Clo. We are blefs'd in this man, as I may fay, even blefs'd.

Shep. Let's before, as he bids us: he was provided to do us good. [Exeunt Shep. and Clo. Aut. If I had a mind to be honest, I fee, fortune would not fuffer me; fhe drops booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a double occafion; gold, and a means to do the prince my mafter 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 fhore them again, and that the complaint they have to the king concerns him nothing, let him call me rogue, for being fo far officious; for I am proof against that title, and what shame elfe belongs to't: To him will I prefent them, there may be matter in it. [Exit.

ACT V. SCENE I.

Sicilia.

Enter Leontes, Cleomenes, Dion, Paulina, and Servants.

Cle. Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd A faint-like forrow: no fault could you make, Which you have not redeem'd; indeed, paid down More penitence, than done trefpafs: At the last, Do, as the heavens have done; forget your evil; With them, forgive yourself.

Leo. Whilft I remember

Her, and her virtues, I cannot forget
My blemishes in them; and fo ftill think of
The wrong I did myself: which was so much,
That heirless it hath made my kingdom; and

Destroy'd

Destroy'd the sweet'ft companion, that e'er man
Bred his hopes out of.

Paul. True, too true, my lord:

If, one by one, you wedded all the world,
Or, from the all that are, took fomething good,
To make a perfect woman; fhe, you kill'd,
Would be unparallel'd.

Leo. I think fo. Kill'd!

She I kill'd? I did fo: but thou ftrik'ft me

Sorely, to fay I did; it is as bitter

Upon thy tongue, as in my thought: Now, good now, Say fo but feldom.

Cle. Not at all, good lady:

You might have spoke a thousand things, that would
Have done the time more benefit, and grac'd
Your kindness better.

Paul. You are one of thofe,
Would have him wed again.
Dio. If you would not fo,

You pity not the state, nor the remembrance
Of his moft fovereign name: confider little,
What dangers, by his highness' fail of iffue,
May drop upon his kingdom, and devour
'Incertain lookers on. What were more holy,
Than to rejoice, the former queen" is well?
What holier, than,-" for royalty's repair,
For prefent comfort, and for future good,―
To blefs the bed of majefty again
With a sweet fellow to't?

Paul. There is none worthy,

Respecting her that's gone. Befides, the gods

1 Incertain lookers on.]-Innocent perfons involved in doubts and con

tefts about the rightful heir to the crown.

mis well?]-refts in peace-former queen? This will.

" for royalty's repair,]-to repair the breach in the fucceffion.

VOL. II.

U u

Will

Will have fulfill'd their fecret purposes:

For has not the divine Apollo faid,

Is't not the tenour of his oracle,

That king Leontes fhall not have an heir,

'Till his loft child be found? which, that it fhall, Is all as monftrous to our human reason,

As my Antigonus to break his grave,

And come again to me; who, on my life,

Did perish with the infant. 'Tis your counsel,
My lord should to the heavens be contrary,
Oppose against their wills.-Care not for iffue; [To the king.
The crown will find an heir: Great Alexander

Left his to the worthieft; fo his fucceffor

Was like to be the best.

Leo. Good Paulina,

Who haft the memory of Hermione,

I know, in honour,-O, that ever I

Had fquar'd me to thy counfel! then, even now,
I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes;
Have taken treasure from her lips,

Paul. And left them

More rich, for what they yielded.

Leo. Thou speak'ft truth.

No more fuch wives; therefore, no wife: one worse,
And better us'd, would make her fainted fpirit
Again poffefs her corps; and, on this stage,

(P Were we offenders now) appear foul-vext,
And begin, why? to me.

Paul. Had fhe fuch power,

She had just cause.

• as monstrous to our human reafon,]-as improbable.

P (Were we offenders now)]-Were we to be guilty of fo grofs an

offence. (Where we offend her now.)

I why? to me.]to call me to account.

Leo.

Leo. She had; and would incense me

To murder her I married.

Paul. I fhould fo:

Were I the ghoft that walk'd, I'd bid you mark
Her eye; and tell me, for what dull part in't

You chofe her: then I'd fhriek, that even your ears

r

Should rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd
Should be, Remember mine.

Leo. Stars, ftars,

And all eyes elfe, dead coals!-fear thou no wife,
I'll have no wife, Paulina.

Paul. Will you swear

Never to marry, but by my free leave?

Leo. Never, Paulina; fo be blefs'd my spirit!
Paul. Then, good my lords, bear witnefs to his oath.
Cle. You tempt him over-much.

Paul. Unless another,

As like Hermione as is her picture,

• Affront his eye.

Cle. 'Good madam,

Paul. I have done :

Yet, if my lord will marry,-if you will, fir;
No remedy, but you will; give me the office
To chufe you a queen: she shall not be fo young
As was your former; but fhe fhall be fuch,

As, walk'd your firft queen's ghoft, it should take joy
To fee her in your arms.

Leo. My true Paulina,

We shall not marry, 'till thou bid'st us.

Paul. That

Shall be, when your firft queen's again in breath;

Never till then.

rift]-fplit, cleave afunder.

Good madam, I have done.

• Affront]-meet

Uu 2

Enter

Enter a Gentleman.

Gent. One that gives out himself prince Florizel,
Son of Polixenes, with his princess, (fhe
The fairest I have yet beheld) defires
Access to your high presence.

Leo. What with him? he comes not
Like to his father's greatnefs: his approach,
So out of circumstance, and sudden, tell us,
'Tis not a visitation fram'd, but forc'd
By need, and accident, What train?

Gent. But few,

And those but mean.

Leo. His princess, say you, with him?

Gent. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the fun fhone bright on.

As

Paul. Oh Hermione,

every present time doth boast itself

Above a better, gone; fo muft "thy grave

Give way to what's feen now. Sir, you yourself

W

Have faid, and writ fo; but your writing now
Is colder than that theme: She had not been,

Nor was not to be equall'd,—thus your verse
Flow'd with her beauty once; 'tis fhrewdly ebb'd,
To fay, you have seen a better.

Gent. Pardon, madam:

The one I have almoft forgot; (your pardon)
The other, when fhe has obtain'd your eye,
Will have your tongue too. This is a creature
Would she begin a fect, might quench the zeal
Of all profeffors elfe; make profelytes

Of who she but bid follow.

thy grave]-the beauties therein contained.

rit fo;]-the following fentence; though your zeal on that fub

ject is now fomewhat abated.

Paul.