prince, my brother-and the princess, my sistercalled my father, father; and so we wept :-and there was the first gentlemanlike tears that ever we shed.

Shep. We may live, son, to shed many more.

Clown. Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so preposterous estate as we are.

Aut. I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the faults I have committed to your worship, and to give me your good report to the prince, my master.

Shep. 'Pr’ythee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.

Clown. Thou wilt amend thy life?
Aut. Ay, an it like your good worship:

Clown. Give me thy hand :—Hast nothing in it?Am I not a courtier?-I must be gently considered :

-Seest thou not the air of the court in these enfoldings ! -Hath not my gait in it the measure of the court?

Aut. Here is what gold I have, sir.

Clown. Well, I will swear to the prince, thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.

Shep. You may say it, but not swear it.

Clown. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman : Let boors and franklins say it, I'll swear it.

Shep. How, if it be false, son?

Clown. If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear it, in the behalf of his friend :- And I'll swear to the prince, thou art a tall fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know thou art no tall fellow. of thy hands, and that thou wilt be drunk; but I'll swear it,

[Trumpets sound.] Hark! the kings and the princes, our kindred, are going to see the queen's picture. Come, follow us : we'll be thy good masters.

Aut. O, sweet sir!—I have brib'd him with his own money!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

PAULINA's House.

[Trumpets sound.]

Enter POLIXENES, CAMILLO, PAULINA, LEONTES,

PERDITA, FLORIZEL, ARCHIDAMUS, EMILIA, Phocion, Hero, CLEOMENES, LAMIA, Dion, and THASIUS.

Paul. What, sovereign sir,
I did not well, I meant well: All my

services You have paid home: but that you

have vouchsaf'd With your crown'd brother, and these your con

tracted
Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit,
It is a surplus of your grace, which never
My life may last to answer.

Leon. 0, Paulina,
We honour you with trouble: But we came
To see the statue of our queen: your gallery
Have we pass'd through, not without much content
In many singularities : But we saw not
That which my daughter came to look upon,
The statue of her mother.

Paul. As she liv'd peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Excels whatever yet you look'd upon.Prepare To see the lise as lively mock'd as ever Still sleep mock'd death Behold, and say, 'tis

:well.

a

Paulina undraws a Curtain, and discovers a Statue. I like your silence; it the more shows off Your wonder: But yet speak; first, you, my liege:Comes it not something near?

Leon. Her natural posture! Chide

me,

dear stone; that I may say, indeed,
Thou art Hermione: or, rather, thou art she,
In thy not chiding; for she was as tender,
As infancy, and grace. —
O, thus she stood,
Even with such life of majesty,
When first I woo'd her!-
I am asham’d.
O, royal piece,
There's magic in thy majesty ; which has
My evils conjur'd to remembrance; and
From thy admiring daughter took the spirits,
Standing like stone with thee!

Per. And give me leave;
And do not say, 'tis superstition, that
I kneel, and then implore her blessing.

Leon. O, masterpiece of art! nature's deceiv'd
By thy perfection, and at every look
My penitence is all afloat again.

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,
If I had thought, the sight of my poor image
Would thus have wrought you,
I'd not have show'd it.

Leon. Do not draw the curtain.
Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't ; lest your

fancy
May think anon, it moves.

Leon. Let be, let be.

As any.

'Would I were dead,—but that, methinks, alreadyWhat was he that did make it :--See, my lord, Would you not deem, it breath'd ?--and that those

veins Did verily bear blood ?

Paul. I'll draw the curtain; My lord's almost so far transported, that He'll think anon, it lives. Leon. Make me to think so twenty years toge

ther; No settled senses of the world can match The pleasure of that madness.—Let't alone. Paul. I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr'd you;

but I could afflict

you

further. Leon. Do, Paulina; For this affliction has a taste as sweet

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.
Shall I draw the curtain?

Leon. No, not these twenty years.

Per. So long could I Stand by, a looker-on.

Paul. 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,
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 requir'd,
You do awake your faith: Then, all stand still;
Or those, that think it is unlawful business
I am about, let them depart.

Leon. Proceed:
No foot shall stir.

Paul. Music, -awake her,--strike. "Tis time; descend; be stone no more: approach ; Strike all that look upon with marvel.-Come.

[Music.-HERMIONE turns towards

LEONTES. Leon. Heavenly powers !

[Music. -HERMIONE descends from the Pe

destal.
Paul. Start not; her actions shall be holy, as,
You hear, my spell is lawful:
Nay, present your hand.

Leon. Support me, Heaven!
If this be more than visionary bliss,
My reason cannot hold.-My queen? my wife?
But speak to me, and turn me wild with trans-

port.
I cannot hold me longer from those arms.-
She is warm,—she lives !

Per. O Florizel !
Leon. Her beating heart meets mine, and fluttering

owns

Its long-lost half: these tears, that choke her voice, Are hot and moist,-it is Hermione!

Pol. O, make it manifest where she has livd, Or, how stolen from the dead.

Paul. Mark a little while,Please you to interpose, fair madam ; kneel, And pray your mother's blessing.---Turn, good

lady;