Clo. 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? Clo. 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 and I would, thou wouldst be a tall fellow of thy hands." Aut. I will prove so, sir, to my power. Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: If I do not wonder, how thou darest venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not.-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. [Exeunt. The same. SCENE III. A Room in PAULINA's House. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and Attendants. Leo. O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort That I have had of thee ! 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 contracted Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, It is a surplus of your grace, which never My life may last to answer. Leo. O 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 Paul. As she liv'd peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, [5] Franklin is a freeholder, or yeoman, a man above a villain, but not a gentleman. JOHNS. [6] A tall fellow of thy hands means, a stout fellow of your size. We measure horses by hands, which contain four inches; and from thence the phrase is taken. M. MASON. Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it To see the life as lively mock'd, as ever Still sleep mock'd death: behold; and say, 'tis well. [PAUL. 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. Leo. Her natural posture ! Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed, Pol. O, not by much. Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence ; Which lets go by some sixteen years, and makes her As she liv'd now. Leo. As now she might have done, So much to my good comfort, as it is Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood, As now it coldly stands,) when first I woo'd her! Per. And give me leave; And do not say, 'tis superstition, that I kneel, and then implore her blessing.-Lady, Dear queen, that ended when I but began, Give me that hand of your's, to kiss. Paul. O, patience; The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on ; [7] Sir Henry Wotton, in his Elements of Architecture mentions the fashion of colouring even regal statues for the stronger expression of affection, which he takes leave to call an English barbarism. Such, however, was the practice of the time and unless the supposed statue of Hermione were painted, there could be no ruddiness upon her lip, nor could the veins verily seem to bear blood, as the poet expresses it afterwards. TOLLET. So many summers, dry scarce any joy Pol. Dear my brother, Let him, that was the cause of this, have power Paul. Indeed, my lord, If I had thought, the sight of my poor image Leo. Do not draw the curtain. (for the stone is mine,) Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest your fancy May think anon, it moves. Leo. Let be, let be. Would I were dead, but that, methinks, already— Would you not deem, it breath'd? and that those veins Pol. Masterly done : The very life seems warm upon her lip. Leo. The fixure of her eye has motion in't, As we are mock'd with art. Paul. I'll draw the curtain ; My lord's almost so far transported, that Leo. O sweet Paulina, Make me to think so twenty years together; 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. 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, Paul. Good my lord, forbear: The ruddiness upon her lip is wet; You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own With oily painting: Shall I draw the curtain ? [8] Wrought-i. e. worked, agitated. STEEV. Per. So long could I Stand by, a looker on. Paul. Either forbear, Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you By wicked powers. Leo. What you can make her do, I am content to look on: what to speak, Paul. It is requir'd, You do awake your faith: Then, all stand still; Leo. Proceed; No foot shall stir. (Paul. Music; awake her: strike. [Music. 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more: approach; [HERMIONE Comes down from the pedestal. You kill her double: Nay, present your hand: Leo. O, she's warm! If this be magic, let it be an art Lawful as eating. Pol. She embraces him. Cam. She hangs about his neck ; If she pertain to life, let her speak too. [Embracing her Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has liv'd, Or, how stol'n from the dead. Paul. That she is living, Were it but told you, should be hooted at Like an old tale; but it appears, she lives, Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while. Please you to interpose, fair madam ; kneel, And pray your mother's blessing.-Turn, good lady ; Our Perdita is found. [Presenting PERDITA, who kneels to HERMIONE. Her. You gods, look down, And from your sacred vials pour your graces Upon my daughter's head!-Tell me, mine own, Where hast thou been preserv'd? where liv'd? how found Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear, that I,- Gave hope thou wast in being,-have preserv❜d Paul. There's time enough for that ; Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there Lament till I am lost. Leo. O peace, Paulina; Thou should'st a husband take by my consent, And made between's by vows. Thou hast found mine; But how, is to be question'd: for I saw her, As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said many A prayer upon her grave: I'll not seek far (For him, I partly know his mind,) to find thee An honourable husband :-Come, Camillo, And take her by the hand: whose worth, and honesty, Is richly noted; and here justified 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 suspicion.-This your son-in-law, And son unto the king, (whom, heavens directing,) [Exeunt. [9] This play, as Dr. Warburton justly observes, is, with all its absurdities, very entertaining. The ch racter of Autolycus is naturally conceived and strongly represented. JOHNS. |