Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Son of Polixenes, with his princess, (she
The fairest I have yet beheld,) desires access
To your high presence.

Leon. What with him? he comes not
Like to his father's greatness: his approach,
So out of circumstance, and sudden, tells us,
'Tis not a vistation fram'd, but forc'd
By need, and accident. What train?
Gent. But few,

And those but mean.

Leon. His princess, say you, with him?
Gent. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth,
That e're the sun.shone bright on.

Paul. O Hermione,

[I think,

(Which waits upon worn times,) hath some

thing seiz'd

His wish'd ability, he had himself [his
The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and
Measur'd, to look upon you; whom he loves
(He bade me say so,) more than all the scep-
And those that bear them, living. [tres,

Leon. O, my brother,
(Good gentleman!) the wrongs I have done
thee, stir

Afresh within me; and these thy officers,
So rarely kind, are as interpreters
Of my behind-hand slackness!-Welcome hi-
[ther,
As is the spring to the earth. And hath he too
Expos'd this paragon, to the fearful usage
(At least, ungentle,) of the dreadful Neptune,
Sir you your-To greet a man, not worth her pains; much
The adventure of her person?

As every present time doth boast itself Above a better, gone; so must thy grave Give way to what's seen now.

self

Have said, and writ so, (but your writing now
Is colder than that theme,*) She had not been,
Nor was not to be equall'd;-thus your verse
Flow'd with her beauty once; 'tis shrewdly
To say you have seen a better. [ebb'd,

Gent. Pardon, madam:
The one I have almost forgot; (your pardon,)
The other, when she has obtain'd your eye,
Will have your tongue too. This is such a

creature,

Would she begin a sect, might quench the zeal
Of all professors else; make proselytes
Of who she but bid follow.

Paul. How? not women?

Gent. Women will love her, that she is a

woman

[blocks in formation]

GENTLEMAN.

He thus should steal upon us.

Paul. Had our prince, [pair'd (Jewel of children,) seen this hour, he had Well with this lord; there was not full a month Between their births.

Leon. Pr'ythee, no more; thou know'st, He dies to me again, when talk'd of: sure, When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches Will bring me to consider that, which may Unfurnish me of reason.-They are come.--Re-enter CLEOMENES, with FLORIZEL, PERDITA, and Attendants.

Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince;
For she did print your royal father off,
Conceiving you: Were I but twenty-one,
Your father's image is so hit in you,
His very air, that I should call you brother,
As I did him; and speak of something, wildly
By us perform'd before. Most dearly welcome!
And you fair princess, goddess !—Ó, alas!
I lost a couple, that 'twixt heaven and earth
Might thus have stood, begetting wonder, as
You, gracious couple do! and then I lost
(All mine own folly,) the society,
Amity too, of your brave father; whom,
Though bearing misery, I desire my life
Once more to look upon.

Flo. By his command

Have I here touch'd Sicilia: and from him
Give you all greetings, that a king, a friend,
Can send his brother: and, but infirmity

..Than the corse of Hermione, the subject of year writing.

She came from Libya. Flo. Good my lord,

[less

That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd, and lov'd?
Leon. Where the warlike Smalus,
Flo. Most royal Sir, from thence; from him,
His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her :
whose daughter
[thence
(A prosperous south-wind friendly,) we have
cross'd,

For visiting your highness: My best train
To execute the charge my father gave me,
I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd;
Who for Bohemia bend, to signify
But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety
Not only my success in Libya, Sir,
Here, where we are.

Leon. The blessed gods

Purge all infection from our air, whilst you
Do climate here! You have a holy father,
A graceful gentleman; against whose person,
So sacred as it is, I have done sin:
For which the heavens, taking angry note,
Have left me issueless; and your father's
blessed,

(As he from heaven merits it,) with you,
Worthy his goodness. What might I have been,
Might I a son and daughter now have look'd
Such goodly things as you?
[on,

Enter a LORD.

That which I shall report, will bear no credit,
Lord. Most noble Sir,
Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great
Sir,

Bohemia greets you from himself, by me:
Desires you to attacht his son; who has
(His dignity and duty both cast off,)
Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with
A shepherd's daughter.

Leon. Where's Bohemia? speak.
Lord Here in the city; I now came from
I speak amazedly; and it becomes
My marval, and my message. To your court
[him.
Whiles he was hast'ning, (in the chase, it seems,
Of this fair couple,) meets he on the way
The father of this seeming lady, and
Her brother, having both their country quitted
With this young prince.

Flo. Camillo has betray'd me;
Whose honour, and whose honesty, till now,
Endur'd all weathers.

Lord Lay't so, to his charge;
He's with the king your father.
Leon. Who? Camillo?

Lord. Camillo, Sir; I spake with him; who

now

[blocks in formation]

Has these poor men in question. Never saw I Wretches so quake: they kneel, they kiss the earth;

Forswear themselves as often as they speak: Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them With diverse death in death.

Per. O, my poor father!

The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have Our contract celebrated.

Leon. You are married?

Flo. We are not, Sir, nor are we like to be; The stars I see, will kiss the valleys first:The odds for high and low's alike.t

Leon. My lord,

Is this the daughter of a king?
Flo. She is,

When once she is my wife.

Leon. That once, I see, by your good father's speed,

Will come on very slowly. I am sorry, Most sorry, you have broken from his liking, Where you were tied in duty: and as sorry, Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty, That you might well enjoy her.

[jot

Flo. Dear, look up: Though fortune, visible an enemy. Should chase us, with my father; power no Hath she to change our loves.-'Beseech you, Sir,

Remember since you ow'd no more to time

table passion of wonder appeared in them: but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing, 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

more:

The news, Rogero?

1 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 evertruth 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 affectiont of nobleness, which nature shows above her breed

Than I do now; with thought of such affec-ing, and many other evidences, proclaim her,

tions,

Step forth mine advocate; at your request, My father will grant precious things, as trifles. Leon. Would he do so, I'd beg your precious mistress,

Which he counts but a trifle.
Paul. Sir, my liege,
[month
Your eye hath too much youth in't: not a
'Fore your queen died, she was more worth
such gazes
Than what you look on now.
Leon. I thought of her,
Even in these looks I made.-But your petition
[To FLORIZEL.

Is yet unanswer'd: I will to your father;
Your honour not o'erthrown by your desires,
I am a friend to them, and you: upon which
errand

I now go toward him; therefore follow me.
And mark what way I make: Come, good my
lord.
[Exeunt,
SCENE II.-The same.-Before the Palace.
Enter AUTOLYCUS and a GENTLEMAN.
Aut. 'Beseech you, Sir, were you presentat
this relation?

1 Gent. I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it: whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all commanded out of the chambers only this, methought I heard the shepherd say, he found the child.

it.

Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of

with all certainty, to be the king's daughter. Did you see the meeting of the two kings? 2 Gent. No,

so,

3 Gent. Then have you lost a sight, which was to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld one joy crown another; and in such manner, that, it seemed, sorrow wept to take leave of them; for their joy waded in tears. There was casting up of eyes, holding up of hands; with countenance of such distraction, that they were to be known by garment, not by favour. Our king, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter; as if that joy were now become a loss, cries, 0, thy mother, thy mother! then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his daughter, with clippings her; now he 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.

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

have matter to rehearse, though credit be 3 Gent. Like an old tale still; which will asleep, and not an ear open: He was torn to herd's son; who has not only his innocence pieces with a bear: this avouches the shep(which seems much,) to justify him, but a han kerchief, and rings, of his, that Paulina knows. 1 Gent. What became of his bark and his followers?

1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business;-But the changes I perceived in the king, master's death; and in the view of the shep3 Gent. Wrecked, the same instant of their and Camillo, were very notes of admiration: herd: so that all the instruments, which aided they seemed almost, with staring at one another, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was it was found. But, O, the noble combat, that, to expose the child, were even then lost, when speech in their dumbness, language in their twixt joy and sorrow, was fought in Paulina! very gesture; they looked, as they had heard She had one eye declined for the loss of her of a world ransom❜d, or one destroyed: A no-husband; another elevated that the oracle was

* Conversation.

A quibble on the false dice so called.

Descent or wealth.

[blocks in formation]

fulfilled; She lifted the princess from the earth; and so locks her in embracing, as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no more be in danger of loosing.

1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted.

3 Gent. One of the prettiest touches of all, and that which angled for mine eyes (caught the water, though not the fish,) was, when at the relation of the queen's death, with the manner 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! I 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 Paulina, a piece many years in doing, and now newly performed by that rare 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 hath 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 Hermione, 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 unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along.

[Exeunt GENTLEMEN. Aut. Now, had I not the dash of my former life in me, would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old man and his son aboard the prince; told him, I heard him talk of a fardel, and I know not what: but he at that time, 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 undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me: for had I 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 gentlemen 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 born 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 princes, my sister, called my father, father; and so we wept: and there was the first gentleman-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 estate 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 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 honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia,

Shep. You may say it, but not swear it.

Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman ? Let boors and franklins* 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 his friend :And I'll swear to the prince, thou art a tallt 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 swear it: and I would, thou would'st be a tall fellow of thy hands.

Aut. I will prove so, Sir, to my power.

Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: IfI do not wonder, how 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.

[blocks in formation]

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL,PERTM DITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords and At tendants.

Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great That I have had of thee! [comfort

Paul. What, sovereign Sir,

I did not well, I meant well: All my services, You have paid home: but that you have convouchsaf'd [tracted With your crown'd brother, and these your 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 honour you with trouble: but we came To see the statute of our queen: your gallery Have we passed through, not without much

content

Clo. You are well met, Sir: You denied to fight with me this other day, because I was no gentleman born: See you these clothes? say, you see them not, and think me still no gen-In many singularities; but we saw not tleman born: you were best say, these robes That which my daughter came to look upon are not gentleman born. Give me the lie; do; The statute of her mother. and try whether I am not now a gentleman born. Aut. I know, you are now, Sir, a gentleman bern.

[blocks in formation]

Paul. As she 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 * Yeoman. † Stout.

[blocks in formation]

Leon, As now she might have done,
So much to my good comfort, as it is
Now piercing to my soul. O, 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 are 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 yours to kiss.

Paul. O, patience,

The statue is but newly fixed, the colour's
Not dry,

Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid

[blocks in formation]

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 it alone.
Paul. I am sorry, Sir, I have thus far stirr'd
you: but

I could afflict you futher.
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
[me,
Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock
For I will kiss her.

Paul. Good my lord, forbear: The rudiness upon her lip is wet; You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own With oily painting: Shall I draw the curtein? 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, And take you by the hand: but then you'll think,

(Which I protest against,) I am assisted
By wicked powers.

Leon. What you can make her do.
I am content to look on: what to speak,
I 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;
Or those, that think it is unlawful business
I am about, let them depart.

Leon. Proceed;

No foot shall stir.

Paul. Music; awake her strike.-[Music. "Tis time; descend; be stone no more: approach;

him

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
[stirs:
Dear life redeems you.-You perceive, she
Start not: her actions shall be holy, as,
[HERMIONE comes down the Pedestal.
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
Is she become the suitor.

Leon. O, she's warm!

If his be magic, let it be an art

Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest Lawful as eating.

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 fixture of her eye has motion in'tt
Ast we are mock'd with art.

Paul. I'll draw the curtain;

* Worked, agitated.

ia it,

Pol. She embraces him.

[age, [Embracing her.

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, who 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 foud.
[lady;
[Presenting PERDITA, who kneels to
HERMIONE,

Her. You gods, look down,

I. e. Thou her eye be fixed it seems to have motion And from your secret vials pour your graces

As if.

Upon my daughter's head! Tell me, mine own

Where hast thou been preserv'd? where liv'd?, But how, is to be question'd: for I saw her,

how found

[I,- As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said

Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear, that
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 thy desise, upon this push to trouble
Your joys with like relation.-Go together,
You precious winners* all; your exultation
Partaket 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 hast

Thou should'st a husband take by my consent, As I by thine, a wife: this is a match, And made between's by vows. found mine; You who by this discovery have gained what you ↑ Participate.

desired.

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
My jil suspicion.-This your son-in-law,
And son unto the king, (whom heavens 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,

[Exeam,

[ocr errors][merged small]
« ZurückWeiter »