"
Thus it ran; but the angry king said it was all a falsehood, made up by
the queen's friends, and he bade them go on with the trial. Yet even
as he spoke, a messenger entered to say that the king's son Mamillius
had died suddenly, grieving for his mother. Hermione, overcome by such
sad tidings, fainted; and then Leontes, feeling some pity for her, bade
her ladies remove her, and do all that was possible for her recovery.
Very soon Paulina returned, saying that Hermione, the queen, was also
dead. Now Leontes repented of his harshness; now he readily believed
she was all that was good and pure; and, beginning to have faith in the
words of the oracle which spoke of that which was lost being found,
declared he would give up his kingdom could he but recover the lost
baby he had sent to perish.
The ship which had conveyed Antigonus with the infant princess away
from her father's kingdom, was driven onshore upon the Bohemian
territory, over which Polixenes reigned. Leaving the child there,
Antigonus started to return to his ship; but a savage bear met and
destroyed him, so that Leontes never heard how his commands had been
fulfilled.
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