ACT V. SCENE I. Sicilia. A Room in the Palace of Leontes. Enter LEONTES, CLEOMENES, DION, PAULINA, and others. Cleo. Sir, you have done enough, and have performed A saintlike sorrow; no fault could you make, Which you have not redeemed; indeed, paid down More penitence, than done trespass. At the last, Do, as the Heavens have done; forget your evil: With them, forgive yourself. Leon. Whilst I remember Her and her virtues, I cannot forget Paul. True, too true, my lord. Leon. I think so. Killed! She I killed! I did so; but thou strik'st me Upon thy tongue, as in my thought. Now, good now, Cleo. Not at all, good lady. You might have spoken a thousand things that would Have done the time more benefit, and graced Your kindness better. Paul. You are one of those, Would have him wed again. Dion. If you would not so, To bless the bed of majesty again There is none worthy With a sweet fellow to't? Paul. Respecting her that's gone. Besides, the gods Is't not the tenor of his oracle, That king Leontes shall not have an heir Till his lost child be found? which, that it shall, [To LEONTES. The crown will find an heir. Great Alexander Leon. Good Paulina,Who hast the memory of Hermione, I know, in honor,-Ö, that ever I Had squared me to thy counsel!-Then, even now, Paul. And left them Thou speak'st truth. One worse, No more such wives; therefore no wife. Paul. She had just cause. Had she such power, She had; and would incense me To murder her I married. I should so. Paul. Stars, stars, Leon. Paul. Will you swear Never to marry but by my free leave? Leon. Never, Paulina; so be blessed my spirit! Paul. Then, good my lords, bear witness to his oath. Cleo. You tempt him overmuch. Paul. As like Hermione as is her picture, Cleo. Paul. Good madam, Unless another I have done. Yet, if my lord will marry,- if you will, sir, As, walked your first queen's ghost, it should take joy Leon. My true Paulina, We shall not marry, till thou bidd'st us. Paul. That Shall be, when your first queen's again in breath; Enter a Gentleman. Gent. One that gives out himself prince Florizel, Son of Polixenes, with his princess, (she What with him? He comes not The fairest I have yet beheld,) desires access Gent. And those but mean. Leon. But few, His princess, say you, with him? Gent. Ay; the most peerless piece of earth, I think, That e'er the sun shone bright on. O Hermione, Paul. M* Gent. Of who she but bid follow. Paul. How? not women? Gent. Women will love her, that she is a woman Leon. Go, Cleomenes; Yourself, assisted with your honored friends, Bring them to our embracement.-Still 'tis strange Paul. Leon. Re-enter CLEOMENES, with FLORIZEL, PERDITA, and Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince; His very air, that I should call you brother, Amity too, of your brave father; whom, By his command Flo. Can send his brother: and, but infirmity (Which waits upon worn times) hath something seized His wished ability, he had himself The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his Leon. O, my brother, (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, (At least, ungentle) of the dreadful Neptune, Flo. She came from Libya. Leon. Good my lord, Where the warlike Smalus, That noble, honored lord, is feared and loved? Flo. Most royal sir, from thence; from him, whose daughter His tears proclaimed his, parting with her; thence (A prosperous south wind friendly) we have crossed, Not only my success in Libya, sir, Leon. For which the Heavens, taking angry note, Lord. Enter a Lord. Most noble sir, That which I shall report, will bear no credit, |