Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies Published according to the true originall copies.

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Title
Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies Published according to the true originall copies.
Author
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Publication
London :: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount [at the charges of W. Iaggard, Ed. Blount, I. Smithweeke, and W. Aspley],
1623.
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"Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies Published according to the true originall copies." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A11954.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 8, 2024.

Pages

Scoena Secunda.
Enter Autolicus, and a Gentleman.
Aut.

Beseech you (Sir) were you present at this Re∣lation?

Gent. 1.

I was by at the opening of the Farthell, heard the old Shepheard deliuer the manner how he found it: Whereupon (after a little amazednesse) we were all com∣manded out of the Chamber: onely this (me thought) I heard the Shepheard say, he found the Child.

Aut.

I would most gladly know the issue of it.

Gent. 1.

I make a broken deliuerie of the Businesse; but the changes I perceiued in the King, and Camillo, were very Notes of admiration: they seem'd almost, with sta∣ring on one another, to teare the Cases of their Eyes. There was speech in their dumbnesse, Language in their very gesture: they look'd as they had heard of a World ansom'd, or one destroyed: a notable passion of Won∣der appeared in them: but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing, could not say, if th' importance were Iy, or Sorrow; but in the extremitie of the one, it must needs be.

Enter another Gentleman.

Here comes a Gentleman, that happily knowes more: The Newes, Rogero.

Gent. 2.

Nothing but Bon-fires: the Oracle is fulfill'd: the Kings Daughter is found: such a deale of wonder is broken out within this houre, that Ballad-makers cannot be able to expresse it.

Enter another Gentleman.

Here comes the Lady Paulina's Steward, hee can deliuer you more. How goes it now (Sir.) This Newes (which is call'd true) is so like an old Tale, that the veritie of it is in strong suspition: Ha's the King found his Heire?

Gent. 3.

Most true, if euer Truth were pregnant by Circumstance: That which you heare, you'le sweare you see, there is such vnitie in the proofes. The Mantle of Queene Hermiones: her Iewell about the Neck of it: the Letters of Antigonus found with it, which they know to be his Character: the Maiestie of the Creature, in re∣semblance of the Mother: the Affection of Noblenesse, which Nature shewes aboue her Breeding, and many o∣ther Euidences, proclayme her, with all certaintie, to be the Kings Daughter. Did you see the meeting of the two Kings?

Gent. 2.

No.

Gent. 3.

Then haue you lost a Sight which was to bee seene, cannot bee spoken of. There might you haue be∣held one Ioy crowne another, so and in such manner, that it seem'd Sorrow wept to take leaue of them: for their Ioy waded in teares. There was casting vp of Eyes, hol∣ding vp of Hands, with Countenance of such distraction, that they were to be knowne by Garment, not by Fauor.

Page 301

Our King being ready to leape out of himselfe, for ioy of his found Daughter; as if that Ioy were now become a Losse, cryes, Oh, thy Mother, thy Mother: then askes Bohemia forgiuenesse, then embraces his Sonne-in-Law: then againe worryes he his Daughter, with clipping her. Now he thanks the old Shepheard (which stands by, like a Weather-bitten Conduit, of many Kings Reignes.) I neuer heard of such another Encounter; which lames Re∣port to follow it, and vndo's description to doe it.

Gent. 2.

What, 'pray you, became of Antigonus, that carryed hence the Child?

Gent. 3.

Like an old Tale still, which will haue matter to rehearse, though Credit be asleepe, and not an eare o∣pen; he was torne to pieces with a Beare: This auouches the Shepheards Sonne; who ha's not onely his Innocence (which seemes much) to iustifie him, but a Hand-kerchief and Rings of his▪ that Paulina knowes.

Gent. 1.

What became of his Barke, and his Fol∣lowers?

Gent. 3.

Wrackt the same instant of their Masters death, and in the view of the Shepheard: so that all the Instruments which ayded to expose the Child, were euen then loft, when it was found. But oh the Noble Combat, that 'twixt Ioy and Sorrow was fought in Paulina. Shee had one Eye declin'd for the losse of her Husband, ano∣ther eleuated, that the Oracle was fulfill'd: Shee lifted the Princesse from the Earth, and so locks her in embracing, as if shee would pin her to her heart, that shee might no more be in danger of loosing.

Gent. 1.

The Dignitie of this Act was worth the au∣dience of Kings and Princes, for by such was it acted.

Gent. 3.

One of the prettyest touches of all, and that which angl'd for mine Eyes (caught the Water, though not the Fish) was, when at the Relation of the Queenes death (with the manner how shee came to't brauely con∣fess'd, and lamented by the King) how attentiuenesse wounded his Daughter, till (from one signe of dolour to another) shee did (with an Alas) I would faine say, bleed Teares; for I am sure, my heart wept blood. Who was most Marble, there changed colour: some swownded, all sorrowed: if all the World could haue seen't, the Woe had beene vniuersall.

Gent. 1.

Are they returned to the Court?

Gent. 3.

No: The Princesse hearing of her Mothers Statue (which is in the keeping of Paulina) a Peece many yeeres in doing, and now newly perform'd, by that rare Italian Master, Iulio Romaeno, who (had he himselfe Eter∣nitie, and could put Breath into his Worke) would be∣guile Nature of her Custome, so perfectly he is her Ape: He so neere to Hermione, hath done Hermione, that they say one would speake to her, and stand in hope of answer. Thither (with all greedinesse of affection) are they gone, and there they intend to Sup.

Gent. 2.

I thought she had some great matter there in hand, for shee hath priuately, twice or thrice a day, euer since the death of Hermione, visited that remoued House. Shall wee thither, and with our companie peece the Re∣ioycing?

Gent. 1.

Who would be thence, that ha's the benefit of Accesse? euery winke of an Eye, some new Grace will be borne: our Absence makes vs vnthriftie to our Knowledge. Let's along.

Exit.
Aut.

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 Sonne aboord the Prince; told him, I heard them talke of a Farthell, and I know not what: but he at that time ouer-fond of the Shepheards Daughter (so he then tooke her to be) who began to be much Sea-sick, and himselfe little better, extremitie of Weather conti∣nuing, this Mysterie remained vndiscouer'd. But 'tis all one to me: for had I beene the finder-out of this Secret, it would not haue rellish'd among my other discredits.

Enter Shepheard and Clowne.

Here come those I haue done good to against my will, and alreadie appearing in the blossomes of their For∣tune.

Shep.

Come Boy, I am past moe Children: but thy Sonnes and Daughters will be all Gentlemen borne.

Clow.

You are well met (Sir.) you deny'd to fight with mee this other day, because I was no Gentleman borne. See you these Clothes? say you see them not, and thinke me still no Gentleman borne: You were best say these Robes are not Gentlemen borne. Giue me the Lye: doe: and try whether I am not now a Gentleman borne.

Aut.

I know you are now (Sir) a Gentleman borne.

Clow.

I, and haue been so any time these foure houres.

Shep.

And so haue I, Boy.

Clow.

So you haue: but I was a Gentleman borne be∣fore my Father: for the Kings Sonne tooke me by the hand, and call'd mee Brother: and then the two Kings call'd my Father Brother: and then the Prince (my Bro∣ther) and the Princesse (my Sister) call'd mv Father, Father; and so wee wept: and there was the first Gentleman-like teares that euer we shed.

Shep.

We may liue (Sonne) to shed many more.

Clow.

I: or else 'twere hard luck, being in so peposte∣rous estate as we are.

Aut.

I humbly beseech you (Sir) to pardon me all the faults I haue committed to your Worship, and to giue me your good report to the Prince my Master.

Shep.

'Prethee Sonne doe: for we must be gentle, now we are Gentlemen.

Clow.

Thou wilt amend thy life?

Ant.

I, and it like your good Worship.

Clow.

Giue me thy hand: I will sweare to the Prince, thou art as honest a true Fellow as any is in Bohemia.

Shep.

You may say it, but not sweare it.

Clow.

Not sweare it, now I am a Gentleman? Let Boores and Francklins say it, Ile sweare it.

Shep.

How if it be false (Sonne?)

Clow.

If it be ne're so false, a true Gentleman may sweare it, in the behalfe of his Friend: And Ile sweare to the Prince▪ thou art a tall Fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt not be drunke: but I know thou art no tall Fel∣low of thy hands, and that thou wilt be drunke: but Ile sweare it, and I would thou would'st be a tall Fellow of thy hands.

Aut.

I will proue so (Sir) to my power.

Clow.

I, by any meanes proue a tall Fellow: if I do not wonder, how thou dar'st venture to be drunke, not being a tall Fellow, trust me not. Harke, the Kings and the Prin∣ces (our Kindred) are going to see the Queenes Picture. Come, follow vs: wee'le be thy good Masters.

Exeunt.
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