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 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 absence ,

: 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 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 (so he then took her to be) who began to be much seasick, 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 secret, it would not have relish'd among my other discredits.

a

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.

Clo. You are well met, fir; [to Autolicus.] you denied to fight with me the other day, because I was no gentleman born: see you these cloths ? say, you see them not, and think me still no gentleman born: you were best fay, 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 so any time these four hours.
Shep. And so have I, boy.

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 Vol. II.

as we are.

then the prince my brother, and the princess my sister callid my father, father; and so we wept: and there was the first gentlemanlike tears that ever we shed.

Shep. We may live, son, to shed many more. Clo. Ay, or else’twere hard luck, being in so preposterous estate Aut. I humbly beseech 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, son, 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 swear to the prince, thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bithynia.

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

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

Shep. How if it be false, fon?

Clo. If it be ne’er so false, a true gentleman may swear it in the behalf of his friend : and I'll swear 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.

Aut. I'll prove so, sir, to my power.

Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow : if I do not wonder how thou dar'ít venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust 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

O

SCENE VII.

Paulina's house.
Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina,

Lords, and Attendants.
Leo. Grave and good Paulina, the great comfort

That I have had of thee!
Pau. What, sovereign 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 surpluss of your grace, which never
My life may last to answer.

Leo. o Paulina,
We honour you with trouble; but we came
To see the statue of our queen: your gallery
Have we pass’d through, not without much content,
In many singularities; but we saw not
That which my daughter came to look upon,
The statue of her mother.

Pau. As she 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 see the life as lively mock'd, as ever
Still Neep mock’d death: behold; and say, 'tis well.

[Pau. draws a curtain, and discovers Her. standing like a statue.
I like your silence, it the more shows off
Your wonder : but yet speak; first you, my liege,
Comes it not something near?

Leo. Her natural posture !
Chide me, dear stone, that I may say, indeed,

F'fff 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 so 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 some fixteen years, and makes her As she liv’d now.

Leo. As now she might have done,
So much to my good comfort, as it is
Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood;
Even with such life of majesty, warm life,
As now it coldly stands, when first I woo'd her.
I am asham’d: does not the stone rebuke me,
For being more stone 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 stone with thee.

Per. And give me leave,
And do not say, 'tis superstition, that
I kneel, and then implore her blessing. 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 sorrow was too sore lay'd on,
Which fixteen winters cannot blow away,
So many summers dry; scarce any joy
Did ever so long live; no sorrow,
But kill'd itself much sooner.

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? see, my lord,
Would you not deem it breath’d; and that those veins
Did verily bear blood ?

Pol. Masterly done!
The very life seems 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 sweet Paulina,
Make me to think so twenty years together :
No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness. Let't alone.

Pau. I'm sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr’d you; but
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 chisel
Could ever yet cut breath ? let no man mock me,
For I will kiss her.

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

Leo.