Aut. If that Shepherd be not in Hand-faft, let him fiy; the Curfes he fhall have, the Tortures he fhall feel, will break the Back of Man, the Heart of Monster.

Clo. Think you fo, Sir?

Aut. Not he alone fhall fuffer what Wit can make heavy, and Vengeance bitter; but thofe that are Germain to him, tho' remov'd fifty times, fhall all come under the Hangman; which, tho' it be great Pity, yet it is neceffary. An old Sheep-whiftling Rogue, a Ram-tender, to offer to have his Daughter come into Grace? Some fay he fhall be fton'd; but that Death is too foft for him, fay I: Draw our Throne into a Sheep-Coat? All Deaths are too few, the fharpest too eafie.

Clo. Has the old Man e'er a Son, Sir; do you hear, andt like you, Sir?

Aut. He has a Son, who fhall be flay'd alive, then 'nointed over with Honey, fet on the Head of a Wafp's Neft, then ftand 'till he be three Quarters and a Dram dead; then recover'd again with Aqua-vite, or fome other hot Infufion; then, raw as he is, (and in the hottest Day Prognoftication proclaims) fhall he be fet 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 thefe Traitorly-Rafcals, whofe Miferies are to be fmil'd at, their Offences being fo capital? Tell me, (for you feem to be honeft plain Men) what you have to the King; being fomething gently confider'd, I'll bring you where he is aboard, tender your Perfons to his Prefence, whifper him in your behalf; and if it be in Man, befides the King, to effect your Suits, here is a Man fhal! do it.

Clo. He feems to be of great Authority; clofe with him, give him Gold; and though Authority be a ftubborn Bear, yet he is oft led by the Nofe with Gold; fhew the infide of your Purfe to the outfide of his Hand, and no more ado. Remember fton'd and flay'd alive.

Shep. And't pleafe you, Sir, to undertake the Bunnefs for us, here is the Gold I have; I'll make it as much more, and leave this young Man in Pawn 'till I bring it

you.

Ant. After I have done what I promised?
Shep. Ay, Sir.

Aut. Well, give me the Moiety. Are you a parting in this Bufinefs?

Clo. In fome fort, Sir; but tho' my Case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flay'd out of it.

Aut. Oh that's the Cafe of the Shepherd's Son; hang him, he'll be made an Example.

Clo. Comfort, good Comfort; we must to the King, and fhew our ftrange Sights; he must know 'tis none of your Daughter nor my Sifter, we are gone elfe. Sir, I will give you as much as this old Man does, when the Bu finefs is perform'd, and remain, as he says, your Pawn 'till it be brought you.

Aut. I will truft you, walk before toward the Sea-fide, go on the right Hand, I will but look upon the Hedge, and follow you.

Clo. We are blefs'd in this Man, as I may fay, even blefs'd.

Shep. Let's before, as he bids us; he was provided to do us good. [Exeunt Shep. and Clows. Aut. If I had a Mind to be honeft, I fee Fortune would not fuffer me; she drops Booties in my Mouth. I am courted now with a double Occafion: Gold, and a Means to do the Prince my Mafter good; which, who knows how that may turn back to my Advancement? I will bring thefe two Moals, thefe blind ones, aboard him; if he think it fit to Shoar them again, and that the Complaint they have to the King concerns him nothing, let him call me Rogue, for being fo far officious, for I am Proof against that Title, and what Shame elfe belongs to't: To him will I prefent them, there may be Matter in it. [Exit.

ACT

ACT V. SCENE I.

Enter Leontes, Cleomines, Dion, Paulina, and Servants.

done

Cleo. SIR, you have doric enough, and have perform'd

and

A Saint-like Sorrow: No Fault could you make, Which you have not redeem'd; indeed pay'd down More Penitence, than done Trefpafs. At the laft Do as the Heavens have done; forget your evil With them, forgive your felf.

Leo. Whilft I remember

Her and her Virtues, I cannot forget

My Blemishes in them, and fo ftill think of
The Wrong I did my felf; which was fo much,
That Heir-lefs it hath made my Kingdom, and
Destroy'd the fweet'ft Companion that e'er Man
Bred his Hopes out of, true.

Paul. Too true, my Lord,

If one by one you wedded all the World,
Or from the All that are, took fomething good,
To make a perfect Woman; fhe you kill'd,
Would be unparallell'd.

Leo. I think fo. Kill'd?

She I kill'd? I did fo, but thou strik'st me
Sorely, to fay I did; it is as bitter

Upon thy Tongue, as in my Thought. Now, good now, Say fo but feldom,

Cleo. Not at all, good Lady;

You might have fpoken a thousand things, that would
Have done the time more Benefit, and grac'd

Your Kindness better.

Paul. You are one of those,
Would have him wed again.
Dio. If you would not fo,

You pity not the State, nor the Remembrance
Of his moft Soveraign Name; Confider little,
What Dangers, by his Highnefs fail of Iffue,
May drop upon his Kingdom, and devour

Incertain

Incertain lookers on.

What were more holy,

Than to rejoice the former Queen is well?
What holier, than for Royalties repair,
For prefent Comfort, and for future good,
To blefs the Bed of Majefty again
With a fweet Fellow to't?

Paul. There is none worthy,
(Refpecting her that's gone) Befides the Gods
Will have fulfill'd their fecret Purposes:
For has not the divine Apollo faid,

Is't not the Tenor of his Oracle,

That King Leontes fhall not have an Heir,

'Till his loft Child be found? Which, that it fhall,
Is all as monftrous to our humane Reason,
As my Antigonus to break his Grave,

And come again to me; who, on my Life,
Did perish with the Infant. 'Tis your Council,
My Lord fhould to the Heav'ns be contrary,
Oppofe against their Wills. Care not for Iffue,
The Crown will find an Heir. Great Alexander
Left his to th' Worthieft; fo his Succeffor
Was like to be the best.

Lea. Good Pauline,

Who haft the Memory of Hermione

I know in Honour: O, that ever I

Had fquar'd me to thy Council; then, even now
I might have look'd upon my Queen's full Eyes,
Have taken re from her Lips.

Paul. And left them

More rich, for what they yielded.

Leo. Thou fpcak'ft Truth:

No more fuch Wives, therefore no Wife; one worfe,
And better us'd, would make her fainted Spirit,
Again poffefs her Corps, and on this Stage,
(Where we Offenders now appear) Soul-vext,
And begin, why to me?

Paul. Had the fuch Power,

She had juft Cause.

Leo. She had, and would incenfe me To murther her I married.

Paul.

Paul. I should fo:

Were I the Ghoft that walk'd, I'd bid you mark
Her Eye, and tell me for what dull part in't

You chofe her; then I'd fhriek, 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 elfe, dead Coals; fear thou no Wife:
I'll have no Wife, Paulina.

Paul. Will you fwear

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.

Paul. Yet if my Lord will marry; if you will, Sir;
No Remedy, but you will; give me the Office
To chufe you a Queen; fhe fhall not be fo young
As was your former; but she shall be fuch

As, walk'd your firft Queen's Ghoft, it should take Joy
To fee her in your Arms.

Leo. My true Paulina,

We shall not marry, 'till thou bidft us.

Paul. That

Shall be, when your firft Queen's again in Breath:

Never 'till then.

Enter a Servant.

Ser. One that gives out himself Prince Florizel,
Son of Polixenes, with his Princefs (fhe
The fairest I have yet beheld) defires Access
To your high Prefence.

Leo. What with him? He comes not

Like to his Father's Greatnefs; his Approach So out of Circumftance, and fudden, tells us, 'Tis not a Vifitation fram'd, but forc'd

By need and accident. What Train?

Ser. But few,

VOL. II.