if thou be'st capable of things serious, thou must know, the king is full of grief. She. So 'tis said, sir; about his son, that should have married a shepherd's daughter. Aut. If that shepherd be not in hand-fast, let him fly; the curses he shall have, the tortures he shall feel, will break the back of man, the heart of monster. Clo. Think you so, sir? Aut. Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy, and vengeance bitter; but those that are german to him, though removed fifty times, shall all come under the hangman.-An old sheep-whistling rogue, a ramtender, to offer to have his daughter come into grace?— Some say, he shall be stoned; but that death is too soft for him, say I.-Draw our throne into a sheep-cote ! -all deaths are too few; the sharpest too easy. Clo. Has the old man e'er a son, sir, do you hear, an't like you, sir? Aut. (c.) He has a son, who shall be flay'd alive; then, 'nointed over with honey, set on the head of a wasp's nest: then stand till he be three quarters and a dram dead: then recovered again with aqua-vitæ, or some other hot infusion: then, raw as he is, and in the hottest day prognostication proclaims, shall he be set against a brick-wall, the sun looking with a southward eye upon him; where he is to behold him with flies blown to death. But what talk we of those traitorly rascals, whose miseries are to be smiled at, their offences being so capital? Tell me, for you seem to be honest, plain men, what you have to the king: being something gently considered, I'll bring you where he is aboard, tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your behalfs; and, if it be in man, besides the king, to effect your suits, here is man shall do it. Clo. He seems to be of great authority; close with him, give him gold; and no more ado.-Remember, stoned, and flay'd alive. She. An't please you, 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 pawn, till I bring it you. Aut. Well, give me the moiety.-Are you a party in this business? Clo. In some sort, sir: but though my case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flayed out of it. Aut. O, that's the case of the shepherd's son:-Hang him, he'll be made an example.-Walk before toward the sea-side; go-I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you. Clo. We are blessed in this man, as I may say; even blessed. She. Let's before, as he bids us: he was provided to do us good. [Exeunt Shepherd and Clown, L. 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, and a means to do the prince my master good; which, who knows how that may turn back to my advancement? I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him there may be matter in it. [Exit, R. END OF ACT IV. ACT V. SCENE I.-Sicilia.-The Palace.-The King's Closet. LEONTES, in Black, seated; CLEOMENES, standing, and PAULINA, in Black, seated; discovered. Cle. Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd A saint-like sorrow: At the last, Do, as the heavens have done; forget your evil; Leo. Whilst I remember Her, and her virtues, I cannot forget My blemishes in them; and so still think of Pau. True, too true, my lord: If, one by one, you wedded all the world- Leo. I think so.-Kill'd! She I kill'd? I did so: but thou strikest me Sorely, to say I did: Now, good now, Say so but seldom. Cle. 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. Pau. You are one of those, You pity not the state, nor the remembrance Pau. The gods Will have fulfill'd their secret purposes: That King Leontes shall not have an heir Till his lost child be found? which, that it shall, Leo. Good Paulina Who hast the memory of Hermione, I know, in honour-O, that ever I Had squar'd me to thy counsel! then, even now, Pau. And left them More rich for what they yielded. Leo. Thou speak'st truth. No more such wives; therefore, no wife: Pau. Will you swear Never to marry, but by my free leave? Leo. Never, Paulina; so be bless'd my spirit! Cle. You tempt him over-much. Pau. I have done. Yet-if my lord will marry— To choose you a queen, sir; and she shall be such, Enter PHOCION, r. Pho. One, that gives out himself Prince Florizel, Leo. What with him? he comes not Like to his father's greatness: his approach, So out of circumstance, and sudden, tells us, And those but mean. Leo. His princess, say you, with him? Pho. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the sun shone bright on. Leo. Go, Cleomenes; Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends, Bring them to our embracement. Still, 'tis strange, [Exeunt Phocion and Cleomenes, R. He thus should steal upon us. Pau. [Rises.] Had our prince, (Jewel of children!) seen this hour, he had pair'd Leo. Prithee, no more; thou know'st, Enter CLEOMENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, and Most dearly welcome, prince! And your fair princess-goddess! Most welcome, sir! Were I but twenty-one, His very air, that I should call you brother, Flo. (R.) Great sir, by his command Have I here touch'd Sicilia; and from him F Give you all greetings, that a king, and friend, Can send his brother; Whom he loves More than all the sceptres, And those that bear them, living. Leo. (c.) O, my brother, (Good gentleman!) the wrongs I have done thee, stir Afresh within me. Welcome hither, As is the spring to the earth! And hath he too (At least, ungentle,) of the dreadful Neptune, Flo. Good my lord, She came from Libya. Leo. Where the warlike Smalus, That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd, and lov'd? Flo. Most royal sir, from thence; from him, whose daughter His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her : I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd; Not only my success in Libya, sir, But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety, Leo. The blessed gods Purge all infection from our air, whilst you Do climate here! What might I have been, Might I a son and daughter now have look'd on, Such goodly things as you! [A Trumpet sounds, R. Enter ARCHIDAMUS, attended. Arc. (R.) Please you, great sir, Bohemia greets you from himself, by me: Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with Leo. Where's Bohemia? speak. Arc. Here in your city; I now come from him To your court Whiles he was hast'ning, (in the chase |