Clo. Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so preposterous estate as we are. Aut. I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon 100 me all the faults I have committed to your worship and to give me your good report to the prince my master. Shep. Prithee, 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 Bohemia. 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, son? 170 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 180 would thou wouldst be a tall fellow of thy hands. Aut. I will prove so, sir, to my power. Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I do not wonder how thou darest 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. for 159. preposterous, a blunder 177. a tall fellow of thy hands, an active, able-bodied man, who will stand the test. SCENE III. A chapel in PAULINA's house. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and Attendants. Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort That I have had of thee! Paul. I did not well I meant well. What, sovereign sir, You have paid home: but that you have vouch safed, With your crown'd brother and these your contracted Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, My life may last to answer. O Paulina, Leon. To see the statue of our queen: your gallery Have we pass'd through, not without much con tent In many singularities; but we saw not That which my daughter came to look upon, The statue of her mother. Paul. As she lived 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 To see the life as lively mock'd as ever Still sleep mock'd death: behold, and say 'tis well. [Paulina draws a curtain, and discovers Hermione standing like a statue. 7. surplus, overplus. 12. singularities, rarities. ΤΟ 20 I like your silence, it the more shows off Your wonder but yet speak; first, you, my liege. Leon. Her natural posture! Chide me, dear stone, that I may say indeed Pol. O, not by much. Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence; 30 Which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her As she lived now. Leon. As now she might have done, Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood, As now it coldly stands, when first I woo'd her! Per. And give me leave, I kneel and then implore her blessing. Lady, Give me that hand of yours to kiss. Paul. O, patience! The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour 's Not dry. Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on, Which sixteen winters cannot blow away, 40 50 So many summers dry: scarce any joy But kill'd itself much sooner. Pol. Dear my brother, Let him that was the cause of this have power Will piece up in himself. Paul. Indeed, my lord, If I had thought the sight of my poor image Would thus have wrought you, mine I'ld not have show'd it. Leon. for the stone is Do not draw the curtain. Paul. No longer shall you gaze on 't, lest your fancy May think anon it moves. Leon. Let be, let be. Would I were dead, but that, methinks, alreadyWhat was he that did make it? See, my lord, Would you not deem it breathed? and that those veins Did verily bear blood? Pol. The very Masterly done: life seems warm upon her lip. Leon. 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 so far transported that He'll think anon it lives. Leon. 60 Make me to think so twenty years together! 56. piece up, hoard up, so as to have his fill.' Do, Paulina ; I could afflict you farther. Leon. 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. Paul. 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 curtain? Per. Stand by, a looker on. Paul. So long could I Either forbear, Quit presently the chapel, or resolve you For more amazement. If you can behold it, And take you by the hand: but then you'll think— By wicked powers. Leon. What you can make her do, I am content to look on: what to speak, To make her speak as move. Paul. It is required You do awake your faith. Then all stand still; On those that think it is unlawful business I am about, let them depart. Leon. No foot shall stir. Paul. Proceed: Music, awake her; strike! [Music. 100. look upon, look on. |