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Kings' reigns." I never heard of fuch another encounter, which lames report to follow it, and undoes defcription to do it.

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.

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

3 Gent. Wreck'd the fame inftant of their mafter's death, and in the view of the fhepherd; 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 hufband, another elevated that the oracle was fulfill'd. She lifted the Princefs from the earth, and fo locks her in embracing, as if she would pin her to her heart, that fhe might no more be in danger of lofing.

i Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the au dience of Kings and Princes; for by fuch was it acted.

3 Gent. One of the prettieft 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 confefs'd' and lamented by the King, how attentivenefs wounded his daughter; till, from one fign of dolour to another, fhe did, with an Alas! I would fain say, bleed tears; for I am fure my heart wept blood. Who was moft marble, there changed colour; fome fwooned, all forrowed; if all the world could have feen 't, the woe had been univerfal.

1 Gent. Are they return'd to the court?

3 Gent. No. The Princess hearing of her mother's ftatue, 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 be

guile Nature of her cuftom, fo perfectly he is her ape; he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione, that they fay, one would speak to her, and stand in hope of anfwer: thither with all greedinefs 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 houfe. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoicing?

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

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 fon aboard the Prince; told him, I heard them talk of a farthel, and I know not what : but he at that time, overfond 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 myftery remained undifcovered. 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 thofe I have done good to againft my will, and already appearing in the bloffoms of their fortune.

Shep. Come, boy, I am past more children; but thy fons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.

Clo. "You are well met, Sir. You denied to fight "with me this other day, because I was no gentleman "born: fee you thefe cloaths? fay, you fee them not, " and think me ftill no gentleman born. You were beft fay, these robes are not gentleman born. Give me the lye; 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. 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, fon, 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 fay it, but not fwear it.

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

Shep. How if it be falfe, fon? ·

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

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII. Changes to 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!

Paul. 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 thefe 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 answer.

Leo. O Paulina,

We honour you with trouble; but we came

To see the statue 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.

Paul. 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
Lovely 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.

[Paulina draws a curtain, and difcovers Hermione Standing like a statue.

I like your filence, it the more fhews off

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

Leo. Her natural posture!

Chide me, dear stone, that I may say, indeed,
Thou art Hermione; or rather, thou art she,
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.

Paul. 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 he might have done,

So much to my good comfort, as it is

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

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 kifs.

Paul. O, patience ;

The statue 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: fcarce any joy

Did ever fo long live; no forrow,

But kill'd itself much sooner.

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.

Paul. 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 it,

Leo. Do not draw the curtain.

Paul. 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 those veins
Did verily bear blood?