Will piece up in himself.
PAULINA
Indeed, my lord,
If I had thought the sight of my poor image
Would thus have wrought you,—for the stone is mine,—
I’d not have show’d it.
LEONTES
Do not draw the curtain.
PAULINA
No longer shall you gaze on’t; lest your fancy
May think anon it moves.
LEONTES
Let be, let be.—
Would I were dead, but that, methinks, already—
What was he that did make it? See, my lord,
Would you not deem it breath’d, and that those veins
Did verily bear blood?
POLIXENES
Masterly done:
The very life seems warm upon her lip.
LEONTES
The fixture of her eye has motion in’t,
As we are mock’d with art.
PAULINA
I’ll draw the curtain:
My lord’s almost so far transported that
He’ll think anon it lives.
LEONTES
O sweet Paulina,
Make me to think so twenty years together!
No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness. Let’t alone.
PAULINA
I am sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr’d you: but
I could afflict you further.
LEONTES
Do, Paulina;
For this affliction has a taste as sweet
As any cordial comfort.—Still, methinks,
There is an air comes from her: what fine chisel
Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock me,
For I will kiss her!
PAULINA
Good my lord, forbear:
The ruddiness upon her lip is wet;
You’ll mar it if you kiss it; stain your own
With oily painting. Shall I draw the curtain?
LEONTES
No, not these twenty years.
PERDITA
So long could I
Stand by, a looker on.
PAULINA
Either forbear,
Quit presently the chapel, or resolve you
For more amazement. If you can behold it,
I’ll make the statue move indeed, descend,
And take you by the hand, but then you’ll think,—
Which I protest against,—I am assisted
By wicked powers.
LEONTES
What you can make her do
I am content to look on: what to speak,
I am content to hear; for ‘tis as easy
To make her speak as move.
PAULINA
It is requir’d
You do awake your faith. Then all stand still;
Or those that think it is unlawful business
I am about, let them depart.
LEONTES
Proceed:
No foot shall stir.
PAULINA
Music, awake her: strike.—[Music.]
‘Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach;
Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come;
I’ll fill your grave up: stir; nay, come away;
Bequeath to death your numbness, for from him
Dear life redeems you.—You perceive she stirs.
[HERMIONE comes down from the pedestal.]
Start not; her actions shall be holy as
You hear my spell is lawful: do not shun her
Until you see her die again; for then
You kill her double. Nay, present your hand:
When she was young you woo’d her; now in age
Is she become the suitor?
LEONTES
[Embracing her.] O, she’s warm!
If this be magic, let it be an art
Lawful as eating.
POLIXENES
She embraces him.
CAMILLO
She hangs about his neck:
If she pertain to life, let her speak too.
POLIXENES
Ay, and make it manifest where she has liv’d,
Or how stol’n from the dead.
PAULINA
That she is living,
Were it but told you, should be hooted at
Like an old tale; but it appears she lives,
Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while.—
Please you to interpose, fair madam: kneel,
And pray your mother’s blessing.—Turn, good lady;
Our Perdita is found.
[Presenting PERDITA, who kneels to HERMIONE.]
HERMIONE
You gods, look down,
And from your sacred vials pour your graces
Upon my daughter’s head!—Tell me, mine own,
Where hast thou been preserv’d? where liv’d? how found
Thy father’s court? for thou shalt hear that I,—
Knowing by Paulina that the oracle
Gave hope thou wast in being,—have preserv’d
Myself to see the issue.
PAULINA
There’s time enough for that;
Lest they desire upon this push to trouble
Your joys with like relation.—Go together,
You precious winners all; your exultation
Partake to every one. I, an old turtle,
Will wing me to some wither’d bough, and there
My mate, that’s never to be found again,
Lament till I am lost.
LEONTES
O peace, Paulina!
Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent,