The Winter’s Tale

Gentleman The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted. Third Gentleman One of the prettiest touches of all and that which angled for mine eyes, caught the water though not the fish, was when, at the relation of the queen’s death, with the manner how she came to’t bravely confessed and lamented by the king, how attentiveness wounded his daughter; till, from one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an “Alas,” I would fain say, bleed tears, for I am sure my heart wept blood. Who was most marble there changed colour; some swooned, all sorrowed: if all the world could have seen ’t, the woe had been universal. First Gentleman Are they returned to the court? Third Gentleman No: the princess hearing of her mother’s statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina⁠—a piece many years in doing and now newly performed by that rare Italian master, Julio Romano, who, had he himself eternity and could put breath into his work, would beguile Nature of her custom, so perfectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione that they say one would speak to her and stand in hope of answer: thither with all greediness of affection are they gone, and there they intend to sup. Second Gentleman I thought she had some great matter there in hand; for she hath privately twice or thrice a day, ever since the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. Shall we thither and with our company piece the rejoicing? First Gentleman Who would be thence that has the benefit of access? every wink of an eye some new grace will be born: our absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. Let’s along. Exeunt Gentlemen. Autolycus Now, had I not the dash of my former life in me, would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old man and his son aboard the prince: told him I heard them talk of a fardel and I know not what: but he at that time, overfond of the shepherd’s daughter, so he then took her to be, who began to be much sea-sick, and himself little better, extremity of weather continuing, this mystery remained undiscovered. But ’tis all one to me; for had I been the finder out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits. Enter Shepherd and Clown. Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune. Shepherd Come, boy; I am past moe children, but thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born. Clown You are well met, sir. You denied to fight with me this other day, because I was no gentleman born. See you these clothes? say you see them not and think me still no gentleman born: you were best say these robes are not gentlemen born: give me the lie, do, and try whether I am not now a gentleman born. Autolycus I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born. Clown Ay, and have been so any time these four hours. Shepherd And so have I, boy. Clown So you have: but I was a gentleman born before my father; for the king’s son took me by the hand, and called me brother; and then the two kings called my father brother; and then the prince my brother and the princess my sister called my father father; and so we wept, and there was the first gentleman-like tears that ever we shed. Shepherd We may live, son, to shed many more. Clown Ay; or else ’twere hard luck, being in so preposterous estate as we are. Autolycus I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the faults I have committed to your worship and to give me your good report to the prince my master. Shepherd Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen. Clown Thou wilt amend thy life? Autolycus Ay, an it like your good worship. Clown Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia. Shepherd You may say it, but not swear it. Clown Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and franklins say it, I’ll swear it. Shepherd How if it be false, son? Clown If it be ne’er so false, a true gentleman may swear it in the behalf of his friend: and I’ll swear to the prince thou art a tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know thou art no tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt be drunk: but I’ll swear it, and I would thou wouldst be a tall fellow of thy hands. Autolycus I will prove so, sir, to my power. Clown 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.

Scene III

A chapel in Paulina’s house.

	Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, Lords, and Attendants.
Leontes	O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort That I have had of thee!
Paulina	What, sovereign sir, I did not well I meant well. All my services You have paid home: but that you have vouchsafed, With your crown’d brother and these your contracted Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit, It is a surplus of your grace, which never My life may last to answer.
Leontes	O Paulina, We honour you with trouble: but we came To see the statue of our queen: your gallery Have we pass’d through, not without much content In many singularities; but we saw not That which my daughter came to look upon, The statue of her mother.
Paulina	As she lived peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Excels whatever yet you look’d upon Or