Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life. Clo. 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. Clo. 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? 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 know, that 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. 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 House. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and Attendants. Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort Paul. What, sovereign sir, I did not well,. I meant well: All my services You have paid home: but that you have vouchsaf'd It is a surplus of your grace, which never My life may last to answer. We honour you with trouble: But we came Have we pass'd through, not without much content 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 To see the life as lively mock'd, as ever Still sleep mock'd death: behold; and say, 't is well. [PAULINA undraws a curtain, and discovers a statue. I like your silence, it the more shows off Your wonder: But yet speak ;-first, you, my liege. Leon. Her natural posture ! Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed, Thou art Hermione: or, rather, thou art she, Pol. O, not by much. 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, Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood, As now it coldly stands,) when first I woo'd her! Per. And give me leave; I kneel, and then implore her blessing.-Lady, 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; 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 Paul. Indeed, my lord, If I had thought the sight of my poor image 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, Would you not deem it breath'd? 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, I'll draw the curtain ; As we are mock'd with art. Paul. My lord's almost so far transported that Leon. Paul. I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr'd you: but I could afflict you further. Leon. Do, Paulina; For this affliction has a taste as sweet As any cordial comfort.-Still, methinks, There is an air comes from her: What fine chisel For I will kiss her. Paul. Let no man mock me, Good my lord, forbear: The ruddiness upon her lip is wet; You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own Per. So long could I Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you Leon. What can you make her do, I am content to look on; what to speak, I am content to hear; for 't is as easy Paul. It is requir'd You do awake your faith: Then, all stand still: I am about, let them depart. 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; [HERMIONE comes down from the pedestal. Start not her actions shall be holy, as, You kill her double: Nay, present your hand: Leon. O, she's warm! [Embracing her. If this be magic, let it be an art Pol. She embraces him. Cam. She hangs about his neck; 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? That she is living, Paul. Like an old tale; but it appears she lives, Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while.- And pray your mother's blessing.-Turn, good lady; Our Perdita is found. [Presenting PER., who kneels to HER. 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 Gave hope thou wast in being,-have preserv'd Paul. There's time enough for that; Lest they desire, upon this push to trouble Will wing me to some wither'd bough, and there 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. 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, By us, a pair of kings.- Let's from this place.- My ill suspicion. This your son-in-law, And son unto the king, (whom heavens directing,) [Exeunt. KING JOHN. KING JOHN. PERSONS REPRESENTED. PRINCE HENRY, his son; afterwards King ARTHUR, Duke of Bretagne, son of Geffrey, WILLIAM MARESHALL, Earl of Pembroke. WILLIAM LONGSWORD, Earl of Salisbury. ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, son of Sir Robert PHILIP FAULCONBRIDGE, his half-brother, PETER of Pomfret, a prophet. CHATILLON, ambassador from France to ELINOR, the widow of King Henry II., Lady FAULCONBRIDGE, mother to the Bas- Lords, Ladies, Citizens of Angiers, Sheriff, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. ACT I. SCENE I.-Northampton. A Room of State in the Palace. King John. Now say, Chatillon, what would France with us? The borrow'd majesty of England here. Eli. A strange beginning;-borrow'd majesty ! K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the embassy. Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine: Which sways usurpingly these several titles; Thy nephew and right royal sovereign. K. John. What follows if we disallow of this? Chat. The proud control of fierce and bloody war, To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld. K. John. Here have we war for war, and blood for blood, Controlment for controlment: so answer France. Chat. Then take my king's defiance from my mouth, |