toward the sea-side; go-I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you. Clown. We are blessed in this man, as I may say; even blessed. Shep. Let's before, as he bids us: 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, 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. ACT THE FIFTH. SCENE I. Sicilia.-The Palace. The KING'S Closet. LEONTES, CLEOMENES, and PAULINA, discovered. Cleo. 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; H Leon. Whilst I remember Her, and her virtues, I cannot forget My blemishes in them; and so still think of Paul. True, too true, my lord: If, one by one, you wedded all the world,— Leon. I think so.-Kill'd! She I kill'd-I did so: but thou strikest me 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. Paul. You are one of those, You pity not the state, nor the remembrance Paul. 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, Leon. Good Paulina, Who hast the memory of Hermione, Had squar'd me to thy counsel! then, even now, Paul. And left them More rich for what they yielded. Leon. Thou speak'st truth. No more such wives; therefore, no wife: 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 lord, bear witness to his oath. Cleo. You tempt him over-much. Paul. I have done. Yet, if my lord will marry,— Give me the office To chuse you a queen, sir; and she shall be such, Enter PHOCION. Pho. 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 with him? he comes not Like to his father's greatness: his approach, Pho. But few, And those but mean. Leon. His princess, say you, with him? Pho. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the sun shone bright on. Leon, Go, Cleomenes; Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends, Bring them to our embracement. Still, 'tis strange, [Exeunt PHOCION and CLEOMENES. He thus should steal upon us. Paul. Had our prince, (Jewel of children!) seen this hour, he had pair'd Well with this lord; there was not full a month Between their births. Leon. 'Pr'ythee, no more; thou know'st, He dies to me again, when talk'd of: sure, When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches Will bring me to consider that, which may Unfurnish me of reason.-They are come. Enter CLEOMENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, and ATTENDANTS. 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. Great sir, by his command Have I here touch'd Sicilia; and from him Whom he loves 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. 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. Leon. Where the warlike Smalus, That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd, and lov'd? Flo. Most royal sir, from thence; from him, whose His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her: I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd; Not only my success in Libya, sir, Leon. 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.] Enter ARCHIDAMUS, attended. Arch. Please you, great sir, Bohemia greets you from himself, by me: Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with Leon. Where's Bohemia? speak. Arch. Here in your city; I now came from him. To your court Whiles he was hasť'ning, (in the chase |