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 perform'd 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 and affection, are they gone; and there they intend to sup.

2 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?

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 them talk of a fardel, and 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 remain'd undiscover❜d. But 'tis all one to me for had I been the finder-out of this secret, it would not have relish'd amoug my other discre dits.

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 gentlemen born. Clown. 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 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. Clown. Ay, and have been so any time these four hours.

Shep. And so have I, boy. Clown. So you have:-But I was a gentleman born before my father: for the king's son 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 sister, call'd 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.

Clown. 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.

Clown. Thou wilt amend thy life?

Ant. Ay, an it like your good worship.

Clown. 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.

Clown. 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?

Clown. 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.

Clown. 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

House.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords and Attendants.

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

Paul. What, sovereign Sir,

I did not well, I meant well all my services,
You have paid home: but that you have vouchsafed
With your crown'd brother, and these your con-
tracted

Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit,
It is a surplus of your grace, which never
My life may last to answer.

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
In many singularities; but we saw not
That which my daughter came to look upon,

The statue of her mother.

Paul. As she lived 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 see the life as lively mock'd, as ever

Still sleep mock'd death: behold; and say, 'tis well. [Paulina undraws a Curtain, and discovers a Statue.

I like your silence, it the more shews off

Your wonder: but yet speak;-First, you, my liege. Comes it not something near?

Leon. 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 she was as tender,
As infancy, and grace-But yet, Paulina,
Hermione was not so much wrinkled: nothing
So aged as this seems.

Pol. O, not by much.

Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence; Which let's go by some sixteen years, and makes her 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 woo'd 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, '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 statute is but newly fix'd, the colour's
Not dry.

Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on; Which sixteen winters cannot blow away,

So many summers, dry: scarce any joy

Did ever so long live; no sorrow,

But kill'd itself much sooner.

Pol. Dear my brother,

Let him, that was the cause of this, have power
To take off so much grief from you, as he

Will piece up in himself.

Paul. Indeed, my lord,

If I had thought, the sight of my poor image Would thus have wrought you, (for the stone is

I'd not have shew'd it.

Leon. Do not draw the curtain.

[mine,)

Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest your

May think anon, it moves.
Leon. Let be, let be.

[fancy

Would I were dead, but that, methinks, alreadyWhat was he, that did make it?-See, my lord, Would you not deem; it breathed? And that those Did verily bear blood?

Pol. Masterly done:

The very life seems warm upon her lip.

Leon. The fixure of her eye has motion in't,

As we are mock'd with art.

Paul. I'll draw the curtain ;

My lord's almost so far transported, that
He'll think anon, it lives.

Leon. O sweet Paulina,

Make me to think so twenty years together;

No settled senses of the world can match

The pleasure of that madness. Let't alone.

[veins

Paul. I am sorry, Sir, I have thus far stirr'd you :

I could afflict you further.

Leon. Do, Paulina;

For this affliction has a taste as sweet

As any cordial comfort.-Still, methinks,"

[but

There is an air comes from her: what fine chizzel Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock me, For I will kiss her.

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
For more amazement: if you can behold it,
I'll make the statue move indeed; descend,
And take you by the hand: but then you'll think,
(Which I protest against,) I am assisted

By wicked powers.

Leon. What you can make her do,

I am content to look on: what to speak,'
I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy

To make her speak, as move.

Paul. It is required,

You do awake your faith: then, all stand still; Or those, that think it is unlawful business

I am about, let them depart.

Leon. Proceed;

No foot shall stir.

[Music.

Paul. Music; awake her: strike.'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 him Dear life redeem you.-You perceive, she stirs : [Hermione comes down from the Pedestal. Start not her actions shall be holy, as, You hear, my spell is lawful: do not shun her, Until you see her die again; for then

You kill her double: nay, present your hand. When she was young you woo'd her; now, in age, Is she become the suitor.

Leon. O, she's warm!

If this be magic, let it be an art

Lawful as eating.

Pol. She embraces him.

Cam. She hangs about his neck;

[Embracing her.

If she pertain to life, let her speak, too.

Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has lived Or, how stolen from the dead?

Paul. That she is living,

Were it but told you, should be hooted at

Like an old tale; but it appears, she lives,

Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while.-
Please you to interpose, fair madam; kneel,
And pray your mother's blessing.-Turn, good lady;
Our Perdita is found.

[Presenting Perdita, who kneels to Hermione.