then loft, when it was found. But, oh, the noble combat, that 'twixt joy and forrow was fought in Paulina! She had one eye declin'd for the lofs of her husband, another elevated that the Oracle was fulfill'd. She lifted the Princefs from the earth, and fo locks her in embracing, as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no more be in danger of lofing.

1 Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of Kings and Princes; for by fuch was it acted.

3 Gent. One of the prettieft touches of all, and that which angled for mine eyes, (caught the water, tho' not the fish,) was, when at the relation of the Queen's death, with the manner how fhe came to it, bravely confess'd, and lamented by the King, how attentiveness wounded his daughter; 'till, from one fign of dolour to another, The did, with an, alas! I would fain fay, bleed tears; for, I am fure, my heart wept blood. Who was most marble, there changed colour; fome fwooned, all forrowed; if all the world could have feen't, the woe had, been univerfal.

1 Gent. Are they returned to the court?

3 Gent. No. The Princefs hearing of her mother's ftatue, which is in the keeping of Paulina, a piece many years in doing, and now newly perform'd by (18) that rare Italian mafter, Julio Romano; who, had he himself eternity, and could put breath into his work, would beguile nature of her custom, fo .perfectly he is her ape:

(18) that rare Italian Mafter, Julio Romano ;] All the Encomiums, put together, that have been conferr'd on this excellent Artist in Painting and Architecture, do not amount to the fine Praife here given him by our Author. He was born in the Year 1492, liv'd just that Circle of Years which our Shakespeare did, and dy'd Eighteen Years before the latter was born. Fine and generous, therefore, as this Tribute of Praise must be own'd, yet it was a strange Absurdity, sure, to thrust it into a Tale, the Action of which is fuppos'd within the Period of Heathenifm, and whilft the Oracles of Apollo were confulted. This, however, was a known and wilfui Anachronifm; which might have slept in Obfcurity, perhaps Mr. Popewill fay, had I not animadverted on it.

Не

He fo near to Hermione hath done Hermione, that they fay, one would fpeak to her, and stand in hope of anfwer. Thither with all greediness of affection are they gone, and there they intend to fup.

2 Gent. I thought, fhe had fome great matter there in hand, for fhe hath privately twice or thrice a-day, ever fince the death of Hermione, vifited that removed house. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoycing?

1 Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benefit of access every wink of an eye, fome new grace will be born: our abfence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along.

[Exeunt.

Aut. Now had I not the dash of my former life in me, would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old man and his fon aboard the Prince; told him, I heard them talk of a farthel, and I know not what; but he at that time, over-fond of the fhepherd's daughter, (fo he then took her to be) who began to be much feafick, and himself little better, extremity of weather continuing, this myftery remained undifcovered. But 'tis all one to me; for had I been the finder out of this fecret, it would not have relish'd among my other dif credits.

Enter Shepherd and Clown.

Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the bloffoms of their fortune. Shep. Come, boy, I am past more children; but thy fons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.

Clo. You are well met, Sir; you denied to fight with me this other day, because I was no gentleman born: fee you these cloaths? fay, you fee them not, and think me ftill no gentleman born. You were beft fay, these robes are not gentlemen born. Give me the lie; da, and try whether I am not now a gentleman born.

Aut. I know you are now, Sir, a gentleman born. Clo. Ay, and have been fo any time these four hours. Shep. And fo have I, boy.

Clo. So you have ; but I was a gentleman born before

my

my father; for the King's fon took me by the hand, and call'd me brother; and then the two Kings call'd my father brother; and then the Prince my brother, and the Princess my fifter, call'd my father, father, and fo we wept; and there was the firft gentleman-like tears that ever we fhed.

Shep. We may live, fon, to fhed many more.

Clo. Ay, or elfe 'twere hard luck, being in fo prepofterous eftate 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, fon, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.

Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life?

Aut. Ay, an it like your good worship.

Clo. Give me thy hand; I will fwear to the Prince, thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia. Shep. You may say it, but not fwear it.

Clo. Not fwear it, now I am a gentleman? let boors and franklins fay it, I'll fwear it.

Shep. How if it be false, fon?

Clo. If it be ne'er fo falfe, a true gentleman may fwear it in the behalf of his friend: and I'll fwear 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 fwear it; and, I would, thou would't be a tall fellow of thy hands.

Aut. I will prove fo, Sir, to my power.

Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow; if I do not wonder how thou dar'st venture to be drunk, not be ing a tall fellow, truft me not. Hark, the Kings and the Princes, our kindred, are going to fee the Queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy good mafters. [Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE changes to Paulina's Houfe.

Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, Lords and Attendants.

Leo.

Grave and good Paulina, the great comfort
That I have had of thee!

Paul. What, fovereign Sir,

I did not well, I meant well; all my fervices

You have paid home. But that you have vouchsaf'd, With your crown'd brother, and these your contracted Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to vifit;

It is a furplus of your Grace, which never

My life may laft to answer."

Leo. O Paulina,

We honour you with trouble; but we came
To fee the ftatue of our Queen. Your gallery
Have we pafs'd through, not without much content
In many fingularities; but we faw not

That, which my daughter came to look upon,
The ftatue of her mother.

Paul. As the liv'd peerless,

So her dead likeness, I do well believe,
Excels whatever yet you look'd upon,
Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it
Lovely, apart. But here it is; prepare

To fee the life as lively mock'd, as ever

Still fleep mock'd death; behold, and fay, 'tis well! [Paulina draws a curtain, and discovers Hermione ftanding like a ftatue.

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 fstone, that I may say, 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 so much wrinkled, nothing
So aged as this feems.

Pol

Pol. Oh, not by much.

Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence, Which lets go by fome fixteen years; and makes her, As the liv'd now.

Leo. As now fhe 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 flone 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 spirits,
Standing like ftone with thee.

Per. And give me leave,

And do not fay 'tis fuperftition, that
I kneel, and then implore her bleffing.

Dear Queen, that ended when I but began,

Give me that hand of yours to kiss.

Paul. O, patience;

The ftatue is but newly fix'd; the colour's
Not dry.

Lady

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 itself much fooner.

Pol. Dear my brother,

Let him, that was the cause of this, have power
To take off fo much grief from you, as he

Will piece up in himself.

Paul. 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.

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

Leo. Let be, let be;

Would!