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The same. Before the Palace.

Enter AUTOLYCUS, and a Gentleman.

Aut. 'Beseech you, Sir, were you present at 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 chamber; only this, methought, I heard the shepherd say, he found the child.

Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. 1. Gent. Imake a broken delivery of the business;

But the changes I perceived in the King, and Camillo, were very notes of admiration, they seemed almost, with staring on one another, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was speech in their dumbness, language in their very gesture; they look'd, as they had heard of a world ransom'd, or one destroy'd: A notable passion of wonder appear'd 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?

2. Gent. Nothing but bonfires: The oracle is fulfill'd; the King's daughter is found: such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour, that balladmakers 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 call'd true, is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in strong suspicion: Has the King found his heir?

The

the

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. 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: majesty of the creature, in resemblance of the mother; the affection of nobleness, 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 seem'd, 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. I never heard of such another encounter, which lames report to follow it, and undoes descrip tion 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 handkerchief, and rings, of his, that Paulina knows.

1. Gent. What became of his bark, and his followers?

3. Gent. Wreck'd, 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 cyc declined for the loss of her husband; another elevated that the oracle was fulfill'd: 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 losing.

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 confess'd, and lamented by the King,) how attentiveness wounded his daughter: till, from one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an alas! I woul fain say, bleed tears; for, I am sure, my heart wept blood. Who was most marle 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 mother's statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina, - a piece many years in doing, and now newly perform'd 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 per fectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione, that, to say, one would speak to her, and stand in hope of answer: thither with all gree diness 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 picce 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 them 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 seasick, 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 relish'd 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. Clown. 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.

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

but I was

Shep. And so have I, boy, Clown. So you have: born before my father: me by the hand, and then the two Kings call'd my father, brother; and then the Prince, my bro her, and the Princess, my sister, call'd my father, father; and so we wept: and there was the first gentlemanlike tears that ever we shed

a gentleman for the King's son took call'd me, brother; and

Shep. We may live, son, to shed many more.

Clown. 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.

Clown. Thou wilt amend thy life?

Aut. Ay, an it like your good Worship.

Clown. Give me thy hand: I will swear to the

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