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The Winter's Tale (Modern)
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3009[5.2]
Beseech you, sir, were you present at this 3012relation?
I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard 3014the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it; 3015whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all 3016commanded out of the chamber. Only this, methought I 3017heard the shepherd say he found the child.
I would most gladly know the issue of it.
I make a broken delivery of the business, 3020but the changes I perceived in the King and Camillo were 3021very notes of admiration; they seemed almost, with 3022staring on one another, to tear the cases of their eyes. 3023There was speech in their dumbness, language in their 3024very gesture. They looked as they had heard of a world 3025ransomed, or one destroyed. A notable passion of 3026wonder appeared in them, but the wisest beholder that knew 3027no more but seeing could not say if th' importance were 3028joy or sorrow. But in the extremity of the one, it must 3029needs be.
5.2.4.1Enter another Gentleman [Ruggiero].
Nothing but bonfires, the oracle is fulfilled: 3033the king's daughter is found! Such a deal of wonder is 3034broken out within this hour that ballad makers cannot 3035be able to express it.
5.2.5.1Enter another Gentleman.
5.2.5.23036Here comes the Lady Paulina's steward. He can deliver 3037you more. How goes it now, sir? This news which 3038is called true is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is 3039in strong suspicion. Has the king found his heir?
Most true, if ever truth were pregnant by 3041circumstance. That which you hear you'll swear 3042you see; there is such unity in the proofs. The mantle 3043of Queen Hermione's, her jewel about the neck of it, 3044the letters of Antigonus found with it, which they know 3045to be his character; the majesty of the creature in 3046resemblance of the mother; the affection of nobleness, 3047which nature shows above her breeding; and many 3048other evidences proclaim her with all certainty to be 3049the king's daughter. Did you see the meeting of the 3050two kings?
No.
Then have you lost a sight which was to be 3053seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have 3054beheld one joy crown another, so and in such manner that 3055it seemed sorrow wept to take leave of them for their 3056joy waded in tears. There was casting up of eyes, 3057holding up of hands, with countenance of such distraction 3058that they were to be known by garment, not by favor. 3059Our king, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of 3060his found daughter, as if that joy were now become a 3061loss, cries, "Oh, thy mother, thy mother," then asks 3062Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-law; 3063then again worries he his daughter with clipping her. 3064Now he thanks the old shepherd, which stands by like 3065a weather-bitten conduit of many kings' reigns. I 3066never heard of such another encounter, which lames 3067report to follow it, and undoes description to do it.
What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that 3069carried hence the child?
Like an old tale still, which will have matter 3071to rehearse, though credit be asleep and not an ear 3072open -- he was torn to pieces with a bear. This avouches 3073the shepherd's son, who has not only his innocence, 3074which seems much to justify him, but a handkerchief 3075and rings of his that Paulina knows.
What became of his bark and his 3077followers?
Wrecked the same instant of their master's 3079death, and in the view of the shepherd, so that all the 3080instruments which aided to expose the child were even 3081then lost when it was found. But oh, the noble combat 3082that 'twixt joy and sorrow was fought in Paulina! She 3083had one eye declined for the loss of her husband, 3084another elevated that the oracle was fulfilled. She lifted the 3085princess from the earth and so locks her in embracing, 3086as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no 3087more be in danger of losing.
The dignity of this act was worth the 3089audience of kings and princes, for by such was it acted.
One of the prettiest touches of all, and that 3091which angled for mine eyes -- caught the water, though 3092not the fish -- was, when at the relation of the queen's 3093death, with the manner how she came to't, bravely 3094confessed and lamented by the king, how attentiveness 3095wounded his daughter, till, from one sign of dolor to 3096another, she did, with an "Alas!" I would fain say, bleed 3097tears, for I am sure my heart wept blood. Who was 3098most marble there changed color. Some swooned, all 3099sorrowed. If all the world could have seen't, the woe 3100had been universal.
Are they returned to the court?
No. The princess, hearing of her mother's 3103statue which is in the keeping of Paulina, a piece many 3104year's in doing and now newly performed by that rare 3105Italian master, Julio Romano, who -- had he himself 3106eternity and could put breath into his work -- would 3107beguile nature of her custom, so perfectly he is her ape. 3108He so near to Hermione hath done Hermione that they 3109say one would speak to her and stand in hope of answer. 3110Thither, with all greediness of affection are they gone, 3111and there they intend to sup.
I thought she had some great matter there in 3113hand, for she hath privately twice or thrice a day ever 3114since the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. 3115Shall we thither and with our company piece the 3116rejoicing?
Who would be thence that has the benefit 3118of access? Every wink of an eye, some new grace 3119will be born. Our absence makes us unthrifty to our 3120knowledge. Let's along.
5.2.18.1[Exeunt the Gentlemen.]
Now, had I not the dash of my former life in 3122me, would preferment drop on my head. I brought the 3123old man and his son aboard the prince, told him I 3124heard them talk of a fardel and I know not what, but 3125he at that time overfond of the shepherd's daughter -- so 3126he then took her to be -- who began to be much seasick 3127and himself little better, extremity of weather 3128continuing, this mystery remained undiscovered. But 'tis all 3129one to me, for had I been the finder-out of this secret, 3130it would not have relished among my other discredits. 3131
5.2.19.1Enter Shepherd and Clown [ornately dressed]
5.2.19.23132Here come those I have done good to against my will 3133and already appearing in the blossoms of their 3134fortune.
Come, boy, I am past more children, but thy 3136sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.
[To Autolycus] You are well met, sir. You denied to fight 3138with me this other day because I was no gentleman 3139born. See you these clothes? Say you see them not 3140and think me still no gentleman born; you were best 3141say these robes are not gentlemen born. Give me the 3142lie, do, and try whether I am not now a gentleman 3143born.
I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born.
Ay, and have been so any time these four hours.
And so have I, boy.
So you have, but I was a gentleman born 3148before my father, for the king's son took me by the 3149hand and called me "brother"; and then the two kings 3150called my father "brother" and then the prince my 3151brother and the princess my sister called my father "father." 3152and so we wept, and there was the first gentleman-like 3153tears that ever we shed.
We may live, son, to shed many more.
Ay, or else 'twere hard luck being in so 3156preposterous estate as we are.
I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the 3158faults I have committed to your worship, and to give 3159me your good report to the prince my master.
Prithee, son, do, for we must be gentle now 3161we are gentlemen.
Thou wilt amend thy life?
Ay, and it like your good worship.
Give me thy hand. I will swear to the prince 3165thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.
You may say it, but not swear it.
Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let 3168boors and franklins say it. I'll swear it.
How if it be false, son?
If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may 3171swear it in the behalf of his friend. And I'll swear to 3172the prince thou art a tall fellow of thy hands, and that 3173thou wilt not be drunk, but I know thou art no tall 3174fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt be drunk, but I'll 3175swear it, and I would thou wouldst be a tall fellow of 3176thy hands.
I will prove so, sir, to my power.
Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow. If I do not 3179wonder how thou dar'st venture to be drunk, not being 3180a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark, the kings and 3181princes, our kindred, are going to see the queen's picture. 3182Come, follow us. We'll be thy good masters.
5.2.38.1Exeunt.