2 Gent. I thought, fhe had fome great matter there in hand, for fhe hath privately, twice or thrice a-day, ever fince the death of Hermione, visited that removed houfe. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoycing?

I Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benefit of access? every wink of an eye, some new grace will be born: our abfence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along. [Exeunt.

Aut. Now, had not I the dash of my former life in me, would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old man and his fon aboard the prince; told him, I heard them talk of a farthel, and I know not what: but he at that time, over-fond of the fhepherd's daughter (fo he then took her to be) who began to be much feafick, and himself little better, extremity of weather continuing, this mystery remained undiscover'd. But 'tis all one to me; for had I been the finder out of this fecret, it would not have relish'd among my other difcredits.

SCENE VI.

Enter Shepherd, and Clown.

Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the bloffoms of their fortune.

Shep. Come, boy, I am past more children; but thy fons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.

Clo. You are well met, fir; [to Autolicus.] you denied to fight with me the other day, because I was no gentleman born : fee you these cloths? fay, you fee 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, fir, a gentleman born.
Clo. Ay, and have been fo any time these four hours.
Shep. And fo have I, boy.

Clo. So you have; but I was a gentleman born before my father: for the king's fon took me by the hand, and call'd me brother; and then the two kings call'd my father brother; and Ffff

VOL. II.

then

then the prince my brother, and the princess my fifter call'd my father, father; and fo we wept: and there was the first gentlemanlike tears that ever we shed.

Shep. We may live, fon, to fhed many more.

Clo. Ay, or elfe'twere hard luck, being in fo prepofterous estate

as we are.

Aut. I humbly befeech you, fir, to pardon me all the faults I have committed to your worship, and to give me your good report to the prince, my mafter.

Shep. Pr'ythee, fon, 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 fwear to the prince, thou art as honeft a true fellow as any is in Bithynia.

Shep. You may fay it, but not fwear it.

Clo. Not fwear it, now I am a gentleman ? let boors and franklins fay it, I'll fwear it.

Shep. How if it be false, son?

Clo. If it be ne'er fo false, a true gentleman may fwear it in the behalf of his friend: and I'll fwear 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 fwear it; and I would thou would't be a tall fellow of thy hands.

Aut. I'll prove fo, fir, to my power.

Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I do not wonder how thou dar'ft venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark! the kings and the princes our kindred are going to fee the queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy good masters. [Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE

Leo.

VII.

Paulina's house.

Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, Lords, and Attendants.

Grave and good Paulina, the great comfort
That I have had of thee!

O

Pau. What, fovereign fir,

I did not well, I meant well; all my services

You have pay'd home. But that you have youchsaf'd,
With your crown'd brother, and these
your contracted
Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit,
It is a furplufs of your grace, which never
My life may laft to answer.

Leo. O Paulina,

We honour you with trouble; but we came
To see the statue of our queen: your gallery

Have we pafs'd through, not without much content,
In many fingularities; but we faw not

That which my daughter came to look upon,

The ftatue of her mother.

Pau. As the 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

Lonely, apart. But here it is: prepare

To fee the life as lively mock'd, as ever

Still fleep mock'd death: behold; and fay, 'tis well.

[Pau. draws a curtain, and difcovers Her. ftanding like a ftatue.

I like your filence, it the more fhows off

Your wonder: but yet speak; first you, my liege,
Comes it not fomething near?

Leo. Her natural posture!

Chide me, dear ftone, that I may fay, indeed,

Ffff 2

Thou

Thou art Hermione; or, rather, thou art she,
In thy not chiding; for she was as tender
As infancy, and grace. But yet, Paulina,
Hermione was not fo much wrinkled, nothing
So aged as this seems.

Pol. O, not by much.

Pau. So much the more our carver's excellence, Which lets go by fome fixteen years, and makes her As fhe liv'd now.

Leo. As now fhe might have done,
So much to my good comfort, as it is
Now piercing to my foul. O, thus she stood;
Even with fuch life of majefty, warm life,
As now it coldly ftands, when first I woo'd her.
I am afham'd: does not the ftone rebuke me,
For being more ftone than it? O, royal piece!
There's magick in thy majesty, which has
My evils conjur❜d to remembrance; and
From thy admiring daughter took the spirits,
Standing like ftone with thee.

Per. And give me leave,

And do not say, 'tis fuperftition, that
I kneel, and then implore her bleffing. Lady,
Dear queen! that ended when I but began,
Give me that hand of yours to kiss.

Pau. O, patience;

The statue is but newly fix'd; the colour's
Not dry.

Cam. My lord, your forrow was too fore lay'd on, Which fixteen winters cannot blow away,

So many fummers dry; fcarce any joy
Did ever fo long live; no forrow,

But kill'd itself much fooner.

Pol. Dear my brother,

Let him that was the cause of this, have power
To take off so much grief from you, as he

Will piece up in himself.

Pau. Indeed, my lord,

If I had thought the fight of my poor image
Would thus have wrought you, for the stone is mine,
I'd not have show'd you it.

Leo. Do not draw the curtain.

Pau. No longer shall you gaze on't, left your fancy May think anon, it move.

Leo. Let be, let be:

Would I were dead, but that, methinks, already –
What was he that did make it? fee, my lord,
Would you not deem it breath'd; and that those veins
Did verily bear blood?

Pol. Mafterly done!

The very life feems warm upon her lip.

Leo. The fixure of her eye has motion in't,

As we were mock'd with art.

Pau. I'll draw the curtain:

My lord's almost so far transported, that
He'll think anon it lives.

Leo. O fweet Paulina,

Make me to think fo twenty years together:
No fettled fenfes of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness. Let't alone.
Pau. I'm forry, fir, I have thus far stirr'd
I could afflict you further.

Leo. 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 chifel
Could ever yet cut breath? let no man mock me,
For I will kifs her.

you; but

Pau. Good my lord, forbear:
The ruddinefs upon her lip is wet;
You'll mar it, if you kiss it; ftain your own
With oily painting: fhall I draw the curtain?

Leo.