Leon. Where the warlike Smalus, That noble honored lord is feared and loved? Flo. Most royal sir, from thence; from him, whose daughter His tears proclaimed his, parting with her: thence To execute the charge my father gave me But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety Bohemia greets you from himself, by me: Desires to attach his son; who has you (His dignity and duty both cast off) Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with A shepherd's daughter. Leon. Where's Bohemia? speak. Forswear themselves as often as they speak; Per. O, my poor father! The heavens set spies upon us; will not have Leon. You are married? Flo. We are not, sir, nor are we like to be; Leon. My lord, Is this the daughter of a king? When once she is my wife. Leon. That once, I see, by your good father's speed. Will come on very slowly. I am sorry, Most sorry, you have broken from his liking, Where you were tied in duty and as sorry : Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty, Flo. Though fortune, visible an enemy, Should chase us with my father, power no jot Lord. Here in your city: I now came from My father will grant precious things as trifles. 'Fore your queen died, she was more worth such deal of wonder has broken out within this hour, that ballad maker's cannot be able to express it. gazes I am a friend to them and you: upon which er- that the verity of it is in strong suspicion. Has the king found his heir? 3rd Gent. 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 knew to be his character: the majesty of the creature, in resemblance of the mother the affection of nobleness which nature shews above her breeding, and many other evidences, proclaim her, with all certainty, to be the king's Aut. 'Beseech you, sir, were you present at this daughter.-Did you see the meeting of the two relation? 1st Gent. I was by at the opening of the fardel; heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all commanded out of the chamber: only this, methought I heard the shepherd say he found the child. Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. 1st Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business but the changes I perceived in the king and Camillo were very notes of admiration : they seemed almost, with staring on one another, 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 notable passion of wonder appeared in them; but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing, could not say if the importance were joy or sorrow: but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be. Enter another Gentleman. kings? 2nd Gent No. 3rd 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 distraction that they were to be known by garment, not by favor. Our king, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter, as if that joy were now become a loss, cries,-"O, thy mother, thy mother!" then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his sonin-law; then again worries he his daughter with clipping her; now he thanks the old shepherd, which stands by, like a weather-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. 2nd Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried hence the child? 3rd Gent. Like an old tale still; which will Here comes a gentleman that happily knows more. have matter to rehearse, though credit be asleep The news, Rogero? 2nd Gent. Nothing but bonfires: the oracle is fulfilled; the king's daughter is found: such a 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 jus tify him, but a handkerchief and rings of his, that benefit of access? Every wink of an eye, some Paulina knows. new grace will be born: our absence makes us un1st Gent. What became of his bark and his fol- thrifty to our knowledge. lowers? 3rd Gent. Wrecked the same instant of their master's death, and in the view of the shepherd: so that all the instruments which aided 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. 1st Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted. 3rd 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 dolor to another, she did, with an "Alas!" I would fain say, bleed tears; for I am sure my heart wept blood. Who was most marble there changed color; some swooned, all sorrowed if all the world could have seen it, the woe had been universal. 1st Gent. Are they returned to the court? Let's along. [Exeunt Gentlemen. Aut. Now, had I not the dash of my former life 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, overfond 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 't is 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 come 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 gentlemen born. Clo. You are well met, sir: you denied to fight with me this other day, because I was no gentleman born: -see you these clothes? say you see them not, and think me still no gentleman born: you were best say these robes are not gentleman 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 so any time these four hours. Shep. And so have I, boy. Clo. So you have: - but I was a gentleman 3rd 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 Ro-born before my father: for the king's son took me mano; 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. 1st Gent. I thought she had some great matter there in hand; for she hath privately, twice or thrice-a-day, ever since the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoicing. by the hand, and called me brother; and then the two kings called my father, brother: and then the prince my brother, and the princess 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 't were 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 3rd Gent. Who would be thence that has the master. Shep. Pr'y thee, son, do; for we must be gen- In many singularities; but we saw not tle 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 Bohemia. Shep. You may say it, but not swear it. So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Or hand of man hath done: therefore I keep it Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let To see the life as lively mocked as ever 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; 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 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, Even with such life of majesty (warm life, As now it coldly stands), when first I wooed her! I am ashamed-does not the stone rebuke me, For being more stone than it?-O, royal piece, There's magic in thy majesty, which has My evils conjured to remembrance, and From thy admiring daughter took the spirits, Standing like stone with thee! Per. And give me leave; And do not say 't is superstition, that I kneel, and then implore her blessing.- Lady, Paul. O patience : The statue is but newly fixed; the color's Not dry. Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on, If I had thought the sight of my poor image Leon. What you can make her do, mine), I'd not have shewed it. Leon. Do not draw the curtain. Paul. It is required Paul. No longer shall you gaze on 't, lest your You do awake your faith: then, all stand still; 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach; Start not her actions shall be holy as You kill her double. Nay, present your hand: Were it but told you, should be hooted at [Presenting PERDITA, who kneels to HERMIONE. |