Clo. Think you so, sir?

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Aut. Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy and vengeance bitter; but those that are germane to him, though removed fifty times, shall all come under the hangman: which though it be great pity, yet it is necessary. An old sheep-whistling rogue, a ram-tender, to offer to have his daughter come into grace! Some say he shall be stoned; but that death is too soft for him, say I draw our throne into a sheep-cote! all deaths are too few, the sharpest too easy.

Clo. Has the old man e'er a son, sir, do you hear, an't like you, sir?

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Aut. He has a son, who shall be flayed alive; then 'nointed over with honey, set on the head of a wasp's nest; then stand till he be three quarters and a dram dead; then recovered again with aqua-vitæ or some other hot infusion; then, raw as he is, and in the hottest day prognostication proclaims, shall he be set against a brick-wall, the sun looking with a southward eye upon him, where he is to behold him with flies blown to death. But what talk we of these traitorly rascals, whose miseries are to be smiled at, their offences being so capital? Tell me, for you seem to be honest plain men, what you have to the king: being something gently considered, I'll bring you where he is aboard, tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your behalfs; and if it be in man besides the king to effect your suits, here is man shall do it.

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Clo. He seems to be of great authority: close with him, give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold: show the inside of your purse to the outside of his hand, and no more ado. Remember 'stoned,' and 'flayed alive.'

Shep. An't please you, sir, to undertake the business for us, here is that gold I have: I'll make it as much more and leave this young man in pawn till I bring it you.

Aut. After I have done what I promised? 840 Shep. Ay, sir.

Aut. Well, give me the moiety. Are you a party in this business?

Clo. In some sort, sir: but though my case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flayed out of it. Aut. O, that's the case of the shepherd's son: hang him, he'll be made an example.

Clo. Comfort, good comfort! We must to the king and show our strange sights: he must know 'tis none of your daughter nor my sister; we are gone else. Šir, I will give you as much as this old man does when the business is performed, and remain, as he says, your pawn till it be brought you.

Aut. I will trust you. Walk before toward the sea-side; go on the right hand: I will but look upon the hedge and follow you.

Clo. We are blest in this man, as I may say, even blest.

Shep. Let's before as he bids us: he was provided to do us good.

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[Exeunt Shepherd and Clown. Aut. If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would not suffer me: she drops booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a double occasion, gold and a means to do the prince my master good; which who knows how that may turn back to my advancement? I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he think it fit to shore them again and that 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 them: there may be matter in it. [Exit.

ACT V.

SCENE I. A room in LEONTES' palace.

Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA, and Servants.

Cleo. Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd

A saint-like sorrow: no fault could you make,

Which you have not redeem'd; indeed, paid down
More penitence than done trespass: at the last,
Do as the heavens have done, forget your evil;
With them forgive yourself.

Leon.
Whilst I remember
Her and her virtues, I cannot forget

My blemishes in them, and so still think of
The wrong I did myself; which was so much,
That heirless it hath made my kingdom and
Destroy'd the sweet'st companion that e'er man
Bred his hopes out of.

Paul.
True, too true, my lord:
If, one by one, you wedded all the world,
Or from the all that are took something good,
To make a perfect woman, she you kill'd
Would be unparallel'd.

Leon.

I think so.

Kill'd!

She I kill'd! I did so: but thou strikest me
Sorely, to say I did; it is as bitter

ΙΟ

Upon thy tongue as in my thought; now, good

Not at all, good lady:

20

You might have spoken a thousand things that would

Have done the time more benefit and graced

Your kindness better.

Paul.

You are one of those

Would have him wed again.

Dion. If you would not so, You pity not the state, nor the remembrance Of his most sovereign name; consider little What dangers, by his highness' fail of issue, May drop upon his kingdom and devour Incertain lookers on. What were more holy Than to rejoice the former queen is well? What holier than, for royalty's repair, For present comfort and for future good, To bless the bed of majesty again With a sweet fellow to't?

There is none worthy

Paul. Respecting her that's gone. Besides, the gods Will have fulfill'd their secret purposes;

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For has not the divine Apollo said,

Is't not the tenour of his oracle,

That King Leontes shall not have an heir

Till his lost child be found? which that it shall,
Is all as monstrous to our human reason

As my Antigonus to break his grave
And come again to me; who, on my life,
Did perish with the infant. 'Tis your counsel
My lord should to the heavens be contrary,
Oppose against their wills.

not for issue;

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[To Leontes.] Care

The crown will find an heir; great Alexander
Left his to the worthiest; so his successor

Was like to be the best.

Leon.

Good Paulina, Who hast the memory of Hermione,

I know, in honour, O, that ever I

Had squared me to thy counsel! then, even now, I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes, Have taken treasure from her lips

Paul.

More rich for what they yielded.

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And left them

Leon. Thou speak'st truth. No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse, And better used, would make her sainted spirit Again possess her corpse, and on this stage, Where we're offenders now, appear soul-vex'd, +And begin, 'Why to me?'

Paul.

Had she such power, 60

She had; and would incense* me

To murder her I married.

Paul.

I should so.

*Instigate.

Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'ld bid you mark,
Her eye, and tell me for what dull part in't
You chose her; then I'ld shriek, that even your

ears

Should rift to hear me; and the words that fol

low'd

Should be 'Remember mine.'

Leon.

Stars, stars,

*Split.

And all eyes else dead coals! Fear thou no wife; I'll have no wife, Paulina.

1

Paul.

Will you swear

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Never to marry but by my free leave?
Leon. Never, Paulina; so be blest my spirit!
Paul. Then, good my lords, bear witness to
his oath.

Cleo.

You tempt him over-much.

Paul.
As like Hermione as is her picture,
Affront* his eye.

Cleo.

Paul.

Good madam,—

Unless another,

*Meet.

I have done.

Yet, if my lord will marry,—if you will, sir,
No remedy, but you will,-give me the office
To choose you a queen: she shall not be so
young

As was your former; but she shall be such

As, walk'd your first queen's ghost, it should take joy

To see her in your arms.

Leon.

My true Paulina,

We shall not marry till thou bid'st us.

Paul.

That

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Shall be when your first queen's again in breath; 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.

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But few,

His princess, say you, with him?

And those but mean.

Leon.

Gent. Ay, the most peerless piece of earth, I

think,

That e'er the sun shone bright on.

Paul.

O Hermione,