Leon. Would he do so, I'd beg your pre- claim her with all certainty to be the king's Which he counts but a trifle. [cious mistress, daughter. Did you see the meeting of the Paul. Sir, my liege, 2 Gent. No. Your eye hath too much youth in't: not a month [such gazes 'Fore your queen died, she was more worth Than what you look on now. Leon. Even in these looks I made. But your petition I thought of her, Is yet unanswer'd. I will to your father: I now go toward him; therefore, follow me, SCENE II.-Sicilia. Before the Palace. [two kings? 3 Gent. Then you have lost a sight, which was to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld one joy crown another, so, and in such manner, that, it seemed, sorrow wept to take leave of them; for their joy waded in tears. There was casting up of eyes, holding up of hands, with countenances of such distraction, that they were to be known by garment, not by favour. Our king, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter, as if that joy were now become a loss, cries, "O, thy mother, thy mother!" then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his daughter with clipping her; now he thanks the old shepherd, which stands by, like a weather-bitten conduit of many kings' reigns. I never heard of such another encounter, which lames report to follow it, and undoes description to do it. 2 Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried hence the child? knows. 1 Gent. I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it: whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all commanded out 3 Gent. Like an old tale still, which will of the chamber; only this, methought I heard have matter to rehearse, though credit be the shepherd say he found the child. [it. asleep, and not an ear open. He was torn to Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of pieces with a bear: this avouches the shep1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the herd's son; who has not only his innocence business;-but the changes I perceived in the (which seems much) to justify him, but a king and Camillo were very notes of admira-handkerchief and rings of his, that Paulina tion they seemed almost, with staring on one another, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was speech in their dumbness, language in their very gesture: they looked as they had 3 Gent. Wrecked, the same instant of their heard of a world ransomed, or one destroyed: master's death, and in the view of the shepa notable passion of wonder appeared in them; herd: so that all the instruments, which aided but the wisest beholder, that knew no more to expose the child, were even then lost, when but seeing, could not say if the importance it was found. But, O, the noble combat, that, were joy or sorrow,-but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be. [Enter Rogero.] Here comes a gentleman, that happily knows more. The news, Rogero! 1 Gent. What became of his bark, and his followers? more be in danger of losing. 'twixt joy and sorrow, was fought in Paulina ! She had one eye declined for the loss of her husband, another elevated that the oracle was fulfilled she lifted the princess from the 2 Gent. Nothing but bonfires: the oracle earth, and so locks her in embracing, as if she is fulfilled; the king's daughter is found: would pin her to her heart, that she might no such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour, that ballad-makers cannot be able to express it. [Enter a third Gentleman.] Here comes the lady Paulina's steward: he can deliver you more.-How goes it now, sir? this news, which is called true, is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in strong suspicion has the king found his heir? : I Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes, for by such was it acted. 3 Gent. One of the prettiest 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 she came to it, (bravely confessed and lamented by the king,) how attentiveness wounded his daughter; till, from one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an "alas," 3 Gent. Most true, if ever truth were pregnant by circumstance: that which you hear you'll swear you see, there is such unity in the proofs. The mantle of queen Hermione; her jewe, about the neck of it; the letters of An- would fain say, bleed tears; for I am sure tigonus, found with it, which they know to be my heart wept blood. Who was most marble his character; the majesty of the creature, in there changed colour; some swooned, all sorresemblance of the mother; the affection of rowed: if all the world could have seen it, nobleness, which nature shows above her the woe had been universal. breeding; and many other evidences,-pro-| 1 Gent. Are they returned to the court? more. 3 Gent. No: the princess hearing of her Shep. We may live, son, to shed many mother's statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina, -a piece many years in doing, ard Clo. Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in now newly performed by that rare Italian so preposterous estate as we are. master, Julio Romano, who, had he himself Aut. I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon eternity, and could put breath into his work, me all the faults I have committed to your would beguile nature of her custom, so per- worship, and to give me your good report to fectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermione the prince my master. hath done Hermione, that, they say, one would speak to her, and stand in hope of answer-thither, with all greediness of affection, are they gone; and there they intend to sup. 2 Gent. I thought she had some great matter there in hand; for she hath privately twice or thrice a day, ever since the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoicing? Shep. Pr'ythee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen. Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life? Shep. You may say it, but not swear it. 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. I Gent. Who would be thence, that has the benefit of access? every wink of an eye, some new grace will be born: our absence makes it unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along. [Exeunt Gentlemen. 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 son aboard the prince; told him I heard them talk of a fardel, Aut. I will prove so, sir, to my power. and I know not what: but he at that time, Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow : over-fond of the shepherd's daughter, (so he if I do not wonder how thou darest venture to then took her to be,) who began to be much be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me sea-sick, and himself little better, extremity of not.-Hark! the kings and the princes, our weather continuing, this mystery remained kindred, are going to see the queen's picture. undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me; for had Come, follow us: we'll be thy good masters. I been the finder out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits. [Enter Shepherd and Clown.] Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune. Shep. Come, boy; I am past more children, but thy sons 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. See you these clothes? say, you see them not, and think me still no gentleman born: you were best say, these robes are not gentleman born: give me the lie, do; and try whether I am not now gentleman born. Aut. I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born. Clo. Ay, and have been so any time these four hours. Shep. And so have I, boy. Clo. So you have :-but I was a gentleman born before my father; for the king's son took me by the hand, and called me, brother; and then the two kings called my father, brother; and then the prince, my brother, and the princess, my sister, called my father, father; and so we wept; and there was the first gentleman-like tears that ever we shed. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Sicilia. In Paulina's House. Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Paul. With your crown'd brother, and these your It is a surplus of your grace, which never O Paulina, Scene 3. THE WINTER'S TALE. Sill sleep mock'd death: behold! and say, Pol. Paul. So much the more our carver's excel- Which lets go by some sixteen years, and I am asham'd: does not the stone rebuke me Indeed, my lord, What was he that did make it ?-See, my lord, Paul. I'll draw the curtain ; My lord's almost so far transported, that O sweet Paulina, Do, Paulina; For this affliction has a taste as sweet Good my lord, forbear : Paul. So long could 1 Either forbear, Leon. What you can make her do, I am about, let them depart. No foot shall stir. Proceed: Paul. Music, awake her; strike !--[Music. 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach; Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come: Leon. [Embracing her.] O, she's warm! Is she become the suitor. Pol. She embraces him. Cam. She hangs about his neck: Leon. O peace, Paulina ! Pol. Ay, and make it manifest that she has | Lament till I am lost. own, Please you to interpose, fair madam: kneel, Will wing me to some wither'd bough, and My mate, that's never to be found again, found mine; Thou hast But how, is to be question'd,-for I saw her, A prayer upon her grave. I'll not seek far thee An honourable husband.-Come, Camillo, That e'er I put between your holy looks Lead us from hence; where we may leisurely KING JOHN. King John. Prince Henry, his Son. DRAMATIS PERSONE. Arthur, Son of Geffrey, late Duke of Bretagne, William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury. Hubert de Burgh, Chamberlain to the King. Philip Faulconbridge, his Half-brother. Peter of Pomfret, a Prophet. Philip, King of France. Cardinal Pandulpho, the Pope's Legate. Chatillon, Ambassador from France. Constance, Mother to Arthur. Blanch, Daughter to Alphonso, King of Lady Faulconbridge, Mother to Robert and Lords, Ladies, Citizens of Angiers, Sheriff, SCENE,-Sometimes in England, and sometimes in France. ACT I. SCENE I.-Northampton. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter King John, Queen Elinor, Pembroke, Chat. Thus, after greeting, speaks the King Eli. A strange beginning;--borrow'd ma- K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim bloody war, To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld. Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; hear. Enter the Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who whispers Essex. Essex. My liege, here is the strangest con- Come from the country to be judg'd by you, [bridge. Rob. The son and heir to that same FaulconK. John. Is that the elder, and art thou the heir? king, You came not of one mother, then, it seems. And wound her honour with this diffidence. K. John. A good blunt fellow.-Why, being younger born, Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance? Bast. I know not why, except to get the land. But once he slander'd me with bastardy : But whe r I be as true begot, or no, That still I lay upon my mother's head; But, that I am as well begot, my liege, (Fair fal! the bones that took the pains for me!) Compare our faces, and be judge yourself. If old Sir Robert did beget us both, And were our father, and this son like him,— O, old Sir Robert, father, on my knee I give heaven thanks, I was not like to thee. K. John. Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here! Eli. He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion's face; The accent of his tongue affecteth him : Do you not read some tokens of my son In the large composition of this man? K. John. Mine eye hath well examined his parts, [speak, And finds them perfect Richard.-Sirrah, What doth move you to claim your brother's [father, land? Bast. Because he hath a half-face, like my With that half-face would he have all my land; A half-fac'd groat five hundred pound a year! Rob. My gracious liege, when that my father liv'd, Your tale must be, how he employ'd my Between my father and my mother lay, |