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Paul. That

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Re-enter CLEOMENES, with FLORIZEL, PERDITA,
and Attendants.

Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince;
For she did print your royal father off,
Conceiving you were I but twenty-oue,
Your father's image is so hit in you,

His very air, that I should call you brother,
As I did him; and speak of something, wildly
By us perform'd before. Most dearly welcome!
And your fair princess, goddess!-O, alas!
I lost a couple, that 'twixt heaven and earth
Might thus have stood, begetting wonder, as
You, gracious couple, do! And then I lost
(All mine own folly,) the society,

Amity too, of your brave father; whom,
Though bearing misery, I desire my life
Once more to look upon.

Flo. By his command

Have 1 here touch'd Sicilia; and from him
Give you all greetings, that a king, at friend,
Can send his brother: and, but infirmity
(Which waits upoL worn times,) hath something

seized

His wish'd ability, he had himself

The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his
Measured, to look upon you: whom he loves
(He bade me say so,) more than all the sceptres,
And those that bear them, living.

Leon. O, my brother,

(Good gentleman !) The wrongs I have done thee, stir Afresh within me; and these thy offices,

So rarely kind, are as interpreters

Of my behind-hand slackness!-Welcome hither,

Shall be, when your first queen's again in breath; As is the spring to the earth. And hath he too Never till then.

Enter a GENTLEMAN

Gent. One that gives out himself prince Florizel,
Son of Polixenes, with his princess, (she
The fairest I have yet beheld,) desires access
To your high presence.

Leon. What with him? He comes not
Like to his father's greatness: his approach,
So out of circumstance, and sudden, tells us,
'Tis not a visitation framed, but forced
By need and accident. What train?

Gent. But few,

And those but mean.

Leon. His princess, say you, with him?

Exposed this paragon to the fearful usage
(At least, ungentle,) of the dreadful Neptune,
To greet a man, not worth her pains; much less
The adventure of her person?

Flo. Good, my lord,

She came from Libya.

Leon. Where the warlike Smalus,

That noble honour'd lord, is tear'd, and loved?
Flo. Most royal Sir, from thence; from him,
whose daughter

His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her: thence
(A prosperous south-wind friendly,) we have cross'd,
To execute the charge my father gave me,
For visiting your highness: my best train

I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd;

Gent. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth, I Who for Bohemia bend, to signify

think,

That e'er the sun shone bright on.

Paul. O Hermione,

As every present time doth boast itself
Above a better, gone; so must thy grave
Give way to what's seen now. Sir, you yourself
Have said, and writ so, (but your writing pow
Is colder than that theme §,) She had not been,
Nor was not to be equall'd-thus your verse
Flow'd with her beauty once; 'tis shrewdly ebb'd,
To say, you have seen a better.

Gent. Pardon, madam:

The one I have almost forgot; (your pardon,)

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Not only my success in Libya, Sir,
But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety
Here, where we are.

Leon. The blessed gods

Purge all infection from our air, whilst you
Do climate here! You have a holy father,
A graceful gentleman; against whose person,
So sacred as it is, I have done sin :
For which the heavens, taking angry note,
Have left me issueless; and your father's bless'd,
(As he from heaven merits it,) with you,
Worthy his goodness. What might I have been,
Might I a son and daughter now have look'd on,
Such goodly things as you?

• Full of grace and virtue.

Enter a LORD.

Lord. Most noble Sir,

That, which I shall report, will bear no credit,
Were not the proofs so nigh. Please you, great Sir,
Bohemia greets you from himself, by me:
Desires you to attach his son who has
(His dignity and duty both cast off,)

Fied from his father, from his hopes, and with
A shepherd's daughter.

Leon. Where's Bohemia? Speak?

Lord. Here in the city: I now came from him:
I speak amazedly; and it becomes

My marvel, and my message. To your court
Whiles he was hast'ning, (in the chase, it seems,
Of this fair couple,) meets he on the way
The father of this seeming lady, and

iler brother, having both their country quitted
With this young prince.

Flo. Camillo has betray'd me;

Whose honour, and whose houesty, till now,
Endured all weathers.

Lord. Lay't.so, to his charge;
He's with the king your father.
Leon. Who? Camillo ?

Lord. Camillo, Sir; I spake with him; who now
Has these poor men in question. Never saw I
Wretches so quake: they kneel, they kiss the earth;
Forswear themselves as often as they speak:
Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them
With divers deaths in death.

Per. O, my poor father!

The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have
Our contract celebrated.

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.

Leon. My lord,

Is this the daughter of a king?

Flo. She is,

When once she is my wife.

ness-But the changes I perceived in the king,
and Camillo, were very notes of admiration: they
seem'd 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
look'd, as they had heard of a world ransomed, or
one destroy'd: a notable passion of wonder ap
pear'd in them: but the wisest beholder, that
knew no more but seeing, could not say, if the im-
portance were joy or sorrow; but in the extre-
mity of the oue, it must needs be.

Enter another GENTLEMAN.
Here comes a gentleman that, happily, knows m re:
The news, Rogero?

2 Gent. Nothing but bonfires: the oracle is fulfill'd; the king's daughter is found: such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour, that balladmakers cannot be able to express it.

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 call'd true, is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in strong suspicion:-Has the king found his heir?

3 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 proots. 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 affection of nobleness, which nature shews above her breeding,-and many other evi dences, proclaim her, with all certainty, to be the king's daughter. Did you see the meeting of the two kings?

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

Leon. That once, I see, by your good father's such manner, that, it seem'd, sorrow wept to take

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,
That you might well enjoy her.

Flo. Dear, look up:

Though fortune, visible an enemy,

Should chase us, with my father; power no jot
Hath she, to change our loves.-'Beseech you, Sir,
Remember since you owed no more to time
Than I do now: with thought of such affections,
Step forth mine advocate; at your request,
My father will grant precious things, as trifles.
Leon. Would he do so, I'd beg your precious mis-
tress,

Which he counts but a trifle.

Paul. Sir, my liege,

Your eye hath too much youth in 't: not a month
'Fore your queen died, she was more worth such

gazes

Than what you look on now.

Leon. I thought of her,

Even in these looks I made.-But your petition
[To Florizel.

Is yet unanswer'd: I will to your father;
Your honour not ojerthrown by your desires,
I am a friend to them, and you: upon which errand
I now go toward him; therefore, follow me,
And mark what way I make: come, good my lord.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same.-Before the Palace.

Enter AUTOLYCUS and a GENTLEMAN. Aut. 'Beseech you, Sir, were you present at this relation?

1 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.

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 favour. 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, 0, thy mother, thy mother! Then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-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.

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 handkerchief, and rings, of his, that Paulina

knows.

1 Gent. What became of his bark, and his fol lowers?

3 Gent. Wreck'd, the same instant of their mas ter'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 ele vated that the oracle was fulfill'd: 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 his act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted.

3 Gent. One of the prettiest tonches 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 confess'd, and lament

Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. 1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the busted by the king,) how attenti eness wounded his

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daughter till, from one sign of dolour to another,

The thing imported. + Disposition or quality. * Countenance, features. Embracing.

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 colour: some swoon'd, all sorrow'd: 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 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. Aul. Now, had I not the dash of my former life in me, would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old taan and his son aboard the prince; told him, I heard them 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 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 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 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. + Remote. § Stout.

• Most petrified with wonder. Yeomen.

Clown. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: If I do not wonder how thou darest venture to be drunk, not being a tali 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 PAULIAN'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 undruws 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 si..teen 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,

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Leon. Let be, let be.

You kill her double: nay, present your hand.

Would 1 were dead, but that, methinks, already-When she was young you woo'd her; now, in age,
What was he, that did make it 3-See, my lord,
Would you not deem, it breathed? And that those

veins

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 ®,

Ast 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.

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.

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 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

i. c. Though her eye be fixed, it seems to have
tion in it.
+ As if.

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. Her. You gods, look down,

And from your sacred vials pour your graces
Upon my daughter's head!-Tell me, mine own,
Where hast thou been preserved? Where lived!
How found

Thy father's court? For thou shalt hear, that I,-
Knowing by Paulina, that the oracle

Gave hope thou wast in being,-have preserved
Myself to see the issue.

Paul. There's time enough for that,
Lest they desire, upon this push, to trouble
Your joys with like relation.-Go together,
You precious winners all; your exultation
Partake to every one. 1, an old turtle,
Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there
My mate, that's never to be found again,
Lament till I am lost.

Leon. O peace, Paulina;

Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent,
As I by thine, a wife: this is a match,

And made between's by vows. Thou hast found

mine;

But how, is to be question'd: for I saw her,
As I thought, dead; and have, in,vain, said many
A prayer upon her grave: I'll not seek far
(For him, I partly know his mind,) to find thee
An honourable husband:-Come, Camillo,
And take her by the hand: whose worth and honesty,
Is richly noted; and here justified

By us, a pair of kings.-Let's from this place.What?-Look upon my brother:-Both your pardons,

That e'er I put between your holy looks
My ill suspicion.-This your son-in-law,
And son unto the king, (whom heaven's directing.)
Is troth-plight to your daughter.-Good Paulina,
Lead us from hence; where we may leisurely
Each one demand, and answer to his part
Perform'd in this wide gap of time, since first
We were dissever'd: hastily lead away. [Exeunt.

You who by this discovery have gained what you desired. ↑ Participate.

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SCENE 1.-An open Place.

Thunder and Lightning.-Enter three WITCHES. 1 Witch. When shall we three meet again,

In thunder, lightning, or a rain?

2 Witch. When the hurlyburly's done,

When the battle's lost and won:

3 Witch. That will be ere set of sun.

1 Witch. Where the place?

2 Witch. Upon the heath:

3 Witch. There to meet with Macbeth.

1 Witch. I come, Graymalkin?

All. Paddock calls:-Anon.

Fair is foul, and foul is fair:

Hover through the fog and filthy air.

[Witches vanish.

SCENE II-A Camp near Fores.

Alorum within. Enter King DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENOX, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Soldier.

Dun. What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state.

Mal. This is the sergeant,

Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought
'Gainst my captivity !-Hail, brave friend!
Say to the king the knowledge of the broil,
As thou didst leave it.

Sold. Doubtfully it stood;

As two spent swiminers, that do cling together, And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald (Worthy to be a rebel; for, to that,

The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him,) from the western isles
Of Kernes and Gallowglasses is supplied +;
And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,
Shew'd like a rebel's whore: but all's too weak:
For brave Macbeth, (well he deserves that name,)
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like valour's minion,

Carved out his passage, till he faced the slave;
And ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,
And fix'd his head upon our battlements.

Dun. O, valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!

• Tumult.

e. Supplied with light and heavy armed troops. Cause.

Sold. As whence the sun 'gins his reflection Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break; So from that spring, whence comfort seem'd to

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should he look,

That seems to speak things strange.

Rosse. God save the king!

Dun. Whence camest thou, worthy thane?
Rosse. From Fife, great king,

Where the Norweyan banners flout § the sky,
And fan our people cold.

Norway himself, with terrible numbers,
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The thane of Cawdor, 'gan a dismal conflict.
Till that Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof¶
Confronted him with self-comparisons,

Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm,
Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude,
The victory fell on us;--

Dun. Great happiness! Rosse. That now

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