of the mother, the affection of noblenefs, which Nature fhews above her breeding,—and many other evidences proclaim her with all certainty to be the King's daughter. Did you fee the meeting of the two Kings? 2 Gent. No. 3 Gent. Then have you loft a fight, which was to be feen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld one joy crown another, fo and in fuch manner that it feem'd, forrow wept to take leave of them, for their joy waded in tears. There was cafting up of eyes, holding up of hands, with countenance of such distraction, that they were to be known by garment, not by favour, Our King being ready to leap out of himfelf, for joy of his found daughter, as if that joy were now become a lofs, cries, oh, thy mother, thy mother! then afks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his fon-in-law; then again worries he his daughter, with clipping her. Now he thanks the old fhepherd, who stands by, like a weather-beaten conduit of many King's reigns. I never heard of fuch another encounter, which lames report to follow it, and undoes description to do it. 2 Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigenus, that carry'd hence the child? Gent. Like an old tale ftill, which will have matters to rehearse, tho' credit be afleep, and not an ear open; he was torn to pieces with a bear; this avouches the fhepherd's fon, who has not only his innocence, which feems much, to juftify him, but a handkerchief and 'rings of his, that Paulina knows. I Gent. What became of his bark, and his followers? 3 Gent. Wreckt the fame inftant of their master's death, and in the view of the fhepherd; fo that all the inftruments which aided to expofe the child, were even 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 he would pin her to her heart, that he might no more be in danger of lofing. 1 Gent. 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, though not the fish,) was, when at the relation of the Queen's death, with the manner how fhe came to it, bravely confefs'd, and lamented by the King, how attentiveness wounded his daughter; 'till, from one fign of dolour to another, she did, with an, alas! I would fain say, 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 seen't, the woe had been universal. 1 Gent. Are they returned to the court? 3 Gent. No. The Princess hearing of her mother's ftatue, which is in the keeping of Paulina, a peace many years in doing, and now newly perform'd by (34) that rare Italian mafter, Julio Romano; who, had he himself eternity, and could put breath into his work, would beguile Nature of her cuftom, fo perfectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione, that they fay, one would fpeak to her, and stand in hope of anfwer. Thither with all greedinefs 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 houfe. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoycing? I Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benefit (34) 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 praise 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 abfurdity, fure, to thruft 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 wilful Anachronism; which might have flept in obfcurity, perhaps Mr. Pope will fay, had I not animadverted on it. of accefs? 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 not I 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 shepherd's daughter (fo he then took her to be) who began to be much feafick, and himself little better, extremity of weather continuing, this mystery remained undiscover'd. But 'tis all one to me; for had I been the finder out of this fecret, it would not have relished among my other difcredits. Enter Shepherd and Clown. Here come those I have done good to againft 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 see them not, and think me fill no gentleman born. You were beft fay, these robes are not gentlemen born. Give me the lye; do, and try whether I am not now a gentleman born. Aut. I know you are now, Sir, a gentleman born. Clo. So you have; but I was a gentleman born before 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 shed. 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 befeech you, Sir, to pardon me all the the faults I have committed to your worship, and to give me your good report to the Prince, my mafter. Shep. 'Pr'ythee, fon, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen. Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life? Aut. Ay, and it like your good worship. Clo. Give me thy hand; I will fwear to the Prince, thou art as honeft 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 falfe, 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 to prove a tall fellow; if I do not wonder how thou dar'ft venture to be drunk, not being 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 changes to Paulina's House. Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, Lords and Attendants. Leo. Grave and good Paulina, the great comfort I Paul. What, fovereign Sir, I did not well, I meant well; all my fervices You have paid home. But that you have vouchfaf'd, Leo. Leo. O Paulina, We honour you with trouble; but we came To fee the ftatue of our Queen. Your gallery That, which my daughter came to look upon, 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 To fee the life as lively mock'd, as ever Still fleep mock'd death; behold, and say, 'tis well! [Paulina draws a curtain, and difcovers Hermione finading like a ftatue. I like your filence, it the more fhews off Your wonder; but yet fpeak, firft you, my Liege, Leo. Her natural posture! Chide me, dear ftone, that I may fay, indeed, 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 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 majesty, (warm life, As now it coldly ftands,) when first I woo'd her. P Standing |