Act V.

SCENE I. A room in LEONTES' palace.

Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA, and Servants.

Cleo. Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd A saint-like sorrow: no fault could you make, Which you have not redeem'd; indeed, paid down More penitence than done trespass: at the last, Do as the heavens have done, forget your evil; 5 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 hath made my kingdom; and 10 Destroy'd the sweet'st 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 something good, To make a perfect woman, she you kill'd 15 Would be unparallel'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 my tongue as in my thought: now, good now, Say so but seldom.

Cleo. Not at all, good lady: 20 You might have spoken a thousand things that would Have done the time more benefit and graced Your kindness better.

Paul. You are one of those Would have him wed again.

Dion. If you would not so, You pity not the state, nor the remembrance 25 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? 30 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 35 Will have fulfill'd their secret purposes; For has not the divine Apollo said, Is't not the tenor of his oracle, That King Leontes shall not have an heir Till his lost child be found? which that it shall, 40 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, 45 Oppose against their wills. [To Leontes.] Care not for issue; 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, 50 I know, in honour, O, that ever I Had squared 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 yielded.

Leon. Thou speak'st truth. 55 No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse, And better used, would make her sainted spirit Again possess her corpse, and on this stage, Where we offenders now, appear soul-vex'd, And begin, 'Why to me?'

Paul. Had she such power, 60 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'ld bid you mark Her eye, and tell me for what dull part in't You chose her; then I'ld shriek, that even your ears 65 Should rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd Should be 'Remember mine.'

Leon. Stars, stars, And all eyes else dead coals! Fear thou no wife; I'll have no wife, Paulina.

Paul. Will you swear Never to marry but by my free leave? 70

Leon. Never, Paulina; so be blest my spirit!

Paul. Then, good my lords, bear witness to his oath.

Cleo. You tempt him over-much.

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

Cleo. Good madam,--

Paul. I have done. 75 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 joy 80 To see her in your arms.

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

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, 85 Son of Polixenes, with his princess, she The fairest I have yet beheld, desires access To your high presence.

Leon. What with him? he comes not Like to his father's greatness: his approach, So out of circumstance and sudden, tells us 90 'Tis not a visitation framed, but forced By need and accident. What train?

Gent. But few, And those but mean.

Leon. His princess, say you, with him?

Gent. Ay, the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the sun shone bright on.

Paul. O Hermione, 95 As every present time doth boast itself Above a better gone, so must thy grave Give way to what's seen now! Sir, you yourself Have said and writ so, but your writing now Is colder than that theme, 'She had not been, 100 Nor was not to be equall'd;'--thus your verse Flow'd with her beauty once: 'tis shrewdly ebb'd, To say you have seen a better.

Gent. Pardon, madam: The one I have almost forgot,--your pardon,-- The other, when she has obtain'd your eye, 105 Will have your tongue too. This is a creature, Would she begin a sect, might quench the zeal Of all professors else; make proselytes Of who she but bid follow.

Paul. How! not women?

Gent. Women will love her, that she is a woman 110 More worth than any man; men, that she is The rarest of all women.

Leon. Go, Cleomenes; Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends, Bring them to our embracement. Still, 'tis strange [Exeunt Cleomenes and others.

He thus should steal upon us.

Paul. Had our prince, 115 Jewel of children, seen this hour, he had pair'd Well with this lord: there was not full a month Between their births.

Leon. Prithee, no more; cease; thou know'st He dies to me again when talk'd of: sure, 120 When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches Will bring me to consider that which may Unfurnish me of reason. They are come.

Re-enter CLEOMENES and others, with FLORIZEL and PERDITA.

Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince; For she did print your royal father off, 125 Conceiving you: were I but twenty one, Your father's image is so hit in you, His very air, that I should call you brother, As I did him, and speak of something wildly By us perform'd before. Most dearly welcome! 130 And your fair princess,--goddess!--O, alas! I lost a couple, that 'twixt heaven and earth Might thus have stood begetting wonder, as You, gracious couple, do: and then I lost, All mine own folly, the society, 135 Amity too, of your brave father, whom, Though bearing misery, I desire my life Once more to look on him.

Flo. By his command Have I here touch'd Sicilia, and from him Give you all greetings, that a king, at friend, 140 Can send his brother: and, but infirmity Which waits upon worn times hath something seized His wish'd ability, he had himself The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his Measured to look upon you; whom he loves, 145 He bade me say so, more than all the sceptres And those that bear them living.

Leon. O my brother, Good gentleman! the wrongs I have done thee stir Afresh within me; and these thy offices, So rarely kind, are as interpreters 150 Of my behind-hand slackness! Welcome hither, As is the spring to the earth. And hath he too Exposed this paragon to the fearful usage, At least ungentle, of the dreadful Neptune, To greet a man not worth her pains, much less 155 The adventure of her person?

Flo. Good my Lord, She came from Libya.

Leon. Where the warlike Smalus, That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd and loved?

Flo. Most royal sir, from thence; from him, whose daughter His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her: thence, 160 A prosperous south-wind friendly, we have cross'd, To execute the charge my father gave me, For visiting your highness: my best train I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd; Who for Bohemia bend, to signify 165 Not only my success in Libya, sir, But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety Here where we are.

Leon. The blessed gods Purge all infection from our air whilst you Do climate here! You have a holy father, 170 A graceful gentleman; against whose person, So sacred as it is, I have done sin: For which the heavens, taking angry note, Have left me issueless; and your father's blest, As he from heaven merits it, with you 175 Worthy his goodness. What might I have been, Might I a son and daughter now have look'd on, Such goodly things as you!

Enter a Lord.

Lord. Most noble sir, That which I shall report will bear no credit, Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great sir, 180 Bohemia greets you from himself by me; Desires you to attach his son, who has-- His dignity and duty both cast off-- Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with A shepherd's daughter.

Leon. Where's Bohemia? speak. 185

Lord. Here in your city; I now came from him: I speak amazedly; and it becomes My marvel and my message. To your court Whiles he was hastening, in the chase, it seems, Of this fair couple, meets he on the way 190 The father of this seeming lady and Her brother, having both their country quitted With this young prince.

Flo. Camillo has betray'd me; Whose honour and whose honesty till now Endured all weathers.

Lord. Lay't so to his charge: 195 He's with the king your father.

Leon. Who? Camillo?

Lord. Camillo, sir; I spake with him; who now Has these poor men in question. Never saw I Wretches so quake: they kneel, they kiss the earth; Forswear themselves as often as they speak: 200 Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them With divers deaths in death.

Per. O my poor father! The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have Our contract celebrated.

Leon. You are married?

Flo. We are not, sir, nor are we like to be; 205 The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first: The odds for high and low's alike.

Leon. My lord, Is this the daughter of a king?

Flo. She is, When once she is my wife.

Leon. That 'once,' I see by your good father's speed, 210 Will come on very slowly. I am sorry, Most sorry, you have broken from his liking Where you were tied in duty, and as sorry Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty, That you might well enjoy her.

Flo. Dear, look up: 215 Though Fortune, visible an enemy, Should chase us with my father, power no jot Hath she to change our loves. Beseech you, sir, Remember since you owed no more to time Than I do now: with thought of such affections, 220 Step forth mine advocate; at your request My father will grant precious things as trifles.

Leon. Would he do so, I'ld beg your precious mistress, Which he counts but a trifle.

Paul. Sir, my liege, Your eye hath too much youth in't: not a month 225 'Fore your queen died, she was more worth such gazes Than what you look on now.

Leon. I thought of her, Even in these looks I made. [To Florizel.] But your petition Is yet unanswer'd. I will to your father: Your honour not o'erthrown by your desires, 230 I am friend to them and you: upon which errand I now go toward him; therefore follow me And mark what way I make: come, good my lord. [Exeunt.

LINENOTES:

SCENE I. A room....] Capell.

Enter....] Rowe. Enter L., C., D., P., Servants: Florizel, Perdita. Ff.

Paul. True, too true] Theobald. true. Paul. Too true. Ff. Paul. 'Tis true, too true Long MS.

She I kill'd!] kill'd?--She I kill'd? Theobald.

spoken] spoke Pope.

so] om. Hanmer.

name] dame Reed (1803).

little] a little Heath conj.

queen is well?] queen? This will. Hanmer (Warburton).

fulfill'd] fulfill'n F2.

said,] F4. said? F1 F2 F3.

Antigonus] Antigomus F2.

contrary] contray F2.

Good] Ah! good Hanmer. Thou good Capell. My good Keightley conj.

lips,--] Capell. lips. Ff. lips! Pope.

And begin, 'Why to me?'] And begin, why to me? F1. And begin, why to me; F2 F3. And begin, why to me. F4. Begin, 'And why to me?' Capell. And begin, Why? to me. Rann (Mason conj.). See note (XXII).

cause] F3 F4. such cause F1 F2.

walk'd] wak'd Rowe (ed.2). Servant post. Collier MS.

Stars, stars] Stars, very stars Hanmer.

blest] bless'd Ff.

Cleo. Good madam,-- Paul. I have done] Capell. Cleo. Good madam, I have done Ff. Cleo. Good madam, pray have done Rowe.

you a] your Anon. conj.

Enter a Gentleman.] Theobald. Enter a Servant. Ff. Enter a Servant-post. Collier MS.

SCENE II. Pope.

Gent.] Ser. Ff (and throughout the scene).

out himself] himself out Pope.

fairest I have] Ff. fair'st I've S. Walker conj.

Ay,] I: Ff. Yes; Rowe.

grave] grace Collier (Egerton MS.).

than] on Hanmer.

you have] you've Pope.

This is] This is such Hanmer. This' S. Walker conj.

creature] creature, who Keightley conj.

who] whom Hanmer.

bid] did Collier (ed. 1).

Exeunt C....] Exeunt C., Lords, and Gentlemen. Capell. Exit. Ff.

full a] F1 F2. a full F3 F4.

Prithee] Pray S. Walker conj. cease] om. Hanmer.

Re-enter C....] Re-enter Cleomenes, &c. with Florizel and Perdita. Capell. Enter Florizell, Perdita, Cleomenes, and others. Ff.

SCENE III. Pope.

your] you Boswell.

princess,--goddess] princesse (goddese) F1 F2. princess (goddess) F3 F4. princess-goddess S. Walker conj.

whom,] whom,-- Malone.

on him] on Theobald. upon Steevens.

By] Sir, by Theobald.

at friend] F1. as friend F2 F3 F4. a friend Steevens conj. and friend Harness (Malone conj.). at friends Seymour conj.

Most ... daughter] Hanmer. As two lines in Ff, ending Sir ... daughter.

his, parting] Hanmer. his parting Ff. her parting Thirlby conj. at parting Heath conj.

we are] we happily are Hanmer.

The blessed] Oh! may the blessed or And may the blessed Mitford conj. The ever-blessed Anon. apud Halliwell conj.

holy] noble Collier MS.

blest] bless'd Ff.

SCENE IV. Pope.

your] the Reed (1803).

Whiles] Whilst Rowe.

sets spies upon] which sets spies on Hanmer.

worth] birth Hanmer (Warburton).

Fortune, visible] Fortune visible, Hanmer.

affections,] Ff. affections. Warburton.

I am] I'm Pope.

friend] a friend Reed (1803).

SCENE II. Before LEONTES' palace.

Enter AUTOLYCUS and a Gentleman.

Aut. Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation?

First 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 of the chamber; only this methought I heard 5 the shepherd say, he found the child.

Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it.

First Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business; but the changes I perceived in the king and Camillo were very notes of admiration: they seemed almost, with staring 10 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 heard of a world ransomed, or one destroyed: a notable passion of wonder appeared in them; but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing, 15 could not say if the importance were joy or sorrow; but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be.

Enter another Gentleman.

Here comes a gentleman that haply knows more. The news, Rogero?

Sec. Gent. Nothing but bonfires: the oracle is fulfilled; 20 the king's daughter is found: 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 25 called true is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in strong suspicion: has the king found his heir?

Third 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 30 Hermione's, her jewel about the neck of it, the letters of Antigonus found with it which they know to be his character, the majesty of the creature in resemblance of the mother, the affection of nobleness which nature shows above her breeding, and many other evidences proclaim 35 her with all certainty to be the king's daughter. Did you see the meeting of the two kings?

Sec. Gent. No.

Third Gent. Then have you lost a sight, which was to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld 40 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 countenance of such distraction, that they were to be known by garment, not by favour. Our king, 45 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 50 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.

Sec. Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried hence the child? 55

Third Gent. Like an old tale still, which will have matter to rehearse, though credit be asleep and not an ear open. He was torn to pieces with a bear: this avouches the shepherd's son; who has not only his innocence, which seems much, to justify him, but a handkerchief and rings 60 of his that Paulina knows.

First Gent. What became of his bark and his followers?

Third Gent. Wrecked the same instant of their master's death and in the view of the shepherd: so that all the instruments which aided to expose the child were even then 65 lost when it was found. But O, the noble combat that '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 earth, and so locks her in embracing, as if she would pin her 70 to her heart that she might no more be in danger of losing.

First Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted.

Third Gent. One of the prettiest touches of all and that which angled for mine eyes, caught the water though not 75 the fish, was when, at the relation of the queen's death, with the manner how she came to 't 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,' I would fain say, bleed tears, for I am sure my 80 heart wept blood. Who was most marble there changed colour; some swooned, all sorrowed: if all the world could have seen 't, the woe had been universal.

First Gent. Are they returned to the court?

Third Gent. No: the princess hearing of her mother's 85 statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina,--a piece many years in doing and now newly performed by that rare Italian master, Julio Romano, who, had he himself eternity and could put breath into his work, would beguile Nature of her custom, so perfectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermione 90 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.

Sec. Gent. I thought she had some great matter there in hand; for she hath privately twice or thrice a day, ever 95 since the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. Shall we thither and with our company piece the rejoicing?

First 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 us unthrifty to our knowledge. 100 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 and I know not what: but he at that time, 105 overfond of the shepherd's daughter, so he then took her to be, who began to be much sea-sick, and himself little better, extremity of weather continuing, this mystery remained undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me; for had I been the finder out of this secret, it would not have relished 110 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 moe children, but thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born. 115

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 gentlemen born: give me the lie, do, and try whether 120 I am not now a 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 125 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. 130

Shep. We may live, son, to shed many more.

Clo. Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so pre-posterous estate as we are.

Aut. I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the faults I have committed to your worship and to give me 135 your good report to the prince my master.

Shep. Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.

Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life?

Aut. Ay, an it like your good worship. 140

Clo. Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.

Shep. You may say it, but not swear it.

Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and franklins say it, I'll swear it. 145

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 150 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 155 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.

LINENOTES:

SCENE II.] SCENE V. Pope.

Before ...] The same. Before the Palace. Capell. Near the court in Sicily. Theobald.

First Gent.] Gent. 1. Ff.

very] every Anon. conj.

as they] as if they Rowe.

haply] Collier. happily Ff.

Sec. Gent.] Gent. 2. Ff (and throughout).

Third Gent.] Gent. 3. Ff (and throughout).

Hermione's] Hermiones Ff. Hermione Rowe.

which] who Rowe.

weather-bitten] F1 F2. weather-beaten F3 F4.

to do it] to draw it Hanmer. to do it justice Singer conj. to show it Collier (Collier MS.).

matter] matters F4.

with] of Capell conj.

Wrecked] Wrackt Ff.

locks] lock'd Hanmer.

losing] losing her Collier (Collier MS.).

caught] and caught Keightley conj.

bravely] heavily Collier (Collier MS.).

marble there] F3. marble, there F1 F2. marble there, F4.

swooned] Pope. swownded F1 F2. swounded F3 F4.]

wink] winking S. Walker conj., reading lines 98-101 as four lines of verse, ending benefit ... eye ... makes us ... along.

Exeunt Gentlemen.] Capell. Exit. Ff. Exeunt. Rowe.

had I not] had not I Rowe (ed. 2).

extremity] and extremity Keightley conj.

SCENE VI. Pope.

moe] F1. more F2 F3 F4.

this other] the other Hanmer.

an] Hanmer. and Ff.

masters] F1. master F2 F3 F4.

SCENE III. A chapel in PAULINA'S house.

Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and Attendants.

Leon. 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 vouchsafed With your crown'd brother and these your contracted 5 Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, It is a surplus of your grace, which never My life may last to answer.

Leon. O Paulina, We honour you with trouble: but we came To see the statue of our queen: your gallery 10 Have we pass'd through, not without much content In many singularities; but we saw not That which my daughter came to look upon, The statue of her mother.

Paul. As she lived peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, 15 Excels whatever yet you look'd upon Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it Lonely, apart. But here it is: prepare To see the life as lively mock'd as ever Still sleep mock'd death: behold, and say 'tis well. 20 [Paulina draws a curtain, and discovers Hermione standing like a statue. I like your silence, it the more shows off Your wonder: but yet speak; first, you, my liege. Comes it not something near?

Leon. Her natural posture! Chide me, dear stone, that I may say indeed Thou art Hermione; or rather, thou art she 25 In thy not chiding, for she was as tender As infancy and grace. But yet, Paulina, Hermione was not so much wrinkled, nothing So aged as this seems.

Pol. O, not by much.

Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence; 30 Which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her As she lived now.

Leon. As now she might have done, So much to my good comfort, as it is Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood, Even with such life of majesty, warm life, 35 As now it coldly stands, when first I woo'd her! I am ashamed: does not the stone rebuke me For being more stone than it? O royal piece There's magic in thy majesty, which has My evils conjured to remembrance, and 40 From thy admiring daughter took the spirits, Standing like stone with thee.

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, 45 Give me that hand of yours to kiss.

Paul. O, patience! The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's Not dry.

Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on, Which sixteen winters cannot blow away, 50 So many summers dry: scarce any joy Did ever so long live; no sorrow But kill'd itself much sooner.

Pol. Dear my brother, Let him that was the cause of this have power To take off so much grief from you as he 55 Will piece up in himself.

Paul. Indeed, my lord, If I had thought the sight of my poor image Would thus have wrought you, for the stone is mine, I'ld not have show'd it.

Leon. Do not draw the curtain.

Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't, lest your fancy 60 May think anon it moves.

Leon. Let be, let be. Would I were dead, but that, methinks, already-- What was he that did make it? See, my lord, Would you not deem it breathed? and that those veins Did verily bear blood?

Pol. Masterly done: 65 The very life seems warm upon her lip.

Leon. 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 He'll think anon it lives.

Leon. O sweet Paulina, 70 Make me to think so twenty years together! No settled senses of the world can match 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 farther.

Leon. Do, Paulina; 75 For this affliction has a taste as sweet As any cordial comfort. Still, methinks, There is an air comes from her: what fine chisel Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock me, For I will kiss her.

Paul. Good my lord, forbear: 80 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?

Leon. No, not these twenty years.

Per. So long could I Stand by, a looker on.

Paul. Either forbear, 85 Quit presently the chapel, or resolve you For more amazement. If you can behold it, I'll make the statue move indeed, descend And take you by the hand: but then you'll think, Which I protest against I am assisted 90 By wicked powers.

Leon. What you can make her do, I am content to look on: what to speak, I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy To make her speak as move.

Paul. It is required You do awake your faith. Then all stand still; 95 On: those that think it is unlawful business I am about, let them depart.

Leon. Proceed: No foot shall stir.

Paul. Music, awake her; strike! [Music. 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach; Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come, 100 I'll fill your grave up: stir, nay, come away, Bequeath to death your numbness, for from him Dear life redeems you. You perceive she stirs: [Hermione comes down. Start not; her actions shall be holy as You hear my spell is lawful: do not shun her 105 Until you see her die again; for then You kill her double. Nay, present your hand: When she was young you woo'd her; now in age Is she become the suitor?

Leon. O, she's warm! If this be magic, let it be an art 110 Lawful as eating.

Pol. She embraces him.

Cam. She hangs about his neck: If she pertain to life let her speak too.

Pol. Ay, and make't manifest where she has lived, Or how stolen from the dead.

Paul. That she is living, 115 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; 120 Our Perdita is found.

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 preserved? where lived? how found Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear that I, 125 Knowing by Paulina that the oracle Gave hope thou wast in being, have preserved Myself to see the issue.

Paul. There's time enough for that; Lest they desire upon this push to trouble Your joys with like relation. Go together, 130 You precious winners all; your exultation Partake to every one. I, an old turtle, Will wing me to some wither'd bough and there My mate, that's never to be found again, Lament till I am lost.

Leon. O, peace, Paulina! 135 Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent, As I by thine a wife: this is a match, 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 140 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 145 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, 150 Is troth-plight to your daughter. Good Paulina, Lead us from hence, where we may leisurely Each one demand, and answer to his part Perform'd in this wide gap of time, since first We were dissever'd: hastily lead away. [Exeunt. 155

LINENOTES:

SCENE III.] SCENE VII. Pope.

A chapel ...] A Chapel in Paulina's House: at upper End a Nich; a Curtain before it. Capell.

Lords and Attendants.] Rowe. Hermione (like a Statue:) Lords, &c. Ff.

you] you've Anon. conj.

Lonely] Hanmer. Louely F1. Lovely F2 F3 F4. See note (XXIII).

much] om. Seymour conj.

thy] my Theobald.

then] thus Collier (Collier MS.).

colour's] colours S. Walker conj.

is mine,] i' th' mine Tyrwhitt conj.

moves] move Pope.

already--] Rowe. alreadie. F1. already. F2 F3 F4. already I am but dead stone, looking upon stone Collier (Collier MS.). already I'm in heaven, amd looking on an angel. Anon. apud Singer conj.

fixure] fixture F4. fissure Warburton conj.

As] And Capell. So Mason conj.

are] were Rowe (ed. 2).

Let't] Let Johnson.

I am] I'm Pope.

farther] F1 F2. further F3 F4.

my] me F2.

On: those] Ff. And those Pope. Or those Hanmer.

upon] on you Hanmer. upon you Keightley conj. upon't Anon. conj.

suitor?] Ff. suitor. Rowe (ed. 2).

make't] Capell. make it Ff. make Hanmer.

vials] Pope. viols Ff.

Lest] F3 F4. Least F1 F2.

by the] om. Collier (Collier MS.).

This] This' S. Walker conj.

whom heavens directing,] from heav'n's directing, Hanmer. who, heavens directing, Capell. (whom heavens directing,) Malone.

We were] F1 F2. Were F3 F4.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

I. 2. 42. Warburton, who reads 'good heed' with the later Folios, says that Mr Theobald, not understanding the phrase, altered it to 'good deed.' In reality Theobald recalled the reading of the first Folio, which Warburton had not taken the trouble to collate.

NOTE II.

I. 2. 154. 'Methoughts' is of course a form grammatically inaccurate, suggested by the more familiar 'methinks.' It occurs, however, sufficiently often in the old editions to warrant us in supposing that it came from the author's pen. We therefore retain it.

NOTE III.

I. 2. 272. Mr Collier tells us that some copies of the second Folio read 'think it.' Ours has 'think.'

NOTE IV.

I. 2. 459. Johnson says: 'Dr Warburton's conjecture is, I think, just; but what shall be done with the following words of which I can make nothing? Perhaps the line, which connected them to the rest, is lost.' In fact we should have expected Polixenes to say that his flight without Hermione would be the best means not only of securing his own safety but of dispelling the suspicions Leontes entertained of his queen.

NOTE V.

II. 1. 136. The Folios spell 'than' and 'then' indifferently 'then.' In this passage Malone was inclined to restore 'then.'

NOTE VI.

II. 1. 143. If 'land-damn' be the right reading it has not yet received a satisfactory explanation. The word 'lamback' which in his first edition Mr Collier offered as a conjecture, he afterwards found in the corrected copy of the second Folio. But with the sense which he assigns to it 'to beat,' it seems an anticlimax after the threat contained in the line preceding. We omitted to record in our note that Dr Nicholson proposes to read 'Lent-damn.'

NOTE VII.

II. 3. 177. 'It,' as a possessive pronoun, is found again in this play (III. 2. 99). In the latter place Rowe was the first to make the correction 'its.' In The Tempest (II. 1. 157), as here, the change is made by the third Folio. See our note on that passage. It is remarkable that the only comedies in which this ancient usage occurs, viz. The Tempest and The Winter's Tale, are among the latest of our author's works. Perhaps the printer is responsible for the singularity.

Mr Staunton has mentioned the following instances in the Histories and Tragedies: King John, II. 1, Timon of Athens, V. 2, King Lear, I. 4, Hamlet, I. 2 and V. 1. 'It' occurs besides in Henry V., V. 2, Cymbeline, III. 4, Romeo and Juliet, I. 3, and Antony and Cleopatra, II. 7.

In Hamlet, I. 2, the first Quarto has his, the first Folio, published twenty years later, has it. In the same play, V. 1, one of the Quartos has it's. Professor Craik quotes also from the Quarto, ith or it in King Lear, IV. 2. But the two Quartos of 1608 in Capell's collection both read it. 'Its' is found in The Tempest, I. 2. 95, 393, Measure for Measure, I. 2. 4, Winter's Tale, I. 2. 151, 152, 157, 266, III. 3. 46, 2 Henry VI. III. 2, Henry VIII. I. 1. On the whole we think it most probable that Shakespeare would not deliberately have written it for its, or his, except when imitating the language of rustics or children. It is only fair, however, to mention that Mr Staunton and Professor Craik are of a different opinion. After all it is not of very great consequence which form we preserve in the text, as we carefully record all the minutest variations at the foot of the page.

NOTE VIII.

III. 2. 10. The first Folio prints 'silence' in italics, like a stage-direction. The subsequent Folios have 'Silence. Enter,' also in italics. Rowe printed it, as we have done, as part of the officer's speech. Capell assigned it to a crier, and Mr Dyce, in support of this, quotes the commencement of Queen Catharine's trial, in Henry the Eighth, II. 4. But there is no reason why in this play the officer who has already spoken should not also command silence.

NOTE IX.

III. 2. 41. "It is surprising," says Mr Staunton, "that this passage should have passed without question, for grief must surely be an error. Hermione means that life to her is of as little estimation as the most trivial thing which she would part with; and she expresses the same sentiment shortly after in similar terms,--'no life,--I prize it not a straw.' Could she speak of grief as a trifle, of no moment or importance?"

Is not the meaning this, that Hermione now holds life and grief to be inseparable and would willingly be rid of both? Johnson's note is to this effect.

NOTE X.

III. 3. 59. If written in Arabic numerals 16 would be more likely to be mistaken for 10 than 13, which Capell suggested. Besides 'sixteen' seems to suit the context better than 'thirteen.' Another mistake of one number for another occurs IV. 2. 3, but this may have been an error on the author's part.

NOTE XI.

III. 3. 122. Capell's copy of the first Folio has distinctly 'fight.' A copy in the possession of the Rev. N. M. Ferrers, Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, has as distinctly 'sight.'

NOTE XII.

IV. 1. 1. Johnson followed Theobald and Warburton in printing Time's speech at the end of the third act, but said in his note: 'I believe this speech of Time rather begins the fourth act than concludes the third.' He had not referred, apparently, to the Folios or to Rowe and Pope. Theobald did not mean to include the speech in either act, but drew a line above it to mark that it was an interlude between the third and fourth. Warburton, and Johnson after him, omitted the line.

NOTE XIII.

IV. 3. 48. A writer in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1st series, Vol. LX. p. 306, suggests that by 'me--' in this place is meant 'mercy,' and that the clown's exclamation is interrupted by Autolycus.

NOTE XIV.

IV. 4. 82. We have retained here the spelling 'gillyvors' in preference to the more familiar form 'gillyflowers,' because the latter is due to an etymological error. The original word is 'caryophyllus,' which becomes 'girofle' in French, and thence by metathesis 'gilofre,' 'gillyvor.'

NOTE XV.

IV. 4. 263. We have retained wives in this passage because Steevens' reading wives' is too strictly grammatical to accord with the reckless volubility of the charlatan. To be consistent, Steevens ought to have printed witnesses' for witnesses in line 275.

NOTE XVI.

IV. 4. 288. The first three Folios read thus;

Song. Get you hence for I must goe Aut. Where it fits not you to know.

The fourth thus:

SONG.

Get you hence for I must go, Aut. Where fits not you to know.

Rowe first set it right.

NOTE XVII.

IV. 4. 328. We have adopted the spelling 'squier' here, as in Love's Labour's Lost, V. 2. 474, because the word in this sense is now obsolete, and because this spelling comes nearest to 'esquierre,' from which it is derived.

NOTE XVIII.

IV. 4. 417. We have followed Rowe in ejecting the first 'never' from the line, for these reasons. 1. The misprint is of a very common sort. The printer's eye caught the word at the end of the line. 2. The metre is improved by the change. The line was made doubly inharmonious by the repetition of 'never.' 3. The sense is improved. Polixenes would rather make light of his son's sighs than dwell so emphatically upon their cause.

NOTE XIX.

IV. 4. 504. We think Malone's stage direction 'going' was inserted under a mistaken view of Florizel's meaning. He apologises to Camillo for talking apart with Perdita in his presence. At the commencement of this whispered conversation he said to Camillo, 'I'll hear you by and by,' and at the close of it he turns again to him with 'Now, good Camillo;' &c.

NOTE XX.

IV. 4. 693. In the first Folio the reading is 'at 'Pallace,' the apostrophe, if it be not a misprint, pointing either to the omission of the article or its absorption in rapid pronunciation, as in IV. 4. 105, 'with' Sun.' Perhaps the Clown speaks of the King being 'at palace' as he would have spoken of an ordinary man being 'at home.'

NOTE XXI.

IV. 4. 715. The first Folio has 'at toaze,' which is apparently a corruption. The subsequent Folios read 'or toaze,' which in default of a more certain correction we have adopted. It is not improbable, however, that Autolycus may have coined a word to puzzle the clowns, which afterwards puzzled the printers.

NOTE XXII.

V. I. 60. Steevens distinctly claims as his own the emendation which is due to Capell, and credit has been given him for it by Malone and subsequent editors. In a similar manner he appropriates Capell's division of the speeches in line 75 as a conjecture of his own. Malone proposes to retain the reading of the Folios in lines 58-60, with a different punctuation, thus:

"Again possess her corpse, (and on the stage Where we offenders now appear soul-vex'd) And begin, 'why to me?'"

In the last words there is probably a corruption which cannot be removed by simple transposition.

NOTE XXIII.

V. 3. 18. Mr Halliwell says that 'Lonely' is the reading of the first Folio. Capell's copy has 'Lowely,' and the same is found in Mr Ferrers' copy.

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* * * * * +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | Transcriber's notes: | | | | P. 81. Linenote: 60 should be 61, changed. | | P. 265 Linenote:65. 'olly' changed to 'folly'. | | P. 270. Linenote: 28 'Youth to fight' is 31, changed. | | P. 413. linenote:123. 'Cleomines' changed to 'Cleomenes'. | | Fixed various punctuation. | | Note: underscores to surround italic text, and = around | | =bold text=. | +--------------------------------------------------------------+