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 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? 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 tallt 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 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. SCENE III.-The same. A Room 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. What, sovereign Sir, I did not well, I meant well: All my services, You have paid home: but that you have vouchsafed With your crown'd brother, and these your contracted It is a surplus of your grace, which never My life may last to answer. Leon. 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, 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 undraws a curtain, and discovers a statue. 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; Which lets go by some sixteen years, and makes her As she lived now. Leon. As now she might have done, So much to my good comfort, as it is 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; And do not say, 'tis superstition, that I kneel, and then implore her blessing.-Lady, 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, 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. Paul. Indeed, my lord, If I had thought, the sight of my poor image Would thus have wrought* you (for the stone is mine), Leon. Do not draw the curtain, Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest your fancy May think anon it moves. * Agitated. Leon. 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 breathed? and that those veins Pol. Masterly done: The very 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 Leon. O sweet Paulina, Make me to think so twenty years together; The pleasure of that madness. Let't alone. Paul. I am sorry, Sir, I have thus far stirr'd you: but I could afflict you further. Leon. 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 Paul. Good my lord, forbear: The ruddiness upon her lip is wet; You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own Per. So long could I Stand by, a looker on. Paul. Either forbear, Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you For more amazement: If you can behold it, I'll make the statue move indeed; descend, And take you by the hand: but then you'll think (Which I protest against) I am assisted By wicked powers. Leon. What you can make her do, I am content to look on: what to speak, I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy Paul. It is required, You do awake your faith: Then, all stand still; I am about, let them depart. Leon. Proceed; No foot shall stir. Paul. Music; awake her: strike.— "Tis time; descend; be stone no more: approach; Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come; * As if. [Music. I'll fill your grave up: stir; nay, come away; [HERMIONE comes down from the pedestal. Start not her actions shall be holy, as, You kill her double: Nay, present your hand: When she was young, you woo'd her; now, in age, Leon. O, she's warm! If this be magic, let it be an art Lawful as eating. Pol. She embraces him. Cam. She hangs about his neck; If she pertain to life, let her speak too. [Embracing her. Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has lived, Or, how stol'n from the dead? Paul. That she is living, Were it but told you, should be hooted at Like an old tale; but it appears she lives, Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while Please you to interpose, fair Madam; kneel, And pray your mother's blessing.-Turn, good lady; [Presenting PERDITA, who kneels to HERMIONE. Her. You gods, look down, And from your secret vials pour your graces Upon my daughter's head!-Tell me, mine own, Where hast thou been preserved? where lived? how found Thy father's court ? for thou shalt hear, that I,— Knowing by Paulina, that the oracle Gave hope thou wast in being,-have preserved Paul. There's time enough for that; Lest they desire, upon this push to trouble Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there Leon. O peace, Paulina; Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent, As I by thine, a wife: this is a match, And made between's by vows. Thou hast found mine; But how, is to be question'd: for I saw her, As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said many A prayer upon her grave; I'll not seek far * Participate. And take her by the hand: whose worth, and honesty, By us, a pair of kings.-Let's from this place.- And son unto the king (whom heavens directing), [Exeunt. |