Chapter XXX: Act IV: SCENE I Actus Quartus, Scena Prima. Ff. om. Warburton. ACT

IV. Capell. See note (XII).

[1-32] Spurious. Heath conj.

[2] _makes and unfolds_] Ff. _make and unfold_ Rowe. _mask and unfold_
Theobald.

[6] _growth_] _gulf_ Warburton.

[7-9] _gap, since ... custom. Let_] _gap. Since ... custom, let_ Lloyd
conj.

[11] _witness_] _witness'd_ Capell.

[17, 18, 19] _leaving, ... jealousies ... himself, imagine_]
_leaving,--jealousies ... himself;--imagine_ Staunton. _leaving ...
jealousies, ... himself. Imagine_ F1. _leaving ... jealousies, ...
himself, imagine_ F2 F3 F4.

[18] _The_] _To the_ Keightley conj.

[19, 20] _imagine me, ... that I_] _imagine we ... that you_ Johnson
conj.

[22] _I mentioned_] F1. _I mention here_ F2 F3 F4. _There is_ Hanmer.
_I mention'd_ Capell.

_which_] _whom_ Pope.

SCENE II. _Bohemia._ _The palace of_ POLIXENES.

_Enter_ POLIXENES _and_ CAMILLO.

_Pol._ I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate:
'tis a sickness denying thee any thing; a death to grant this.

_Cam._ It is fifteen years since I saw my country:
though I have for the most part been aired abroad, I desire
to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent king, my 5
master, hath sent for me; to whose feeling sorrows I might
be some allay, or I o'erween to think so, which is another
spur to my departure.

_Pol._ As thou lovest me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest
of thy services by leaving me now: the need I have of thee, 10
thine own goodness hath made; better not to have had thee
than thus to want thee: thou, having made me businesses,
which none without thee can sufficiently manage, must
either stay to execute them thyself, or take away with thee
the very services thou hast done; which if I have not enough 15
considered, as too much I cannot, to be more thankful to
thee shall be my study; and my profit therein, the heaping
friendships. Of that fatal country, Sicilia, prithee speak no
more; whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance
of that penitent, as thou callest him, and reconciled 20
king, my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and
children are even now to be afresh lamented. Say to me,
when sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Kings are
no less unhappy, their issue not being gracious, than they
are in losing them when they have approved their virtues. 25

_Cam._ Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince. What
his happier affairs may be, are to me unknown: but I have
missingly noted, he is of late much retired from court and
is less frequent to his princely exercises than formerly he
hath appeared. 30

_Pol._ I have considered so much, Camillo, and with some
care; so far, that I have eyes under my service which look
upon his removedness; from whom I have this intelligence,
that he is seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd;
a man, they say, that from very nothing, and beyond 35
the imagination of his neighbours, is grown into an unspeakable
estate.

_Cam._ I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a
daughter of most rare note: the report of her is extended
more than can be thought to begin from such a cottage. 40

_Pol._ That's likewise part of my intelligence; but, I
fear, the angle that plucks our son thither. Thou shalt accompany
us to the place; where we will, not appearing
what we are, have some question with the shepherd; from
whose simplicity I think it not uneasy to get the cause of 45
my son's resort thither. Prithee, be my present partner in
this business, and lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia.

_Cam._ I willingly obey your command.

_Pol._ My best Camillo! We must disguise ourselves.
[_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE II.] Scena Secunda. Ff.

The palace of Polixenes.]? Court of Bohemia. Pope. A room in
Polixenes' Palace. Capell.

[3] _fifteen_] _sixteen_ Hanmer.

[12] _businesses_] _business_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[17] _my_] _thy_ Long MS.

[17, 18] _heaping friendships_] _heaping friendship_ Hanmer. _reaping
friendships_ Warburton.

[28] _missingly_] (_missingly_) Ff. _musingly_ Hanmer. _missing him_
Warburton.

[32] _care; so far,_] Capell. _care, so farre,_ F1 F2 F3. _care so
far,_ F4.

[41] _part_] _a part_ Theobald.

[41, 42] _but, I fear, the angle_] _but (I fear) the Angle_ Ff. _and,
I fear, the Engle_ Theobald, _and, I fear, the angle_ Hanmer. _but, I
fear the angle_ Steevens.

[46] _thither_] _thether_ F1.

[49] Exeunt.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.

SCENE III. _A road near the_ Shepherd's _cottage_.

_Enter_ AUTOLYCUS, _singing_.

When daffodils begin to peer,
With heigh! the doxy over the dale,
Why, then comes in the sweet o' the year;
For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale.

The white sheet bleaching on the hedge, 5
With heigh! the sweet birds, O, how they sing!
Doth set my pugging tooth on edge;
For a quart of ale is a dish for a king.

The lark, that tirra-lyra chants,
With heigh! with heigh! the thrush and the jay, 10
Are summer songs for me and my aunts,
While we lie tumbling in the hay.

I have served Prince Florizel and in my time wore three-pile;
but now I am out of service:

But shall I go mourn for that, my dear? 15
The pale moon shines by night:
And when I wander here and there,
I then do most go right.

If tinkers may have leave to live,
And bear the sow-skin budget, 20
Then my account I well may give,
And in the stocks avouch it.

My traffic is sheets; when the kite builds, look to lesser
linen. My father named me Autolycus; who being, as I
am, littered under Mercury, was likewise a snapper-up of 25
unconsidered trifles. With die and drab I purchased this
caparison, and my revenue is the silly cheat. Gallows and
knock are too powerful on the highway: beating and hanging
are terrors to me: for the life to come, I sleep out the
thought of it. A prize! a prize! 30

_Enter_ Clown.

_Clo._ Let me see: every 'leven wether tods; every tod
yields pound and odd shilling; fifteen hundred shorn, what
comes the wool to?

_Ant._ [_Aside_] If the springe hold, the cock's mine.

_Clo._ I cannot do't without counters. Let me see; what 35
am I to buy for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pound of
sugar; five pound of currants; rice--what will this sister
of mine do with rice? But my father hath made her mistress
of the feast, and she lays it on. She hath made me
four and twenty nosegays for the shearers, three-man song-men 40
all, and very good ones; but they are most of them
means and bases; but one puritan amongst them, and he
sings psalms to hornpipes. I must have saffron to colour
the warden pies; mace; dates, none, that's out of my note;
nutmegs, seven; a race or two of ginger, but that I may 45
beg; four pound of prunes, and as many of raisins o' the sun.

_Ant._ O that ever I was born! [_Grovelling on the ground._

_Clo._ I' the name of me--

_Ant._ O, help me, help me! pluck but off these rags;
and then, death, death! 50

_Clo._ Alack, poor soul! thou hast need of more rags to
lay on thee, rather than have these off.

_Ant._ O sir, the loathsomeness of them offends me more
than the stripes I have received, which are mighty ones and
millions. 55

_Clo._ Alas, poor man! a million of beating may come
to a great matter.

_Ant._ I am robbed, sir, and beaten; my money and apparel
ta'en from me, and these detestable things put upon me.

_Clo._ What, by a horseman, or a footman? 60

_Ant._ A footman, sweet sir, a footman.

_Clo._ Indeed, he should be a footman by the garments
he has left with thee: if this be a horseman's coat, it hath
seen very hot service. Lend me thy hand, I'll help thee:
come, lend me thy hand. 65

_Ant._ O, good sir, tenderly, O!

_Clo._ Alas, poor soul!

_Ant._ O, good sir, softly, good sir! I fear, sir, my
shoulder-blade is out.

_Clo._ How now! canst stand? 70

_Ant._ Softly, dear sir [_picks his pocket_]; good sir, softly.
You ha' done me a charitable office.

_Clo._ Dost lack any money? I have a little money for
thee.

_Ant._ No, good sweet sir; no, I beseech you, sir: I have 75
a kinsman not past three quarters of a mile hence, unto
whom I was going; I shall there have money, or any thing I
want: offer me no money, I pray you; that kills my heart.

_Clo._ What manner of fellow was he that robbed you?

_Ant._ A fellow, sir, that I have known to go about with 80
troll-my-dames: I knew him once a servant of the prince:
I cannot tell, good sir, for which of his virtues it was, but
he was certainly whipped out of the court.

_Clo._ His vices, you would say; there's no virtue whipped
out of the court: they cherish it to make it stay there; 85
and yet it will no more but abide.

_Aut._ Vices I would say, sir. I know this man well:
he hath been since an ape-bearer; then a process-server,
a bailiff; then he compassed a motion of the Prodigal Son,
and married a tinker's wife within a mile where my land 90
and living lies; and, having flown over many knavish professions,
he settled only in rogue: some call him Autolycus.

_Clo._ Out upon him! prig, for my life, prig: he haunts
wakes, fairs and bear-baitings.

_Aut._ Very true, sir; he, sir, he; that's the rogue that 95
put me into this apparel.

_Clo._ Not a more cowardly rogue in all Bohemia: if
you had but looked big and spit at him, he'ld have run.

_Aut._ I must confess to you, sir, I am no fighter: I am
false of heart that way; and that he knew, I warrant him. 100

_Clo._ How do you now?

_Aut._ Sweet sir, much better than I was; I can stand
and walk: I will even take my leave of you, and pace softly
towards my kinsman's.

_Clo._ Shall I bring thee on the way? 105

_Aut._ No, good-faced sir; no, sweet sir.

_Clo._ Then fare thee well: I must go buy spices for our
sheep-shearing.

_Aut._ Prosper you, sweet sir! [_Exit Clown._] Your purse
is not hot enough to purchase your spice. I'll be with you 110
at your sheep-shearing too: if I make not this cheat bring
out another and the shearers prove sheep, let me be unrolled
and my name put in the book of virtue!

_Song._ Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way,
And merrily hent the stile-a: 115
A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mile-a. [_Exit._

LINENOTES:

SCENE III.] Scena Tertia. Ff. SCENE II. Warburton.

A road....] Malone. om. Ff. The country. Pope. Fields near the
Shepherd's. Capell.

[1] _daffodils_] Johnson. _daffadils_ Ff.

[3, 4] _comes ... For ... reigns in the winter's_] _comes ... For ...
reigns o'er the winter's_ Hanmer. _come ... 'Fore ... reins in the
winter_ Warburton. _comes ... For ... runs in the winter_ Thirlby
conj. _comes ... For ... runs in the winters_ Mason conj.

[6] _heigh_] _Hey_ Ff.

[7] _pugging_] _progging_ Hanmer. _prigging_ Collier MS.

_on_] Theobald. _an_ Ff.

[9] _that_] _with_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_tirra-lyra_] _tirra-Lyra_ F1 F2. _tirra Lyra_ F3. _tirra Lycra_ F4.

[10] _With heigh! with heigh!_] _With heigh, with heigh_ F2 F3 F4.
_With heigh_, F1. _With heigh ho!_ S. Walker conj.

[18] _most go_] _go most_ Pope.

[20] _sow-skin_] _show-skin?_ F4.

_budget_] Rowe. _bowget_ Ff.

[24, 25] _Autolycus; who ... was likewise_] _Autolicus, being littered
under Mercury, who, as I am, was likewise_ Theobald.]

[26] _this_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[27] _silly_] _sly_ Hanmer.

[28] _knock_] _knocks_ Hanmer.

[28, 29] _beating and hanging_] _hanging and beating_ Collier conj.

[31] SCENE III. Warburton.

_'leven wether_] _'leven weather_ Capell. _Leaven-weather_ Ff. _eleven
weather_ Rowe. _eleventh-weather_ Hanmer. _living wether_ Malone conj.

_tod_] F1. _told_ F2 F3 F4.

[32] _pound and odd_] _a pound and one odd_ Hanmer.

[34] [Aside] Rowe.

[35] _counters_] Capell. _compters_ Ff.

[37] _sugar_] _sugar_ [reading out of a Note. Capell.

_currants_] Rowe. _currence_ Ff.

[40] _three-man_] _they're men_ or _they're main_ or _thrum-men_
Theobald conj.

[42] _amongst_] _among_ F4.

[46] _prunes_] Pope. _Prewyns_ Ff. _pruns_ Rowe (ed. 1). _pruins_ Id.
(ed. 2).

_raisins_] Pope. _reysons_ F1 F2. _reasons_ F3 F4. _rasins_ Rowe.

[47] [Grovelling....] Rowe.

[48] _me--_] Rowe. _me_. Ff. _the--_ Theobald conj. om. Johnson conj.
See note (XIII).

[53] _offends_] F2 F3 F4. _offend_ F1.

[59] _detestable_] _derestable_ F1.

[65] [Helping.... Rowe. om. Ff.

[71] [picks....] Capell. om. Ff.

Cuts his purse. Collier (Collier MS.).

[72] _ha'_] _ha_ Ff.

[81] _troll-my-dames_] _troll-madams_ Hanmer.

_him_] _him him_ F2.

[89] _a bailiff_] _to a bailiff_ Edd. conj.

_compassed_] _compos'd_ Long MS.

[90] _where_] _of where_ Keightley conj.

[92] _rogue_] _a rogue_ Warburton.

[101] _do you_] _do you do_ F4.

[105] _the way_] _thy way_ F4.

[107] _fare thee well_] _fartheewell_ F1. _farewell_ F2. _farewel_ F3
F4.

_buy_] F1. _to buy_ F2 F3 F4.

[109] [Exit Clown.] Capell. Exit. Ff (after line 108).

[112, 113] _unrolled_] _unrold_ Ff. _enrolled_ Collier (Collier MS.).
_unrogued_ W. N. L. (N. and Q.). conj.

[115] _hent_] _hend_ Hanmer.

[115-117] _stile-a ... mile-a_] _stile, o ... mile, o_ The Dancing
Master (1650). _stil-e ... mil-e_ Lewis conj.

SCENE IV. _The_ Shepherd's _cottage_.

_Enter_ FLORIZEL _and_ PERDITA.

_Flo._ These your unusual weeds to each part of you
Do give a life: no shepherdess, but Flora
Peering in April's front. This your sheep-shearing
Is as a meeting of the petty gods,
And you the queen on't.

_Per._ Sir, my gracious lord, 5
To chide at your extremes it not becomes me:
O, pardon, that I name them! Your high self,
The gracious mark o' the land, you have obscured
With a swain's wearing, and me, poor lowly maid,
Most goddess-like prank'd up: but that our feasts 10
In every mess have folly and the feeders
Digest it with a custom, I should blush
To see you so attired, sworn, I think,
To show myself a glass.

_Flo._ I bless the time
When my good falcon made her flight across 15
Thy father's ground.

_Per._ Now Jove afford you cause!
To me the difference forges dread; your greatness
Hath not been used to fear. Even now I tremble
To think your father, by some accident,
Should pass this way as you did: O, the Fates! 20
How would he look, to see his work, so noble,
Vilely bound up? What would he say? Or how
Should I, in these my borrow'd flaunts, behold
The sternness of his presence?

_Flo._ Apprehend
Nothing but jollity. The gods themselves, 25
Humbling their deities to love, have taken
The shapes of beasts upon them: Jupiter
Became a bull, and bellow'd; the green Neptune
A ram, and bleated; and the fire-robed god,
Golden Apollo, a poor humble swain, 30
As I seem now. Their transformations
Were never for a piece of beauty rarer,
Nor in a way so chaste, since my desires
Run not before mine honour, nor my lusts
Burn hotter than my faith.

_Per._ O, but, sir, 35
Your resolution cannot hold, when 'tis
Opposed, as it must be, by the power of the king:
One of these two must be necessities,
Which then will speak, that you must change this purpose,
Or I my life.

_Flo._ Thou dearest Perdita, 40
With these forced thoughts, I prithee, darken not
The mirth o' the feast. Or I'll be thine, my fair,
Or not my father's. For I cannot be
Mine own, nor any thing to any, if
I be not thine. To this I am most constant, 45
Though destiny say no. Be merry, gentle;
Strangle such thoughts as these with any thing
That you behold the while. Your guests are coming:
Lift up your countenance, as it were the day
Of celebration of that nuptial which 50
We two have sworn shall come.

_Per._ O lady Fortune,
Stand you auspicious!

_Flo._ See, your guests approach:
Address yourself to entertain them sprightly,
And let's be red with mirth.

_Enter_ Shepherd, Clown, MOPSA, DORCAS, _and others_, _with_ POLIXENES _and_ CAMILLO _disguised_.

_Shep._ Fie, daughter! when my old wife lived, upon 55
This day she was both pantler, butler, cook,
Both dame and servant; welcomed all, served all;
Would sing her song and dance her turn; now here,
At upper end o' the table, now i' the middle;
On his shoulder, and his; her face o' fire 60
With labour and the thing she took to quench it,
She would to each one sip. You are retired,
As if you were a feasted one and not
The hostess of the meeting: pray you, bid
These unknown friends to's welcome; for it is 65
A way to make us better friends, more known.
Come, quench your blushes and present yourself
That which you are, mistress o' the feast: come on,
And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing,
As your good flock shall prosper.

_Per._ [_To Pol._] Sir, welcome: 70
It is my father's will I should take on me
The hostess-ship o' the day. [_To Cam._] You're welcome, sir.
Give me those flowers there, Dorcas. Reverend sirs,
For you there's rosemary and rue; these keep
Seeming and savour all the winter long: 75
Grace and remembrance be to you both,
And welcome to our shearing!

_Pol._ Shepherdess,
A fair one are you, well you fit our ages
With flowers of winter.

_Per._ Sir, the year growing ancient,
Not yet on summer's death, nor on the birth 80
Of trembling winter, the fairest flowers o' the season
Are our carnations and streak'd gillyvors,
Which some call nature's bastards: of that kind
Our rustic garden's barren; and I care not
To get slips of them.

_Pol._ Wherefore, gentle maiden, 85
Do you neglect them?

_Per._ For I have heard it said
There is an art which in their piedness shares
With great creating nature.

_Pol._ Say there be;
Yet nature is made better by no mean,
But nature makes that mean: so, over that art 90
Which you say adds to nature, is an art
That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry
A gentler scion to the wildest stock,
And make conceive a bark of baser kind
By bud of nobler race: this is an art 95
Which does mend nature, change it rather, but
The art itself is nature.

_Per._ So it is.

_Pol._ Then make your garden rich in gillyvors,
And do not call them bastards.

_Per._ I'll not put
The dibble in earth to set one slip of them; 100
No more than were I painted I would wish
This youth should say 'twere well, and only therefore
Desire to breed by me. Here's flowers for you;
Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun 105
And with him rises weeping: these are flowers
Of middle summer, and I think they are given
To men of middle age. You're very welcome.

_Cam._ I should leave grazing, were I of your flock,
And only live by gazing.

_Per._ Out, alas! 110
You'ld be so lean, that blasts of January
Would blow you through and through. Now, my fair'st friend,
I would I had some flowers o' the spring that might
Become your time of day; and yours, and yours,
That wear upon your virgin branches yet 115
Your maidenheads growing: O Proserpina,
For the flowers now, that frighted thou let'st fall
From Dis's waggon! daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty; violets dim 120
But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes
Or Cytherea's breath; pale primroses,
That die unmarried, ere they can behold
Bright Phoebus in his strength, a malady
Most incident to maids; bold oxlips and 125
The crown imperial; lilies of all kinds,
The flower-de-luce being one! O, these I lack,
To make you garlands of; and my sweet friend,
To strew him o'er and o'er!

_Flo._ What, like a corse?

_Per._ No, like a bank for love to lie and play on; 130
Not like a corse; or if, not to be buried,
But quick and in mine arms. Come, take your flowers:
Methinks I play as I have seen them do
In Whitsun pastorals: sure this robe of mine
Does change my disposition.

_Flo._ What you do 135
Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet,
I'ld have you do it ever: when you sing,
I'ld have you buy and sell so, so give alms,
Pray so; and, for the ordering your affairs,
To sing them too: when you do dance, I wish you 140
A wave o' the sea, that you might ever do
Nothing but that; move still, still so,
And own no other function: each your doing,
So singular in each particular,
Crowns what you are doing in the present deeds, 145
That all your acts are queens.

_Per._ O Doricles,
Your praises are too large: but that your youth,
And the true blood which peeps fairly through 't,
Do plainly give you out an unstain'd shepherd,
With wisdom I might fear, my Doricles, 150
You woo'd me the false way.

_Flo._ I think you have
As little skill to fear as I have purpose
To put you to't. But come; our dance, I pray:
Your hand, my Perdita: so turtles pair,
That never mean to part.

_Per._ I'll swear for'em. 155

_Pol._ This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever
Ran on the green-sward: nothing she does or seems
But smacks of something greater than herself,
Too noble for this place.

_Cam._ He tells her something
That makes her blood look out: good sooth, she is 160
The queen of curds and cream.

_Clo._ Come on, strike up!

_Dor._ Mopsa must be your mistress: marry, garlic,
To mend her kissing with!

_Mop._ Now, in good time!

_Clo._ Not a word, a word; we stand upon our manners.
Come, strike up! 165
[_Music. Here a dance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses._

_Pol._ Pray, good shepherd, what fair swain is this
Which dances with your daughter?

_Shep._ They call him Doricles; and boasts himself
To have a worthy feeding: but I have it
Upon his own report and I believe it; 170
He looks like sooth. He says he loves my daughter:
I think so too; for never gazed the moon
Upon the water, as he'll stand and read
As 'twere my daughter's eyes: and, to be plain,
I think there is not half a kiss to choose 175
Who loves another best.

_Pol._ She dances featly.

_Shep._ So she does any thing; though I report it,
That should be silent: if young Doricles
Do light upon her, she shall bring him that
Which he not dreams of. 180

_Enter_ Servant.

_Serv._ O master, if you did but hear the pedlar at the
door, you would never dance again after a tabor and pipe;
no, the bagpipe could not move you: he sings several tunes
faster than you'll tell money; he utters them as he had
eaten ballads and all men's ears grew to his tunes. 185

_Clo._ He could never come better; he shall come in. I
love a ballad but even too well, if it be doleful matter
merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung
lamentably.

_Serv._ He hath songs for man or woman, of all sizes; 190
no milliner can so fit his customers with gloves: he has the
prettiest love-songs for maids; so without bawdry, which is
strange; with such delicate burthens of dildos and fadings,
'jump her and thump her;' and where some stretch-mouthed
rascal would, as it were, mean mischief and break a foul 195
gap into the matter, he makes the maid to answer 'Whoop,
do me no harm, good man;' puts him off, slights him, with
'Whoop, do me no harm, good man.'

_Pol._ This is a brave fellow.

_Clo._ Believe me, thou talkest of an admirable conceited 200
fellow. Has he any unbraided wares?

_Serv._ He hath ribbons of all the colours i' the rainbow;
points more than all the lawyers in Bohemia can learnedly
handle, though they come to him by the gross: inkles, caddisses,
cambrics, lawns: why, he sings 'em over as they 205
were gods or goddesses; you would think a smock were a
she-angel, he so chants to the sleeve-hand and the work
about the square on't.

_Clo._ Prithee bring him in; and let him approach singing.

_Per._ Forewarn him that he use no scurrilous words in's 210
tunes. [_Exit Servant._

_Clo._ You have of these pedlars, that have more in them
than you'ld think, sister.

_Per._ Ay, good brother, or go about to think.

_Enter_ AUTOLYCUS, _singing._

Lawn as white as driven snow; 215
Cypress black as e'er was crow;
Gloves as sweet as damask roses;
Masks for faces and for noses;
Bugle bracelet, necklace amber,
Perfume for a lady's chamber; 220
Golden quoifs and stomachers,
For my lads to give their dears;
Pins and poking-sticks of steel,
What maids lack from head to heel:
Come buy of me, come; come buy, come buy; 225
Buy, lads, or else your lasses cry:
Come buy.

_Clo._ If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou shouldst take
no money of me; but being enthralled as I am, it will also
be the bondage of certain ribbons and gloves. 230

_Mop._ I was promised them against the feast; but
they come not too late now.

_Dor._ He hath promised you more than that, or there
be liars.

_Mop._ He hath paid you all he promised you: may be, he 235
has paid you more, which will shame you to give him again.

_Clo._ Is there no manners left among maids? will they
wear their plackets where they should bear their faces? Is
there not milking-time, when you are going to bed, or kiln-hole,
to whistle off these secrets, but you must be tittle-tattling 240
before all our guests? 'tis well they are whispering:
clamour your tongues, and not a word more.

_Mop._ I have done. Come, you promised me a tawdry-lace
and a pair of sweet gloves.

_Clo._ Have I not told thee how I was cozened by the 245
way and lost all my money?

_Ant._ And indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; therefore
it behoves men to be wary.

_Clo._ Fear not thou, man, thou shall lose nothing here.

_Ant._ I hope so, sir; for I have about me many parcels 250
of charge.

_Clo._ What hast here? ballads?

_Mop._ Pray now, buy some: I love a ballad in print o'
life, for then we are sure they are true.

_Ant._ Here's one to a very doleful tune, how a usurer's 255
wife was brought to bed of twenty money-bags at a burthen
and how she longed to eat adders' heads and toads carbonadoed.

_Mop._ Is it true, think you?

_Ant._ Very true, and but a month old. 260

_Dor._ Bless me from marrying a usurer!

_Ant._ Here's the midwife's name to't, one Mistress
Tale-porter, and five or six honest wives that were present.
Why should I carry lies abroad?

_Mop._ Pray you now, buy it. 265

_Clo._ Come on, lay it by: and let's first see moe ballads;
we'll buy the other things anon.

_Ant._ Here's another ballad of a fish, that appeared upon,
the coast on Wednesday the fourscore of April, forty thousand
fathom above water, and sung this ballad against the 270
hard hearts of maids: it was thought she was a woman, and
was turned into a cold fish for she would not exchange flesh
with one that loved her: the ballad is very pitiful and as true.

_Dor._ Is it true too, think you?

_Ant._ Five justices' hands at it, and witnesses more 275
than my pack will hold.

_Clo._ Lay it by too: another.

_Ant._ This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one.

_Mop._ Let's have some merry ones.

_Ant._ Why, this is a passing merry one and goes to the 280
tune of 'Two maids wooing a man:' there's scarce a maid
westward but she sings it; 'tis in request, I can tell you.

_Mop._ We can both sing it: if thou'lt bear a part, thou
shalt hear; 'tis in three parts.

_Dor._ We had the tune on't a month ago. 285

_Ant._ I can bear my part; you must know 'tis my
occupation: have at it with you.

SONG.

_A._ Get you hence, for I must go
Where it fits not you to know.
_D._. Whither? _M._ O, whither? _D._ Whither? 290
_M._ It becomes thy oath full well,
Thou to me thy secrets tell:
_D._ Me too, let me go thither.

_M._ Or thou goest to the grange or mill:
_D._ If to either, thou dost ill. 295
_A._ Neither. _D._ What, neither? _A._ Neither.
_D._ Thou hast sworn my love to be;
_M._ Thou hast sworn it more to me:
Then whither goest? say, whither?

_Clo._ We'll have this song out anon by ourselves: my 300
father and the gentlemen are in sad talk, and we'll not
trouble them. Come, bring away thy pack after me.
Wenches, I'll buy for you both. Pedlar, let's have the
first choice. Follow me, girls.
[_Exit with Dorcas and Mopsa._

_Ant._ And you shall pay well for 'em. [_Follows singing._ 305

Will you buy any tape,
Or lace for your cape,
My dainty duck, my dear-a?
Any silk, any thread,
Any toys for your head, 310
Of the new'st, and finest, finest wear-a?
Come to the pedlar;
Money's a medler,
That doth utter all men's ware-a. [_Exit._

_Re-enter_ Servant.

_Serv._ Master, there is three carters, three shepherds, 315
three neat-herds, three swine-herds, that have made themselves
all men of hair, they call themselves Saltiers, and
they have a dance which the wenches say is a gallimaufry of
gambols, because they are not in't; but they themselves
are o' the mind, if it be not too rough for some that know 320
little but bowling, it will please plentifully.

_Shep._ Away! we'll none on't: here has been too much
homely foolery already. I know, sir, we weary you.

_Pol._ You weary those that refresh us: pray, let's see
these four threes of herdsmen. 325

_Serv._ One three of them, by their own report, sir, hath
danced before the king; and not the worst of the three but
jumps twelve foot and a half by the squier.

_Shep._ Leave your prating: since these good men are
pleased, let them come in; but quickly now. 330

_Serv._ Why, they stay at door, sir. [_Exit._

_Here a dance of twelve Satyrs._

_Pol._ O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter.
[_To Cam._] Is it not too far gone? 'Tis time to part them.
He's simple and tells much. How now, fair shepherd!
Your heart is full of something that does take 335
Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young
And handed love as you do, I was wont
To load my she with knacks: I would have ransack'd
The pedlar's silken treasury and have pour'd it
To her acceptance; you have let him go 340
And nothing marted with him. If your lass
Interpretation should abuse and call this
Your lack of love or bounty, you were straited
For a reply, at least if you make a care
Of happy holding her.

_Flo._ Old sir, I know 345
She prizes not such trifles as these are:
The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd
Up in my heart; which I have given already,
But not deliver'd. O, hear me breathe my life
Before this ancient sir, who, it should seem, 350
Hath sometime loved! I take thy hand, this hand,
As soft as dove's down and as white as it,
Or Ethiopian's tooth, or the fann'd snow that's bolted
By the northern blasts twice o'er.

_Pol._ What follows this?
How prettily the young swain seems to wash 355
The hand was fair before! I have put you out:
But to your protestation; let me hear
What you profess.

_Flo._ Do, and be witness to't.

_Pol._ And this my neighbour too?

_Flo._ And he, and more
Than he, and men, the earth, the heavens, and all: 360
That, were I crown'd the most imperial monarch,
Thereof most worthy, were I the fairest youth
That ever made eye swerve, had force and knowledge
More than was ever man's, I would not prize them
Without her love; for her employ them all; 365
Commend them and condemn them to her service
Or to their own perdition.

_Pol._ Fairly offer'd.

_Cam._ This shows a sound affection.

_Shep._ But, my daughter,
Say you the like to him?

_Per._ I cannot speak
So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better: 370
By the pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out
The purity of his.

_Shep._ Take hands, a bargain!
And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to't:
I give my daughter to him, and will make
Her portion equal his.

_Flo._ O, that must be 375
I' the virtue of your daughter: one being dead,
I shall have more than you can dream of yet;
Enough then for your wonder. But, come on,
Contract us 'fore these witnesses.

_Shep._ Come, your hand;
And, daughter, yours.

_Pol._ Soft, swain, awhile, beseech you; 380
Have you a father?

_Flo._ I have: but what of him?

_Pol._ Knows he of this?

_Flo._ He neither does nor shall.

_Pol._ Methinks a father
Is at the nuptial of his son a guest
That best becomes the table. Pray you once more, 385
Is not your father grown incapable
Of reasonable affairs? is he not stupid
With age and altering rheums? can he speak? hear?
Know man from man? dispute his own estate?
Lies he not bed-rid? and again does nothing 390
But what he did being childish?

_Flo._ No, good sir;
He has his health and ampler strength indeed
Than most have of his age.

_Pol._ By my white beard,
You offer him, if this be so, a wrong
Something unfilial: reason my son 395
Should choose himself a wife, but as good reason
The father, all whose joy is nothing else
But fair posterity, should hold some counsel
In such a business.

_Flo._ I yield all this;
But for some other reasons, my grave sir, 400
Which 'tis not fit you know, I not acquaint
My father of this business.

_Pol._ Let him know't.

_Flo._ He shall not.

_Pol._ Prithee, let him.

_Flo._ No, he must not.

_Shep._ Let him, my son: he shall not need to grieve
At knowing of thy choice.

_Flo._ Come, come, he must not. 405
Mark our contract.

_Pol._ Mark your divorce, young sir,
[_Discovering himself._
Whom son I dare not call; them art too base
To be acknowledged: thou a sceptre's heir.
That thus affects a sheep-hook! Thou old traitor,
I am sorry that by hanging thee I can 410
But shorten thy life one week. And them, fresh piece
Of excellent witchcraft, who of force must know
The royal fool them copest with,--

_Shep._ O, my heart!

_Pol._ I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briers, and made
More homely than thy state. For thee, fond boy, 415
If I may ever know them dost but sigh
That them no more shalt see this knack, as never
I mean thou shalt, we'll bar thee from succession;
Not hold thee of our blood, no, not our kin,
Far than Deucalion off: mark thou my words: 420
Follow us to the court. Thou churl, for this time,
Though full of our displeasure, yet we free thee
From the dead blow of it. And you, enchantment,--
Worthy enough a herdsman; yea, him too,
That makes himself, but for our honour therein, 425
Unworthy thee,--if ever henceforth thou
These rural latches to his entrance open,
Or hoop his body more with thy embraces,
I will devise a death as cruel for thee
As thou art tender to't. [_Exit._

_Per._ Even here undone! 430
I was not much afeard; for once or twice
I was about to speak and tell him plainly,
The selfsame sun that shines upon his court
Hides not his visage from our cottage, but
Looks on alike. Will't please you, sir, be gone? 435
I told you what would come of this: beseech you,
Of your own state take care: this dream of mine,--
Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch farther,
But milk my ewes and weep.

_Cam._ Why, how now, father!
Speak ere thou diest.

_Shep._ I cannot speak, nor think, 440
Nor dare to know that which I know. O sir!
You have undone a man of fourscore three,
That thought to fill his grave in quiet; yea,
To die upon the bed my father died,
To lie close by his honest bones: but now 445
Some hangman must put on my shroud and lay me
Where no priest shovels in dust. O cursed wretch,
That knew'st this was the prince, and wouldst adventure
To mingle faith with him! Undone! undone!
If I might die within this hour, I have lived 450
To die when I desire. [_Exit._

_Flo._ Why look you so upon me?
I am but sorry, not afeard, delay'd,
But nothing alter'd: what I was, I am;
More straining on for plucking back, not following
My leash unwillingly.

_Cam._ Gracious my lord, 455
You know your father's temper: at this time
He will allow no speech, which I do guess
You do not purpose to him; and as hardly
Will he endure your sight as yet, I fear:
Then, till the fury of his highness settle, 460
Come not before him.

_Flo._ I not purpose it.
I think, Camillo?

_Cam._ Even he, my lord.

_Per._ How often have I told you 'twould be thus!
How often said, my dignity would last
But till 'twere known!

_Flo._ It cannot fail but by 465
The violation of my faith; and then
Let nature crush the sides o' the earth together
And mar the seeds within! Lift up thy looks:
From my succession wipe me, father, I
Am heir to my affection.

_Cam._ Be advised. 470

_Flo._ I am, and by my fancy: if my reason
Will thereto be obedient, I have reason;
If not, my senses, better pleased with madness,
Do bid it welcome.

_Cam._ This is desperate, sir.

_Flo._ So call it: but it does fulfil my vow; 475
I needs must think it honesty. Camillo,
Not for Bohemia, nor the pomp that may
Be thereat glean'd; for all the sun sees, or
The close earth wombs, or the profound sea hides
In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath 480
To this my fair beloved: therefore, I pray you,
As you have ever been my father's honour'd friend,
When he shall miss me,--as, in faith, I mean not
To see him any more,--cast your good counsels
Upon his passion: let myself and fortune 485
Tug for the time to come. This you may know
And so deliver, I am put to sea
With her whom here I cannot hold on shore;
And most opportune to our need I have
A vessel rides fast by, but not prepared 490
For this design. What course I mean to hold
Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor
Concern me the reporting.

_Cam._ O my lord!
I would your spirit were easier for advice,
Or stronger for your need.

_Flo._ Hark, Perdita. 495
[_Drawing her aside._
I'll hear you by and by.

_Cam._ He's irremoveable,
Resolved for flight. Now were I happy, if
His going I could frame to serve my turn,
Save him from danger, do him love and honour,
Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia 500
And that unhappy king, my master, whom
I so much thirst to see.

_Flo._ Now, good Camillo;
I am so fraught with curious business that
I leave out ceremony.

_Cam._ Sir, I think
You have heard of my poor services, i' the love 505
That I have borne your father?

_Flo._ Very nobly
Have you deserved: it is my father's music
To speak your deeds, not little of his care
To have them recompensed as thought on.

_Cam._ Well, my lord,
If you may please to think I love the king, 510
And through him what is nearest to him, which is
Your gracious self, embrace but my direction,
If your more ponderous and settled project
May suffer alteration, on mine honour
I'll point you where you shall have such receiving 515
As shall become your highness; where you may
Enjoy your mistress, from the whom, I see,
There's no disjunction to be made, but by
As heavens forefend! your ruin; marry her,
And, with my best endeavours in your absence, 520
Your discontenting father strive to qualify
And bring him up to liking.

_Flo._ How, Camillo,
May this, almost a miracle, be done?
That I may call thee something more than man
And after that trust to thee.

_Cam._ Have you thought on 525
A place whereto you'll go?

_Flo._ Not any yet:
But as the unthought-on accident is guilty
To what we wildly do, so we profess
Ourselves to be the slaves of chance, and flies
Of every wind that blows.

_Cam._ Then list to me: 530
This follows, if you will not change your purpose
But undergo this flight, make for Sicilia,
And there present yourself and your fair princess,
For so I see she must be, 'fore Leontes:
She shall be habited as it becomes 535
The partner of your bed. Methinks I see
Leontes opening his free arms and weeping
His welcomes forth; asks thee the son forgiveness,
As 'twere i' the father's person; kisses the hands
Of your fresh princess; o'er and o'er divides him 540
'Twixt his unkindness and his kindness; the one
He chides to hell and bids the other grow
Faster than thought or time.

_Flo._ Worthy Camillo,
What colour for my visitation shall I
Hold up before him?

_Cam._ Sent by the king your father 545
To greet him and to give him comforts. Sir,
The manner of your bearing towards him, with
What you as from your father shall deliver,
Things known betwixt us three, I 'll write you down:
The which shall point you forth at every sitting 550
What you must say; that he shall not perceive
But that you have your father's bosom there
And speak his very heart.

_Flo._ I am bound to you:
There is some sap in this.

_Cam._ A course more promising
Than a wild dedication of yourselves 555
To unpath'd waters, undream'd shores, most certain
To miseries enough: no hope to help you,
But as you shake off one to take another:
Nothing so certain as your anchors, who
Do their best office, if they can but stay you 560
Where you'll be loath to be: besides you know
Prosperity's the very bond of love,
Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together
Affliction alters.

_Per._ One of these is true:
I think affliction may subdue the cheek, 565
But not take in the mind.

_Cam._ Yea, say you so?
There shall not at your father's house these seven years
Be'born another such.

_Flo._ My good Camillo,
She is as forward of her breeding as
She is i' the rear o' our birth.

_Cam._ I cannot say 'tis pity 570
She lacks instructions, for she seems a mistress
To most that teach.

_Per._ Your pardon, sir; for this
I'll blush you thanks.

_Flo._ My prettiest Perdita!
But O, the thorns we stand upon! Camillo,
Preserver of my father, now of me, 575
The medicine of our house, how shall we do?
We are not furnish'd like Bohemia's son,
Nor shall appear in Sicilia.

_Cam._ My lord,
Fear none of this: I think you know my fortunes
Do all lie there: it shall be so my care 580
To have you royally appointed as if
The scene you play were mine. For instance, sir,
That you may know you shall not want, one word.
[_They talk aside._

_Re-enter_ AUTOLYCUS.

_Aut._ Ha, ha! what a fool Honesty is! and Trust, his
sworn brother, a very simple gentleman! I have sold all 585
my trumpery; not a counterfeit stone, not a ribbon, glass,
pomander, brooch, table-book, ballad, knife, tape, glove,
shoe-tie, bracelet, horn-ring, to keep my pack from fasting:
they throng who should buy first, as if my trinkets had been
hallowed and brought a benediction to the buyer: by which 590
means I saw whose purse was best in picture; and what I
saw, to my good use I remembered. My clown, who wants
but something to be a reasonable man, grew so in love with
the wenches' song, that he would not stir his pettitoes till
he had both tune and words; which so drew the rest of the 595
herd to me, that all their other senses stuck in ears: you
might have pinched a placket, it was senseless; 'twas nothing
to geld a codpiece of a purse; I would have filed keys off
that hung-in chains: no hearing, no feeling, but my sir's
song, and admiring the nothing of it. So that in this time 600
of lethargy I picked and cut most of their festival purses;
and had not the old man come in with a whoo-bub against
his daughter and the king's son and scared my choughs
from the chaff, I had not left a purse alive in the whole army.
[_Camillo, Florizel, and Perdita come forward._

_Cam._ Nay, but my letters, by this means being there 605
So soon as you arrive, shall clear that doubt.

_Flo._ And those that you'll procure from King Leontes--

_Cam._ Shall satisfy your father.

_Per._ Happy be you!
All that you speak shows fair.

_Cam._ Who have we here? [_Seeing Autolycus._
We'll make an instrument of this; omit 610
Nothing may give us aid.

_Aut._ If they have overheard me now, why, hanging.

_Cam._ How now, good fellow! why shakest thou so?
Fear not, man; here's no harm intended to thee.

_Aut._ I am a poor fellow, sir. 615

_Cam._ Why, be so still; here's nobody will steal that
from thee: yet for the outside of thy poverty we must
make an exchange; therefore discase thee instantly,--thou
must think there's a necessity in't,--and change garments
with this gentleman: though the pennyworth on his side be 620
the worst, yet hold thee, there's some boot.

_Aut._ I am a poor fellow, sir. [_Aside_] I know ye well
enough.

_Cam._ Nay, prithee, dispatch: the gentleman is half
flayed already. 625

_Aut._ Are you in earnest, sir? [_Aside_] I smell the
trick on't.

_Flo._ Dispatch, I prithee.

_Aut._ Indeed, I have had earnest; but I cannot with
conscience take it. 630

_Cam._ Unbuckle, unbuckle.
[_Florizel and Autolycus exchange garments._
Fortunate mistress,--let my prophecy
Come home to ye!--you must retire yourself
Into some covert: take your sweetheart's hat
And pluck it o'er your brows, muffle your face, 635
Dismantle you, and, as you can, disliken
The truth of your own seeming; that you may--
For I do fear eyes over--to shipboard
Get undescried.

_Per._ I see the play so lies
That I must bear a part. 640

_Cam._ No remedy.
Have you done there?

_Flo._ Should I now meet my father,
He would not call me son.

_Cam._ Nay, you shall have no hat.
[_Giving it to Perdita._
Come, lady, come. Farewell, my friend.

_Aut._ Adieu, sir.

_Flo._ O Perdita, what have we twain forgot!
Pray you, a word. 645

_Cam._ [_Aside_] What I do next, shall be to tell the king
Of this escape and whither they are bound;
Wherein my hope is I shall so prevail
To force him after: in whose company
I shall review Sicilia, for whose sight 650
I have a woman's longing.

_Flo._ Fortune speed us!
Thus we set on, Camillo, to the sea-side.

_Cam._ The swifter speed the better.
[_Exeunt Florizel, Perdita, and Camillo._

_Aut._ I understand the business, I hear it: to have an
open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a 655
cut-purse; a good nose is requisite also, to smell out work
for the other senses. I see this is the time that the unjust
man doth thrive. What an exchange had this been without
boot! What a boot is here with this exchange! Sure the
gods do this year connive at us, and we may do any thing 660
extempore. The prince himself is about a piece of iniquity,
stealing away from his father with his clog at his
heels: if I thought it were a piece of honesty to acquaint the
king withal, I would not do't: I hold it the more knavery
to conceal it; and therein am I constant to my profession. 665

_Re-enter_ Clown _and_ Shepherd.

Aside, aside; here is more matter for a hot brain: every
lane's end, every shop, church, session, hanging, yields a
careful man work.

_Clo._ See, see; what a man you are now! There is no
other way but to tell the king she's a changeling and none 670
of your flesh and blood.

_Shep._ Nay, but hear me.

_Clo._ Nay, but hear me.

_Shep._ Go to, then.

_Clo._ She being none of your flesh and blood, your flesh 675
and blood has not offended the king; and so your flesh and
blood is not to be punished by him. Show those things
you found about her, those secret things, all but what she
has with her: this being done, let the law go whistle: I
warrant you. 680

_Shep._ I will tell the king all, every word, yea, and his
son's pranks too; who, I may say, is no honest man, neither
to his father nor to me, to go about to make me the king's
brother-in-law.

_Clo._ Indeed, brother-in-law was the farthest off you 685
could have been to him and then your blood had been the
dearer by I know how much an ounce.

_Aut._ [_Aside_] Very wisely, puppies!

_Shep._ Well, let us to the king: there is that in this
fardel will make him scratch his beard. 690

_Aut._ [_Aside_] I know not what impediment this complaint
may be to the flight of my master.

_Clo._ Pray heartily he be at palace.

_Aut._ [_Aside_] Though I am not naturally honest, I am
so sometimes by chance: let me pocket up my pedlar's 695
excrement. [_Takes off his false beard._] How now, rustics!
whither are you bound?

_Shep._ To the palace, an it like your worship.

_Aut._ Your affairs there, what, with whom, the condition
of that fardel, the place of your dwelling, your names, 700
your ages, of what having, breeding, and any thing that is
fitting to be known, discover.

_Clo._ We are but plain fellows, sir.

_Aut._ A lie; you are rough and hairy. Let me have no
lying: it becomes none but tradesmen, and they often give us 705
soldiers the lie: but we pay them for it with stamped coin,
not stabbing steel; therefore they do not give us the lie.

_Clo._ Your worship had like to have given us one, if you
had not taken yourself with the manner.

_Shep._ Are you a courtier, an't like you, sir? 710

_Aut._ Whether it like me or no, I am a courtier. Seest
thou not the air of the court in these enfoldings? hath not
my gait in it the measure of the court? receives not thy
nose court-odour from me? reflect I not on thy baseness
court-contempt? Thinkest thou, for that I insinuate, or 715
toaze from thee thy business, I am therefore no courtier? I
am courtier cap-a-pe; and one that will either push on or
pluck back thy business there: whereupon I command thee
to open thy affair.

_Shep._ My business, sir, is to the king. 720

_Aut._ What advocate hast thou to him?

_Shep._ I know not, an't like you.

_Clo._ Advocate's the court-word for a pheasant: say you
have none.

_Shep._ None, sir; I have no pheasant, cock nor hen. 725

_Aut._ How blessed are we that are not simple men!
Yet nature might have made me as these are,
Therefore I will not disdain.

_Clo._ This cannot be but a great courtier.

_Shep._ His garments are rich, but he wears them not 730
handsomely.

_Clo._ He seems to be the more noble in being fantastical:
a great man, I'll warrant; I know by the picking on's teeth,

_Aut._ The fardel there? what's i' the fardel? Wherefore
that box? 735

_Shep._ Sir, there lies such secrets in this fardel and box,
which none must know but the king; and which he shall
know within this hour, if I may come to the speech of him.

_Aut._ Age, thou hast lost thy labour.

_Shep._ Why, sir? 740

_Aut._ The king is not at the palace; he is gone aboard a
new ship to purge melancholy and air himself: for, if thou
beest capable of things serious, thou must know the king is
full of grief.

_Shep._ So 'tis said, sir; about his son, that should have 745
married a shepherd's daughter.

_Aut._ If that shepherd be not in hand-fast, let him fly:
the curses he shall have, the tortures he shall feel, will
break the back of man, the heart of monster.

_Clo._ Think you so, sir? 750

_Aut._ Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy
and vengeance bitter; but those that are germane to him,
though removed fifty times, shall all come under the hangman:
which though it be great pity, yet it is necessary. An
old sheep-whistling rogue, a ram-tender, to offer to have his 755
daughter come into grace! Some say he shall be stoned; but
that death is too soft for him, say I: draw our throne into
a sheep-cote! all deaths are too few, the sharpest too easy.

_Clo._ Has the old man e'er a son, sir, do you hear, an't
like you, sir? 760

_Ant._ He has a son, who shall be flayed alive; then
'nointed over with honey, set on the head of a wasp's nest;
then stand till he be three quarters and a dram dead; then
recovered again with aqua-vitae or some other hot infusion;
then, raw as he is, and in the hottest day prognostication 765
proclaims, shall he be set against a brick-wall, the sun
looking with a southward eye upon him, where he is to
behold him with flies blown to death. But what talk we of
these traitorly rascals, whose miseries are to be smiled at,
their offences being so capital? Tell me, for you seem to be 770
honest plain men, what you have to the king: being something
gently considered, I'll bring you where he is aboard,
tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your
behalfs; and if it be in man besides the king to effect your
suits, here is man shall do it. 775

_Clo._ He seems to be of great authority: close with
him, give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn
bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold: show the inside
of your purse to the outside of his hand, and no more
ado. Remember 'stoned,' and 'flayed alive.' 780

_Shep._ An't please you, sir, to undertake the business
for us, here is that gold I have: I'll make it as much more
and leave this young man in pawn till I bring it you.

_Aut._ After I have done what I promised?

_Shep._ Ay, sir. 785

_Aut._ Well, give me the moiety. Are you a party in this
business?

_Clo._ In some sort, sir: but though my case be a pitiful
one, I hope I shall not be flayed out of it.

_Aut._ O, that's the case of the shepherd's son: hang 790
him, he'll be made an example.

_Clo._ Comfort, good comfort! We must to the king and
show our strange sights: he must know 'tis none of your
daughter nor my sister; we are gone else. Sir, I will give
you as much as this old man does when the business is 795
performed, and remain, as he says, your pawn till it be
brought you.

_Aut._ I will trust you. Walk before toward the sea-side;
go on the right hand: I will but look upon the hedge and
follow you. 800

_Clo._ We are blest in this man, as I may say, even
blest.

_Shep._ Let's before as he bids us: he was provided to
do us good. [_Exeunt Shepherd and Clown._

_Aut._ If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would 805
not suffer me: she drops booties in my mouth. I am courted
now with a double occasion, gold and a means to do the
prince my master good; which who knows how that may
turn back to my advancement? I will bring these two
moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he think it fit to 810
shore them again and that the complaint they have to the
king concerns him nothing, let him call me rogue for
being so far officious; for I am proof against that title and
what shame else belongs to't. To him will I present them:
there may be matter in it. [_Exit._ 815

LINENOTES:

SCENE IV.] SCENE III. Capell.

The Shepherd's cottage.] The prospect of a Shepherd's Cotte. Theobald.
A Room in the Shepherd's House. Capell.

Enter F. and P.] Rowe. Enter F., P., Shepherd, Clowne, Polixenes,
Camillo, Mopsa, Dorcas, Servants, Autolicus. Ff.

[2] _Do_] Theobald. _Do's_ Ff. _Does_ Rowe.

[4] _Is as_] _Is_ Rowe.

_a meeting_] F1. _a merry meeting_ F2 F3 F4.

[5] _Sir_] _Sure_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[12] _Digest it_] F2 F3 F4. _Digest_ F1.

[12, 13] _custom, I should blush ... think,_] _custom (sworn I think)
To see you so attired, I should blush_ Steevens conj.

[13] _sworn_] F3 F4. _sworne_ F1 F2. _swoon_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.).
_scorn_ Mitford conj. _so worn_ Collier (Jackson conj.).

[13, 14] _sworn, I think ... glass_] _swoon, I think, To see myself i'
the glass_ Theobald conj. _and more I think ... a glass_ Ingleby conj.
_frown, I think, ... a glass or sorely shrink ... i' th' glass_ or
_more, I think ... a glass or more, I think ... i' th' glass_ Bailey
conj.

[22] _Vilely_] Hanmer. _Vildly_ Ff.

[28] _the green_] _sea green_ Anon. conj.

[31, 32] _now. Their ... beauty rarer,_] Rowe. _now. Their ... beauty,
rarer,_ Ff. _now_:--_Their ... beauty rarer,--_ Dyce.

[33] _in a way_] _any way_ Collier (Ritson conj.).

[35] _faith_] _faith does_ Keightley conj.

_sir_] F1. _deere sir_ F2. _dear sir_ F3 F4.

[38] _must be necessities_] _necessities must be_ Hanmer.

[40] _dearest_] F3 F4. _deer'st_ F1. _deerest_ F2.

[46] _gentle_] _gentlest_ Hanmer. _girl_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[49] _your_] _you_ F4.

_it were_] _'twere_ Pope.

[54] Enter....] Enter All. F2 F3 F4 (after _auspicious!_ line 52). om.
F1.

[55] SCENE V. Pope.

[60] _and_] _and on_ Keightley conj.

[61] _thing_] _things_ F4.

[68] _come on_] Pol. _Come on_ Theobald conj.

[70] [To Pol.] _Sir, welcome_] Malone. _Sir, welcome_, Ff. _Sirs,
welcome_ [To Polix. and Cam. Rowe. _Sirs, you're welcome_ [To Pol. and
Cam. Hanmer. _Welcome, sir_ Capell.

[72] [To Cam.] Malone.

_sir_] _sirs_ Rowe.

[76] _to you_] _unto you_ Pope.

[78, 79] _well ... winter._] _will ... winter?_ Staunton conj.

[81] _fairest_] _fair'st_ S. Walker conj.

[82] _gillyvors_] _Gilly-vors_ Ff. _giily-flowers_ Rowe. See note
(XIV).

[83] _call_] _cail_ F2.

[84] _garden's_] F2 F3 F4. _gardens_ F1.

[90] _over_] _o'er_ Capell. _ever_ or _e'er_ Anon. conj. _even_ Craik
conj.

[93] _scion_] Steevens (1793). _sien_ Ff. _scyon_ Pope, _scyen_
Capell. _cyon_ Steevens (1778).

_wildest_] _wilder_ Anon. conj.

[98] _your_] _you_ F1.

_gillyvors_] _Gilly 'vors_ Ff. _gillyflowers_ Rowe.

[104] _mints_] _mint_ S. Walker conj. (withdrawn).

[105] _wi' the_] Capell. _with'_ Ff. _with th_' Rowe.

[108] _You're_] _Y'are_ Ff.

_very welcome_] _welcome_ F4.

[112] _my fair'st friend_] Ff. _my fairest friends_ Rowe (ed. 2).
_fairest friend_ Hanmer.

[118] _Dis's_] _Dysses_ F1. _Disses_ F2 F3 F4.

_daffodils_] _early daffodils_ Hanmer. _golden daffodils_ Coleridge
conj. _yellow daffodils_ Keightley conj.

[125] _bold_] _gold_ Hanmer.

[127] _flower-de-luce_] _flower-de-lis_ Rowe.

[134] _Whitsun_] Johnson. _Whitson_ Ff. _Whitsund'_ Hanmer.

[137, 138] _I'ld_] F1 F2 F3. _I'le_ F4. _I'll_ Rowe.

[142] _move_] _but so move_ Keightley conj.

_still so_] _still so, my fair_ Capell.

[142, 143] _still so, And own no_] _still so, and own No_ Malone.

[145] _you are_] _you're_ Pope.

_deeds_] _deed_ Spedding conj.

[146] _queens_] _queen's_ Singer.

[148] _peeps ... through't_] F3 F4. _peepes ... through't_ F1 F2.
_peeps forth ... through it_ Rowe. _peeps so ... through t'_ Capell.
_fairly peeps through it_ Steevens (1793). _peeps ... through it_
Collier. _through it ... peeps_ Staunton conj. _peepeth ... through't_
Anon. conj.

[152] _to fear_] _in fear_ Hanmer.

[155, 156] _Per. I'll ... 'em._ Pol. _This_] Pol. [Aside] _I'll ...
This_ Johnson conj.

[155] _I'll swear_] _Elsewhere_ Jackson conj.

_for 'em_] _for them_ [Music. Dance forming. Capell. _for one_ Rann
(Theobald and Ritson conj.).

[157] _green-sward_] Steevens. _greensord_ Ff.

_seems_] _says_ Collier (Collier MS.). _deems_ Anon. conj.

[160] _makes ... out_] _wakes her blood: look on't_ Collier (Collier
MS.).

_look out_] Theobald. _look on't_ Ff.

[162, 163] Arranged as in Capell. As prose in Ff.

_marry, garlic, To ... with!_] _marry Garlick to ... with._ Ff.
_marry, garlick to ... with--_ Johnson.

[165] _strike up_] _strike up, pipers_ Capell, ending lines 166, 167
_at what ... daughter?_

[165] [Music.] Malone. om. Ff.

[166] _Pray_] _I pray_ Hanmer. _Pray you_ S. Walker conj.

[167] _Which_] _Who_ Pope.

[168] _and boasts_] _and he boasts_ Rowe. _he boasts_ Capell. _'a
boasts_ Steevens conj.

[169] _feeding_] _breeding_ Hanmer.

_but I have it_] _I have it but_ Hunter conj.

[176] _Who loves another_] _Which loves the other_ Hanmer. _Who loves
the other_ Mason conj.

[177] _So she_] _She_ Warburton.

[181] SCENE VI. Pope.

[185] _grew_] _grow_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[193] _fadings_] _fapings_ Rowe (ed. 2). _fa-dings_ Theobald.

[196] _gap_] _jape_ Singer (Collier MS.).

[200] _admirable conceited_] Ff. _admirable-conceited_ Theobald.

[201] _unbraided_] _braided_ Johnson conj. _embroided_ Collier
(Collier MS.).

_wares_] _warres_ F2.

[206] _or_] _and_ Pope.

[207] _sleeve-hand_] _sleeve-band_ Hanmer. _Silesia_ or _sleasie
holland_ Peck conj.

[211] Exit....] Capell.

[212] _them_] _'em_ Warburton.

[216] _Cypress_] _Cyprus_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[219] _Bugle bracelet_] _Bugle-bracelets_ F4.

[225] _come;_] _come buy;_ Keightley conj.

[226, 227] _Buy ... Come buy._] _Buy ... Come buy, &c._ Theobald. As
one line in Ff.

[238] _bear_] _wear_ Warburton.

[239, 240] _kiln-hole_] Malone. _kill-hole_ Ff.

[240] _whistle off_] Hanmer. _whistle of_ Ff. _whisper off_ Collier
MS.

[242] _clamour_] _charm_ Hanmer. _chamber_ Jackson conj. _chommer_
Cornish conj. _clammer_ Keightley conj. _chawmer_ Singer conj.

[253] _ballad_] F3 F4. _ballet_ F1 F2.

[253, 254] _o' life_] _o'-life_ Collier, _a life_ Ff. _or a life_ Rowe
(ed. 2). _a'-life_ Malone.

[256] _of_] F1 F2. _with_ F3 F4.

_burthen_] _birth_ Anon. conj.

[262] _midwife's_] Rowe. _midwives_ Ff.

[263] _wives_] _wives'_ Steevens. See note (xv).

[266] _moe_] _more_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[268] _ballad of_] Ff. _ballad, Of_ Capell.

[269] _Wednesday_] _Wensday_ F1 F2.

[270] _fathom_] Johnson, _fadom_ Ff.

[272] _cold_] _cod_ Anon conj.

[288] SONG] See note (XVI).

[289] _Where it_] _Whither_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[290, 299] _whither_] F4. _whether_ F1 F2 F3.

[293] _thither_] F3 F4. _thether_ F1 F2.

[301] _gentlemen_] Rowe. _Gent._ Ff.

[304] Exit....] Dyce om. Ff. Exeunt Cl., A., D., and M. Rowe (after
line 314).

[305] [Follows singing.] Edd. Song. Ff.

[306-314] As six lines in Ff.

[306] _buy_] _by_ Pope (ed. i).

[307] _cape_] _crpe_ F1.

[309] _Any ... any_] _And ... and_ Theobald.

[311] _wear-a_] _ware-a_ Rowe.

[315] SCENE VII. Pope.

Re-enter....] Enter a Servant. Rowe.

_Master_] _Mayster_ F1.

_there is_] _there are_ Rowe.

_carters_] _goatherds_ Theobald.

[316] _three swine-herds_] _and three swine-herds_ Rowe.

[328] _squier_] _squire_ Ff. _square_ Rowe. See note (XVII).

[331] Serv. _Why ... sir_] Ff. Omitted by Rowe and all Edd. before
Capell.

[Exit.] Capell.

Here....] Ff. Enter twelve Rusticks, presenting Satyrs. Company seat
themselves. Dance, and Exeunt Rusticks. Capell.

[332, 333] Pol. _O, father ... Is it_] Flo. _O, father ... hereafter_
(Here a dance of twelve Satyrs). Pol. _Is it_ Hanmer.

[332] [Aside. Johnson. [Rising from beside the Shepherd. Capell.

[333] [To Cam.] Edd [Aside. Capell.

[337] _handed_] _handled_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[344] _reply, at least_] _reply, at least,_ Theobald, _reply at
least_, Ff.

_a care_] _care_ Theobald.

[349] _life_] _love_ Theobald.

[350] _who_] _whom_ F1.

[353, 354] _Or ... o'er_] Arranged as in F1. In F2 F3 F4 line 353 ends
at _snow_.

[353] _Ethiopian's_] _Ethiop's_ Dyce conj. _Ethiop_ Lettsom conj.

[354] _blasts_] F1. _blast_ F2 F3 F4.

[356] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[360] _the heavens_] _and heavens_ F4.

[363] _force_] _sense_ Collier MS.

[369] _him?_] Rowe. _him._ Ff.

[378] _your_] _you_ F4.

[380] _awhile, beseech you;_] Capell. _a-while, beseech you,_ F1.
_a-while; 'beseech you,_ F2 F3 F4.

[389] _dispute_] _compute_ Johnson conj. _dispose_ Collier MS.
_dispense_ Anon. conj.

[395] _my_] _the_ Anon. conj.

[406] [_Discovering ..._] Rowe.

[408] _acknowledged_] _acknowledge_ F1.

[409] _affects_] Ff. _affect'st_ Pope.

[410] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[410, 411] _can But shorten_] _can but Shorten_ Warburton.

[412] _who_] _whom_ F1.

[413] _copest with,_--] _coap'st with_-- Pope. _coap'st with._ Ff.

Shep.] Per. Theobald conj.

[415] _fond_] _found_ F4.

[417] _shalt_] Rowe. _shalt never_ Ff. See note (XVIII).

[420] _Far than_] F4. _Farre then_ F1. _Farre than_ F2 F3. _Less than_
Hanmer. _Far' than_ Warburton. _Far as_ Capell (Johnson conj.).
_Farther than_ Heath conj. _Far'r than_ Grant White.

[423] _dead_] _dread_ Anon. conj.

_you_] _your_ F3 F4. _thou_ Anon. conj.

[426] _thee,--if_] thee. _If_ Ff.

[428] _hoop_] _hoope_ Pope. _hope_ Ff.

[430] _to't_] _to it_ Rowe.

[Exit.] Rowe.

SCENE VIII. Pope.

[431] _afeard_] _afraid_ Rowe.

[435] _on_] _on both_ Malone conj. _on all_

Singer (Hunter conj.). _on's_ Anon. conj.

_Will't_] Hanmer. _Wilt_ Ff.

[To Flo. Rowe.

[437] _this dream of mine,_--] Johnson. _this dream of mine,_ Ff.
_from this my dream_ Hanmer. _as for this dream of mine,_-- Capell
conj.

[441] [To Flo. Rowe.

[444] _died_] _died on_ Keightley conj.

[447] [To Perdita. Rowe.

[451] SCENE IX. Pope.

_upon me_] om. Steevens conj.

[452] _afeard_] _afraid_ Rowe.

[456] _your_] _my_ F1.

[459] _sight as yet_] Hanmer. _sight, as yet_ Ff.

[462] _Camillo?_] _Camillo?_-- Johnson. _Camillo._ Ff. _Camillo_--
Theobald.

[465] _fail_] _fall_ Anon. conj.

[469] _my_] _thy_ Capell.

[473] _better pleased with madness,_] F1. _better (pleas'd with
madness)_ F2 F3 F4.

[478] _thereat_] _thereout_ Hanmer.

_all_] F1. _all that_ F2 F3 F4.

_or_] om. Long MS.

[479] _sea hides_] Capell. _seas hides_ F1. _seas hide_ F2 F3 F4.

[480] _fathoms_] Johnson. _fadomes_ Ff.

[482] _As you have ever_] Ff. _As you have e'er_ Malone. _As y' have
e'er_ S. Walker conj.

_honour'd_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[488] _whom_] F2 F3 F4. _who_ F1.

[489] _our_] Theobald. _her_ Ff. _the_ Capell.

[495] [Drawing....] Capell.

[496] [To Camillo. Theobald.

_irremoveable_] _immovable_ Anon. conj.

[497] _Resolved_] _Rosolv'd_ F2.

[503] _curious_] _serious_ Collier MS.

[504] [Going. Malone. See note (XIX).

[511] _through him what is_] Hanmer. _through him, what's_ Ff.
_thorough him, what's_ Theobald.

_nearest_] _near'st_ S. Walker conj.

[514] _alteration, on_] _alteration. On_ F1. _alteration: On_ F2 F3
F4.

[520] _And_] _I'll_ Long MS.

[521] _discontenting_] _discontented_ Rowe.

_strive to qualify_] _I'll strive to qualifie_ Rowe (ed. 2). _I will
strive To qualifie_ Hanmer.

[522] _him up_] om. Rowe.

[528] _To_] Of Rowe. _Towards_ Hanmer.

[538] _asks_] _ask_ Long MS.

_thee the son_] F3 F4. _thee there Sonne_ F1 F2. _there the son_
Ritson conj.

[539] _kisses_] _kiss_ Long MS.

[540] _divides_] _divide_ Long MS.

[546] _comforts_] _comfort_ Anon conj.

[550] _sitting_] _fitting_ Theobald. _sifting_ Thirlby conj.

[558, 559] _another: Nothing_] _another Nothing_ Hanmer.

[559] _who_] _which_ Hanmer.

[569] _She is_] Pope. _She's_ Ff.

[570] _She is i' the rear o' our birth_] Rowe (ed. 2). _She is i' th'
reare 'our birth_ F1 F2 F3. _She is i' th' reare 'our birth_ F4. _She
is i' the rear o' her birth_ Rowe (ed. 1). _I' th' rear of birth_
Hanmer. _She is i' th' rear of birth_ Johnson. _She is i' the rear our
birth_ Boswell. _She is i' th' rear'f our birth_ Grant White.

[572] _sir; for this_] Hanmer. _sir, for this,_ F1. _sir, for this,_
F2 F3 F4.

[576] _medicine_] _medecin_ Theobald conj.

[578] _appear in Sicilia._] _appeare in Sicilia._ F1. _appeare in
Sicily._ F2. _appear in Sicily._ F3 F4. _appear in Sicily_-- Rowe.
_appear in Sicilia_-- Boswell. _appear't in Sicilia._ Collier (Collier
MS.). _appear so in Sicilia._ Staunton conj.

[582] _mine_] _true_ Collier MS.

[583] [They talk aside.] Rowe.

[587] _brooch_] Steevens. _browch_ Ff. _broch_ Capell.

[588] _fasting_] F1. _fastning_ F2 F3 F4.

[589] _throng_] _thronged_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[591] _picture_] _pasture_ Anon. conj.

[592] _My clown_] _My good clown_ Rowe.

[594] _wenches'_] Johnson. _wenches_ Ff.

[596] _ears_] _their ears_ Rann (Mason conj.).

[598] _would_] _could_ Long MS.

_filed keys off_] F3 F4. _fill'd keyes of_ F1 F2.

[600] _nothing_] _noting_ Anon. conj.

[604] [Camillo....] Theobald.

[607] _Leontes_--] Rowe. _Leontes?_ Ff.

[609] _Who_] _Whom_ Collier.

[Seeing A.] Theobald.

[612] [Aside. Theobald.

[613, 614] As three lines in Ff, ending _fellow ... man ... thee_; as
prose first in Malone.

[613] _why_] _come, why_ Hanmer. _wherefore_ Capell, reading 613, 614
as two lines of verse.

[619] _a necessity_] _necessity_ Steevens.

[621] [Giving money. Dyce.

[622, 626] [Aside]. Indicated by brackets in Ff.

[624] _dispatch ... gentleman is_] _now dispatch ... gentleman_ 'S
Capell, reading as verse.

[625] _flayed_] _fled_ Ff. _flead_ Rowe.

[631] [Florizel....] Capell.

[635] _your_] _thy_ Boswell.

[638] _over_] _over you_ Rowe. _ever_ Collier (Egerton and Collier
MS.). _overt_ Jervis conj.

[642, 643] _no hat ... friend_] As one line in Hanmer.

[642] [Giving....] Capell.

[643] _Adieu, sir._] _Adieu, sir._ [retiring, Capell.

[645] [Talking with her aside. Capell.

[646] [Aside] Rowe.

[649] _whose_] _his_ Anon. conj.

[653] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exit Ff. Exit Flo and Per. (after 652).
Exit (after line 653) Rowe.

[654] SCENE XI. Pope.

_hear_] _heard_ Hanmer.

[663, 664] _thought it were ... would not do't_] _thought it were not
... would do't_ Hanmer. _thought not it were ... would do't_ Capell.

[665] Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter.... Ff.

[666] _here is_] F1 F2. _here's_ F3 F4.

[677] _those_] _these_ Theobald.

[687] _know_] _know not_ Hanmer.

[688] [Aside] Rowe.

[690, 700] _fardel_] Steevens. _Farthell_ F1 F2 F3. _Farthel_ F4. And
passim.

[691, 694] [Aside] So marked by Capell.

[693] _at palace_] _at 'Pallace_ F1. _at Pallace_ F2 F3 F4. _at the
palace_ Rowe. See note (XX).

[696] [Takes off....] Steevens (1793).

[698] _an_] Hanmer. _and_ Ff.

[701] _ages_] _age_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[702] _to be_] _for to be_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[707] _not stabbing_] _note-stabbing_ Theobald conj.

_not give_] _give_ Hanmer.

[709] _manner_] _manour_ Hanmer.

[710] _an't_] Hanmer. _and't_ F1 F2 F3. _and'_ F4. and Rowe.

[715] _or_] F2 F3 F4. _at_ F1. _to_ Capell. _and_ Malone. See note
(XXI).

[718] _pluck_] _push_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[722, 759, 781] _an't_] Hanmer. _and't_ Ff.

[723] _pheasant_] _present_ Kenrick conj.

[725] _pheasant, cock_] Capell. _pheazant cock,_ Ff (_pheasant_ F4).

[726] _blessed_] Ff. _bless'd_ Pope.

[729] _be but_] _but be_ Hanmer.

[732] _to be_] _to me_ S. Walker conj.

[733] _on's_] _of's_ Capell conj.

[734] _fardel_] Steevens. _Farthell_ F1 F2. _Farthel_ F3 F4.

[747] _hand-fast_] _band, fast_ Grant White conj.

[752] _germane_] _Iermaine_ F1 F2. _Jermain_ F3 F4.

[763] _then stand_] _there stand_ Capell.

[774] _behalfs_] _behalf_ F4.

[775] _man_] F1 F2. _a man_ F3 F4. _the man_ Long MS.

[799] _look_] F3 F4. _looke_ F1 F2. _leake_ Theobald conj.

[801, 802] _blest_] _bless'd_ Ff.

[804] Exeunt S. and C.] Rowe. Exeunt. F2 F3 F4. om. F1.

[809] _back_] _luck_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[815] [Exit.] Rowe. [Exeunt. Ff.