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 he boasts
himself

To have a worthy feeding: but I have it
Upon his own report, and I believe it;

He looks like sooth: He says, he loves my
daughter;

I think so too; for never gaz'd 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,
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.

Enter a Servant.

Clo. Believe me, thou talkest of an admirable conceited fellow. Has he any unbraided wares?'

Serv. He hath ribands 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, caddises," cambrics, lawns: why, he sings them over, as they 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. Pr'ythee, bring him in; and let him approach singing.

Per. Forewarn him, that he use no scurrilous words in his tunes.

Clo. You have of these pedlers, that have more in 'em than you'd think, sister.

Per. Ay, good brother, or go about to think.
Enter Autolycus, singing.

Lawn, as white as driven snow;
Cyprus, 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: 10
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;
Buy, lads, or else your lasses cry;
Come, buy, &c.

Clo. If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou
should'st take no money of me; but being enthrall'd
ribands and gloves.
as I am, it will also be the bondage of certain

Mop. I was promis'd 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 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 Serv. O master, if you did but hear the pedler their faces? Is there not milking-time, when you at the door, you would never dance again after a are going to-bed, or kiln-hole, to whistle off these tabor and pipe: no, the bagpipe could not move secrets; but you must be tittle-tattling before all you: he sings several tunes, faster than you'll tell our guests? "Tis well they are whispering: Clahe utters them as he had eaten ballads, mour your tongues, 12 and not a word more. and all men's ears grew to his tunes. Mop. I have done. Come, you promised me a tawdry lace, and a pair of sweet gloves.

money;

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: no milliner can so fit his customers with gloves he has the prettiest love-songs for maids; 80 without bawdry, which is strange; with such delicate burdens of dildos and fadings; jump her and thump her; and where some stretch-mouth'd rascal would, as it were, mean mischief, and break a foul 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.

(1) Green turf.

(2) A valuable tract of pasturage.

(3) Truth. (4) Neatly.

(5) Plain goods. (6) Worsted galloon. (7) A kind of tape. (8) The cuffs.

(9) The work about the bosom.

Clo. Have I not told thee, how I was cozened by the way, and lost all my money?

Aut. And, indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; therefore it behoves men to be wary. Clo. Fear not thou, man, thou shalt lose nothing here.

Aut. I hope so, sir; for I have about me many parcels of change.

Clo. What hast here? ballads ?

Mop. Pray now buy some: I love a ballad in print, a'-life; for then we are sure they are true.

Aut. Here's one to a very doleful tune, How a usurer's wife was brought to-bed of twenty moneybags at a burden; and how she longed to eat adders' heads, and toads carbonadoed."

(10) Amber, of which necklaces were made fit to perfume a lady's chamber.

(11) Fire-place for drying malt; still a noted gossiping-place.

(12) Ring a dumb peal.

(13) A lace to wear about the head or waist.

Pol. You weary those that refresh us: Pray let's Aut. Here's another ballad, of a fish, that ap- see these four threes of herdsmen. peared upon the coast, on Wednesday the fourscore Serv. One three of them, by their own report, of April, forty thousand fathom above water, and sir, hath danced before the king; and not the worst sung this ballad against the hard hearts of maids: of the three, but jumps twelve foot and a half by it was thought she was a woman, and was turned the squire."

into a cold fish, for she would not exchange flesh Shep. Leave your prating; since these good men with one that loved her: The ballad is very pitiful, are pleased, let them come in; but quickly now. and as true. Serv. Why, they stay at door, sir.

Aut. Five justices' hands at it; and witnesses, Re-enter Servant, with twelve rustics, habited like more than my pack will hold.

Aut. Why this is a passing merry one; and goes the tune of Two maids wooing a man: there's Your heart is full of something, that does take scarce a maid westward, but she sings it; 'tis in Your mind from feasting. South, when I was young, request, I can tell you. And handed love, as you do, I was wont

Mop. We can both sing it; if thou'lt bear a part, To load my she with knacks: I would have ranthou shalt hear; 'tis in three parts.

The pedler's silken treasury, and have pour'd it

Aut. I can bear my part; you must know, 'tis To her acceptance; you have let him go,

More than was ever man's,-I would not prize them,
Without her love: for her, employ them all;
Commend them, and condemn them, to her service,

[Exeunt Clown, Autolycus, Dorcas, and Or to their own perdition.

Serv. Master, there is three carters, three shep-Say you the like to him? herds, three neat-herds, three swine-herds, that have made themselves all men of hair; they call So well, nothing so well;

Flo.
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.

Srep.

And, daughter, yours.
Pol.

Worthy enough a herdsman; yea, him too,
That makes himself, but for our honour therein,
Unworthy thee,-if ever, henceforth, thou
These rural latches to his entrance open, ea
Or hoop his body more with thy embraces,
I will devise a death as cruel for thee,
As thou art tender to't.

Per.

[Exit.

Even here undone !
I was not much afeard: for once, or twice,
I was about to speak; and tell him plainly,
The self-same sun, that shines upon his court,
Hides not his visage from our cottage, but
Looks on alike.-Will't please you, sir, be gone?
[To Florizel.
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 further,
He neither does, nor shall. But milk my ewes, and weep.

Come, your hand ;-
Soft, swain, a while, 'beseech you;
Have you a father?

Flo.

I have: But what of him?

Pol. Knows he of this?
Flo.

Pol. Methinks, a father

Is, at the nuptial of his son, a guest
That best becomes the table. Pray you, once more;
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?1
Lies he not bed-rid? and again does nothing,
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,
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,
Which 'tis not fit you know, I not acquaint
My father of this business.

Shep. Let him, my son; he shall not need to grieve
At knowing of thy choice.
Flo.
Mark our contract.
Pol.
Mark your divorce, young sir,
[Discovering himself.
Whom son I dare not call; thou art too base
To be acknowledg'd: Thou a sceptre's heir,
That thus affect'st a sheep-hook?-Thou old traitor,
I am sorry, that, by hanging thee, I can but
Shorten thy life one week.-And thou, fresh piece
Of excellent witchcraft; who, of force, must know
The royal fool thou cop'st with ;-

Come, come, he must not :

Shep.

O, my heart!

Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briers,

and made

Why, how now, father?

Cam.
Speak, ere thou diest.
Shep.
I cannot speak, nor think,
Nor dare to know that which I know.-O. sir,
[To Florizel.

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
Some hangman must put on my shroud, and lay me
Where no priest shovels-in dust.-O cursed wretch!
[To Perdita.
That knew'st this was the prince, and would'st
adventure

To mingle faith with him.-Undone! undone!
If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd
To die when I desire.

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,
Come not before him.

I not purpose it.

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
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 advis'd.

Flo. I am; and by my fancy: if my reason Will thereto be obedient, I have reason;

More homely than thy state.-For thee, fond boy,-If not, my senses, better pleas'd with madness,

If I may ever know, thou dost but sigh,

Do bid it welcome.

That thou no more shalt see this knack, (as never Cam.
This is desperate, sir.
I mean thou shalt,) we'll bar thee from succession; Flo. So call it: but it does fulfil my vow;
Not hold thee of our blood, no, not our kin, I needs must think it honesty. Camillo,
Far2 than Deucalion off:-Mark thou my words; Not for Bohemia, nor the pomp that may
Follow us to the court.-Thou churl, for this time, Be thereat glean'd; for all the sun sees, or
Though full of our displeasure, yet we free thee

The close earth wombs, or the profound seas hide

From the dread blow of it.-And you, enchant- In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath

ment

(1) Talk over his affairs. (2) Further.

To this my fair belov'd: Therefore, I pray you,

(3) Doors. (4) A leading string. (5) Love.

Then list to me: 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 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

membered. My clown (who wants but something| Cam. What I do next, shall be, to tell the king to be a reasonable man,) grew so in love with the

[Aside.

Fortune speed us!

wenches' song, that he would not stir his pettitoes, Of this escape, and whither they are bound;
till he had both tune and words; which so drew the Whercin my hope is, I shall so prevail,
rest of the herd to me, that all their other senses To force him after: in whose company
stuck in ears: you might have pinched a placket, I shall review Sicilia; for whose sight
it was senseless; 'twas nothing, to geld a cod-piece I have a woman's longing.
of a purse; I would have tiled keys off, that hung Flo.
in chains: no hearing, no feeling, but my sir's song,
and admiring the nothing of it. So that, in this time
of lethargy, I picked and cut most of their festival
purses: and had not the old man come in with a
whoobub 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

I

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 cut-purse; a good nose is requi ite also, to smell out work for the other senses. see, this is the time that the unjust man doth hrive. 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 extempore. The prince himselt is about a piece of iniquity; stealing away from his father, with his clog at his heels: If I thought it were not a piece of honesty to acquaint the king withal, I would do't: I hold it the more knavery to conceal it and therein am I constant to my proEnter Clown and Shepherd.

Who have we here?
[Seeing Autolycus.fession.

We'll make an instrument of this; omit
Nothing may give us aid.

Aside, aside;-here is more matter for a hot brain: Aut. If they have overheard me now,--why Every lane's end, every shop, church, session, hanghanging. [Aside. ing, yields a careful man work.

Cam. How now, good fellow? Why shakest Clo. See, see; what a man you are now! there thou so? Fear not, man; here's no harm intended is no other way, but to tell the king she's a changeto thee. ling, and none of your flesh and blood.

Aut. I am a poor fellow, sir.

Shep. Nay, but hear me.
Clo. Nay, but hear me.
Shep. Go to then.

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 Clo. She being none of your flesh and blood, instantly (thou must think there's necessity in't,) your flesh and blood has not offended the king and change garments with this gentleman: Though and, so, your flesh and blood is not to be punished the pennyworth, on his side, be the worst, yet hold by him. Show those things you found about her; thee, there's some boot.2 those secret things, all but what she has with her: Aut. I am a poor fellow, sir:-I know ye well This being done, let the law go whistle; I warrant enough. Aside. you. Cam. Nay, pr'ythee, despatch: the gentleman is half flayed already.

Aut. Are you in earnest, sir ?—I smell the trick of it.[Aside.

Flo. Despatch, I pr'ythee. Aut. Indeed, I have had earnest; but I cannot with conscience take it.

Cam. Unbuckle, unbuckle.

[Flo. and Aut. exchange garments.
Fortunate mistress,-let my prophecy
Come home to you!-You must retire yourself
Into some covert: take your sweetheart's hat,
And pluck it o'er your brows: muffle your face;
Dismantle you and as you can, disliken

The truth of your own seeming; that you may
(For I do fear eyes over you,) to shipboard
Get undescried.'"

Per.

I see the play so lies,

That I must bear a part.
Cam.

Have you done there?

Flo.

No remedy.-
Should I now meet my father,

He would not call me son.
Cam.

Nay, you shall have

No hat:-Come, lady, come.-Farewell, my friend.
Aut. Adieu, s'r.

Flo. O Perd ta, what have we twain forgot?
Pray you, a word.
[They converse apart.

|

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 furthest off you could have been to him; and then your blood had been the dearer, by I know how much an ounce. Aut. Very wisely; puppies! [Aside.

Shep. Well; let us to the king; there is that in this fardel, will make him scratch his beard. Aut. I know not what impediment this complaint may be to the flight of my master.

Clo. 'Pray heartily he be at palace.

Aut. Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance:-Let me pocket up my pedler's excrement. [Takes off his false beard.] How now, rustics? wnither 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, 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 soldiers the lie: but we pay them for it with stamped coin, not stabbing steel; there fore they do not give us the lie.