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PER DITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and At

tendants.

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In many singularities; but we saw not
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,
Excels whatever yet you looked upon,

Or hand of man hath done therefore I keep it
Lonely apart But here it is: prepare
To see the life as lively mock'd, as ever [well.
Still sleep mock'd death: behold; and say, 'tis
[PAULINA undraws a Curtain, and dis-
covers a statue.

I like your silence, it the more shows off
Your wonder: But yet speak ;-first, you, my
Comes it not something near?

[liege

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. Oh! not by much. Paul. So much the more lence :

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makes her

As she liv'd now.

Leon. As now she might have done,
So much to my good comfort, as it is
Now piercing to my soul. Ob? thus she stood,
Even with such life of majesty, (warm life,
As now it coldly stands,) when first I woo'd
her!

I am asham'd: Does not the stone rebuke me,
For being more stone than it ?-O royal piece,
There's magic in thy majesty; which has
My evils conjur'd to remembrance; and
From thy admiring daughter took the spirits,
Standing like stone with thee!

Per. And give me leave;

And do not say, 'tis superstition, that

i kneel, and then implore her blessing.-Lady,
Dear queen, that ended when I but began,
Give me that hand of your's, 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
To take off so much grief from you as he
Will piece up in himself.

Paul. Indeed, my lord,

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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; let your fancy

May think anon, it moves.
Leon. Let be, let be,

Would I were dead, but that methinks al-
ready-
[lord,
What was he, that did make it?-See, my
Would you not deem, it breath'd? and that
those veins
Did verily bear blood?

Pol. Masterly done:

The very life seems warm upon her lip.

Leon. The fixure of her eye has motion in't As 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 aloue.
Paul. I am sorry, Sir, I have thus far stiri'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 tine
chisel
(me,

Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock 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: Shall I draw the curtain ? Leon No, not these twenty years

Per. So long could I Stand by, a looker on.

Paul. Either forbear,

Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you
For more amazement: If you can behold it,
I'll make the statue move indeed; descend,

•Worked, agitated.

1. e. Though her eye be fixed it seems to have mo tion in it. 1 As if.

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Paul. 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 woo'd her; now, in

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If she pertain to life, let her speak too.

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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. There's time enough for that; Lest they desire, upon this push to trouble Your joys with like relation.-Go together, You precious winners all; your exultation Partake to every one. I, an old turtle, Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there My mate, that's never to be found again, Lament till I am lost.

Leon. O peace, Paulina;

Thou should'st a husband take by my conset,
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

Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has My ill suspicion.-This your son-in-law,

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
Our Perdita is found.
(lady;
'Presenting PERDITA, who kneels to
HERMIONE.

And son unto the king, (whom beavens direct-
ing,)
[lina,
Is troth-plight to your daughter.-Good Pau-
Lead us from hence; where we may leisurely
Each one demand, and answer to his part
Perform'd in this wide gap of time, since first
We were dissever'd: Hastily lead away.

[Exeunt.

• You who by this discovery have gained what vou defired. * Participate.

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