Pol. Pr'ythee, 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 : Mark our contract. Pol. Mark your divorce, young sir, [Discovering himself. Whom son I dare not call; thou art too base Shorten thy life one week.-And thou, fresh piece Shep. O. my heart! Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briers, and made That thou no more shalt see this knack (as never Or hoop his body more with thy embraces, Per. Even here undone ! I was not much afeard; for once, or twice, The self-same sun, that shines upon his court, [Exit. Looks on alike. Will't please you, sir, be gone? [To FLo. [1] I think for far than we should read far as. We will not hold thee of our kin even so far off as Deucalion, the common ancestor of all. JOHNSON. [2] The character is here finely sustained. To have made her quite astonished at the king's discovery of himself, had not become her birth; and to have given ber presence of mind to have made this reply to the king, had not become ber educa tion. WARBURTON. I told you, what would come of this. 'Beseech you, Of your own state take care: this dream of mine,- But milk my ewes, and weep. Cam. Why, how now, Speak, ere thou diest. father? Shep. I cannot speak, nor think, Nor dare to know that which I know.-O, sir, [TO FLO. You have undone a man of fourscore three,3 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 [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. 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 Cam. Gracious my lord, You know your father's temper: at this time Flo. I not purpose it. I think, Camillo. Cam. Even he, my lord. [Exit. 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' th' earth together, [3] These sentiments, which the poet has heightened by a strain of ridicule that runs through them, admirably characterize the speaker; whose selfishness is seen in concealing the adventure of Perdita; and here supported, by showing no regard for his son or her, but being taken up entirely with himself, though fourscore three. WARBURTOF And mar the seeds within!-Lift up thy looks :- Cam. Be advis'd. Flo. I am; and by my fancy: if my reason If not, my senses, better pleas'd with madness, Cam. This is desperate, sir. Flo. So call it but it does fulfil my vow; With her, whom here I cannot hold on shore; For this design. What course I mean to hold, Cam. O, my lord, I would your spirit were easier for advice, Or stronger for your need. Flo. Hark, Perdita. I'll hear you by and by. Cam. He's irremovable, [Takes her aside. [TO CAMILLO. Resolv'd for flight: Now were I happy, if Flo. Now, good Camillo, I am so fraught with curious business, that [4] It must be remembered that fancy in our author very often, as in this place. means love. JOHNSON. I leave out ceremony. Cam. Sir, I think, You have heard of my poor services, i' th' love Flo. Very nobly Have you deserv'd it is my father's music If you may please to think I lov'd the king; And, through him, what is nearest to him, which is I'll point you where you shall have such receiving Flo. How, Camillo, May this, almost a miracle, be done? That I may call thee something more than man, Cam. Have you thought on A place whereto you'll go? Flo. Not any yet: But as th' 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 : [Going. This follows,-if you will not change your purpose, But undergo this flight :-make for Sicilia; And there present yourself, and your fair princess, The partner of your bed. Methinks, I see '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 To greet him, and to give him comforts. Sir, The manner of your bearing towards him, with Things known betwixt us three, I'll write you down: Flo. I am bound to you : There is some sap in this. Cam. A course more promising Than a wild dedication of yourselves To unpath'd waters, undream'd shores; most certain, Where you'll be loath to be. Besides, you know, Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together Per. One of these is true : I think, affliction may subdue the cheek, 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 I' th' rear of birth. Cam. I cannot say, 'tis pity 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, |