Page 861 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

THIRD GENTLEMAN

Like an old tale still, which will have matter to rehearse, though credit be
asleep and not an ear [60] open. He was torn to pieces with a bear: this
avouches the shepherd’s son; who has not only his innocence, which seems

much, to justify him, but a handkerchief and rings of his that Paulina knows.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

What became of his bark and his followers [65]?

THIRD GENTLEMAN
Wrecked the same instant of their master’s death, and in the view of the
shepherd: so that all the instruments which aided to expose the child were
even then lost when it was found. But O, the noble [70] combat that ’twixt
joy and sorrow was fought in Paulina! She had one eye declined for the loss

of her husband, another elevated that the Oracle was fulfilled: she lifted the
princess from the earth, and so locks her in embracing as if she would pin her
to her heart, that she might no [75] more be in danger of losing.

FIRST GENTLEMAN
The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by

such was it acted.

THIRD GENTLEMAN
One of the prettiest touches of all, and that which angled for mine eyes
(caught the water though [80] not the fish) was, when at the relation of the
queen’s death (with the manner how she came to ’t bravely confessed and
lamented by the king) how attentiveness wounded his daughter; till, from

one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an ‘Alas’, I would fain say, bleed
[85] 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? [90]

THIRD GENTLEMAN
No: the princess hearing of her mother’s statue, which is in the keeping of