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. SCENE I-Sicilia. A Room in the Palace of LEONTES. Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA, and others. 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 Paul. If, one by one, you wedded all the world, Leon. I think so. Kill'd! She I kill'd! I did so: but thou strik'st me Upon thy tongue as in my thought. Now, good now, Cleo. Not at all, good lady; You might have spoken a thousand things that would Have done the time more benefit, and grac'd Your kindness better. Paul. You are one of those Would have him wed again. If you would not so, Dion. With a sweet fellow to 't? Paul. Respecting her that's gone. There is none worthy, Besides, the gods Will have fulfill'd their secret purposes: Is 't not the tenor of his oracle, That King Leontes shall not have an heir Is all as monstrous to our human reason, As my Antigonus to break his grave Did perish with the infant. 'Tis your counsel [TO LEONTES. The crown will find an heir. Great Alexander Who hast the memory of Hermione, I know, in honour-O, that ever I Had squar'd me to thy counsel! then, even now, Paul. More rich for what they yielded. Leon. And left them Thou speak'st truth. No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse, Paul. She had just cause. Leon. Had she such power, She had; and would incense me Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'd bid you mark Leon. Stars, stars, And all eyes else dead coals !—fear thou no wife, I'll have no wife, Paulina. Paul. Will you swear Never to marry, but by my free leave? Leon. Never, Paulina; so be bless'd my spirit! Paul. Then, good my lords, bear witness to his oath. Cleo. You tempt him overmuch. Yet if my lord will marry-if you will, sir, As, walk'd your first queen's ghost, it should take joy Leon. My true Paulina, That We shall not marry till thou bidd'st us. Paul. Shall be when your first queen's again in breath; 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 fram'd, but forc'd By need and accident. What train? Gent. And those but mean. Leon. But few, His princess, say you, with him? Gent. Ay, the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the sun shone bright on. Paul. O Hermione, As every present time doth boast itself |