So sacred as it is, I have done sin : Enter a Lord. Lord. Most noble sir, 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: Desires you to attach his son; who has (His dignity and duty both cast off,) Fled 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 Flo. Camillo has betray'd me; Lord. Lay't so to his charge; Leon. Who? Camillo? Lord. Camillo, sir; I spake with him; who now Per. O, my poor father! Leon. You are married ? Flo. We are not, sir, nor are we like to be; Leon. My lord, Flo. She is, Leon. That once, I see, by your good father's speed, Flo. Dear, look up: Leon. Would he do so, I'd beg your precious mistress, Which he counts but a trifle. Paul. Sir, my liege, Leon. I thought of her, [To FLORIZEL. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. Before the Palace. me. Enter AutoLycus and a Gentleman. Aut. 'Beseech you, sir, were you present at this rela, tion? i 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. i Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business ;But the changes I perceived in the king, and Camillo, were very notes of admiration : they seemed 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 looked, as they had heard of a world ransomed, or one destroyed: A notable passion of wonder appeared in them: but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing, could not say, if the importance 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? 2 Gent. Nothing but bonfires : The oracle is fulfilled; the king's daughter is found : such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour, that ballad-makers 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 called 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 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 crea ture, in resemblance of the mother;—the affection of nobleness, which nature shows above her breeding,– and many other evidences, 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. 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 sonin-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 ? s Gent. Like an old tale still; which will have mat, ter 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. i 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, 0, the noble combat, that, 'twixt joy and sorrow, was fought in Paulina ! |