Leon I thought of her, Even in these looks, I made.-But your petition Is yet unanswered, I will to your father; SCENE II. The same. Before the palace. Enter AUTOLYCUS and a Gentleman. relation? 257 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 pregnant 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 uobleness, which nature shows above her breeding, and many other evidences, proclaim her, with all certainty, to be the king's daughter. Did you see the meeting of the two kings? 2 Gent. No. 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, so, 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, O, thy mother, thy mother! then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his daughter, with clipping her; now he thanks the old shepherd, which stands by, like a weather-bitten conduit of many kings' reigns. Inever 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? 3 Gent. Like an old tale still; which will have matter to rehearse, though credit be asleep, and not an car open. He was torn to pieces with a bear: this avouches the shepherd's son; who has not only his innocence (which seems much,) to justify him, but a handherchief, and rings, of his, that Paulina knows. 1 Gent. What became of his bark, and his followers? 3 Gent. Wrecked, the same instant of their master's death; and in the view of the shepherd: so that all the instruments, which aided to expose the child, were even then lost, when it was found. But, O, the noble combat, that, 'twixt joy and sorrow, was fought in Paulina! She had one eye declined for the loss of her husband; another elevated, that the oracle was fulfil1 Gent. I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard led. She lifted the princess from the earth, and so the old shepherd deliver the manner, how he found it: locks her in embracing, as if she would pin her to her whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all com-heart, that she might no more be in danger of losing. manded out of the chamber; only this, methought, 1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the auI heard the shepherd say, he found the child. dience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted. Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. 2 Gent. One of the prettiest touches of all, and that 1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business :which angled for mine eyes, (caught the water, though but the changes, I perceived in the king, and Camillo, not the fish,) was, when at the relation of the queen's were very notes of admiration: they seemed almost, death, with the mauner, how she came to it, (bravely with staring on one another, to tear the cases of their confessed and lamented by the king,) how attentiveeyes; there was speech in their dumbness, language ness wounded his daughter: till, from one sign of in their very gesture: they looked, as they had heard dolour to another, she did, with an alas! I would of a world ransomed, or one destroyed. A notable fain say, bleed tears; for, I am sure, my heart wept 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. blood. Who was most marble there, changed colour; 3 Gent. No: the princess, hearing of her mother's statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina,—a piece many years in doing, and now newly performed by that Gent. Nothing but bonfires. The oracle is ful-rare Italian master, Julio Romano; who, had he himfilled; the king's daughter is found; such a deal of self eternity, and could put breath into his work, wonder has broken out within this hour, that ballad- would beguile nature of her custom, so perfectly he is makers cannot be able to express it. her ape: he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione, that, they say, one would speak to her, and stand in | SCENE III. -The same. A Room in Paulina's house. 3 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, overfond 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 come 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. 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 gentleman born: you were best say, these robes are not gentlemen born. Give me the lie; do, and try, whether I am not now a gentleman born. Aut. I know, you are now, sir, a gentleman born. You have paid home: but that you have vouchsaf'd, 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 princess, my sister, called my father father; and so we wept; and there was the first gentlemanlike tears that ever we shed. We honour you with trouble: but we came 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. Pry'thee, 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. So her dead likeness, I do well believe, 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? statue. first, you, my liege, I like your silence, it the more shows off 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 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. Av, by any means prove a tall fellow; if I do no 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. - Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence, Leon. As now she might have done, I Per. And give me leave; And do not say, 'tis superstition, that kneel, and then implore her blessing.-Lady, The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sorc laid on; Let him that was the cause of this, have power If I had thought, the sight of my poor image I'd not have show'd it. Leon. Do not draw the curtain! You hear, my spell is lawful: do not shun her, Until you see her die again; for then Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't, lest your fancy You kill her double. Nay, present your hand! May think anon, it moves. Leon. Let be, let be. Would, I were dead, but that, methinks, already- 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 Leon. O sweet Paulina, Make me to think so twenty years together; Leon. Do, Paulina; For this affliction has a taste as sweet As any cordial comfort.-Still, methinks, you: but There is an air comes from her: what fine chizzel Could ever vet 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 With oily painting. Shall I draw the curtain? Paul. Either forbear, 259 When she was young, you woo'd her; now, in age, Is she become the suitor. Leon. O, she's warm! If this be magic, let it be an art Pol. She embraces him. Cam. She hangs about his neck; [Embracing her. If she pertain to life, let her speak too. Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has liv'd, Or, how stolen 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, [Presenting Perdita, who kneels to Hermione. Her. You gods, look down, And from your sacred vials pour your graces found Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear, that I, - Gave hope, thou wast in being, --have preserv'd Paul. There's time enough for that; Lest they desire, upon this push, to trouble Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there 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 By us, a pair of kings. - Let's from this place!- pardons, both your That e'er I put between your holy looks [Exeunt. A C T I. Gaoler, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Ephesus. SCENE I.-A hall in the Duke's palace. Attendants. Aege. Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, To admit no traffic to our adverse towns: If any, born at Ephesus, be seen Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies, His goods confiscate to the duke's dispose; To quit the penalty, and to ransome him. Thy substance, valued at the highest rate, Cannot amount unto a hundred marks; Therefore, by law thou art condemn'd to die. And soon, and safe, arrived, where I was. A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd, A doubtful warrant of immediate death; Aege. Yet this my comfort; when your words are Had fasten'd him unto a small spare mast, done, My woes end likewise with the evening sun. Duke. Well, Syracusan, say, in brief, the cause In Syracusa was I born, and wed Unto a woman, happy but for me, And by me too, had not our hap been bad. With her I liv'd in joy; our wealth increas'd, Such as sea-faring men provide for stornis; Aege. O, had the gods done so, I had not now . Which being violently borne upon, Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst, And therefore homeward did they bend their course. Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings, 261 Dro. S. Many a man would take you at your word, Duke. And, for the sake of them thou sorrowest for, Mer. Sir, I commend you to your own content. What hath befall'n of them, and thee, till now! Aege. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care, At eighteen years became inquisitive Gaol. I will, my lord. Aege. Hopeless, and helpless, doth Aegeon wend, A public place. [Exeunt. Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Syracuse, and a Mer. Therefore, give out, you are of Epidamnum, This very day, a Syracusan merchant Is apprehended for arrival here, And not being able to buy out his life, Ant. S. Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host, [Exit Merchant. Ant. S. He, that commends me to mine own content, Commends me to the thing, I cannot get. I to the world am like a drop of water, Here comes the almanac of my true date. - late: The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit; last, Ant. S. I am not in a sportive humour now: For she will score your fault upon my pate. Ant. S. Čome, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season; Reserve them till a merrier hour than this! And tell me, how thou hast dispos'd thy charge. mart Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner; Ant. S. Now, as I am a Christian, answer me, |