with him, give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold: show the inside of your prirse to the outside of his hand, and no more ado: Remember, stoned, and flayed alive.

Shep. An't please yon, Sir, to undertake the business for us, here is that gold I have: I'll make it as much more; and leave this young man in pawił, till I bring it you,

Aut. After I have done what I promised ?
Shep. Ay, Sir.

Aut. Well, give me the moiety: Are you a party in this business?

Clown. In some sort, Sir: but though my case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flay'd out of ir.

Aut. O, that's the case of the shepherd's son: Hang him, he'll be made an example.

Clown. Comfort, good comfort: We must to the King, and show our strange sighis: he must know, 'tis none of your daughter, nor my sister; we are gone else. Sir, I will give you as much as this old man does, when the business is performid; and remain, as he says, your pawn, till it be brought you. Aut. I will trust you.

Walk before toward the sea-side; go on the right hand; I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you.

Clown. We are bless'd in this man, as I may say, even bless'd.

Shep. Let's before, as he bids 11s: he was provided to do us good. [ Exeunt Shepherd and Clown.

Aut. If I had a mind to be honest, I see, fortune. would not suffer me; she drops booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a double occasion; gold, ani a means do the Prince my masier good; which, who knows how that may turn back to my

to

advancement? I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he think it fit to shore them again, and that the complaint they have to the King concerns him nothing, let him call me, rogue, for being so far officious ; for I am proof against that title, and what shame else belongs to't: To him will I present them, there may be matter in it.

(Exit.

Аст

V.

S CE N E I.

Sicilia. A Room in the Palace of Leontes.

Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA,

and others.

Cle. Sir, you have done enough, and have per.

form'd
A saint-like sorrow: no fault could you make,
Which you have not redeein'd; indeed, paid down
More penitence, than done trespass: At the last,
Do, as the heavens have done; forget your evil;
With them, forgive yourself.

Leon. Whilst I remember
Her, and her virtues, I cannot forget
My blemishes in them; and so still think of
The wrong I did myself: which was so much,
That heirless it haih made my kingdom; and
Destroy'd the sweet'st companion, that e'er man
Bred his hopes out of.

Paul. True, too true, my Lord :
If, oue by one, you wedded all the world,
VOL. VI.

12

Or, from the all that are, took something good,
To make a perfect woman; she, you killd,
Would be unparallell'd.

Leon. I think so. Kill'd!
She I kill'd? I did so: but thou strikest me
Sorely, to say I did; it is as bitter
Upon thy tongue, as in my thought: Now, good

now, Say so but seldom.

Cleo. Not at all, good Lady: You might have spoken a thousand things, that

would Have done the time more benefit, and grac'd Your kindness better.

Faul. You are one of those,
Would have him wed again.

Dion. If you would not so,
You pity not the state, nor the remembrance
Of his most sovereign name; consider little,
What dangers, by his highness' fail of issue,
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 present comfort, and for future good,
To bless the bed of majesty again
With a sweet fellow to't?

Paul. There is none worthy,
Respecting her that's gone. Besides, the gods
Will have fulälld their secret purposes :
For has not the divine Apollo said,
Is't not the tenour of his oracle,
That King Leontes shall not have an heir,
Till his lost child be found ? which, that it shall,
Is all as monstrous 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 issize;

[ To LEONTES.
The crown will find an heir: Great Alexander
Left his to the worthiest; so his successor
Was like to be the best.

Leon. Good Paulina,
Who hast the memory of Hermione,
I know, in honour, -0, that ever I
Had squar'd me to thy counsel! 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 gielded.

Leon. Thou speak'st truth. No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse, And better us'd, would inake her sainted spirit Again possess her corps; and, on this stage, (Where we offenders now appear,) soul vex'd, Begin, And why to me!

Paul. Had she such power, She had just cause.

Leon. She had; and would incense me To murder her I married.

Paul. I should so:
Were I the ghost that walk'd, I'd bid you mark
Her eye; and tell me; for what dull part in't
You chose her: then I'd shriek, that even your ears
Shou'd rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd
Should be, Remember mine.

Leon. Stars, very stars,
And all eyes else, dead coals ! fear thon no wife
I'll have no wife, Paulina,

Paul. Will you swear
Never to marry, but by my free leave?

Leon. Never, Paulina; so be bless'd my spirit!
Paul, Then, good my Lords, bear witness to his

oath. Cleon. You tempt him over-much.

Paul. Unless another,
As like Hermione as is her picture,
Affront his eye.

Cleon. Good Madam,

Paul. I have done. Yet, if my Lord will marry, if you will, Sir, No remedy, but you will; give me the office To choose you a Queen: she shall not be so young As was your former; but she shall be such, As, walk'd your first Queen's ghost, it should take

jog To see her in your arms.

Leon. My true Paulina,
We shall not marry, till thou bid'st 11s.

Paul. That
Shall be, when your first Queen's again in breath;
Never till then.

Enter a Gentleman.
Gent. One that gives out himself Prince Florizel,
Son of Polixenes, with his Princess, ( she
The fairest I have yet beheld,) desires access
To your high presence.

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

Gent. But few,
And those but mean.