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By Root 19104 0

she came to't bravely confess'd and lamented by the King, how attentivenes 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 perform'd 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 over-fond 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 undiscover'd. But 'tis all one

to me; for had I been the finder-out of this secret, it would not

have relish'd 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 call'd me brother; and

then the two kings call'd my father brother; and then the Prince,

my brother, and the Princess, my sister, call'd 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.