 The following tales are meant to be submitted to the young reader as an introduction to the study of Shakespeare, for which purpose his words are used whenever it seemed possible to bring them in. And in whatever has been added to give them the regular form of a connected story, diligent care has been taken to select such words as might least interrupt the effect of the beautiful English tongue in which he wrote. Therefore, words introduced into our language since his time have been, as far as possible, avoided. In those tales which have been taken from the tragedies, the young readers will perceive, when they come to see the source from which these stories are derived, that Shakespeare's own words, with little alteration, recur very frequently in the narrative as well as in the dialogue. But in those made from the comedies, the writers found themselves scarcely ever able to turn his words into the narrative form. Therefore it is feared that in them dialogue has been made use of too frequently for young people not accustomed to the dramatic form of writing. But this fault, if it be a fault, has been caused by an earnest wish to give as much of Shakespeare's own words as possible, and if the he said and she said, the question and the reply, should sometimes seem tedious to their young ears, they must pardon it, because it was the only way in which could be given to them a few hints and little foretastes of the great pleasure which awaits them in their elder years, when they come to the rich treasures from which these small and valueless coins are extracted, pretending to know other merit than as faint and imperfect stamps of Shakespeare's matchless image. Faint and imperfect images they must be called, because the beauty of his language is too frequently destroyed by the necessity of changing many of his excellent words into words far less expressive of his true sense, to make it read something like prose. And even in some few places where his blank verse is given unaltered, as hoping from its simple plain list to cheat the young readers into the belief that they are reading prose, yet still his language being transplanted from its own natural soil and wild poetic garden, it must want some of its native beauty. It has been wished to make these tales easy-reading for very young children. To the utmost of their ability the writers have constantly kept this in mind, but the subjects of most of them made this a very difficult task. It was no easy matter to give the histories of men and women in terms familiar to the apprehension of a very young mind. For young ladies, too, it has been the intention chiefly to write, because boys being generally permitted the use of their father's libraries at a much earlier age than girls are, they frequently have the best scenes of Shakespeare by heart before their sisters are permitted to look into this manly book. And therefore, instead of recommending these tales to the perusal of young gentlemen who can read them so much better in their originals, their kind assistance is rather requested in explaining to their sisters such parts as are hardest for them to understand. And when they have helped them to get over the difficulties, then perhaps they will read to them carefully selecting what is proper for a young sister's ear, some passage which has pleased them in one of these stories in the very words of the scene from which it is taken, and it is hoped they will find that the beautiful extracts, the select passages they may choose to give their sisters in this way, will be much better relished and understood from their having some notion of the general story from one of these imperfect abridgments, which if they be fortunately so done as to prove delight to any of the young readers, it is hoped that no worse effect will result than to make them wish themselves a little older, that they may be allowed to read the plays at full length. Such a wish will be neither peevish nor irrational. When time and leave of judicious friends shall put them into their hands, they will discover in such of them as are here abridged, not to mention almost as many more which are left untouched, many surprising events and turns of fortune which for their infinite variety could not be contained in this little book, besides a world of sprightly and cheerful characters, both men and women, the humour of which it was feared would be lost if it were attempted to reduce the length of them. What these tales shall have been to the young readers, that and much more it is the writer's wish that the true plays of Shakespeare may prove to them in older years, in riches of the fancy, strengtheners of virtue, a withdrawing from all selfish and mercenary thoughts, a lesson of all sweet and honourable thoughts and actions, to teach courtesy, benignity, generosity, humanity, for of examples teaching these virtues his pages are full. End of preface. The Tempest from Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, read by Karen Savage, Waco, Texas, March 2007. Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. The Tempest There was a certain island in the sea, the only inhabitants of which were an old man, whose name was Prospero, and his daughter Miranda, a very beautiful young lady. She came to this island so young that she had no memory of having seen any other human face than her father's. They lived in a cave or cell made out of a rock. It was divided into several apartments, one of which Prospero called his study. There he kept his books, which chiefly treated of magic, a study at that time much affected by all learned men, and the knowledge of this art he found very useful to him, for being thrown by a strange chance upon this island, which had been enchanted by a witch called Sycorax, who died there a short time before his arrival, Prospero, by virtue of his art, released many good spirits that Sycorax had imprisoned in the bodies of large trees, because they had refused to execute her wicked commands. These gentle spirits were ever after obedient to the will of Prospero. Of these, Ariel was the chief. The lively little sprite Ariel had nothing mischievous in his nature, except that he took rather too much pleasure in tormenting an ugly monster called Caliban, for he owed him a grudge because he was the son of his old enemy, Sycorax. This Caliban, Prospero found in the woods, a strange misshapen thing, far less human in form than an ape. He took him home to his cell and taught him to speak, and Prospero would have been very kind to him, but the bad nature which Caliban inherited from his mother, Sycorax, would not let him learn anything good or useful. Therefore he was employed like a slave, to fetch wood and do the most laborious offices, and Ariel had the charge of compelling him to these services. When Caliban was lazy and neglected his work, Ariel, who was invisible to all eyes but Prospero's, would come slyly and pinch him, and sometimes tumble him down in the mire, and then Ariel, in the likeness of an ape, would make mouths at him. Then swiftly changing his shape and the likeness of a hedgehog, he would lie tumbling in Caliban's way, who feared the hedgehog's sharp quills, would prick his bare feet. With a variety of such-like vexatious tricks, Ariel would often torment him, whenever Caliban neglected the work which Prospero commanded him to do. Having these powerful spirits obedient to his will, Prospero could by their means command the winds and the waves of the sea. By his orders they raised a violent storm, in the midst of which, and struggling with the wild sea-waves that every moment threatened to swallow it up, he showed his daughter a fine, large ship, which he told her was full of living beings like themselves. "'Oh, my dear father,' said she, "'if by your art you have raised this dreadful storm, have pity on their sad distress, see, the vessel will be dashed to pieces. Poor souls, they will all perish. If I had power, I would sink the sea beneath the earth rather than the good ship should be destroyed with all the precious souls within her.' "'Be not amazed,' daughter Miranda,' said Prospero. "'There is no harm done. I have so ordered it that no person in the ship shall receive any hurt. What I have done has been in care of you, my dear child. You are ignorant of who you are, or where you came from, and you know no more of me, but that I am your father and live in this poor cave. Can you remember a time before you came to this cell? I think you cannot, for you were not then three years of age.' "'Certainly I can, sir,' replied Miranda. "'By what?' asked Prospero. "'By any other house or person, tell me what you can remember, my child.' Miranda said, "'It seems to me like the recollection of a dream. But had I not once four or five women who attended upon me?' Prospero answered, "'You had, and more. How is it that this still lives in your mind? Do you remember how you came here?' "'No, sir,' said Miranda. "'I remember nothing more.' "'Twelve years ago, Miranda,' continued Prospero, I was Duke of Milan, and you were a princess and my only heir. I had a younger brother, whose name was Antonio, to whom I trusted everything, and as I was fond of retirement and deep study, I commonly left the management of my state of affairs to your uncle, my false brother, for so indeed he proved. I, neglecting all worldly ends, buried among my books, did dedicate whole time to the bettering of my mind. My brother Antonio, being thus in possession of my power, began to think himself the Duke, indeed. The opportunity I gave him of making himself popular among my subjects, awakened in his bad nature a proud ambition to deprive me of my Dukedom. This he soon affected, with the aid of the King of Naples, a powerful prince, who was my enemy. "'Wherefore,' said Miranda, did they not that hour destroy us?' "'My child,' answered her father, they durst not, so dear was the love that my people bore me. Antonio carried us on board a ship, and when we were some leagues out at sea, he forced us into a small boat, without either tackle, sail, or mast. There he left us, as he thought, to perish. But a kind lord of my court, one Gonzalo, who loved me, had privately placed in the boat water, provisions, apparel, and some books which I prize above my Dukedom. "'Oh, my father,' said Miranda, "'what a trouble must I have been to you then?' "'No, my love,' said Prospero. "'You were a little cherub that did preserve me. Your innocent smiles made me bear up against my misfortunes. Our food lasted till we landed on this desert island, since when my chief delight has been in teaching you, Miranda, and well have you profited by my instructions.' "'Heaven, thank you, my dear father,' said Miranda. "'Now pray tell me, sir, your reason for raising this sea-storm.' "'No, then,' said her father, "'that by means of this storm my enemies, the king of Naples and my cruel brother, are cast ashore upon this island. Having said so, Prospero gently touched his daughter with his magic wand, and she fell fast to sleep, for the spirit Ariel just then presented himself before his master to give an account of the tempest and how he had disposed of the ship's company, and though the spirits were always invisible to Miranda, Prospero did not choose she should hear him holding converse, as would seem to her, with the empty air. "'Well, my brave spirit,' said Prospero to Ariel. "'How have you performed your task?' Ariel gave a lively description of the storm and of the terrors of the mariners, and how the king's son Ferdinand was the first who leapt into the sea, and his father thought he saw his dear son swallowed up by the waves and lost. "'But he is safe,' said Ariel, in a corner of the mile, sitting with his arms folded, sadly lamenting the loss of the king, his father, whom he concludes drowned. Not a hair of his head is injured, and his princely garments, though drenched in the sea waves, look fresher than before. "'That's my delicate Ariel,' said Prospero. "'Bring him hither. My daughter must see this young prince. Where is the king and my brother?' "'I left them,' answered Ariel, searching for Ferdinand, whom they have little hopes of finding, thinking they saw him perish. Of the ship's crew not one is missing, though each thinks himself the only one saved, and the ship, though invisible to them, is safe in the harbour. "'Ariel,' said Prospero, thy charge is faithfully performed, but there is more work yet.' "'Is there more work?' said Ariel. "'Let me remind you, master. You have promised me my liberty. I pray remember. I have done you worthy service, told you no lies, made no mistakes, served you without grudge or grumbling.' "'How now?' said Prospero. "'You do not recollect what a torment I freed you from? Have you forgot the wicked witch Cycorax, who, with age and envy, was almost bent double? Where was she born? Speak, tell me.' "'Sir, in Algiers,' said Ariel. "'Oh, was she so?' said Prospero. "'I must recount what you have been, which I find you do not remember.' "'This bad witch Cycorax, for her witchcraft's too terrible to enter human hearing, was banished from Algiers, and here left by the sailors, and because you were a spirit too delicate to execute her wicked commands, she shut you up in a tree, where I found you howling. This torment, remember, I did free you from.' "'Pardon me, my dear master,' said Ariel, ashamed to seem ungrateful. "'I will obey your commands.' "'Do so,' said Prospero, and I will set you free. He then gave orders what further he would have him do, and away went Ariel, first to where he had left Ferdinand, and found him still sitting on the grass in the same melancholy posture. "'Oh, my young man,' said Ariel, when he saw him, "'I will soon move you. You must be brought, I find, for the lady Miranda to have a sight of your pretty person. Come, sir, follow me.' He then began, singing, "'Fall fathom five, thy father lies, so his bones are coral-made. Those are pearls that were his eyes. Nothing of him that doth fade, but doth suffer a sea-change into something rich and strange. See nymphs hourly ring his knell. Huck, now I hear them, ding-dong bell.' This strange news of his lost father soon roused the prince from the stupid fit into which he had fallen. He followed in amazement the sound of Ariel's voice, till it led him to Prospero and Miranda, who were sitting under the shade of a large tree. Now Miranda had never seen a man before, except her own father. "'Miranda,' said Prospero, "'tell me what you are looking at, Yonder.' "'Oh, father,' said Miranda, in a strange surprise. Surely that is a spirit. Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, it is a beautiful creature. Is it not a spirit?' "'No, girl,' answered her father. "'It eats and sleeps and has senses such as we have. This young man you see was in the ship. He is somewhat altered by grief, or you might call him a handsome person. He has lost his companions and is wondering about to find them.' Miranda, who thought all men had grave faces and gray beards like her father, was delighted with the appearance of this beautiful young prince. And Ferdinand, seeing such a lovely lady in this desert place, and from the strange sounds he had heard expecting nothing but wonders, thought he was upon an enchanted island, and that Miranda was the goddess of the place, and as such he began to address her. She timidly answered she was no goddess, but a simple maid, and was going to give him an account of herself when Prospero interrupted her. He was well pleased to find they admired each other, for he plainly perceived they had, as we say, fallen in love at first sight. But to try Ferdinand's constancy he resolved to throw some difficulties in their way. Therefore, advancing forward, he addressed the prince with a stern air, telling him he came to the island as a spy, to take it from him who was the lord of it. "'Follow me,' said he. "'I will tie your neck and feet together. You shall drink sea water. Shellfish, withered roots, and husks of acorns shall be your food.' "'No,' said Ferdinand. "'I will resist such entertainment till I see a more powerful enemy,' and drew his sword. But Prospero, waving his magic wand, fixed him to the spot where he stood, so that he had no power to move. Miranda hung upon her father, saying, "'Why are you so un-tental? Have pity! I will be his surety. This is the second man I ever saw, and to me he seems a true one.' "'Silence,' said the father. "'One word more will make me chide you, girl. "'What? An advocate for an impostor? You think there are no more such fine men having seen only him and Caliban. I tell you, foolish girl, most men as far excel this as he does Caliban.' This,' he said to prove his daughter's constancy, and she replied, "'My affections are most humble. I have no wish to see a goodlier man.' "'Come on, young man,' said Prospero to the prince, "'you have no power to disobey me.' "'I have not, indeed,' answered Ferdinand, and not knowing that it was by magic he was deprived of all power of resistance, he was astonished to find himself so strangely compelled to follow Prospero. Looking back on Miranda, as long as he could see her, he said, as he went after Prospero into the cave, "'My spirits are all bound up as if I were in a dream. But this man's threats, and the weakness which I feel, would seem light to me if from my prison I might once a day behold this fair maid.' Prospero kept Ferdinand not long confined within the cell. He soon brought out his prisoner, and set him a severe task to perform, taking care to let his daughter know the hard labor he had imposed on him, and then pretending to go into his study, he secretly watched them both. Prospero had commanded Ferdinand to pile up some heavy logs of wood. King's son's not being much used to laborious work, Miranda soon after found her lover almost dying with fatigue. "'Alas,' said she, "'do not work so hard. My father is at his studies. He is safe for these three hours. Pray rest yourself.' "'Oh, my dear lady,' said Ferdinand, "'I dare not. I must finish my task before I take my rest.' "'If you will sit down,' said Miranda, "'I will carry your logs the while. But this Ferdinand would by no means agree to. Instead of her help, Miranda became a hindrance, for they began a long conversation, so that the business of log-carrying went on very slowly. Prospero, who had enjoined Ferdinand this task merely as a trial of his love, was not at his books, as his daughter supposed, but was standing by them invisible to overhear what they said. Ferdinand inquired her name, which she told, saying it was against her father's express command she did so. Prospero only smiled at this first instant of his daughter's disobedience, for having by his magic art caused his daughter to fall in love so suddenly, he was not angry that she showed her love by forgetting to obey his commands. And he listened well pleased to a long speech of Ferdinand's in which he professed to love her above all the ladies he ever saw. In answer to his praises of her beauty, which he said exceeded all the women in the world, she replied, I do not remember the face of any woman, nor have I seen any more men than you, my good friend, and my dear father. How features are abroad, I know not, but believe me, sir. I would not wish any companion in the world but you, nor can my imagination form any shape but yours that I could like. But, sir, I fear I talk to you too freely, and my father's precepts I forget. At this Prospero smiled and nodded his head as much to say, this goes on exactly as I could wish, my girl will be queen of Naples. And then Ferdinand, in another fine, long speech, for young princes speak in courtly phrases, told the innocent Miranda he was heir to the crown of Naples, and that she should be his queen. Ah, sir, said she, I am a fool to weep at what I am glad of. I will answer you in plain and holy innocence. I am your wife if you will marry me. Prospero prevented Ferdinand's thanks by appearing visible before them. Fear nothing, my child, said he. I have overheard and approved of all you have said, and Ferdinand, if I have too severely used you, I will make you rich amends by giving you my daughter. All your vexations were but trials of your love, and you have nobly stood the test. Then as my gift, which your true love has worthily purchased, take my daughter, and do not smile that I boast she is above all praise. He then, telling them that he had business which required his presence, desired they would sit down and talk together till he returned, and this command Miranda seemed not at all disposed to disobey. When Prospero left them he called his spirit Ariel, who quickly appeared before him, eager to relate what he had done with Prospero's brother and the king of Naples. Ariel said he had left them almost out of their senses with fear at the strange things he had caused them to see and hear. When fatigued with wandering about and famished for want of food, he had suddenly set before them a delicious banquet, and then, just as they were going to eat, he appeared visible before them in the shape of a harpy, a voracious monster with wings, and the feast vanished away. Then, to their utter amazement, this seeming harpy spoke to them, reminding them of their cruelty and driving Prospero from his dukedom, and leaving him and his infant daughter to perish in the sea, saying that for this cause these terrors were suffered to afflict them. The king of Naples and Antonio, the false brother, repented the injustice they had done to Prospero, and Ariel told his master he was certain their penitence was sincere, and that he, though a spirit, could not but pity them. Then bring them hither, Ariel, said Prospero, if you who are but a spirit feel for their distress, shall not I, who am a human being like themselves, have compassion on them? Bring them quickly, my dainty Ariel. Ariel soon returned with the king, Antonio, and all Gonzalo in their train, who had followed him, wondering at the wild music he played in the air to draw them onto his master's presence. This Gonzalo was the same who had so kindly provided Prospero formally with books and provisions, when his wicked brother left him, as he thought, to perish in an open boat in the sea. Grief and terror had so stupefied their senses that they did not know Prospero. He first discovered himself to the good old Gonzalo, calling him the preserver of his life, and then his brother and the king knew that he was the injured Prospero. Antonio, with tears and sad words of sorrow and true repentance, implored his brother's forgiveness, and the king expressed his sincere remorse for having assisted Antonio to depose his brother, and Prospero forgave them, and upon their engaging to restore his dukedom he said to the king of Naples, I have a gift in store for you too, and opening a door showed him his son Ferdinand playing at chess with Miranda. Nothing could exceed the joy of the father and the son at his unexpected meeting, for they each thought the other drowned in the storm. Oh, wonder, said Miranda, what noble creatures these are! It must surely be a brave world that has such people in it. The king of Naples was almost as much astonished at the beauty and excellent graces of the young Miranda as his son had been. Who is this maid? said he. She seems the goddess that has parted us and brought us thus together. No, sir, answered Ferdinand, smiling to find his father had fallen into the same mistake that he had done when he first saw Miranda. She is immortal, but by immortal providence she is mine. I chose her when I could not ask you, my father, for your consent, not thinking you were alive. She is the daughter to this Prospero, who is the famous Duke of Milan, of whose renown I have heard so much, but never saw him till now. Of him I have received a new life. He has made himself to me a second father, giving me this dear lady. Then I must be her father, said the king. But, oh, how oddly will it sound that I must ask my child forgiveness. No more of that, said Prospero. Let us not remember our troubles past, since they so happily have ended. And then Prospero embraced his brother, and again assured him of his forgiveness, and said that a wise overruling providence had permitted that he should be driven from his poor Dukedom of Milan, that his daughter might inherit the crown of Naples, for that by their meeting in this deserted island it had happened that the king's son had loved Miranda. These kind words which Prospero spoke, meaning to comfort his brother, so filled Antonio with shame and remorse that he wept, and was unable to speak, and the kind old Gonzalo wept to see this joyful reconciliation, and prayed for blessings on the young couple. Prospero now told them that their ship was safe in the harbour, and the sailors all on board her, and that he and his daughter would accompany them home the next morning. In the meantime, says he, partake of such refreshments as my poor cave affords, and for your evening's entertainment I will relate the history of my life from my first landing in this desert island. He then called for Caliban to prepare some food, and set the cave in order, and the company were astonished at the uncouth form and savage appearance of this ugly monster who, Prospero said, was the only attendant he had to wait upon him. Before Prospero left the island he dismissed Ariel from his service, to the great joy of that lively little spirit, who though he had been a faithful servant to his master, was always longing to enjoy his free liberty, to wander uncontrolled in the air, like a wild bird under green trees, among pleasant fruits and sweet-smelling flowers. My quaint Ariel, said Prospero to the little sprite when he made him free, I shall miss you, yet you shall have your freedom. Thank you, my dear master, said Ariel, but give me leave to attend your ship home with prosperous scales before you bid farewell to the assistance of your faithful spirit. And then, master, when I am free, how merrily I shall live. Here Ariel sung this pretty song. Where the bee sucks their suck-eye, in a cow-slip's bell-eye lie, there I crouch when owls do cry, on the bat's back I do fly, after summer merrily, merrily, merrily shall I live now, under the blossom that hangs on the bow. Prospero then buried deep in the earth his magical books and wand, for he was resolved never more to make use of the magic art, and having thus overcome his enemies, and being reconciled to his brother and the king of Naples, nothing now remained to complete his happiness but to revisit his native land, to take possession of his dukedom, and to witness the happy nuptials of his daughter and Prince Ferdinand, which the king said should be instantly celebrated with great splendour on their return to Naples, at which place, under the safe convoy of the spirit Ariel, they, after a pleasant voyage, soon arrived. END OF STORY In the city of Athens, which gave to its citizens the power of compelling their daughters to marry whomesoever they pleased, for upon a daughter's refusing to marry the man her father had chosen to be her husband, the father was empowered by this law to cause her to be put to death. But, as fathers do not often desire the death of their own daughters, even though they do happen to prove a little refractory, this law was seldom or never put in execution, though perhaps the young ladies of that city were not unfrequently threatened by their parents with the terrors of it. There was one instance, however, of an old man, whose name was Aegius, who actually did come before Thesias, at that time the reigning Duke of Athens, to complain that his daughter, whom he had commanded to marry Demetrius, a young man of a noble Athenian family, refused to obey him, because she loved another young Athenian named Lysander. Aegius demanded justice of Thesias, and desired that this cruel law might be put in force against his daughter. Hermia pleaded in excuse for her disobedience that Demetrius had formally professed love for her dear friend Helena, and that Helena loved Demetrius to distraction. But this honorable reason which Hermia gave for not obeying her father's command moved not the stern Aegius. Thesias, though a great and merciful prince, had no power to alter the laws of his country. Therefore he could only give Hermia four days to consider of it, and at the end of that time, if she still refused to marry Demetrius, she was to be put to death. When Hermia was dismissed from the presence of the Duke, she went to her lover Lysander, and told him the peril she was in, and that she must either give him up and marry Demetrius, or lose her life in four days. Lysander was in great affliction at hearing these evil tidings, but recollecting that he had an aunt who lived at some distance from Athens, and that at that place where she lived the cruel law could not be put in force against Hermia, this law not extending beyond the boundaries of the city. He proposed to Hermia that she should steal out of her father's house that night, and go with him to his aunt's house, where he would marry her. I will meet you, said Lysander, in the wood a few miles without the city, in that delightful wood where we have so often walked with Helena in the pleasant month of May. To this proposal Hermia joyfully agreed, and she told no one of her intended flight but her friend Helena. Helena, as maidens will do foolish things for love, very ungenerously resolved to go and tell this to Demetrius, though she could hope no benefit from betraying her friend's secret but the poor pleasure of following her faithless lover to the wood, for she well knew that Demetrius would go with her in pursuit of Hermia. The wood in which Lysander and Hermia proposed to meet was the favourite haunt of those little beings known by the name of Ferris. O'Bron, the King, and Titania, the Queen of the Ferris, with all their tiny train of followers in this wood, held their midnight revels. Between this little King and Queen of Sprites there happened, at this time, a sad disagreement. They never met by moonlight in the shady walk of this pleasant wood, but they were quarrelling, till all their fairy elves would creep into acorn cups and hide themselves for fear. The cause of this unhappy disagreement was Titania's refusing to give O'Bron a little changeling boy whose mother had been Titania's friend, and upon her death the fairy Queen stole the child from its nurse and brought him up in the woods. The night on which the lovers were to meet in this wood, as Titania was walking with some of her maids of honour, she met O'Bron attended by his train of fairy courteous. Ill met by moonlight proud to Titania, said the fairy King. The Queen replied, What jealous O'Bron, is it you? Ferris, skip hence. I have foresworn his company. Tarry, rash fairy, said O'Bron. Am I not thy lord? Why does Titania cross her O'Bron? Give me your little changeling boy to be my page. Set your heart at rest, answered the Queen. Your whole fairy kingdom buys not the boy of me. She then left her lord in great anger. Well, go your way, said O'Bron. Before the morning dawns, I will torment you for this injury. O'Bron then set for Puck, his chief favourite and privy counsellor. Puck, or as he was sometimes called, Robin Goodfellow, was a shrewd and navish sprite that used to play comical pranks in the neighbouring villages, sometimes getting into the dairies and skimming the milk, sometimes plunging his light and airy form into the butter-churn, and while he was dancing his fantastic shape in the churn, in vain the dairymaid would labour to change her cream into butter. Nor had the village swains any better success. Whenever Puck chose to play his freaks in the brewing copper, the ale was sure to be spoiled. When a few good neighbours were meant to drink some comfortable ale together, Puck would jump into the bowl of ale in the likeness of a roasted crab, and when some old goodie was going to drink he would bob against her lips and spill the ale over her withered chin, and presently after, when the same old Dane was gravely seating herself, tell her neighbours a sad and melancholy story, Puck would slip her three-legged stool from under her, and down toppled the poor old woman, and then the old gossips would hold their sides and laugh at her, and swear they never wasted a merry hour. Come hither, Puck, said Oberon to this little merry wanderer of the night. Fetch me the flower which maids call love in idleness. The juice of that little purple flower, laid on the eyelids of those who sleep, will make them when they awake. Dote on the first thing they see. Some of the juice of that flower I will drop on the eyelids of my Titania when she is asleep, and the first thing she looks upon when she opens her eyes she will fall in love with, even though it be a lion, or a bear, a meddling monkey, or a busy ape, and before I will take this charm from off her sight, which I can do with another charm I know of, I will make her give me that boy to be my page. Puck, who loved mischief to his heart, was highly diverted with its intended frolic of his master, and ran to seek the flower. And while Oberon was awaiting the return of Puck, he observed Demetrius and Helena into the wood. He overheard Demetrius reproaching Helena for following him, and after many unkind words on his part, and gentle expostulations from Helena, reminding him of his former love and professions of true faith to her, he left her, as he said, to the mercy of the wild beasts, and she ran after him as swiftly as she could. The fairy king, who was always friendly to true lovers, felt great compassion for Helena, and perhaps, as Lysander said they used to walk by moonlight in this pleasant wood, Oberon might have seen Helena in those happy times when she was beloved by Demetrius. However that might be, when Puck returned with the little purple flower, Oberon said to his favourite, Take a part of this flower. There has been a sweet Athenian lady here, who is in love with a disdainful youth. If you find him sleeping, drop some of the love-juice in his eyes, but contrive to do it when she is near him, that the first thing he sees when he awakes may be this despised lady. You will know the man by the Athenian garments which he wears. Puck promised to manage this matter very dexterously, and then Oberon went, unperceived by Titania, to her bower, where she was preparing to go to rest. Her fairy bower was a bank, where grew wild thyme, cow slips and sweet violets under a canopy of woodbine, musk-roses and eglentine. There Titania always slept some part of the night, her coverlet, the enamoured skin of a snake, which, though a small mantle, was wide enough to wrap a fairy in. He found Titania giving orders to her fairies, how they were to employ themselves while she slept. Some of you, said her Majesty, must kill cankers in the musk-rose buds, and some wage war with the bats for their leaven wings to make my small elves' coats. And some of you keep watch that the clamorous owl that nightly hoots come not near me. But first sing me to sleep. Then they began to sing this song. You spotted snakes with double-tongued, thorny hedgehogs be not seen. Nutes and blind worms do no wrong. Come not near our fairy queen. Filamel with melodies sing in our sweet lullaby. Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, Never harm, nor spell, nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh. So good night with lullaby. When the fairies had sung their queen asleep with this pretty lullaby, they left her to perform the important services she had enjoined them. Oberon then softly drew near his detania, and dropped some of the love-juice on her eyelids, saying, What thou ceased when thou dost wake? Do it for thy true love take. But to return to Hermia, who made her escape out of her father's house that night, to avoid the death she was doomed to for refusing to marry Demetrius. When she entered the wood, she found her dear Lysander waiting for her to conduct her to his aunt's house. But before they had passed half through the wood, Hermia was so much fatigued that Lysander, who was very careful of this dear lady, who had proved her affection for him even by hazarding her life for his sake, persuaded her to rest till morning on a bank of soft moss, and lying down himself on the ground at some little distance, they soon fell fast asleep. Here they were found by Puck, who seeing a handsome young man asleep, and perceiving that his clothes were made in the Athenian fashion, and that a pretty lady was sleeping near him, concluded that this must be the Athenian maid and her disdainful lover, whom Oberon had sent him to seek, and he naturally enough conjectured that, as they were alone together, she must be the first thing he would see when he awoke. So without more ado, he proceeded to pour some of the juice of the little purple flower into his eyes. But it so fell out that Helena came that way, and instead of Hermia was the first object Lysander beheld when he opened his eyes. And strange to relate, so powerful was the love charm, all his love for Hermia vanished away, and Lysander fell in love with Helena. Had he first seen Hermia when he awoke, the blunder Puck committed would have been of no consequence, for he could not love that fateful lady too well. But for poor Lysander to be forced by a fairy love charm to forget his own true Hermia, and to run after another lady, and leave Hermia asleep quite alone in a wood at midnight, was a sad chance indeed. Thus this misfortune happened. Helena, as has been before related, endeavored to keep pace with Demetrius when he ran away so rudely from her. But she could not continue this unequal race long, men being always better runners in a long race than ladies. Helena soon lost sight of Demetrius, and as she was wandering about, dejected, and fall on, she arrived at the place where Lysander was sleeping. Ah! said she. This is Lysander lying on the ground. Is he dead or asleep? Then gently touching him, she said, Good sir! If you're alive, awake! Upon this Lysander opened his eyes, and the love charm beginning to work, immediately addressed her in terms of extravagant love and admiration, telling her she as much excelled Hermia in beauty as a dove does a raven, and that he would run through fire for her sweet sake, and many more such loverlike speeches. Helena, knowing Lysander was her friend Hermia's lover, and that he was solemnly engaged to marry her, was in the utmost rage when she heard herself addressed in this manner, for she thought, as well she might, that Lysander was making a jest of her. Oh! said she! Why was I born to be mocked and scorned by everyone? Is it not enough? Is it not enough, young man, that I can never get a sweet look or a kind word from Demetrius? But you, sir, must pretend in this disdainful manner to court me? I thought, Lysander, you were a lord of more true gentleness. Saying these words in great anger, she ran away, and Lysander followed her, quite forgetful of his own Hermia, who was still asleep. When Hermia awoke, she was in a sad fright at finding herself alone. She wandered about the wood, not knowing what was become of Lysander, or which way to go to seek for him. In the meantime, Demetrius, not being able to find Hermia and his rival Lysander, and fatigued with the fruitless search, was observed by Oberon, fast asleep. Oberon had learned, by some questions he had asked of Puck, that he had applied the love charm to the wrong person's eyes, and now, having found the person first intended, he touched the eyelids of the sleeping Demetrius with the love juice, and he instantly awoke, and the first thing he saw being Helena, he, as Lysander had done before, began to address love speeches to her. And just at that moment Lysander, followed by Hermia, for through Puck's unlucky mistake it was now become Hermia's turn to run after her lover, made his appearance, and then Lysander and Demetrius, both speaking together, made love to Helena, they being each one under the influence of the same potent charm. The astonished Helena thought that Demetrius, Lysander, and her once dear friend, Hermia, were all in a plot together to make a jest of her. Hermia was as much surprised as Helena. She knew not why Lysander and Demetrius, who both before loved her, were now become the lovers of Helena, and to Hermia the matter seemed to be no jest. The ladies, who before had always been the dearest of friends, now fell to high words together. Unkind Hermia, said Helena. It is you have set Lysander on to vex me with mock praises, and your other lover Demetrius, who used almost to spurn me with his foot. Have you not bid him call me goddess, nymph, rare, precious, and celestial? He would not speak thus to me, whom he hates, if you did not set him on to make a jest of me. Unkind Hermia, to join with men in scourning your poor friend. Have you forgot our school-day friendship? How often, Hermia, have we too, sitting on one cushion, both singing one song, with our needles working the same flower, both on the same sampler wrought? Growing up together in fashion of a double cherry, scarcely seeming parted. Hermia, it is not friendly in you. It is not maidenly to join with men in scourning your poor friend. I am amazed at your passionate words, said Hermia. I scourn you not. It seems you scourn me. I do, returned Helena, persevere, counterfeit serious looks, and make mouths at me when I turn my back, then wink at each other, and hold the sweet jest up. If you had any pity, grace or manners, you would not use me thus. While Helena and Hermia were speaking these angry words to each other, Demetrius and Lysander left them to fight together in the wood for the love of Helena. When they found that gentlemen had left them, they departed, and once more wandered weary in the wood, in search of their lovers. As soon as they were gone, the fairy king, who with little park had been listening to their quarrels, said to him, This is your negligence, Puck. Or did you do this willfully? Believe me, king of shadows! answered Puck. It was a mistake. Did you not tell me I should know the man by his Athenian garments? However, I am not sorry this has happened, for I think their jangling makes excellent sport. You heard, said Oberon, that Demetrius and Lysander are gone to seek a convenient place to fight in. I command you to overhang the night with a thick fog, and lead these quarrelsome lovers so astray in the dark, that they shall not be able to find each other. Counterfeit each of their voices to the other, and with bitter taunts provoke them to follow you, while they think it is their rival's tongue they hear. See you do this till they are so weary they can go no farther, and when you find they are asleep, drop the juice of this other flower into Lysander's eyes, and when he awakes he will forget his new love for Helena, and return to his old passion for Hermia. And then the two fair ladies may each one be happy with the man she loves, and they will think all that has passed a vexatious dream. And I will go see what sweet love my Titania has found. Titania was still sleeping, and Oberon seeing a clown near her who had lost his way in the wood and was likewise asleep. This fellow, said he, shall be my Titania's true love, and clapping an ass's head over the clown's, it seemed to fit him as well as if it had grown upon his own shoulders. Though Oberon fixed the ass's head on very gently, it awakened him, and rising up, unconscious of what Oberon had done to him, he went toward the bower where the fairy queen slept. Ah, what angel is that I see? said Titania, opening her eyes, and the juice of the little purple flower beginning to take effect. Are you as wise as you are beautiful? Why, mistress? said the foolish clown, if I have wit enough to find the way out of this wood, I have enough to serve my turn. Out of the wood do not desire to go, said the enamored queen. I am a spirit of no common rate. I love you. Go with me, and I will give you fairies to attend upon you. She then called four of her fairies, their names were Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed. Attend, said the queen, upon the sweet gentleman. Hop in his walks and gamble in his sight, feed him with grapes and apricots, and steal for him the honey-bags from the bees. Come, sit with me, said she to the clown, and let me play with your amiable, hairy cheeks, my beautiful ass, and kiss your fair, large ears, my gentle joy. Where is Peaseblossom? said the ass-headed clown, not much regarding the fairy queen's court-trip, but very proud of his new attendance. Here, sir, said little Peaseblossom, scratch my head, said the clown. Where is Cobweb? Here, sir, said Cobweb. Good Mr. Cobweb, said the foolish clown, kill me the red bumblebee on the top of that thistle yonder, and good Mr. Cobweb, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, Mr. Cobweb, and take care of the honey-bag break-not. I should be sorry to have you over-flown with the honey-bag. Where is Mustardseed? Here, sir, said Mustardseed, what is your will? Nothing, said the clown, good Mr. Mustardseed, but to help Mr. Peaseblossom to scratch. I must go to a barber's, Mr. Mustardseed, for may think I am marvellous hairy about the face. My sweet love, said the queen, what will you have to eat? I have a venturous fairy shall seek the squirrel's hoard, and fetch you some new nuts. I'd rather have a handful of dried peas, said the clown, who, with his ass's head, had got an ass's appetite. But I pray that none of your people deserve me, for I have a mind to sleep. Sleep, then, said the queen, and I will wind you in my arms. Oh, how I love you, how I dot upon you! When the fairy king saw the clown sleeping in the arms of his queen, he advanced within her sight, and reproached her with having lavished her favours upon an ass. This she could not deny, as the clown was then sleeping within her arms, with his ass's head crowned by her with flowers. When Oberon had teased her for some time, he again demanded the changeling boy, which she, ashamed of being discovered by her lord with a new favourite, did not dare to refuse him. Oberon, having thus obtained the little boy he had so long wished for to be his page, took pity on the disgraceful situation into which, by his merry contrivance, he had brought his to Tanya, and threw some of the juice of the other flower into her eyes, and the fairy queen immediately recovered her senses, and wandered at her late dotage, saying how she now loathed the sight of the strange monster. Oberon likewise took the ass's head from off the clown, and left him to finish his nap with his own fool's head upon his shoulders. Oberon and his to Tanya being now perfectly reconciled, he related to her the history of the lovers and their midnight quarrels, and she agreed to go with him and see the end of their adventures. The fairy king and queen found the lovers and their fair ladies at no great distance from one another, sleeping on a grass plot, for Puck, to make amends for his former mistake, had contrived with the utmost diligence to bring them all to the same spot, unknown to one another, and he had carefully removed the charm from off the eyes of Lysander, who the antidote the fairy king gave to him. Hermia first awoke, and finding her lost Lysander asleep so near her, was looking at him and wondering at a strange inconstancy. Lysander presently opening his eyes, and seeing his dear Hermia recovered his reason which the fairy charm had before clouded, and with his reason his love for Hermia. And they began to talk over the adventures of the night, doubting if these things had really happened, or if they had both been dreaming the same bewildering dream. Helena and Demetrius were by this time awake, and a sweet sleep having quieted Helena's disturbed and angry spirits, she listened with delight to the professions of love which Demetrius still made to her, and which to her surprise as well as pleasure she began to perceive were sincere. These fair night-wandering ladies, now no longer rivals, became once more true friends. All the unkind words which had passed were forgiven, and they calmly consulted together what was best to be done in their present situation. It was soon agreed that, as Demetrius had given up his pretensions to Hermia, he should endeavour to prevail upon her father to revoke the cruel sentence of death which had been passed against her. Demetrius was preparing to return to Athens for this friendly purpose, when they were surprised with the sight of Aegeus, Hermia's father, who came to the wood in pursuit of his runaway daughter. When Aegeus understood that Demetrius would not now marry his daughter, he no longer opposed her marriage with Lysander, but gave his consent that they should be wedded on the fourth day from that time, being the same day on which Hermia had been condemned to lose her life. And on that same day Helena joyfully agreed to marry her beloved and now faithful Demetrius. The fairy king and queen who were invisible spectators of this reconciliation, and now saw the happy ending of the lover's history, brought about through the good offices of Oberon, received so much pleasure that these kind spirits resolved to celebrate the approaching nuptials with sports and revels throughout their fairy kingdom. And now, if any are offended with the story of fairies and their pranks, as judging it incredible and strange, they have only to think that they have been asleep and dreaming, and that all these adventures were visions which they saw in their sleep. And I hope none of my readers will be so unreasonable as to be offended with a pretty harmless Midsummer Night's dream. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, read by Karen Savage, Waco, Texas, March 2007. So happy was Lyontes and the love of this excellent lady, that he had no wish ungratified, except that he sometimes desired to see again, and to present to his queen his old companion and school fellow, Polyxonies, King of Bohemia. Lyontes and Polyxonies were brought up together from their infancy, but being, by the death of their fathers, called to reign over their respective kingdoms, they had not met for many years, though they frequently interchanged gifts, letters, and loving embassies. At length, after repeated invitations, Polyxonies came from Bohemia to the Sicilian court to make his friend Lyontes a visit. At first this visit gave nothing but pleasure to Lyontes. He recommended the friend of his youth to the queen's particular attention, and seemed in the presence of his dear friend and old companion to have his felicity quite completed. They talked over old times, their school days and their youthful pranks were remembered, and recounted to Hermione, who always took a cheerful part in these conversations. When, after a long stay, Polyxonies was preparing to depart, Hermione, at the desire of her husband, joined her in treaties to his that Polyxonies would prolong his visit. And now began this good queen's sorrow, for Polyxonies, refusing to stay at the request of Lyontes, was won over by Hermione's gentle and persuasive words to put off his departure for some weeks longer. Upon this, although Lyontes had so long known the integrity and honourable principles of his friend Polyxonies, as well as the excellent disposition of his virtuous queen, he was seized with an ungovernable jealousy. Every attention Hermione showed to Polyxonies, though by her husband's particular desire, and merely to please him, increased the unfortunate king's jealousy. And from being a loving and true friend, and the best and fondest of husbands, Lyontes became suddenly a savage and inhuman monster. Sending for Camillo, one of the lords of his court, and telling him of the suspicion he entertained, he commanded him to poison Polyxonies. Camillo was a good man, and he, well knowing that the jealousy of Lyontes had not the slightest foundation in truth, instead of poisoning Polyxonies, acquainted him with the king his master's orders, and agreed to escape with him out of the Sicilian dominions. And Polyxonies, with the assistance of Camillo, arrived safe in his own kingdom of Bohemia, where Camillo lived from that time in the king's court, and became the chief friend and favorite of Polyxonies. The flight of Polyxonies enraged the jealous Lyontes still more. He went to the queen's apartment, where the good lady was sitting with her little son Mamilius, who was just beginning to tell one of his best stories to amuse his mother, when the king entered, and taking the child away, sent Hermione to prison. Mamilius, though but a very young child, loved his mother tenderly, and when he saw her so dishonored, and found she was taken from him to be put into a prison, he took it deeply to heart, and drooped and pined away by slow degrees, losing his appetite and his sleep, till it was thought his grief would kill him. The king, when he had sent his queen to prison, commanded Cleomenes and Dion, two Sicilian lords, to go to Delphos, there to inquire of the oracle at the temple of Apollo, if his queen had been unfaithful to him. When Hermione had been a short time in prison, she was brought to bed of a daughter, and the poor lady received much comfort from the sight of her pretty baby, and she said to it, my poor little prisoner, I am as innocent as you are. Hermione had a kind friend in the noble spirited Paulina, who was the wife of Antigonus, a Sicilian lord, and when the lady Paulina heard her royal mistress was brought to bed, she went to the prison where Hermione was confined, and she said to Emilia, a lady who attended upon Hermione, I pray you, Emilia, tell the good queen, if her majesty dared trust me with her little babe, I will carry it to the king, its father. We do not know how he may soften at the sight of his innocent child. Most worthy, madam, replied Emilia, I will acquaint the queen with your noble offer. She was wishing to-day that she had any friend who would venture to present the child to the king. And tell her, said Paulina, that I will speak boldly to Leontes and her defense. May you be forever blessed, said Emilia, for your kindness to our gracious queen. Emilia then went to Hermione, who joyfully gave up her baby to the care of Paulina, for she had feared that no one would dare venture to present the child to its father. Paulina took the newborn infant, and forcing herself into the king's present, notwithstanding her husband, fearing the king's anger endeavored to prevent her. She laid the babe at its father's feet, and Paulina made a noble speech to the king in defense of Hermione, and she reproached him severely for his inhumanity, and implored him to have mercy on his innocent wife and child. But Paulina spirited remonstrances only aggravated Leontes' displeasure, and he ordered her husband Antigonus to take her from his presence. When Paulina went away she left the little baby at its father's feet, thinking when he was alone with it he would look upon it and have pity on its helpless innocence. The good Paulina was mistaken, for no sooner was she gone than the merciless father ordered Antigonus, Paulina's husband, to take the child and carry it out to sea, and leave it upon some desert shore to perish. Antigonus, unlike the good Camillo, too well obeyed the orders of Leontes, for he immediately carried the child on shipboard, and put out to sea, intending to leave it on the first desert coast he could find. So firmly was the king persuaded of the guilt of Hermione, that he would not wait for the return of Cleomenes and Dion, whom he had sent to consult the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos. But before the queen was recovered from her lying in, and from the grief for the loss of her precious baby, he had her brought to a public trial before all the lords and nobles of his court, and when all the great lords, the judges, and all the nobility of the land were assembled together to try Hermione, and that unhappy queen was standing as a prisoner before her subjects to receive their judgment, Cleomenes and Dion entered the assembly and presented to the king the answer of the Oracle, sealed up, and Leontes commanded the seal to be broken, and the words of the Oracle to be read aloud, and these were the words. Hermione is innocent, Polyxone's blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found. The king would give no credit to the words of the Oracle. He said it was a falsehood invented by the queen's friends, and he desired the judge to proceed in the trial of the queen. But while Leontes was speaking, a man entered and told him that the prince Mamillius, hearing his mother was to be tried for her life, struck with grief and shame, had suddenly died. Hermione, upon hearing of the death of this dear affectionate child, who had lost his life in sorrowing for her misfortune, fainted, and Leontes, pierced to the heart by the news, began to feel pity for his unhappy queen, and he ordered Paulina and the ladies who were attendants to take her away and use means for her recovery. Paulina soon returned and told the king that Hermione was dead. When Leontes heard that the queen was dead he repented of his cruelty to her, and now that he thought his ill usage had broken Hermione's heart he believed her innocent, and now he thought the words of the Oracle were true, as he knew, if that which was lost was not found, which he concluded was his young daughter, he should be without an heir, the young prince Mamillius being dead, and he would give his kingdom now to recover his lost daughter, and Leontes gave himself up to be remorse, and passed many years in mournful thoughts and repentant grief. The ship in which Antigonus carried the infant princess out to sea, was driven by a storm upon the coast of Bohemia, the very kingdom of the good king Polyxonies. Here Antigonus landed, and here he left the little baby. Antigonus never returned to Sicily to tell Leontes where he had left his daughter, for as he was going back to the ship a bear came out of the woods and tore him to pieces, a just punishment on him for obeying the wicked order of Leontes. The child was dressed in rich clothes and jewels, for Hermione had made it very fine when she sent it to Leontes, and Antigonus had pinned a paper to its mantle, and the name of Perdita, written thereon, and words obscurity intimating its high berth and untoward fate. This poor, deserted baby was found by a shepherd. He was a humane man, and so he carried the little Perdita home to his wife, who nursed it tenderly. But poverty tempted the shepherd to conceal the rich prize he had found. Therefore he left that part of the country, that no one might know where he got his riches, and with part of Perdita's jewels he bought herds of sheep, and became a wealthy shepherd. He brought up Perdita as his own child, and she knew not she was any other than a shepherd's daughter. The little Perdita grew up a lovely maiden, and though she had no better education than that of a shepherd's daughter, yet so did the natural graces she inherited from her royal mother shine forth in her untutored mind, that no one, from her behaviour, would have known she had not been brought up in her father's court. Polyxonies, the king of Bohemia, had an only son, whose name was Florizel. As this young prince was hunting near the shepherd's dwelling, he saw the old man's supposed daughter, and the beauty, modesty, and queen-like deportment of Perdita caused him instantly to fall in love with her. He soon, under the name of Dorocles, and in the guise of a private gentleman, became a constant visitor at the old shepherd's house. Florizel's frequent absences from court alarmed Polyxonies, and setting people to watch his son, he discovered his love for the shepherd's fair daughter. Polyxonies then called for Camillo, the faithful Camillo, who had preserved his life from the fury of Leontes, and desired that he would accompany him to the house of the shepherd, the supposed father of Perdita. Polyxonies and Camillo, both in disguise, arrived at the old shepherd's dwelling, while they were celebrating the feast of sheep shearing. And though they were strangers, yet at the sheep shearing, every guest being made welcome, they were invited to walk in and join in the general festivity. Nothing but mirth and jollity was going forward. Tables were spread, and fit great preparations were making for the rustic feast. Some lads and lasses were dancing on the green before the house, while others of the young men were buying ribbons, gloves, and such toys of a peddler at the door. While this busy scene was going forward, Florizel and Perdita sat quietly in a retired corner, seemingly more pleased with the conversation of each other than desires of engaging in the sports and silly amusements of those around them. The king was so disguised that it was impossible his son could know him. He therefore advanced near enough to hear the conversation. The simple yet elegant manner in which Perdita conversed with his son did not a little surprise Polyxonies. He said to Camillo, This is the prettiest low-born lass I ever saw. Nothing she does or says, but looks like something greater than herself, too noble for this place. Camillo replied, Indeed, she is the very queen of curds and cream. Pray, my good friend, said the king to the old shepherd, What fair swain is that talking with your daughter? They call him Dorocles, replied the shepherd. He says he loves my daughter, and to speak truth there is not a kiss to choose which loves the other best. If young Dorocles can get her, she shall bring him that he little dreams of, meaning the remainder of Perdita's jewels, which after he had bought herds of sheep with part of them he had carefully hoarded up for her marriage portion. Polyxonies then addressed his son. How now, young man! said he. Your heart seems full of something that takes off your mind from feasting. When I was young I used to load my love with presents, but you have let the peddler go and have bought your last no toy. The young prince, who little thought he was talking to the king, his father replied, Old sir, she prizes not such trifles. The gifts which Perdita expects from me are locked up in my heart. Then turning to Perdita he said to her, Oh, hear me, Perdita, before this ancient gentleman, who it seems was once himself a lover, he shall hear what I profess. Florizel then called upon the old stranger to be a witness to a solemn promise of marriage, which he made to Perdita, saying to Polyxonies, I pray you, mark our contract. Mark your divorce, young sir, said the king, discovering himself. Polyxonies then reproached his son for daring to contract himself to this low-born maiden, calling Perdita, Shepard's brat, sheep-hook, and threatening if ever she suffered his son to see her again, he would put her and the old Shepard her father to a cruel death. The king then left them in great wrath and ordered Camillo to follow him with Prince Florizel. When the king had departed, Perdita, whose royal nature was roused by Polyxonies' reproaches, said, Though we are all undone, I was not much afraid, and once or twice I was about to speak and tell him plainly that the self-same son, which shines upon this palace, hides not his face from our cottage, but looks on both alike. Then sorrowfully she said, But now I am awakened from this dream. I will queen it no further. Leave me, sir. I will go milk my ewes and weep. The kind-hearted Camillo was charmed with the spirit and propriety of Perdita's behavior, and perceiving that the young prince was too deeply in love to give up his mistress at the command of his royal father, he thought of a way to befriend the lovers, and at the same time to execute a favourite scheme he had in his mind. Camillo had long known that Lyontes, the king of Sicily, was become a true penitent, and though Camillo was now the favourite friend of King Polyxonies, he could not help wishing once more to see his late royal master and his native home. He therefore proposed to Florizol and Perdita that they should accompany him to the Sicilian court, where he would engage Lyontes should protect them till through his mediation they could obtain pardon from Polyxonies and his consent to their marriage. To this proposal they joyfully agreed, and Camillo, who conducted everything relative to their flight, allowed the Old Shepherd to go along with them. The Shepherd took with him the remainder of Perdita's jewels, her baby-clothes, and the paper which he had found pinned to her mantle. After a prosperous voyage, Florizol and Perdita, Camillo and the Old Shepherd, arrived in safety at the court of Lyontes. Lyontes, who still mourned his dead Hermione and his lost child, received Camillo with great kindness, and gave a cordial welcome to Prince Florizol. But Perdita, whom Florizol introduced as his princess, seemed to engross all Lyontes' attention. Perceiving a resemblance between her and his dead queen Hermione, his grief broke out afresh, and he said such a lovely creature might his own daughter have been if he had not so cruelly destroyed her. And then, too, said he to Florizol, I lost the society and friendship of your brave father, whom I now desire more than my life once again to look upon. When the Old Shepherd heard how much notice the king had taken of Perdita, and that he had lost a daughter who was exposed in infancy, he felt a comparing the time when he found the little Perdita with the manner of its exposure, the jewels, and other tokens of its high berth, from all which it was impossible for him not to conclude that Perdita and the king's lost daughter were the same. Florizol and Perdita, Camillo and the faithful Paulina, were present when the Old Shepherd related to the king the manner in which he had found the child, and also the circumstance of Antigonus's death, he having seen the bear seize upon him. He showed the rich mantle in which Paulina remembered Hermione had wrapped the child, and he produced a jewel which she remembered Hermione had tied about Perdita's neck, and he gave up the paper which Paulina knew to be the writing of her husband. It could not be doubted that Perdita was Leonty's own daughter. But, oh, the noble struggles of Paulina, between sorrow for her husband's death, and joy that the oracle was fulfilled in the king's air, his long lost daughter being found. When Leonty's heard that Perdita was his daughter, the great sorrow that he felt that Hermione was not living to behold her child, made him that he could say nothing for a long time, but, oh, thy mother, thy mother. Paulina interrupted this joyful yet distressful scene with saying to Leonty's that she had a statue newly finished by that rare Italian master, Giulio Romano, which was such a perfect resemblance of the queen, that would his majesty be pleased to go to her house and look upon it, he would be almost ready to think it was Hermione herself. Viva they all went, the king anxious to see the resemblance of his Hermione, and Perdita longing to behold what the mother she never saw did look like. When Paulina drew back the curtain which concealed this famous statue, so perfectly did it resemble Hermione that all the king's sorrow was renewed at the site. For a long time he had no power to speak or move. I like your silence, my liege, said Paulina. It the more shows your wonder. Is not this statue very like your queen? At length the king said, oh, thus she stood, even with such majesty when I first wooed her. But yet, Paulina, Hermione was not so aged as this statue looks. Paulina replied, so much the more the carver's excellence, who has made the statue as Hermione would have looked had she been living now. But let me draw the curtain, Sire, lest presently you think it moves. The king then said, do not draw the curtain. Would I were dead? See, Camillo, would you not think it breathed? Her eye seems to have motion in it. I must draw the curtain, my liege, said Paulina. You are so transported, you will persuade yourself the statue lives. Oh, sweet Pauline, said Lyontes, make me think so twenty years together. Still me thinks there is an air comes from her. What fine chisel could ever yet cut breath. Let no man mock me, for I will kiss her. Could my lord forbear, said Paulina, the rudiness upon her lip is wet. You will stay in your own with oily painting. Shall I draw the curtain? No, not these twenty years, said Lyontes. Perditor, who all this time had been kneeling and beholding in silent admiration the statue of her matchless mother, said now, and so long could I stay here, looking upon my dear mother. Either forbear this transport, said Paulina to Lyontes, and let me draw the curtain, or prepare yourself for more amazement. I can make the statue move indeed. I, and descend from off the pedestal and take you by the hand. But then you will think, which I protest I am not, that I am assisted by some wicked powers. What you can make her do, said the astonished king, I am content to look upon. What you can make her speak, I am content to hear. For it is as easy to make her speak as move. Paulina then ordered some slow and solemn music, which she had prepared for the purpose, to strike up, and to the amazement of all the beholders, the statue came down off the pedestal and threw its arms round Lyontes' neck. The statue then began to speak, praying for blessings on her husband and on her child, the newly found Perditor. No wonder that the statue hung upon Lyontes' neck and blessed her husband and her child. No wonder! For the statue was indeed Hermione herself, the real, the living queen. Paulina had falsely reported to the king the death of Hermione, thinking that the only means to preserve her royal mistress's life. And with the good Paulina, Hermione had lived ever since, never choosing Lyontes should know she was living till she heard Perditor was found. For though she had long forgiven the injuries which Lyontes had done to herself, she could not pardon his cruelty to his infant daughter. His dead queen thus restored to life, his lost daughter found, the long-sorrowing Lyontes could scarcely support the excess of his own happiness. Nothing but congratulations and affectionate speeches were heard on all sides. Now the delighted parents thanked Prince Florizal for loving their lowly-seeming daughter, and now they blessed the good old shepherd for preserving their child. Greatly did Camillo and Paulina rejoice that they had lived to see so good an end of all their faithful services. And as if nothing should be wanting to complete this strange and unlooked-for joy, King Polyxonnes himself now went to the palace. When Polyxonnes first missed his son and Camillo, knowing that Camillo had long wished to return to Sicily, he conjectured that he should find the fugitives here. And following them with all speed, he happened to just arrive at this the happiest moment of Lyontes' life. Polyxonnes took apart in the general joy. He forgave his friend Lyontes for the unjust jealousy he had conceived against him. And they once more loved each other with all the warmth of their first boyish friendship. And there was no fear that Polyxonnes would now oppose his son's marriage with Perdita. She was no sheep-hook now, but the heiress of the crown of Sicily. Thus we have seen the patient virtues of the long-suffering Hermione rewarded, that excellent lady lived many years with her Lyontes and her Perdita, the happiest of mothers and of queens. End of story Much to do about nothing, from Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Karen Savage, Waco, Texas, April 2007. Tales from Shakespeare. By Charles and Mary Lamb. Much to do about nothing. There lived in the palace at Messina, two ladies, whose names were Hero and Beatrice. Hero was the daughter and Beatrice the niece of Lyonato, the governor of Messina. Beatrice was of a lively temper, and loved to divert her cousin Hero, who was of a more serious disposition, with her sprightly sallies. Whatever was going forward was sure to make matter of mirth for the light-hearted Beatrice. At the time the history of these ladies commences, some young men of high rank in the army, as they were passing through Messina on their return from a war that was just ended, in which they had distinguished themselves by their great bravery, came to visit Lyonato. Among these were Dom Pedro, the Prince of Aragon, and his friend Claudio, who was a Lord of Florence, and with them came the wild and witty Benedict, and he was a Lord of Padua. These strangers had been at Messina before, and the hospitable governor introduced them to his daughter and his niece as their old friends and acquaintance. Benedict, the moment he entered the room, began a lively conversation with Lyonato and the Prince. Beatrice, who liked not to be left out of any discourse, interrupted Benedict with saying, I wonder that you will still be talking, Senior Benedict. Nobody marks you. Benedict was just such another rattle-brainer's Beatrice, yet he was not pleased at this free salutation. He thought he did not become a well-bred lady to be so flippant with her tongue, and he remembered, when he was last at Messina, that Beatrice used to select him to make her merry jests upon. And as there is no one who so little likes to be made a jest of as those who are apt to take the same liberty themselves, so it was with Benedict and Beatrice. These two sharp wits never met in former times, but a perfect war of railery was kept up between them, and they always parted mutually displeased with each other. Therefore, when Beatrice stopped him in the middle of his discourse with telling him nobody marked what he was saying, Benedict, affecting not to have observed before that she was present, said, What my dear lady disdain? Are you yet living? And now war broke out afresh between them, and a long, jangling argument ensued, during which Beatrice, although she knew he had so well approved his valor in the late war, said that she would eat all he had killed there, and observing the prince take delight in Benedict's conversation, she called him the prince's jester. This sarcasm sank deeper into the mind of Benedict than all Beatrice had said before. The hint she gave him that he was a coward, by saying she would eat all he had killed, he did not regard, knowing himself to be a brave man. But there is nothing that great wits so much dread as the imputation of buffoonery, because the charge comes sometimes a little too near the truth. Therefore, Benedict perfectly hated Beatrice when she caught him the prince's jester. The modest lady hero was silent before the noble guests, and while Claudia was tentatively observing the improvement which Time had made in her beauty, and was contemplating the exquisite graces of her fine figure, for she was an admirable young lady, the prince was highly amused with listening to the humorous dialogue between Benedict and Beatrice, and he said no whisper to Leonardo. This is a pleasant spirited young lady. She were an excellent wife for Benedict. Leonardo replied to the suggestion, oh, my lord, my lord, if they were but a weak married, they would talk themselves mad. But though Leonardo thought they would make a discordant pair, the prince did not give up the idea of matching these two keen wits together. When the prince returned with Claudio from the palace, he found that the marriage he had devised between Benedict and Beatrice was not the only one projected in that good company, for Claudio spoke in such terms of hero as made the prince guess at what was passing in his heart, and he liked it well, and he said to Claudio, do you affect hero? To this question Claudio replied, oh, my lord, when I was last at Messina, I looked upon her with a soldier's eye that liked but had no leisure for loving. But now, in this happy time of peace, thoughts of war have left their places vacant in my mind, and in their room come thronging, soft and delicate thoughts, all prompting me how fair young hero is, reminding me that I liked her before I went to the wars. Claudio's confession of his love for hero so wrought upon the prince that he lost no time in soliciting the consent of Leonardo to accept Claudio for a son-in-law. Leonardo agreed to this proposal, and the prince found no great difficulty in persuading the gentle hero herself to listen to the suit of the noble Claudio, who was a lord of rare endowments and highly accomplished, and Claudio, assisted by his kind prince, soon prevailed upon Leonardo to fix an early day for the celebration of his marriage with hero. Claudio was to wait but a few days before he was to be married to his fair lady, yet he complained of the interval being tedious, as indeed most young men are impatient when they are waiting for the accomplishment of any event they have set their hearts upon. The prince, therefore, to make the time seem short to him, proposed as a kind of merry pastime that they should invent some artful scheme to make Benedict and Beatrice fall in love with each other. Claudio entered with great satisfaction into this whim of the prince, and Leonardo promised them his assistance, and even Hero said she would do any modest offers to help her cousin to a good husband. The device the prince invented was that the gentleman should make Benedict believe that Beatrice was in love with him, and that Hero should make Beatrice believe that Benedict was in love with her. The prince, Leonardo and Claudio began their operations first, and watching upon an opportunity when Benedict was quietly seated, reading in an arbor, the prince and his assistance took their station among the trees behind the arbor, so near that Benedict could not choose but hear all they said, and after some careless talk the prince said, Come hither, Leonardo! What was it you told me the other day, that your niece Beatrice was in love with senior Benedict? I did never think that lady would have loved any man. No, nor I neither, my lord," answered Leonardo. It is most wonderful that she should so dot on Benedict, whom she in all outward behavior seemed ever to dislike. Claudio confirmed all this with saying that Hero had told him Beatrice was so in love with Benedict that she would certainly die of grief if he could not be brought to love her, which Leonardo and Claudio seemed to agree was impossible, he having always been such a railer against all fair ladies, and in particular against Beatrice. The prince affected to harken to all this with great compassion for Beatrice, and he said, It were good that Benedict were told of this. To what end, said Claudio, he would but make sport of it, and torment the poor lady worse. And if he should, said the prince, it were a good deed to hang him, for Beatrice is an excellent sweet lady, and exceeding wise in everything but in loving Benedict. Then the prince motioned to his companions that they should walk on and leave Benedict to meditate upon what he had overheard. Benedict had been listening with great eagerness to this conversation, and he said to himself, when he heard Beatrice loved him, Is it possible? Sits the wind in that corner. And when they were gone he began to reason in this manner with himself. This can be no trick. They were very serious, and they have the truth from Hero, and seem to pity the lady. Love me? Why, it must be requited. I did never think to marry, but when I said I should die a bachelor, I did not think I should live to be married. They say the lady is virtuous and fair. She is so. And wise in everything but loving me? Why, that is no great argument of her folly. But here comes Beatrice. By this day she is a fair lady. I do spy some marks of love in her. Beatrice now approached him and said, with her usual tartness, Against my will I am sent to bid you come into dinner. Benedict, who never felt himself disposed to speak so politely to her before, replied, Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains. And when Beatrice, after two or three more rude speeches, left him, Benedict thought he observed a concealed meaning of kindness under the uncivil words she uttered, and he said aloud, If I do not take pity on her, I am a villain. If I do not love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her picture. The gentlemen, being thus caught in the net, they had spread for him. It was now heroes turned to play her part with Beatrice, and for this purpose she sent for Ursula and Margaret, two gentle-women who attended upon her, and she said to Margaret, Good Margaret, run to the parlour, there you will find my cousin Beatrice talking with the Prince and Claudio. Whisper in her ear that I and Ursula are walking in the orchard, and that our discourse is all of her. Bid her steal into that pleasant arbor where honey-suggles, ripened by the sun, like ungrateful minions, forbid the sun to enter. This arbor into which Hero desired Margaret to entice Beatrice, was the very same pleasant arbor where Benedict had so lately been an attentive listener. I will make her come, I warrant, presently, said Margaret. Hero then taking Ursula with her into the orchard said to her, Now Ursula, when Beatrice comes, we will walk up and down this alley, and our talk must be only of Benedict, and when I name him, let it be your part to praise him more than ever man did merit. My talk to you must be how Benedict is in love with Beatrice. Now begin, for look where Beatrice, like a lorping, runs close by the ground to hear our conference. They then began, Hero saying, as if in answer to something which Ursula had said, No, truly Ursula, she is too disdainful, her spirits are as coy as wild birds of the rock. But are you sure, said Ursula, that Benedict loves Beatrice so entirely? Hero replied, So says the Prince and my Lord Claudio, and they entreated me to acquaint her with it. But I persuaded them, if they loved Benedict, never to let Beatrice know of it. Certainly, replied Ursula, it were not good, she knew his love, lest she made sport of it. Why to say truth, said Hero, I never yet saw a man how wise so ever, or noble, young, or rarely featured, but she would dispraise him. Sure, sure, such carving is not commendable, said Ursula. No, replied Hero, but who dared tell her so? If I should speak, she would mock me into air. Oh, you wrong, your cousin, said Ursula. She cannot be so much, without true judgment, as to refuse so rare a gentleman a senior Benedict. He have an excellent good name, said Hero. Indeed, he is the first man in Italy, always accepting my dear Claudio. And now, Hero, giving her attendant a hint that it was time to change the discourse, Ursula said. And when are you to be married, madam? Hero then told her that she was to be married to Claudio the next day, and desired she would go in with her and look at the new attire, as she wished to consult with her on what she would wear on the morrow. Beatrice, who had been listening with breathless eagerness to this dialogue, when they went away exclaimed, What fire is in my ears? Can this be true? Farewell, contempt and scorn, and maiden pride adieu. Benedict, love on! I will requite you, taming my wild heart to your loving hand. It must have been a pleasant sight to see these old enemies converted into new and loving friends, and to behold their first meeting after being cheated into mutual liking by the merry artifice of the good-humoured Prince. But a sad reverse in the fortunes of Hero must now be thought of. The morrow, which was to have been her wedding-day, brought sorrow on the heart of Hero and her good-father, Leonardo. The Prince had a half-brother, who came from the wars along with him to Messina. This brother, his name was Don John, was a melancholy, discontented man, whose spirit seemed to labour in the contriving of villainies. He hated the Prince's brother, and he hated Claudio because he was the Prince's friend, and determined to prevent Claudio's marriage with Hero, only for the malicious pleasure of making Claudio and the Prince unhappy, for he knew the Prince had set his heart upon this marriage almost as much as Claudio himself, and to effect this wicked purpose he employed one Boratio, a man as bad as himself, whom he encouraged with the offer of a great reward. This Boratio paid his court to Margaret, Hero's attendant, and Don John, knowing this, prevailed upon him to make Margaret promise to talk with him from her lady's chamber window that night, after Hero was asleep, and also to dress herself in Hero's clothes, the better to deceive Claudio into the belief that it was Hero. For that was the end he meant to compass by this wicked plot. Don John then went to the Prince and Claudio, and told them that Hero was an impudent lady, that she talked with men from her chamber window at midnight. Now this was the evening before the wedding, and he offered to take them that night, where they should themselves hear Hero discoursing with a man from her window, and they consented to go along with him, and Claudio said, If I see anything tonight, why I should not marry her. Tomorrow in the congregation, where I intended to wed her, there will I shame her. The Prince also said, And as I assisted you to obtain her, I will join with you to disgrace her. When Don John brought them near Hero's chamber that night, they saw Boraccio standing under the window, and they saw Margaret looking out of Hero's window and heard her talking with Boraccio, and Margaret, being dressed in the same clothes they had seen Hero wear, the Prince and Claudio believed it was the lady Hero herself. Nothing could equal the anger of Claudio when he had made, as he thought, this discovery. All his love for the innocent Hero was at once converted into hatred, and he resolved to expose her in the church as he had said he would the next day. And the Prince agreed to this, thinking no punishment could be too severe for the naughty lady who talked with a man from her window the very night before she was going to be married to the noble Claudio. The next day, when they were all meant to celebrate the marriage, and Claudio and Hero were standing before the priest, and the priest or friar, as he was called, was proceeding to pronounce the marriage ceremony, Claudio, in the most passionate language, proclaimed the guilt of the blameless Hero, who, amazed at the strange words he uttered, said Meekly, Is my Lord well that he does speak so wide? Leonardo, in the utmost horror, said to the Prince, My Lord, why speak not you? What should I speak? said the Prince. I stand dishonored that have gone about to link my dear friend to an unworthy woman. Leonardo, upon my honour, myself, my brother, and this grieved Claudio, did see and hear her last night at midnight, talk with a man at her chamber window. Benedict, in astonishment at what he heard, said, This looks not like an upshot. True, O God! replied the heart-struck Hero, and then this hapless lady sank down in a fainting fit to all appearance, dead. The Prince and Claudio left the church without staying to see if Hero would recover, or at all regarding the distress into which they had thrown Leonardo. So hard-hearted had their anger made them. Benedict remained and assisted Beatrice to recover Hero from her soon-saying, How does the Lady? Dead, I think, replied Beatrice in great agony, for she loved her cousin, and, knowing her virtuous principles, she believed nothing of what she had heard spoken against her. Not so, the poor old father. He believed the story of his child's shame, and it was piteous to hear him lamenting over her, as she lay like one dead before him, wishing she might never more open her eyes. But the ancient friar was a wise man, and full of observation on human nature, and he had attentively marked the Lady's countenance when she heard herself accused, and noted a thousand blushing shame start into her face, and then he saw an angel-like whiteness bear away those blushes, and in her eye he saw a fire that did belie the error that the Prince did speak against her maiden truth, and he said to the sorrowing father, Call me a fool. Trust not my reading nor my observation. Trust not my age, my reverence, nor my calling, if this sweet Lady lie not goatless here under some biting error. When Hero had recovered from the soon into which she had fallen, the friar said to her, Lady, what man is he you are accused of? Hero replied, They know not that do accuse me, I know of none. Then, turning to Leonardo, she said, Oh, my father, if you can prove that any man has ever conversed with me at hours, un-meet, or that I, yesterday night, changed words with any creature, refuse me, hate me, torture me to death. There is, said the friar, some strange misunderstanding in the Prince and Claudio, and then he counseled Leonardo that he should report that Hero was dead, and he said that the death-like swoon in which they had left Hero would make this easy of belief, and he also advised him that he should put on mourning and erect a monument for her, and do all rites that appertain to a burial. What shall become of this? said Leonardo. What will this do? The friar replied, This report of her death shall change slander into pity. That is some good. But that is not all the good I hope for. When Claudio shall hear she died upon hearing his words, the idea of her life shall sweetly creep into his imagination. Then shall he mourn, if ever love had interest in his heart, and wished that he had not so accused her, yea, though he thought his accusation true. Benedict now said, Leonardo, let the friar advise you, and though you know well I love the Prince and Claudio, yet on my honour I will not reveal the secret to them. Leonardo, thus persuaded, yielded, and said sorrowfully, I am so grieved that the smallest twine may lead me. The kind friar then led Leonardo and Hero away to comfort and console them, and Beatrice and Benedict remained alone, and this was the meeting from which their friends, who contrived the merry plot against them, expected so much diversion. Those friends who were now overwhelmed with affliction, and from whose minds all thoughts of merriment seemed forever banished. Benedict was the first who spoke, and he said, Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while? Yea, and I will weep a while longer, said Beatrice. Surely, said Benedict, I do believe your fair cousin is wronged. Ah, said Beatrice, how much might that man deserve of me who would write her? Benedict then said, is there any way to show such friendship? I do love nothing in the world so well as you. It's not that strange. It were as possible, said Beatrice, for me to say I loved nothing in the world so well as you. But believe me not, and yet I lie not. I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin. By my sword, said Benedict, you love me, and I protest I love you. Come, bid me do anything for you. Kill Claudio, said Beatrice. Not for the world, said Benedict, for he loved his friend Claudio, and he believed he had been imposed upon. Is not Claudio a villain that has slandered, scorned, and dishonored my cousin, said Beatrice? Oh, that I were a man! Hear me, Beatrice, said Benedict. But Beatrice would hear nothing in Claudio's defence, and she continued to urge on Benedict to revenge her cousin's wrongs, and she said, talk with a man out of the window, her proper saying. Sweet hero, she is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone! Oh, that I were a man for Claudio's sake, or that I had any friend who would be a man for my sake! But valor is melted into courtesies and compliments. I cannot be a man with wishing. Therefore I will die a woman with grieving. Tarry, good Beatrice, said Benedict, by this hand I love you. Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it, said Beatrice. Think on your soul that Claudio has wronged hero, asked Benedict. Yay! answered Beatrice, as sure as I have a thought or a soul. Enough, said Benedict. I am engaged. I will challenge him. I will kiss your hand and so leave you. By this hand Claudio shall render me a dear account. As you hear from me, so think of me. Go! Comfort your cousin. While Beatrice was thus powerfully pleading with Benedict, and working his gallant temper by the spirit of angry words to engage in the cause of hero and fight even with his dear friend Claudio, Leonardo was challenging the prince and Claudio to answer with their swords the injury they had done his child, who, he affirmed, had died for grief. But they respected his age and his sorrow, and they said, Nay, do not quarrel with us, good old man. And now came Benedict, and he also challenged Claudio to answer with his sword the injury he had done to hero, and Claudio and the prince said to each other, Beatrice had set him on to do this. Claudio nevertheless must have accepted this challenge of Benedict, had not the justice of heaven at the moment brought to pass a better proof of the innocence of hero than the uncertain fortune of a duel. While the prince and Claudio were yet talking of the challenge of Benedict, a magistrate brought Baraccio as a prisoner before the prince. Baraccio had been overheard talking with one of his companions of the mischief he had been employed by Don John to do. Baraccio made a full confession to the prince in Claudio's hearing that it was Margaret, dressed in her lady's clothes that he had talked with from the window whom they had mistaken for the lady-hero herself. And no doubt continued on the minds of Claudio and the prince on the innocence of hero. If a suspicion had remained it must have been removed by the flight of Don John, who, finding his villainies were detected, fled from Messina to avoid the just anger of his brother. The heart of Claudio was sorely grieved when he found he had falsely accused hero who, he thought, died upon hearing his cruel words, and the memory of his beloved hero's image came over him in the rare semblance that he loved at first. And the prince, asking him, if what he heard did not run like iron through his soul, he answered, that he felt as if he had taken poison while Baraccio was speaking. And the repentant Claudio implored forgiveness of the old man Leonardo for the injury he had done his child, and promised that whatever penance Leonardo would lay upon him for his fault in believing the false accusation against his betrothed wife, for her dear's sake, he would endure it. The penance Leonardo enjoined him was to marry the next morning a cousin of heroes, who, he said, was now his heir, and in person very like hero. Claudio, regarding the solemn promise he made to Leonardo, said he would marry this unknown lady, even though she were an Ethiop. But his heart was very sorrowful, and he passed that night in tears and in remorseful grief at the tomb which Leonardo would erected for hero. When the morning came the prince accompanied Claudio to the church, where the good friar and Leonardo and his niece were already assembled to celebrate a second nuptial. And Leonardo presented to Claudio his promised bride, and she wore a mask that Claudio might not discover her face. And Claudio said to the lady in the mask, Give me your hand before this holy friar. I am your husband, if you will marry me. And when I lived, I was your other wife, said this unknown lady, and taking off her mask, she proved to be no niece, as was pretended, but Leonardo's very daughter, the lady hero herself. We may be sure that this proved a most agreeable surprise to Claudio who fought her dead, so that he could scarcely for joy believe his eyes, and the prince who was equally amazed at what he saw exclaimed, It's not this hero—hero that was dead! Leonardo replied, She died, my lord, but while her slander lived. The friar promised them an explanation of this seeming miracle after the ceremony was ended, and was proceeding to marry them, when he was interrupted by Benedict, who desired to be married at the same time to Beatrice. Beatrice making some demur to this match, and Benedict challenging her with her love for him, which he had learned from Hero, a pleasant explanation took place, and they found that both had been tricked into a belief of love which had never existed, and had become lovers in truth by the power of a false jest. But the affection which a merry invention had cheated them into was grown too powerful to be shaken by a serious explanation, and since Benedict proposed to marry, he was resolved to think nothing of the purpose that the world could say against it, and he merrily kept up the jest and swore to Beatrice that he took her but for pity, and because he heard she was dying of love for him, and Beatrice protested that she yielded but upon great persuasion, and partly to save his life, for she heard he was in a consumption. So these two madwits were reconciled and made a match of it, after Claudio and Hero were married, and to complete the history, Don John, the contriver of the villainy, was taken in his flight and brought back to Messina, and a brave punishment it was to this gloomy, discontented man to see the joy and feastings which, by the disappointment of his plots, took place in the palace in Messina. End of story