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 fhepherd's fon, who has not only his innocence, which feems much, to justify him, but a handkerchief and rings of his, that Paulina knows.

1 Gent. What became of his bark and his followers ?

3 Gent. Wreck'd 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 forrow 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 Princess from the earth, and fo lock'd her in embracing, as if fhe would pin her to her heart, that she might no more be in danger of lofing.

1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of Kings and Princes, for by fuch was it acted.

3 Gent. One of the prettiest touches. of all, and that which angled for mine eyes, was, when at the relation of the Queen's death, with the manner how fhe came to it, bravely confess'd, and lamented by the King, how attentiveness wounded his daughter, 'till, from one fign of dolour to another, he 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 fwooned, all forrowed if all the world could have seen't, the woe had been univerfal.

1 Gent. Are they returned to the Court?

3 Gent, No. The Princefs 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 he himself eternity and could put breath into his work, would beguile nature of her cuftom, fo perfectly he is her ape. He fo near to Hermione hath done Hermione, that they fay one would fpeak to her, and ftand in hope of anfwer. Thither with

all

all greediness of affection are they gone, and there they intend to fup.

2 Gent. I thought fhe had fome great matter there in hand, for fhe 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?

1 Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benefit of accefs? every wink of an eye, fome new grace will be born: our absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along. [Exeunt.

Aut. Now, had not I the dafh of my former life in me, would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old man and his fon 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 fhepherd's daughter (fo he then took her to be) who began to be much fea-fick, 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 fecret, it would not have relish'd among my other difcredits.

SCENE VI. 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 fons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.

Clo. You are well met, Sir; [To Autolicus.] you denied to fight with me the other day, because I was no gentleman born fee you these cloaths? fay you fee them not, and think me ftill no gentleman born. You were best say thefe 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. Ay, and have been fo any time these four hours. Shep. And fo have I, boy.

Clo. So you have; but I was a gentleman born before my father; for the King's fon 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 fifter call'd my father, father, and fo we wept; and there was the firft gentleman-like tears that ever we fhed.

Shep.

Shep. We may live, fon, to fhed many more.

Clo. Ay, or elfe 'twere hard luck, being in fo prepofterous eftate as we are.

Aut. I humbly befeech you, Sir, 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 fwear to the Prince, thou art as honeft a true fellow as any is in Bithynia. Shep. You may say it, but not fwear it.

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

Shep. How if it be falfe, fon?

Clo. If it be ne'er fo falfe, a true gentleman may fwear 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 fwear it, and I would thou would't be a tall fellow of thy hands.

Aut. I will prove fo, Sir, to my power.

Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow; if I do not wonder how thou dar'ft venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark, the Kings and the Princes our kindred are going to fee the Queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy good masters. [Exeunt.

SCENE VII. Paulina's House. Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, Lords and Attendants.

Leo. O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort That I have had of thee!

Pau. What, fovereign Sir,

I did not well, I meant well ;

all my

fervices

You have paid home. But that you have vouchfaf'd
With your crown'd brother, and these your contracted
Heirs of your Kingdoms, my poor house to vifit,

It is a furplus of your grace, which never

My life may laft to anfwer,

Leo. O Paulina,

We

We honour you with trouble, but we came
To fee the ftatue of our Queen. Your gallery
Have we pafs'd through, not without much content,
In many fingularities; but we faw not

That which my daughter came to look upon,
The ftatue of her mother.

Pau. As the 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 fee the life as lively mock'd, as ever
Still fleep mock'd death; behold, and fay 'tis well.
[Pau. draws a curtain, and difcovers Her. ftanding
like a ftatue.

I like your filence, it the more fhews off

Your wonder; but yet speak, first you, my Liege,
Comes it not fomething near?

Leo. Her natural posture!

Chide me, dear ftone, that I may fay indeed
Thou art Hermione; or rather, thou art fhe,
In thy not chiding; for fhe was as tender
As infancy and grace. But yet, Paulina,
Hermione was not fo much wrinkled, nothing
So aged as this feems.

Pol. Oh, not by much.

Pau. So much the more our carver's excellence, Which lets go by fome fixteen years, and makes her As the liv'd now.

Leo. As now the might have done,

So much to my good comfort, as it is

Now piercing to my foul. Oh, thus fhe stood;
Even with fuch life of Majefty, warm life,
As now it coldly ftands, when firft I woo'd her.
I am afham'd; does not the ftone rebuke me,
For being more ftone than it ? oh royal piece!
There's magick in thy Majefty, which has
My evils conjur'd to remembrance; and
From thy admiring daughter took the spirits,
Standing like ftone with thee.

Per.

Per. And give me leave,

And do not fay 'tis fuperftition, that

I kneel, and then implore her bleffing. Lady,
Dear Queen! that ended when I but began,
Give me that hand of yours to kiss.

Pau. O, patience;

The ftatue is but newly fix'd; the colour's
Not dry.

Cam. My Lord, your forrow was too fore laid on,
Which fixteen winters cannot blow away,

So many

fummers dry; scarce any joy

Did ever fo long live; no forrow,

But kill'd itself much fooner.

Pol. Dear my brother,

Let him that was the cause of this, have power
To take off fo 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 ftone is mine,
I'd not have fhew'd you it.

Leo. Do not draw the curtain.

Pau. No longer fhall 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? fee, 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 were mock'd with art.

Pau. I'll draw the curtain.

My Lord's almoft fo far tranfported, that
He'll think anon it lives.

Leo. O fweet Paulina,

Make me to think fo twenty years together :
No fettled fenfes of the world can match
The pleasure of that madnefs. Let't alone.

Pau.