If you would not so, Dion. 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 tenour of his oracle, That king Leontes shall not have an heir Till his lost child be found? which, that it shall, 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 hast the memory of Hermione, I know, in honour,-O, 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. More rich, for what they yielded. ·· And left them Thou speak'st truth. Leon. No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse, And better us'd, would make her sainted spirit Again possess her corps; and, on this stage, (Where we offenders now appear,) soul-vex'd, Begin, And why to me? Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'd bid you mark Her eye; and tell me, for what dull part in'ton ! You chose her: then I'd shriek, that even your ears Shou'd rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd Should be, Remember mine. Leon. And all eyes else, dead coals!fear thou no wife, I'll have no wife, Paulina. Paul. Will you 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 Yet, if my lord will marry,-if you will, sir, As, walk'd your first queen's ghost, it should take joy Leon. My true Paulina, We shall not marry, till thou bidd'st us. Paul. That Shall be, when your first queen's again in breath; Never till then. Enter a Gentleman. Gent. One that gives out himself prince Florizel, Son of Polixenes, with his princess, (she The fairest I have yet beheld,) desires access Leon "What with him? he comes not Like to his father's greatness: his approach, So out of circumstance, and sudden, tells us, "Tis not a visitation fram'd, but forc'd By need, and accident. What train? And those but mean. Leon. His princess, say you, with him? Gent. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the sun shone bright on. As Paul. O Hermione, 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, Gent. 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. Leon. Go, Cleomenes; Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends, Bring them to our embracement.—Still 'tis strange, [Exeunt Cleomenes, Lords, and Gentleman. He thus should steal upon us. Paul. Had our prince, (Jewel of children) seen this hour, he had pair'd Well with this lord; there was not full a month Between their births. Leon. Pr'ythee, no more; thou know'st, He dies to me again, when talk'd of: sure, When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches Will bring me to consider that, which may Unfurnish me of reason.-They are come. Re-enter Cleomenes, with Florizel, Perdita, and Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince; His very air, that I should call you brother, Amity too, of your brave father; whom, 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 times,) hath something |