I am ashamed: 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 conjured to remembrance and
From thy admiring daughter took the spirits,
Standing like stone with thee.

40

Per. And give me leave, And do not say 'tis superstition, that I kneel and then implore her blessing. Dear queen, that ended when I but began, Give me that hand of yours to kiss.

Paul.

Lady,

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
To take off so much grief from you as he

Will piece up in himself.

Paul.

Indeed, my lord,

50

If I had thought the sight of my poor image Would thus have wrought you,-for the stone is

mine

Would I were dead, but that, methinks, alreadyWhat was he that did make it? See, my lord, Would you not deem it breathed? 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,

As we are mock'd with art.

Paul.

I'll draw the curtain:

My lord's almost so far transported that
He'll think anon it lives.

O sweet Paulina,

Leon.
Make me to think so twenty years together!
No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness.

Let 't alone.

70

Paul. I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr'd you: but

I could afflict you farther.

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 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.

80

So long could I

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

90

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 required You do awake your faith. Then all stand still; On: those that think it is unlawful business

I am about, let them depart.

Leon.

No foot shall stir.

Proceed:

Paul. Music, awake her; strike! [Music. 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach; Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come, 100 I'll fill your grave up: stir, nay, come away,

Bequeath to death your
Dear life redeems you.

numbness, for from him
You perceive she stirs:
[Hermione comes down.

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

Pol.

She embraces him.

Cam. She hangs about his neck:

If she pertain to life let her speak too.

II

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

lived,

Or how stolen from the dead.

Paul.

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.

I 20

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 preserved? where lived?
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 preserved
Myself to see the issue.

Paul.

130

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 Partake* to every one. I, an old turtle, *Participate. Will wing me to some wither'd bough and there My mate, that's never to be found again, Lament till I am lost.

O, peace, Paulina!

Leon.

Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent,
As I by thine a wife: this is a match,
And made between's by vows.

mine;

Thou hast found

But how, is to be question'd; for I saw her,

As I thought, dead, and have in vain said many 140
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

Is richly noted and here justified

By us, a pair of kings. Let's from this place.
What! look upon my brother: both your pardons,
That e'er I put between your holy looks

My ill suspicion. This is your son-in-law
And son unto the king, who, heavens directing, 150
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. [Exeunt.