Has these poor men in question. Never saw I Forswear themselves as often as they speak: Per. O, my poor father! The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have Leon. You are married? Flo. We are not, Sir, nor are we like to be; The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first:The odds for high and low's alike.t Leon. My lord, Is this the daughter of a king? Flo. She is, When once she is my wife. Leon. That once, I see, by your good father's Will come on very slowly. I am sorry, Flo. Dear, look up: Enter a third GENTLEMAN. Here comes the lady Paulina's steward; he can deliver you more.-How goes it now, Sir? this news, which is called true, is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in strong suspicion: Has the king found his heir? 3 Gont. Most true; if ever truth were pregnant by circumstance: that, which you hear, you'll swear you see, there is such 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 majesty of the creature, in resemblance of the mother;-the affectiont of Remember since you ow'd no more to time tions, Step forth mine advocate; at your request, Which he counts but a trifle. Paul. Sir, my liege, Than what you look on now. Is yet unanswer'd; I will to your father; errand ing, and many other evidences, proclaim her, Did you see the meeting of the two kings? with all certainty, to be the king's daughter. 2 Gent. No. 3 Gent. Then have you lost a sight, which was to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld one joy crown another; so, and in such manner, that, it seemed, sorrow wept to take leave of them; for their joy waded in tears. There was casting up of eyes, holding up of hands; with countenance of such garment, not by favour. Our king, being distraction, that they were to be known by ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter; as if that joy were now become a loss, cries, .0, thy mother, thy mother! then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his daughter, shepherd, which stands by, like a weatherwith clippings her; now he thanks the old bitten conduit of many kings' reigns. I never heard of such another encounter, which lames report to follow it, and undoes description to do it. 2 Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried hence the child? 3 Gent. Like an old tale still; which will have matter to rehearse, though credit be asleep, 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 seems much,) to justify him, but a hankerchief, and rings, of his, that Paulina knows. 1 Gent. What became of his bark and his followers? 1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business;-But the changes I perceived in the king, 3 Gent. Wrecked, the same instant of their and Camillo, were very notes of admiration: master's death; and in the view of the shepthey seemed almost, with staring at one ano-herd: so that all the instruments, which aided ther, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was speech in their dumbness, language in their very gesture; they looked, as they had heard of a world ransomed, or one destroyed: A no to expose the child, were even then lost, when it was found. But, O, the noble combat, that, 'twixt joy and sorrow, was fought in Paulina! She had one eye declined for the loss of her husband; another elevated that the oracle was fulfilled; She lifted the princess from the earth; and so locks her in embracing, as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no more be in danger of losing. 1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted. 3 Gent. One of the prettiest 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 she came to it, (bravely confessed, and lamented by the king,) how attentiveness wounded his daughter: till, from one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an ulas! I would fain say, bleed tears; for, I am sure, my heart wept blood. Who was most marble there, changed colour; some swooned, all sorrowed: if all the world could have seen it, the woe had been universal. 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 performed by that rare Italian master, Julio Romano; who, had he himself eternity, and could put breath into his work, would beguile nature of her custom, so perfectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione, that, they say, one would speak to her, and stand in hope of answer: thither, with all greediness of affection, are they gone; and there they intend to sup. 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 called me, brother; and then the two kings called my father, brother; and then the prince, my brother, and the prin cess, my sister, called my father, father; and so we wept: and there was the first gentleman-like 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 as we are. Aut. I humbly beseech 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 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 tall fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt not be drunk; 2 Gent. I thought, she had some great mat- but I know, thou art no tall fellow of thy ter there in hand; for she hath privately, twice hands, and that thou wilt be drunk; but I'll or thrice a day, ever since the death of Her-swear it and I would, thou would'st be a tall mione, visited that removed house. Shall we fellow of thy hands. thither, and with our company piece the rejoicing? 1 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 GENTLEMEN. 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 him talk of a fardel, 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 sea-sick, and himself little better, extremity of weather continuing, this mystery remained undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me: for had I been the finder-out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits. Enter SHEPHERD and CLOWN. Here comes 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 gentle men born. 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 PAUL INA'S House. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PER DITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and Attendunts. Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great That I have had of thee! [comfort Paul. What, sovereign Sir, I did not well, I meant well: All my services, It is a surplus of your grace, which never 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 I like your silence, it the more shows off Leon. Her natural posture!- 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 liv'd now. Leon. As now she might have done, I am asham'd: Does not the stone rebuke me, 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. Paul. O, patience, The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid My lord's almost so far transported, that Leon. O sweet Paulina, Make me to think so twenty years together; I could afflict you further. For this affliction has a taste as sweet 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? Leon. No, not these twenty years. Per. So long could I Stand by, a looker on. Paul. Either forbear, Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you (Which I protest against,) I am assisted Leon. 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; Leon. Proceed; No foot shall stir. Paul. Music; awake her: strike.- [Music. "Tis time; descend; be stone no more: approach; Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come; I'll fill your grave up: stir; nay, come away; Bequeath to death your numbness, for from [stirs: him Dear life redeems you. You perceive, she You kill her double: Nay, present your hand: Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest Lawful as eating. Pol. She embraces him. [age, [Embracing her. Cam. She hangs about his neck; If she pertain to life, let her speak too. Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has liv'd Or, how stol'n from the dead? Paul. That she is living, Were it but told you, should be hooted at [Presenting PERDITA, who kneels to 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 preserv'd? where liv'd? | But how, is to be question'd: for I saw her, [I, As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said how found Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear, that Paul. There's time enough for that; My mate, that's never to be found again, Leon. O peace, Paulina; Thou should'st a husband take by my consent, * You who by this discovery have gained what you de. + Participate. sired. 2 P COMEDY OF ERRORS. PERSONS REPRESENTED. SOLINUS, Duke of Ephesus. ÆGEON, a Merchant of Syracuse. ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, DROMIO of Ephesus, DROMIO of Syracuse, BALTHAZAR, a Merchant. ANGELO, a Goldsmith. Twin A MERCHANT, Friend to Antipholus of Syra cuse. Brothers, PINCH, a Schoolmaster, and a Conjuror. and Sons to E geon and Emi-EMILIA, Wife to Egeon, an Abbess at Ephesus. to each other. Twin Brothers, and Attendants on the two Antipholus's. A COURTEZAN Jailer, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Ephesus. ACT I. SCENE 1.-A Hall in the DUKE's Palace. Enter DUKE, ÆGEON, Jailer, Officer, and other Attendants. Ege. Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, And, by the doom of death, end woes and all. Duke. Merchant of Syracusa, plead no more; I am not partial, to infringe our laws: The enmity and discord, which of late [duke Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your To merchants, our well-dealing countrymen, Who, wanting gilders to redeem their lives, Have sealed his rigorous statutes with their bloods, Excludes all pity from our threat'ning looks. If any, born at Ephesus, be seen are done, | I'll utter what my sorrow gives me leave. A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd. brac'd, Yet the incessant weepings of my wife, Forc'd me to seek delays for them and me. |