Lord.
That, which I shall report, will bear no credit,
Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great sir,
Bohemia greets you from himself, by me:

Re-enter Cleomenes, with Florizel, Perdita, and Desires you to attach his son; who has

lord.

And mark what way I make: Come, good my
[Exeunt.
SCENE II-The same. Before the palace.
ter Autolycus and a Gentleman.

encounter, which lames report to follow it, and un-
does description to do it.

En-that carried hence the child?
2 Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus,

Aut. 'Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation?

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 1 Gent. I was by at the opening of the fardel, bear: this avouches the shepherd's son; who has heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he not only his innocence (which seems much,) to jusfound it whereupon, after a little amazedness, wetify him, but a handkerchief, and rings, of his, that were all commanded out of the chamber; only Paulina knows. this, methought I heard the shepherd say, he found

the child.

1 Gent. What became of his bark, and his followers?

Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. 3 Gent. Wrecked, the same instant of their 1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business: master's death; and in the view of the shepherd: -But the changes I perceived in the king, and so that all the instruments, which aided to expose Camillo, were very notes of admiration: they the child, were even then lost, when it was found. seemed almost, with staring on one another, to tear But, O, the noble combat, that, 'twixt joy and sorthe cases of their eyes; there was speech in their row, was fought in Paulina! She had one eye dedumbness, language in their very gesture; they clined for the loss of her husband; another elevated looked, as they had heard of a world ransomed, or that the oracle was fulfilled: She lifted the prinone destroyed: A notable passion of wonder ap-cess from the earth; and so locks her in embracing, peared in them but the wisest beholder, that knew as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no more but seeing, could not say, if the importance! no more be in danger of losing. were joy, or sorrow: but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be.

Enter another Gentleman.

Here comes a gentleman, that, happily, knows more:
The news, Rogero?

1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted.

3 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 2 Gent. Nothing but bonfires: The oracle is fulto it (bravely confessed, and lamented by the king,) filled; the king's daughter is found: such a deal how attentiveness wounded his daughter: till, from of wonder is broken out within this hour, that bal-one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an lad-makers cannot be able to express it. alas! I would fain say, bleed tears; for, I am sure, my heart wept blood. Who was most marble there,s changed colour; some swooned, all sorrowed: if all the world could have seen it, the wo had been universal.

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

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 performed 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 of affection, are they gone; and there

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 proofs. 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 affection2 of nobleness, which nature shows above her breeding, and many other evi-they intend to sup. 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 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 favour.3 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 son-inlaw; then again worries he his daughter, with clipping her; now he thanks the old shepherd,|| which stands by, like a weather-beaten conduit of many kings' reigns. I never heard of such another

(1) The thing imported.
2) Disposition or quality.

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 him 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 remained undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me: for had I been the finder-out of this secret, it

(3) Countenance, features. (4) Embracing.
(5) Most petrified with wonder. (6) Remote.

Enter Shepherd and Clown. Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune.

would not have relished among my other discredits. || 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 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
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 dis-
covers a statue.

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 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. 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 born before my father for the king's son took me 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 '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.

Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life?

I like your silence, it the more shows 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.

O, not by much.

Pol.
Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence;
Which lets go by some sixteen years, and makes her
As she liv'd 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 asham'd: 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 conjur'd to remembrance; and Shep. You may say it, but not swear it. From thy admiring daughter took the spirits, Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let Standing like stone with thee! boors and franklins say it, I'll swear it. Shep. How if it be false, son?

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 is in
Bohemia.

Clo. If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear it, in the behalf of his friend :-And I'|| 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 would'st be a tall fellow of thy hands.

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 statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's
Not dry.

Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on; Aut. I will prove so, sir, to my power. Which sixteen winters cannot blow away, Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if ISo many summers, dry scarce any joy do not wonder, how thou darest venture to be Did ever so long live; no sorrow, drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not.-Hark! But kill'd itself much sooner. the kings and the princes, our kindred, are going Pol. Dear my brother, to see the queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll Let him, that was the cause of this, have power be thy good masters. [Exeunt. To take off so much grief from you, as he Will piece up in himself. A room in Paulina's Paul.

SCENE III-The same.

Indeed, my lord,

house. Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Per-If I had thought, the sight of my poor image dita, Camillo, Paulina, Lords, and Attendants. Would thus have wrought you (for the stone is Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great commine,) fort I'd not have show'd it.

That I have had of thee!

Leon.
Do not draw the curtain.
Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest your
fancy
May think anon, it moves.
Leon.
Let be, let be.
Would I were dead, but that methinks already-
What was he, that did make it?-See, my lord,

(3) Worked, agitated.

For this affliction has a taste as sweet

As any cordial comfort.-Still, methinks,
There is an air comes from her: What fine chisel
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 requir'd,

You do awake your faith: Then, all stand still;
Or those, that think it is unlawful business
I am about, let them depart.
Lion

No foot shall stir.
Paul.

Proceed;

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 redeems 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! [Embracing
If this be magic, let it be an art
Lawful as eating.

Pol.
Cam. She hangs about his neck;

She embraces him.

If she pertain to life, let her speak too.

Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has
liv'd,

Or, how stol'n from the dead.
Paul.

די

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.

Her.

[Presenting Per. who kneels to 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 preserv'd? where liv'd?

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 preserv'd
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
I, an old turtle,
Partake to every one.
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 should'st a husband take by my consent,
As I by thine, a wife: this is a match,
And made between's by vows.

Is richly noted; and here justified

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

That e'er I put between your holy looks
My ill suspicion.-This your son-in-law,
And son unto the king (whom heavens 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.

[Exe.

This play, as Dr. Warburton justly observes, is, with all its absurdities, very entertaining. The her.||character of Autolycus is naturally conceived, and strongly represented. JOHNSON.