Page 865 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, Lords (and
Attendants).

LEONTES
O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort
That I have had of thee!

PAULINA
What, sovereign sir,

I did not well, I meant well. All my services
You have paid home: but that you have vouchsaf’d,
With your crown’d brother and these your contracted [5]
Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit,

It is a surplus of your grace, which never
My life may last to answer.

LEONTES
O Paulina,
We honour you with trouble: but we came
To see the statue of our queen: your gallery [10]

Have we pass’d through, not without much content
In many singularities; but we saw not
That which my daughter came to look upon,

The statue of her mother.

PAULINA

As she liv’d peerless,
So her dead likeness, I do well believe, [15]
Excels whatever yet you look’d upon,
Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it

Lonely, apart. But here it is: prepare
To see the life as lively mock’d as ever
Still sleep mock’d death: behold, and say ’tis well. [20]
(Paulina draws a curtain, and discovers Hermione standing like a statue)

I like your silence, it the more shows off
Your wonder: but yet speak; first you, my liege.
Comes it not something near?