I like your filence, it the more fhews off
Your Wonder; but yet fpeak, firft you, my liege,
Comes it not something near?

Leo. Her natural posture!

Chide me, dear ftone, that I may fay, indeed,
Thou art Hermione; or rather, thou art fhe,
In thy not chiding; for fhe was as tender
As infancy and grace. But yet, Paulina,
Hermione was not fo much wrinkled, nothing
So aged as this seems.

Pol. Oh, not by much.

Pau. So much the more our Carver's excellence, Which lets go by some sixteen years; and makes her, As fhe liv'd now.

Leo. As now the might have done,

So much to my good comfort, as it is

Now piercing to my foul. Oh, thus fhe ftood;
Even with fuch life of Majefty, (warm life,
As now it coldly ftands,) when firft I woo'd her.
I am afham'd; do's not the ftone rebuke me,
For being more ftone than it? oh, royal Piece!
There's Magick in thy Majefty, which has
My evils conjur'd to remembrance; and
From my admiring Daughter took the fpirits,
Standing like ftone with thee.

Per. And give me leave,

And do not fay 'tis fuperftition, that

I kneel, and then implore her Bleffing-Lady,
Dear Queen, that ended when I but began,
Give me that hand of yours to kiss.

Pau. O, patience ;

The Statue is but newly fix'd; the colour's

Not dry.

Cam. My lord, your forrow was too fore laid on, Which fixteen winters cannot blow away,

So many fummers dry: fcarce any joy

Did ever fo long live; no forrow,

But kill'd it felf much fooner.

Pol. Dear my brother,

Let him, that was the cause of this, have power

Το

To take off fo much grief from you, as he
Will piece up in himself.

Pau. Indeed, my lord,

If I had thought, the fight of my poor image

Would thus have wrought you, (for the stone is mine,) I'd not have fhew'd it.

Leo. Do not draw the curtain.

Pau. No longer fhall you gaze on't, left your Fancy May think anon, it move.

Leo. Let be, let be;

Would I were dead, but that, methinks, already
What was he, that did make it ? fee, my lord,

Would you not deem, it breath'd, and that thofe veins
Did verily bear blood?

Pol. Masterly done!

The very Life feems warm upon her lip.

Leo. The fixure of her eye has motion in't, As we were mock'd with Art.

Pau. I'll draw the curtain

My lord's almoft fo far tranfported, that
He'll think anon, it lives.

Leo. O fweet Paulina,

Make me to think fo twenty years together:
No fettled fenfes of the world can match
The pleasure of that Madness. Let't alone.

Pau. I'm forry, Sir, I have thus far stirr'd you; but I could afflict you further.

Leo. 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 chizzel

Could ever yet cut breath? let no man mock me,
For I will kifs her.

Pau. Good my lord, forbear;

The ruddiness upon her lip is wet;

You'll marr it, if you kifs it; ftain your own
With oily Painting; thall I draw the curtain?
Leo. No, not these twenty years.

Per.

Per. So long could I Stand by, a looker on. Pau. Either forbear,

Quit presently the Chappel, or refolve you
For more amazement ; if you can behold it,
I'll make the Statue move, indeed; defcend,
And take you by the hand, but then you'll think,
Which I proteft againft, I am affifted

By wicked Powers.

Leo. What you can make her do,

I am content to look on; what to speak,
I am content to hear; for 'tis as eafie
To make her speak, as move.

Pau. It is requir'd,

You do awake your faith; then all stand still:
And those, that think it is unlawful business
I am about, let them depart.

Leo. Proceed;

No foot fhall ftir.

[Mufick.

Pau. Mufick; awake her: ftrike; 'Tis time, defcend; be ftone no more; approach, Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come, I'll fill your Grave up: ftir; nay, come away: Bequeath to death your Numnefs; for from him Dear life redeems you; you perceive, the ftirs; [Hermione comes down.

Start not; her Actions fhall be holy, as,
You hear, my Spell is lawful; do not fhun her,
Until you fee her die again, for then

You kill her double. Nay, present your hand;
When the was young, you woo'd her; now in age,
Is fhe become the fuitor.

Leo. Oh, fhe's warm;

If this be Magick, let it be an Art

Lawful as eating.

Pol. She embraces him.

Cam. She hangs about his neck;
If the pertain to life, let her fpeak, too.

[Embracing ber:

Pol.

Pol. Ay, and make it manifeft where he has liv'd, Or how ftol'n from the dead?

Pau. That he is living,

Were it but told you, fhould be hooted at
Like an old Tale; but it appears, the lives,
Tho' yet the fpeak not. Mark a little while..
Please you to interpofe, fair Madam, kneel,
And pray your Mother's Bleffing; turn, good lady:
Our Perdita is found.

[Prefenting Perdita, who kneels to Herm.

Her. You Gods, look down,

And from your facred vials pour your graces
Upon my daughter's head; tell me, mine own,
Where haft thou been preferv'd? where liv'd? how found
Thy father's Court? for thou shalt hear, that I,
Knowing by Paulina that the Oracle

Gave hope thou waft in Being, have preferv'd
My felf, to see the iffue,

Pau. There's time enough for That;
Left they defire, upon this pufh, to trouble
Your joys with like relation. Go together,
You precious winners all, your exultation
Partake to every one; I, an old turtle,
Will wing me to fome wither'd bough, and there
My mate, that's never to be found again,
Lament 'till I am loft.

Leo. O peace, Paulina:

Thou should'st a husband take by my confent,

As I by thine a wife. This is a match,

And made between's by vows. Thou haft found mine,
But how, is to be queftion'd; for I faw her,

As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said many
A prayer upon her Grave. I'll not feek far

(For him, I partly know his mind) to find thee
An honourable husband. Come, Camillo,

And take her by the hand; whofe worth and honefty Is richly noted; and here juftified

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 fufpicion: this, your fon-in-law,

And fon unto the King-whom heav'ns directing,
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, fince firft
We were diffever'd. Haftily lead away. [Exeunt omnes.

THE