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then loft, when it was found. But, oh, the noble combat, that, 'twixt joy and forrow, was fought in Paulina! She had one eye declin'd for the lofs of her husband; another elevated that the oracle was fulfill'd: She lifted the princefs from the earth; and fo locks her in embracing, as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no more be in danger of lofing.

1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by fuch 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 fhe came to it, (bravely confefs'd, and lamented by the king) how attentiveness wounded his daughter: 'till, from one fign of dolour to another, fhe did, with an alas! I would fain fay, bleed tears; for, I am fure, my heart wept blood. Who was 'moft marble there, changed colour: fome fwooned, all forrowed if all the world could have feen it, the woe had been univerfal.

1 Gent. Are they returned to the court?

3 Gent. No: The princefs hearing of her mother's ftatue, which is in the keeping of Paulina,-a piece many years *in doing, and now newly perform'd by that rare Italian matter, Julio Romano; who, had he himself eternity, and could put breath into his work, would beguile nature of her custom, fo perfectly he is her ape: he fo near to Hermione hath done Hermione, that, they fay, one would speak to her, and stand in hope of answer:

m

i most marble]-of the moft flinty mould, unfeeling.

kin doing, &c.]-in carving, and now juft finished by the colouring of that mafter.

1 bad he himself eternity,]-fuch a portion of the divinity as would enable him to put breath into his performances.

m her cuftom,]-trade, rob her of her customers.

thither

thither with all greedinefs of affection, are they gone; and there they intend to fup.

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, vifited that removed house. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoicing?

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

Aut. Now, had I not "the dafh 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 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 fecret, it would not have relish'd among my other difcredits.

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 paft more children; but thy fons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.

Clo. You are well met, fir: You denied to fight with me this other day, because I was no gentleman born: See you these clothes? fay, you fee them not, and think me ftill 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.

the dafb]-fmatch, spice, tincture.

Aut.

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 then the prince, my brother, and the princess, my fifter, call'd my father, father; and so we wept and there was the first gentleman-like tears that ever we fhed.

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

Cio. 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 master.

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 Bohemia. Shep. You may say it, but not swear 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?

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Clo. If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear 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 swear it and I would, thou would'st be a tall fellow of thy hands.

• thefe were.

P franklins]-yeomen, the leffer freeholders.

sa tall fellow of thy bands,]—a ftout fellow for thy fize.

Aut.

Aut. I will 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, truft 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. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Paulina's Houfe.

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

Leo. O grave and good Paulina, the

That I have had of thee!

Paul. What, fovereign fir,

great

comfort

I did not well, I meant well: All my fervices,

You have paid home: but that you have vouchsaf'd,
With your crown'd brother; and these your contracted
Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to vifit;
It is a furplus 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 saw not

That which my daughter came to look upon,
The ftatue of her mother.

Paul. As fhe 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

Το

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

Still fleep mock'd death: behold; and fay, 'tis well.
[Paulina draws a curtain, and difcovers a ftatue.

I like your filence, it the more fhews off

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

Leo. Her natural posture !—

Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed,
Thou art Hermione: or, rather, thou art she,
In thy not chiding; for fhe was as tender,
As infancy, and grace.-But yet, Paulina,
Hermione was not so much wrinkled; nothing
So aged, as this feems.

Pol. Oh, not by much.

Paul. 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 the might have done,

So much to my good comfort, as it is

Now piercing to my foul. Oh, thus fhe ftood,
Even with fuch life of majesty, (warm life,

As now it coldly ftands) when firft I woo'd her!
I am afham'd: Does not the ftone rebuke me,
For being more ftone than it ?-Oh, royal piece,
There's magick in thy majefty; 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 fay, '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 kifs.

Paul. Oh, patience;

* patience ;]-ftay awhile, forbear,

The

!

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