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Paul.

True, too true, my lord: | And all eyes else dead coals!-fear taou no wife,
I'll have no wife, Paulina.
Paul.

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

Leon.

I think so.

Kill'd?

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You are one of those,

Would have him wed again.
Dion.

If you would not so,
You pity not the state, nor the remembrance
Of his most sovereign dame; consider little,
What dangers, by his highness' fail of issue,
May drop upon his kingdom, and devour
Incertain lookers-on. What were more holy,
Than to rejoice, the former queen is well?1
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?

Paul.

There is none worthy, Respecting her that's gone. Besides, the gods Will have fulfill'd their secret purposes: For has not the divine Apollo said,

Is't not the tenor of his oracle,

That king Leontes shall not have an heir,

Till his lost child be found? which, that it shall,
Is all as monstrous 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 should to the heavens be contrary,
Oppose against their will.--Care not for issue;
[To Leontes.
The crown will find an heir: Great Alexander
Left his to the worthiest; so his successor
Was like to be the best.
Leon.

Good Paulina,-
Who has the memory of Hermione,
I know, in honour,-0, that ever I
Had squar'd me to thy counsel !—then, even now,
I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes;
Have taken treasure from her lips,——
Paul.

And left them
Thou speak'st truth.
No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse,
And better us'd, would make her sainted spirit
Again possess her corpse; and, on this stage
(Where we offenders now appear,) soul-vex'd,
Begin, And why to me?
Paul.

More rich, for what they yielded.
Leon.

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Had she such power,

She had; and would incense2 me To murder her I married.

Paul.

I should so: Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'd bid you mark Her eye; and tell me, for what dull part in't You chose her: then I'd shriek, that even your ears Should rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd Should be, Remember mine. Leon.

(1) At rest, dead. (3) Split.

Stars, very stars,

(2) Instigate. (4) Meet.

Will your swear Never to marry, but by my free leave? Leon. Never, Paulina; so be bless'd my spirit! Paul. Then, good my lords, bear witness to his

oath.

Cleo. You tempt him over-much. Paul.

As like Hermione as is her picture, Affront his eye.

Cleo. Paul.

Good madam,

Unless another,

I have done. Yet, if my lord will marry,-if you will, sir, No remedy, but you will; give me the office To choose you a queen: she shall not be so young As was your former; but she shall be such, As, walk'd your first queen's ghost, it should take joy To see her in your arms.

Leon.

My true Paulina,

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O Hermione, As every present time doth boast itself Above a better, gone; so must thy grave Give way to what's seen now. Sir, you yourself 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 ebb'd, To say, you have seen a better. 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 More worth than any man; men, that she is The rarest of all women.

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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 your fair princess, goddess!-O, 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, at friend, Can send his brother: and, but infirmity (Which waits upon worn time,) hath something seiz'd

His wish'd ability, he had himself

The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his
Measur'd, to look upon you; whom he loves
(He bade me say so,) more than all the sceptres,
And those that bear them, living.

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

stir

Afresh within me; and these thy offices,
So rarely kind, are as interpreters

Of my behind-hand slackness !-Welcome hither,
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,
To greet a man, not worth her pains; much less
The adventure of her person?

Flo.

Good my lord,

She came from Libya.
Leon.
Where the warlike Smalus,
That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd, and lov'd?
Flo. Most royal sir, from thence; from him,
whose daughter

His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her: thence
(A prosperous south-wind friendly,) we have cross'd,
To execute the charge my father gave me,
For visiting your highness: My best train
I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd;
Who for Bohemia bend, to signify
Not only my success in Libya, sir,
But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety
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 bless'd
(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 on,
Such goodly things as you?

(1) Full of grace and virtue.

(2) Seize, arrest. (3) Conversation.

Enter a Lord.

Most noble sir,

Lord. That, which I shall report, will bear no credit, Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great sir, Bohemia greets you from himself, by me:

Desires you to attach 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 him.
I speak amazedly; and it becomes
My marvel, and my message. To your court
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.
Camillo has betray'd me;

Flo.
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 Has these poor men in question.3 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 divers deaths 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.
Leon.

Is this the daughter of a king?
Flo.

When once she is my wife.

My lord,

She is,

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.

Flo.
Dear, look up:
Though fortune, visible an enemy,
Should chase us, with my father; power no jot
Hath she, to change our loves.-'Beseech you, sir,
Remember since you ow'd no more to time
Than I do now: with thought of your affections,
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, Your eye hath too much youth in't: not a month 'Fore your queen died, she was more worth such

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And mark what way I make: Come, good my encounter, which lames report to follow it, and unlord. [Exeunt. does description to do it. 2 Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, SCENE II.-The same. Before the palace. En-that carried hence the child?

ter Autolycus and a Gentleman.

3 Gent. Like an old tale still; which will have

Aut. 'Beseech you, sir, were you present at this matter to rehearse, though credit be asleep, and

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 chamber; only this, methought I heard the shepherd say, he found the child.

not an ear open: He was torn to pieces with a
not only his innocence (which seems much,) to jus-
bear: this avouches the shepherd's son; who has
Paulina knows.
tify him, but a handkerchief, and rings, of his, that
1 Gent. What became of his bark, and his fol-
lowers?

Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. master's death; and in the view of the shepherd: 3 Gent. Wrecked, the same instant of their 1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business;

-But the changes I perceived in the king, and so that all the instruments, which aided to expose Camillo, were very notes of admiration: they the child, were even then lost, when it was found. seemed almost, with staring on one another, to tear But, O, the noble combat, that, 'twixt joy and sorthe cases of their eyes; there was speech in their row, was fought in Paulina! She had one eye dedumbness, language in their very gesture; they that the oracle was fulfilled: She lifted the princlined for the loss of her husband; another elevated looked, as they had heard of a world ransomed, or cess from the earth; and so locks her in embracing, peared in them; but the wisest beholder, that knew as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no more but seeing, could not say, if the importance1 no more be in danger of losing. were joy, or sorrow: but in the extremity of the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it 1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the one, it must needs be.

one destroyed: A notable passion of wonder ap

Enter another Gentleman.

acted.

3 Gent. One of the prettiest touches of all, and that which angled for mine eyes (caught the water, Here comes a gentleman, that, happily, knows more: though not the fish,) was, when at the relation of The news, Rogero? the queen's death, with the manner how she came 2 Gent. Nothing but bonfires: The oracle is ful- to it, (bravely confessed, and lamented by the king,) filled; the king's daughter is found: such a deal how attentiveness wounded his daughter: till, from of wonder is broken out within this hour, that bal- one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an lad-makers cannot be able to express it.

Enter a third Gentleman.

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 Here comes the lady Paulina's steward; he can all the world could have seen it, the wo had been deliver you more. How goes it now, sir? this universal.

news, which is called true, is so like an old tale, 1 Gent. Are they returned to the court? that the verity of it is in strong suspicion: Has 3 Gent. No: the princess hearing of her mother's the king found his heir? statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina,-a piece

3 Gent. Most true; if ever truth were pregnant many years in doing, and now newly performed by by circumstance: that, which you hear, you'll that rare Italian master, Julio Romano; who, had swear you see, there is such unity in the proofs. he himself eternity, and could put breath into his The mantle of queen Hermione:-her jewel about work, would beguile Nature of her custom, so perthe neck of it-the letters of Antigonus, found fectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermione hath with it, which they know to be his character:-the done Hermione, that, they say, one would speak to majesty of the creature, in resemblance of the her, and stand in hope of answer: thither, with all mother;-the affection of nobleness, which nature greediness of affection, are they gone; and there shows above her breeding,-and many other evi-they intend to sup. dences, proclaim her, with all certainty, to be the king's daughter. Did you see the meeting of the two kings?

2 Gent. No.

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

3 Gent. Then have you lost a sight, which was with our company piece the rejoicing? to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you 1 Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benehave beheld one joy crown another; so, and in fit of access? every wink of an eye, some new such manner, that, it seemed, sorrow wept to take grace will be born: our absence makes us unthrifty leave of them; for their joy waded in tears. There to our knowledge. Let's along. was casting up of eyes, holding up of hands; with

[Exeunt Gentlemen. countenance of such distraction, that they were to Aut. Now, had I not the dash of my former life be known by garment, not by favour. Our king, in me, would preferment drop on my head. I being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his brought the old man and his son aboard the prince; found daughter; as if that joy were now become told him, I heard him talk of a fardel, and I know a loss, cries, O, thy mother, thy mother! then asks not what: but he at that time, over-fond of the Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in- shepherd's daughter, (so he then took her to be,) law; then again worries he his daughter, with who began to be much sea-sick, and himself little clipping her now he thanks the old shepherd, better, extremity of weather continuing, this myswhich stands by, like a weather-beaten conduit of tery remained undiscovered. But 'tis all one to many kings' reigns. I never heard of such another me: for had I been the finder-out of this secret, it

(1) The thing imported.

(2) Disposition or quality.

(3) Countenance, features. (4) Embracing. (5) Most petrified with wonder. (6) Remote.

would not have relished among my other discredits. It is a surplus of your grace, which never
My life may last to answer.
Leon.

Enter Shepherd and Clown. O Paulina, Here come those I have done good to against my We honour you with trouble: But we came will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their To see the statue of our queen: your gallery fortune. Have we pass'd through, not without much content Shep. Come, boy; I am past more children; but In many singularities; but we saw not thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born. That which my daughter came to look upon, Clo. You are well met, sir: You denied to fight The statue of her mother. with me this other day, because I was no gentle- Paul.

As she liv'd peerless, man born: See you these clothes? say, you see So her dead likeness, I do well believe, them not, and think me still no gentleman born: Excels whatever yet you look'd upon, you were best say, these robes are not gentlemen Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it born. Give me the lie; do; and try whether I am Lonely, apart: But here it is: prepare not now a gentleman born. 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 discovers a statue.

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.

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

I like your silence, it the more shows off Clo. So you have:-but I was a gentleman born Your wonder: But yet speak ;-first, you, my liege. before my father: for the king's son took me by the Comes it not something near? hand, and called me, brother; and then the two Leon. Her natural posture!kings called my father, brother; and then the Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed, prince, my brother, and the princess, my sister, Thou art Hermione: or, rather, thou art she, called my father, father; and so we wept: and In thy not chiding; for she was as tender, there was the first gentleman-like tears that ever As infancy, and grace.-But yet, Paulina, we shed. 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. 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 ?-0, royal piece, There's magic in thy majesty; which has My evils conjur'd to remembrance; and Shep. You may say it, but not swear it. From thy admiring daughter took the spirits, Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let Standing like stone with thee! boors and franklins' say it, I'll swear it. Shep. How if it be false, son?

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 Bohemia.

is in

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 tall fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt not be drunk; but Ĩ 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.

I

Leon.

Per.

And give me leave;

And do not say, 'tis superstition, that
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 on:
Which sixteen winters cannot blow away,

Aut. I will prove so, sir, to my power. Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I So many summers, dry: scarce any joy do not wonder, how thou darest venture to be Did ever so long live; no sorrow, drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not.-Hark! But kill'd itself much sooner. the kings and the princes, our kindred, are going Pol. to see the queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll Let him, that was the cause of this, have power be thy good masters. [Exeunt. To take off so much grief from you, as he Will piece up in himself. Paul.

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

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If I had thought, the sight
Would thus have wrought
mine,)

I'd not have show'd it.

Leon.

Dear my brother,

of my poor image
Indeed, my lord,
you, (for the stone is

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 it ?-See, my lord,

(3) Worked, agitated.

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No foot shall stir.
Paul.

Proceed;

Music; awake her: strike

She embraces him.

Pol.
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,
Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while.-
Please you to interpose, fair madam; kneel,
And pray your mother's blessing.-Turn, good
lady;

Our Perdita is found.

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 preserv'd? where liv'd?
how found

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 consent,
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,

[Music. That e'er I put between your holy looks
'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach; My ill suspicion.This your son-in-law,
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

And son unto the king, (whom heavens directing,)
Is troth-plight to your daughter.-Good Paulina,
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.

You kill her double: Nay, present your hand:
When she was young, you woo'd 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.

[Exe.

This play, as Dr. Warburton justly observes, is, with all its absurdities, very entertaining. The character of Autolycus is naturally conceived, and strongly represented. JOHNSON.

(1) i. e. Though her eye be fixed, it seems to have (3) You who by this discovery have gained what motion in it. (2) As if.

you desired.

(4) Participate.

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