proclaims, shall he be set against a brick-wall, the sun looking with a southward eye upon him; where he is to behold him, with flies blown to death. But what talk we of these traitorly rascals, whose miseries are to be smiled at, their offences being so capital? Tell me, (for you seem to be honest plain men,) what you have to the king: being something gently consider'd t, I'll bring you where he is aboard, tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your behalfs; and, if it be in man, besides the king, to effect your suits, here is man shall do it.! Clown. He seems to be of great authority close with him, give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold: shew the inside of your purse to the outside of his hand, and no more ado: remember stoned, and flay'd alive. Shep. An't please you, Sir, to undertake the business for us, here is that gold I have: I'll make it as much more; and leave this young man in pawn, till I bring it you. Aut. After I have done what I promised? Aut. Well, give me the moiety:-Are you a party in this business? Clown. In some sort, Sir: but though my case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flay'd out of it. Aut. O, that's the case of the shepherd's son:Hang him, he'll be made an example. Clown. Comfort, good comfort: we must to the king, and shew our strange sights: he must know, 'tis none of your daughter, nor my sister; we are gone else. Sir, I will give you as much as this old man does, when the business is perform'd; and remain, as he says, your pawn, till it be brought you. Aut. I will trust you. Walk before toward the sea-side; go on the right hand; I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you. Clown. We are bless'd in this man, as I may say, even bless'd. Shep. Let's before, as he bids us: he was provided to do us good. [Exeunt Shepherd and Clown. Aut. If I had a mind to be honest, I see, fortune The hottest day foretold in the almanac. + Being handsomely bribed. VOL. II. Iii would not suffer me; she drops booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a double occa sion; gold, and a means to do the prince my master good; which, who knows how that may turn back to my advancement? I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he think it fit to shore them again, and that the complaint they have to the king concerns him nothing, let him call me, rogue, for being so far officious; for I am proof against that title, and what shame else belongs to't: to him will I present them, there may be matter in it. [Exit. ACT V. SCENE I-Sicilia.-A Room in the Palace of LEONTES. Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA, and others. Cleo. Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd A saint-like sorrow: no fault could you make, Leon. Whilst I remember Her, and her virtues, I cannot forget My blemishes in them; and so still think of Paul. True, too true, my lord: If, one by one, you wedded all the world, Leon. I think so. Kill'd! She I kill'd? I did so: but thou strikest me Upon thy tongue, as in my thought: now, good now, Say so but seldom. Cleo. Not at all, good lady: You might have spoken a thousand things, that would Have done the time more benefit, and graced Paul. You are one of those, You pity not the state, nor the remembrance Paul. There is none worthy, Respecting her that's gone. Besides, the gods Is't not the tenour of his oracle, That king Leontes shall not have an heir, Till his lost child be found? Which, that it shall, Leon. Good Paulina, Who hast the memory of Hermione, I know, in honour,-Ö, that ever I Had squared me to thy counsel ! Then, even now, 1 might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes; Have taken treasure from her lips. Paul. And left them More rich, for what they yielded. No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse And better used, would make her sainted spirit. Paul. Had she such power, She had just cause. • At rest, dead. Leon. She had; and would incense⚫ me To murder her I married. Paul. I should so : Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'd bid you mark Leon. Stars, very stars, And all eyes else dead coals!-Fear thou no wife, I'll have no wife, Paulina. Paul. Will you swear Never to marry, but by my free leave? Leon. Never, Paulina: so be bless'd my spirit!" Paul. Then, good my lords, bear witness to his oath. Cleo. You tempt him over-much. As like Hermione as is her picture, Affront his eye. Cleo. Good madam, Paul. I have done. Yet, if my lord will marry, if you will, Sir, To see her in your arms. Leon. My true Paulina, We shall not marry, till thou bidd'st us. Paul. That Shall be, when your first queen's again in breath; Never till then. Enter a GENTLEMAN. Gent. One that gives out himself prince Florizel, Leon. What with him? He comes not By need and accident. What train? Gent. But few, And those but mean. • Instigate. + Split. + Meet. Leon. His princess, say you, with him? Gent. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the sun shone bright on. As every present time doth boast itself Above a better, gone; so must thy grave Give way to what's seen now. Sír, you yourself Gent. Pardon, madam: The one I have almost forgot; (your pardon,) Of who she but bid follow. Paul. How? Not women? Gent. Women will love her, that she is a woman More worth than any man; men, that she is, The rarest of all women. Leon. Go, Cleomenes; Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends, Bring them to our embracement.-Still 'tis strange, [Exeunt Cleomenes, Lords and Gentleman. He thus should steal upon us. Paul. Had our prince, (Jewel of children,) seen this hour, he had pair'd Well with this lord; there was not full a month Between their births. Leon. Pr'ythee, no more; thou know'st, Re-enter CLEOMENES, with FLORIZEL, PERDITA, and Attendants, Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince ; Your father's image is so hit in you, His very air, that I should call you brother, * i. e. Than the corse of Hermione, the subject of your writing. |