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

t them:-there

may

be 'matter in it!

(Exit.

A favourable wind has conveyed the fugitive lovers to Sicily, where they are kindly received by King Leontes. Camillo then easily persuades King Polixenes to follow his son and the beautiful Shepherdess: and Autolycus so far keeps his promise as to induce his two most recent victims also to dare the dangers of the deep.

Gloom still hangs over the mind of the unhappy Leontes, for the loss of his Queen and his children: his only pleasure now is to 'speak of them to the Lady Paulina; and, though a 'second marriage had been proposed by his courtiers, that lady's influence so prevailed that the King promised never to marry again without her consent.

The two monarchs are easily reconciled; but when the King of Bohemia hears of the two Shepherds, he orders them to be arrested; and, being questioned, the old man's secret is at once disclosed. The delighted Courtiers hasten to spread the good

news.

a

The Scene is now in the Public Square, before the King's Palace, in Sicilia. Autolycus inquires of a Gentleman: Aut. 'Beseech you, sir ; were you 'present at this narra

tion ?a 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. Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. 1 Gent. I make a 'broken delivery of the business : But the

changes I perceived, in the King and Camillo, were very notes of admiration : there was speech in their 'dumbness, language in their very 'gesture. Here comes a gentleman, that, haply, knows 'more. [G

The news, sir ? 2 Gent. Nothing but 'bonfires! The Oracle is 'fulfilled;

:

Another Gentleman enters.

3 Gent. Most true! The 'mantle of Queen Hermione;

her 'jewel about the neck of it ;—the 'letters of Antigonus found with it ;—the 'majesty of the creature, in resemblance of the 'mother; 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? No? Then you have lost a sight which was to be 'seen-cannot be 'spoken-of. 'Our King, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter, now cries,“ O, thy mother, thy mother!" then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-inlaw: now he thanks the Old Shepherd, who 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. 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 'handker

chief, and 'rings of his, that Paulina knows. 1 Gent. What became of his 'bark, and his 'followers ? 3 Gent. Wrecked," the same instant of their master'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 'elevated, that the Oracle was fulfilled. One of the prettiest touches of all was, when at the relation of the Queen's death, with the manner how she 'came to 't, (bravely confessed and lamented by the King,) how attentiveness wounded his daughter; till, from one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an “Alas!" I would fain say, 'bleed tears; for,

I am sure, my 'heart wept blood ! 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. Thither, with all greediness of affection, are they gone.

b

:

1

Exeunt Gentlemen.

2 Gent. I thought Lady Paulinaa had some great matter

there in hand, for she bath privately, twice or thrice a day, ever since the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. Shall we thither, and with our com

pany 'piece the rejoicing ? 1 Gent. Who would be thence that has the benefit of 'ac

cess ? every wink of an eye, some 'new grace will be born: our 'absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. Let 's along.

[ge Autolycus, who has been an eager and interested listener, says: Aut. Now, had I not the dash of my 'former life in me,

would preferment 'drop on my head. But here come those that I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the 'blossoms of their fortune.

The Shepherd and his son enter. Shep. Come, boy! thy sons and daughters will be all 'gentlemen born.

The Son at once recognizes Autolycus: 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 gentleman-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 't were hard luck, being in so preposterous' estate as we are.

Autolycus obsequiously addresses them : 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.

a

Shep. 'Prythee, son, do; for we must be 'gentle, now we

are gentle'men. Clo.... Thou wilt 'amend thy life? 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. Shep. Son, 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. [ameumepedi] Hark! the Kings

(alement : and the Princes, our kindred, are going to see the Queen's statue. Come, follow us: we 'll be thy good masters.

(Exeunt.

The Scene now changes to a Chapel in the Lady Paulina's House. The Lady Paulina conducts her visitors—King Leontes, with Prince Florizel and the Princess Perdita-King Polixenes, with Camillo and attendant Lords and Ladies—to see a statue of Queen Hermione, so exquisitely wrought that one “could speak to it and stand in hope of answer. The King addresses his Hostess : 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;a but that you have vouchsafed,
With your crowned brother, and these your contracted
Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor 'house to visit,
It is a 'surpluse 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 passed 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 've looked on. Prepare

1

To see the 'life as lively mocked, as ever

Still Sleep mocked 'Death: behold; and say, 't is well. The Lady Paulina draws aside a curtain, and displays a statue of Queen Hermione. All are silent with astonishment and admiration. Leontes at last speaks : 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. O, thus 'she stood,
Even with such 'life of majesty —'warm life,
As now it 'coldly stands—when first I wooed her!...
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!

Perdita tearfully falls on her knees :,
Per.

And give 'me leave;
(And do not say 't is '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 's newly fixed; the colour is not dry.
If I had thought, the sight of this poor image

Would thus have 'wrought, I'd not have showed it.
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,-
I'am now dead, stone looking upon stone."
What was he that did make it ?-See, my lord, [
Would you not deem it 'breathed ? and that those

veins

Did 'verily bear blood ?
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:

d