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Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation?
Please, sir, were you there when this story was told?
I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it: whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all commanded out of the chamber; only this methought I heard the shepherd say, he found the child.
I was present when they opened the bundle, heard the old shepherd explain how he found it: Then, after a little shock, we were all Told to leave the room; only this, I think I Heard the shepherd say, he found the child.
I would most gladly know the issue of it.
I’d love to know how it turned out.
I make a broken delivery of the business; but the changes I perceived in the king and Camillo were very notes of admiration: they seemed almost, with staring on one another, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was speech in their dumbness, language in their very gesture; they looked as they had heard of a world ransomed, or one destroyed: a notable passion of wonder appeared in them; but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing, could not say if the importance were joy or sorrow; but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be.
I’m giving you a rough version of the story; but the Reactions I saw in the king and Camillo were Full of amazement: they seemed almost, by staring at each other, To tear the very skin of their eyes; there was speech in their silence, Language in their gestures; they looked as if they had heard Of a world saved, or one destroyed: a clear Passion of surprise appeared in them; but the wisest Onlooker, who knew no more than what he saw, couldn’t Tell if it was joy or sorrow, but in the Extreme of either, it had to be something significant.
Here comes a gentleman that haply knows more. The news, Rogero?
Here comes a man who probably knows more. What’s the news, Rogero?
Nothing but bonfires: the oracle is fulfilled; the king’s daughter is found: such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour that ballad-makers cannot be able to express it.
Nothing but bonfires: the prophecy has come true; the king’s daughter has been found: so many unbelievable things have happened in the last hour that songwriters won’t be able to describe them.
Here comes the Lady Paulina’s steward: he can deliver you more. How goes it now, sir? this news which is called true is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in strong suspicion: has the king found his heir?
Here comes the Lady Paulina’s steward: he can tell you more. How’s it going now, sir? This news that’s called true seems so much like an old story that we’re all doubting if it’s really true: has the king found his heir?
Most true, if ever truth were pregnant by circumstance: that which you hear you’ll swear you see, there is such unity in the proofs. The mantle of Queen Hermione’s, her jewel about the neck of it, the letters of Antigonus found with it which they know to be his character, the majesty of the creature in resemblance of the mother, the affection of nobleness which nature shows above her breeding, and many other evidences proclaim her with all certainty to be the king’s daughter. Did you see the meeting of the two kings?
Absolutely true, if truth was ever proven by circumstances: what you hear, you’ll swear you saw, there’s so much evidence. The queen’s mantle, her jewel around its neck, the letters of Antigonus found with it and known to be his handwriting, the majesty of the child, resembling her mother, the noble spirit she shows despite her humble upbringing, and many other facts prove without a doubt that she is the king’s daughter. Did you see the meeting between the two kings?
No.
No.
Then have you lost a sight, which was to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld one joy crown another, so and in such manner that it seemed sorrow wept to take leave of them, for their joy waded in tears. There was casting up of eyes, holding up of hands, with countenances of such distraction that they were to be known by garment, not by favour. Our king, being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter, as if that joy were now become a loss, cries ’O, thy mother, thy mother!’ then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his daughter with clipping her; now he thanks the old shepherd, which stands by like a weather-bitten conduit of many kings’ reigns. I never heard of such another encounter, which lames report to follow it and undoes description to do it.
Then you’ve missed a sight that can’t be described. There you would have seen one joy build on top of another, so much so that it seemed like sorrow itself wept to say goodbye, for their happiness was mixed with tears. There were eyes raised to heaven, hands lifted in prayer, faces so filled with emotion that they were recognizable by their clothes, not by their expressions. Our king, about to burst with joy over finding his daughter, as if that joy had turned into sorrow, cried, ’Oh, your mother, your mother!’ Then he asked Bohemia for forgiveness, then hugged his son-in-law, then held his daughter close again, almost squeezing her to him. Now he thanked the old shepherd, who stood by like a weathered monument from many kings’ reigns. I’ve never heard of anything like this, it leaves words unable to follow it and descriptions failing to do it justice.
What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried hence the child?
What, pray, happened to Antigonus, the one who took the child away?
Like an old tale still, which will have matter to rehearse, though credit be asleep and not an ear 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.
Like an old story, still, with more to tell even if no one believes it, though no one is listening. He was torn apart by a bear: that’s what the shepherd’s son says; who not only has his word, which seems trustworthy, to back him up, but a handkerchief and rings that Paulina recognizes.
What became of his bark and his followers?
What happened to his ship and crew?
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 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 more be in danger of losing.
They were wrecked at the same time as their master’s death, and right in front of the shepherd: so all the things that helped to reveal the child were lost at the same time it was found. But oh, the noble struggle between joy and sorrow that Paulina went through! She had one eye lowered in sadness for her husband’s death, while the other was lifted with joy that the prophecy had come true. She lifted the princess from the ground, and held her so tightly, as if she wanted to keep her there in her arms to make sure she would never be lost again.
The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes; for by such was it acted.
The dignity of this act was worthy of the attention of kings and princes; for it was done by such people.
One of the prettiest touches of all and that which angled for mine eyes, caught the water though 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 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.
One of the most touching moments, and the one that really caught my eye, was when, upon hearing of the queen’s death, and the way she died, bravely confessed and mourned by the king, how his daughter was affected; until, from one sign of grief to another, she did, with a deep sigh, I would almost say, weep tears, because I’m sure my heart was bleeding. Those who were most stone-faced turned pale; some fainted, everyone was in sorrow: if the whole world had seen it, the sorrow would have been universal.
Are they returned to the court?
Have they returned to the court?
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 performed 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.
No: the princess, hearing of her mother’s statue, which Paulina keeps—an artwork many years in the making and just now finished by that exceptional Italian artist, Julio Romano, who, if he had eternity and could breathe life into his work, would outdo Nature herself, so closely he imitates her: he has so perfectly captured Hermione that people say you would speak to her and wait for an answer: they’ve all gone there with eager love and plan to have supper there.
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?
I thought she had something important to do there; because since Hermione died, she’s secretly visited that house two or three times a day. Shall we go there and join the celebration?
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.
Who would be here that has the privilege of access? Every moment brings some new virtue or talent: Our absence makes us waste our knowledge. Let’s go.
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, overfond 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 undiscovered. But ’tis all one to me; for had I been the finder out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits.
If I didn’t have the mark of my past life on me, would I get any promotions? I got the old man and his son onto the prince’s ship: I told him I overheard them talking about a bundle and I don’t know what else: but at that time, he was so infatuated with the shepherd’s daughter, who had started to get seasick, and he wasn’t much better himself, the bad weather kept going, and this mystery stayed unsolved. But it’s all the same to me; because if I had uncovered this secret, it wouldn’t have been something I’d want connected to my other bad reputations.
Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune.
Here come those I’ve helped, though I didn’t want to, and already looking like they’ve found fortune.
Come, boy; I am past moe children, but thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.
Come on, boy; I’m done having more children, but your sons and daughters will all be gentlemen by birth.
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.
Good to see you, sir. You refused to fight me the other day because I wasn’t a gentleman by birth. Do you see these clothes? If you say you don’t, then think of me as still not a gentleman by birth: you’d better say these robes aren’t of gentlemen by birth: go ahead, insult me, and see if I’m not a gentleman now.
I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born.
I know you are now, sir, a gentleman by birth.
Ay, and have been so any time these four hours.
Yes, and have been so for the last four hours.
And so have I, boy.
And so have I, boy.
So you have: but I was a gentleman born before my father; for the king’s son took me by the hand, and called me brother; and then the two kings called my father brother; and then the prince my brother and the princess my sister called my father father; and so we wept, and there was the first gentleman-like tears that ever we shed.
So you have: but I was a gentleman before my father was; because the king’s son took me by the hand, and called me brother; and then the two kings called my father brother; and then the prince my brother and the princess my sister called my father father; and then we cried, and those were the first noble tears we ever shed.
We may live, son, to shed many more.
We may live, son, to shed many more.
Ay; or else ’twere hard luck, being in so preposterous estate as we are.
Yes; or else it would be bad luck, being in such a strange position as we are.
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.
I humbly ask you, sir, to forgive all the mistakes I’ve made with you, and to give me a good word with the prince, my master.
Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.
Please, son, do; because we must be kind, now that we’re gentlemen.
Thou wilt amend thy life?
Will you change your ways?
Ay, an it like your good worship.
Yes, if it pleases your good worship.
Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.
Give me your hand: I’ll swear to the prince that you are as honest and true a fellow as anyone in Bohemia.
You may say it, but not swear it.
You can say that, but you can’t swear to it.
Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and franklins say it, I’ll swear it.
Can’t swear to it, now that I’m a gentleman? Let farmers and countrymen say it, but I’ll swear to it.
How if it be false, son?
What if it’s false, son?
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.
Even if it’s completely false, a true gentleman can swear it for his friend: and I’ll swear to the prince that you’re a big fellow with your hands and that you won’t get drunk; but I know you’re not a big fellow with your hands and that you’ll get drunk: but I’ll still swear it, and I wish you were a big fellow with your hands.
I will prove so, sir, to my power.
I’ll prove it, sir, to the best of my ability.
Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I do not wonder how thou darest venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark! the kings and the princes, our kindred, are going to see the queen’s picture. Come, follow us: we’ll be thy good masters.
Yes, by all means, prove you’re a big fellow: if I don’t wonder how you dare get drunk, not being a big fellow, don’t trust me. Listen! The kings and princes, our relatives, are going to see the queen’s portrait. Come, follow us: we’ll be your good masters.