Enter another 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 fo like an old Tale, that the Verity of it is in ftrong Sufpicion; has the King found his Heir? 3 Gen. Moft true, if ever Truth were pregnant by Circumftance: That which you hear, you'll fwear you fee, there is fuch 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 Majefty of the Creature, in Refemblance of the Mother; the Affection of Nobleness, which Nature fhews above her Breeding, and many other Evidences proclaim her with all Certainty to be the King's Daughter. Did you fee the Meeting of the two Kings? 2 Gent. No. 3 Gent. Then have you loft a Sight which was to be feen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld one Joy crown another, fo and in fuch manner, that it feem'd Sorrow wept to take leave of them, for their Joy waded in Tears. There was cafting up of Eyes, holding up of Hands, with Countenance of fuch Diftraction, 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 Lofs, cries, Oh, 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, who ftands by, like a Weather-beaten Conduit of many King's Reins. I never heard of fuch another Encounter, which lames Report to follow it, and undoes Description to do it. 2 Gent. What pray you, became of Antigonus, that carry'd hence the Child? 3. Gent. Like an old Tale ftill, which will have Matters to rehearse, tho' Credit be afleep, and not an Ear open; he was torn to pieces with a Bear; this avouches the Shepherd's Son, who has not only his Innocence, which feems much, to juftifie him, but a Handkerchief and Rings of his; that Paulina knows. I Gent. What became of his Bark, and his Followers? 3 Gent. Wrackt the fame Inftant of their Master's Death, and in the View of the Shepherd; fo that all the Inftruments which aided to expofe the Child, were even then loft, when it was found. But oh the noble Combat, that 'twixt Joy and Sorrow 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 fhe might no more be in danger of lofing. 1 Gent. The Dignity of this A&t was worth the audience of Kings and Princes, for by fuch was it acted. 3 Gent. One of the prettieft 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 Sign of Dolour to onother, fhe did, with an Alas, I would fain fay, bleed Tears; for I am fure, my Heart wept Blood. Who was most marble there, changed Colour; fome fwounded, all forrowed; if all the World could have feen't, the Woe had been univerfal. 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 Mafter, Julio Romano, who, had himself Eternity, and could but 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. 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 the 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 Rejoycing? I Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benefit of accefs? 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 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 Farthel, and I know not what; but he at that time, over-fond of the Shepherd's Daughter (fo he then took her to be) who began to be much Sea-fick, and himfelf 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 Secret, 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 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 thefe Clothes? fay you fee them not, and think me ftill no Gentleman born: You were beft 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. Clo. So you have; but I was a Gentleman born before my Father: for the King's Son 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 Sifter called my Father, Father, and fo we wept; and there was the firft Gentleman-like Tears that ever we fhed. Shep. We may live, Son, to fhed many more. Clo. From thy admiring Daughter took the Spirit, Per. And give me leave. 'And do not fay 'tis Superftition, that I kneel, and then emplore her Bleffing. Lady, Paul. O, Patience; The Statue is but newly fix'd; the Colour's Cam. My Lord, your Sorrow was too fore laid on, So many Summers dry, fcarce any Joy, Pol. Dear, my Brother, Let him that was the Cause of this, have power Paul. Indeed, my Lord, If I had thought the Sight of my poor Image Leo. Do not draw the Curtain. Paul. No longer fhall you gaze on't, left your Fancy May think anon, it moves. Leo. Let be, let be, Would I were dead, but that methinks already What was he that did make it? See, my Lord, Would you not deem it breath'd? And that thofe 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 are mock'd with Art. Paul. I'll draw the Curtain. My Lord's almost fo far transported, that Lee. Oh fweet Paulina, Make me to think fo twenty Years together: No No fettled Senfes of the World can match The Pleasure of that madnefs. Let't alone. Paul. I am forry, Sir, I have thus far ftirr'd you; but I could afflict you further. Leo. Do Paulina; For this Affliction has a Taste as sweet As any There is an Air comes from her. What fine Chizzel Paul. Good my Lord forbear; The ruddinefs upon her Lip is wet; You'll marr it, if you kifs it; ftain your own Per. So long could I Stand by, a Looker on. Paul. Either forbear, Quit presently the Chappel, or refolve you By wicked Powers. Leo. What you can make her do, I am content to look on; what to speak, Paul. It is requir'd You do awake your Faith, then all stand still. Leo. Proceed; No Foot fhall stir. Paul. Mufick; awake her: Strike, 'Tis time, defcend; be Stone no more; approach, [Musick. [Hermione comes down. Start |