Part 12 — HERMIONE.
Reading edition
WINTER’S TALE. ACT V. SCENE III.
Her natural posture!
Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed,
Thou art Hermione; or rather, thou art she,
In thy not chiding; for she was as tender
As infancy and grace.
Oh, thus she stood,
Even with such life of majesty, (warm life,
As now it coldly stands,) when first I wooed her!
——
’Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach;
Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come,
I’ll fill your grave up: stir; nay, come away;
Bequeath to death your numbness, for from him
Dear life redeems you. You perceive she stirs;
(Hermione comes down from the pedestal.)
Start not: her actions shall be holy as,
You hear, my spell is lawful; do not shun her;
Until you see her die again; for then,
You kill her double: Nay, present your hand:
When she was young you woo’d her; now in age
Is she become the suitor!