Third gentleman.  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 it,—­bravely confessed 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 it, 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 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.

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.  Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune.

[Enter Shepherd and Clown.]

Shepherd. 
Come, boy; I am past more 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.