thou wilt be drunk; but I'll swear it: and I would, thou would'st 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 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. The same. SCENE III. A Room in Paulina's House. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERdita, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and Attendants. Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great com fort That I have had of thee! Paul. Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, Leon. O Paulina, We honour you with trouble: But we came That which my daughter came to look upon, The statue of her mother. Paul. As she liv'd peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Excels whatever yet you look'd upon, To see the life as lively mock'd, as ever Still sleep mock'd death: behold; and say, 'tis well. [PAULINA undraws a Curtain, and discovers 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, 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; Which lets go by some sixteen years, and makes her As she liv'd now. Leon. Per. And give me leave; And do not say, 'tis superstition, that I kneel, and then implore her blessing-Lady, 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, So many summers, dry: scarce any joy But kill'd itself much sooner. Pol. Dear my brother, Let him, that was the cause of this, have power 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'd not have show'd it. Leon. Do not draw the curtain. Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't; lest your fancy May think anon, it moves, Leon. Let be, let be. Would I were dead, but that, methinks, alreadyWhat was he, that did make it?-See, my lord, Would you not deem, it breath'd? and that those veins Did verily bear blood? Pol. Masterly done: The very life seems warm upon her lip. Leon. The fixure of her eye has motion in't," wrought-i. e. worked, agitated. 3 The fixure of her eye has motion in't,] The meaning is, though her eye be fixed, [as the eye of a statue always is,] yet it seems to have motion in it: that tremulous motion, which is perceptible in the eye of a living person, how much soever one endeavour to fix it. I'll draw the curtain; As we are mock'd with art.4 Paul. My lord's almost so far transported, that Leon. Paul. I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr'd you: but I could afflict you further. Leon. Do, Paulina; For this affliction has a taste as sweet As any cordial comfort.-Still, methinks, There is an air comes from her: What fine chiz zel Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock me, For I will kiss her. Paul. Good my lord, forbear: You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own Per. Stand by, a looker on. Paul. So long could I Either forbear, Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you By wicked powers. Leon. What you can make her do, I am content to look on: what to speak, * As we are mock'd with art.] As, is used by our author here, as in some other places, for " as if." With has the force of by. I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy To make her speak, as move. Paul. It is requir'd, You do awake your faith: Then, all stand still; Or those, that think it is unlawful business I am about, let them depart. Leon. No foot shall stir. Paul. Proceed; Musick; awake her: strike, [Musick. 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more: approach; Strike all that look upon with marevl. Come; 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 from the Pedestal. Start not: her actions shall be holy, as, You kill her double: Nay, present your hand: Cam. She hangs about his neck; If she pertain to life, let her speak too. Pol. Ay, and mak't manifest where she has liv'd, Or, how stol'n from the dead? Paul. That she is living, Were it but told you, should be hooted at |