Clo.

"He feems to be of great authority: close" "with him, give him gold; and though authority be" a ftubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with” "gold: fhew the infide of your purfe to the outside of” “his hand, and no more ado: Remember, fton'd, and” "flay'd alive."

She. An't please you, fir, to undertake the businefs for us, here is that gold I have: I'll make it as much more; and leave this young man in pawn, 'till I bring it you.

Aur. After I have done what I promis'd?

She. Ay, fir.

AUT. Well, give me the moiety: Are you a party

in this business?

Clo. In fome fort, fir: but, though my cafe be a pitiful one, I hope, I fhall not be flay'd out of it.

Aur. O, that's the cafe of the fhepherd's fon : Hang him, he'll be made an example.

Clo. 6.6 Comfort, good comfort: We must to the "king, and fhew our ftrange fights: he must know, "'tis none of your daughter, nor my fifter; we are "gone else." Sir, I will give you as much as this old man does, when the business is perform'd; and remain, as he fays, your pawn, 'till it be brought you.

Avr. I will truft you. Walk before toward the feafide ; go on the right hand; I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you.

Clo. We are bleff'd in this man, as I may fay, even bleff'd.

She. Let's before, as he bids us: he was provided to do us good. [Exeunt Clown, and Shepherd. AUT. If I had a mind to be honeft, I fee, fortune

would not fuffer me; fhe drops booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a double occasion; gold, and a means to do the prince my mafter good; Which, who knows how that may turn back to my advancement? I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him if he think it fit to fhore them again, and that the complaint they have to the king concerns him nothing, let him call me, rogue, for being fo far officious; for I am proof against that title, and what fhame elfe belongs to't: To him will I present them, there may be matter in it.

ACT V.

[Exit AUTOLICUS.

SCENE I. Sicilia. A Room in Leontes' Palace. Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA, Lords, and Others.

CLE. Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd

A faint-like forrow: no fault could you make,
Which you have not redeem'd; indeed, pay'd down
More penitence, than done trespass: At the laft,
Do, as the heavens have done; forget your evil;
With them, forgive yourself.

LEO. Whilft I remember

Her, and her virtues, I cannot forget

My blemishes in them; and so still think of
The wrong I did myfelf: which was fo much,
That heirless it hath made my kingdom; and
Destroy'd the sweet'ft companion, that e'er man

Bred his hopes out of.

PAU. True, too true, my lord:

If, one by one, you wedded all the world;
Or, from the all that are, took fomething good,
To make a perfect woman; fhe, you kill'd,
Would be unparallel'd.

LEO. I think fo.

Kill'd!

She I kill'd! I did fo: but thou ftrik'ft me

Sorely, to fay I did; it is as bitter

Upon thy tongue, as in my thought: Now, good now, Say fo but feldom.

CLE. Not at all, good lady:

You might have spoke a thousand things, that would * Have done the time more benefit, and grac'd

Your kindness better.

PAU. You are one of those,
Would have him wed again,
Dio. If you would not fo,

You pity not the state, nor the remembrance
Of his most fovereign name; confider little,
What dangers, by his highnefs' fail of iffue,
May drop upon his kingdom, and devour
Incertain lookers-on. What were more holy,
Than to rejoice the former queen? This will :
What holier, than,- for royalty's repair,
For present comfort, and for future good,
To bless the bed of majesty again
With a sweet fellow to't?

PAU. There is none worthy,

Refpecting her that's gone. Befides, the gods
Will have fulfill'd their fecret purposes:
For has not the divine Apollo faid,

2 v. Note. 24 Queene is well ?

Is't not the tenor of his oracle,

That king Leontes shall not have an heir,

"Till his loft child be found? which, that it fhall,
Is all as monftrous to our human reason,
As my Antigonus to break his grave,
And come again to me; who, on my life,
Did perish with the infant. 'Tis your counsel,
My lord fhould to the heavens be contrary,
Oppose against their wills. Care not for iffue;
The crown will find an heir: Great Alexander
Left his to the worthieft; fo his fucceffor
Was like to be the best.

LEO. Thou good Paulina, —

Who haft the memory of Hermione,

I know, in honour,

o, that ever I

Had fquar'd me to thy counfel! then, even now,
I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes;
Have taken treasure from her lips, -

PAU. And left them

More rich, for what they yielded.

LEO. Thou fpeak'ft truth.

No more fuch wives; therefore, no wife: one worse,

And better us'd, would make her fainted fpirit

Again possess her corps; and, on this stage,

Where we offenders now appear, foul-vext

Begin, And why to me?

PAU. Had the fuch power,

She had just cause.

LEO. She had; and would incenfe me

To murther her I marry'd.

PAU. I fhould fo:

Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'd bid you, mark

26 And begin, 28 juft fuck caufe

Her eye; and tell me, for what dull part in't

You chose her: then I'd fhriek, that even your ears
Should rift to hear me ; and the words that follow'd
Should be, Remember mine.

LEO. Stars, very stars;

And all eyes elfe, dead coals! fear thou no wife;
I'll have no wife, Paulina.

PAU. Will you fwear

Never to marry, but by my free leave?

LEO. Never, Paulina; fo be bleff'd my spirit!
PAU. Then, good my lords, bear witnefs to his oath.
CLE. You tempt him over-much.

PAU. Unless another,

As like Hermione as is her picture,

Affront his eye.

CLE. Good madam,

PAU. I have done.

Yet, if my lord will marry, if you will, fir;
No remedy, but you will; give me the office,
To choose you a queen: fhe fhall not be fo young
As was your former; but she shall be fuch,

As, walk'd your firft queen's ghoft, it fhould take joy
To fee her in your arms.

LEO. My true Paulina,

We shall not marry, 'till thou bid'ft us.

PAU. That

Shall be, when your first queen's again in breath;
Never till then.

Enter a Gentleman.

Gen. One that gives out himself prince Florinel

Son of Polixenes, with his princefs, (the

The fair'ft I have yet beheld) desires accefs

17 v. Note.