As my Antigonus to break his grave, And come again to me; who, on my life, The crown will find an heir. Care not for issue; 50 [To the King. Great Alexander Left his to the worthiest; so his successor Was like to be the best. 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 60 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. Leo. Thou speak'st truth. No more such wives; therefore no wife: one worse, And better us'd, would make her sainted spirit Again possess her corps; and, on this stage (Where we offend her now), appear soul-vext, And begin, Why to me? Paul. Had she such power, She had just such cause. Leo. She had; and would incense me To murder her I married. Paul. I should so, Were I the ghost that walk'd; I'd bid you mark and tell me, for what dull part in't Kij Her eye; 70 You You chose her: then I'd shriek, that even your ears Should rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd Should be, Remember mine. Leo. 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? Leo. Never, Paulina; so be bless'd 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, pray, have done. sir; 90 If you will, No remedy, but you will; give me the office As, walk'd your first queen's ghost, it should take joy To see her in your arms. Leo. My true Paulina, We shall not marry, 'till thou bid'st us. Paul. That Shall be, when your first queen's again in breath: 100 Enter Enter a Gentleman. Gent. 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. Leo. What with him? he comes not Like to his father's greatness: his approach, So out of circumstance, and sudden, tells us, 110 'Tis not a visitation fram'd, but forc'd By need and accident. What train? Gent. But few, And those but mean. Leo. 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. Oh Hermione, 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 To say, you have seen a better. 1 Gent. Pardon, madam; The one I have almost forgot (your pardon); 120 Will have your tongue too. This is a creature, 130 Would she begin a sect, might quench the zeal Kiij Of Of all professors else; make proselytes Of who she but bid follow. Gent. Women will love her, that she is a woman More worth than any man; men, that she is The rarest of all women. Leo. Go, Cleomenes; Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends, Bring them to our embracement. [Exit CLEOMENES. Still 'tis strange (Jewel of children), seen this hour, he had pair'd Well with this lord; there was not full a month Between their births. Leo. Pr'ythee, no more; cease; 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.. 141 150 Enter FLORIZEL, PERDITA, CLEOMENES, and others. Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince; His very air, that I should call you brother, As As your fair princess, goddess!-oh! alas ! Flo. Sir, by his command Have I here touch'd Sicilia; and from him (Which waits upon worn times), hath something seiz'd His wish'd ability, he had himself The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his Leo. Oh, my brother! 170 (Good gentleman) the wrongs I have done thee, stir Afresh within me; and these thy offices, So rarely kind, are as interpreters Of my behind-hand slackness! Welcome hither, 179 Elo. |