Clo. If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou should'st take no money of me; but being enthrall'd as I am, it will also be the bondage of certain ribands and gloves. 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 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 whisper off these secrets, but you must be tittle-tattling before all our guests? 'Tis well they are whispering. Charm 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 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 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. 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. Mop. Is it true, think you? Aut. Very true; and but a month old. Aut. Here's the midwife's name to't, one mistress Mop. 'Pray you now, buy it. Clo. Come on, lay it by: and let's first see more ballads; we'll buy the other things anon. Aut. 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 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? Thou hast sworn my love to be ; Then, whither go'st? say, whither? Aut. Five justices' hands at it, and witnesses more than my pack will hold. Clo. Lay it by too: another. Aut. This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one. Aut. Why this is a passing merry one, and goes to 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. [Exeunt Clown, DORCAS, and MOPSA, Aut. And you shall pay well for 'em. [Aside. Will you buy any tape, Of the new'st, and fin'st, fin'st wear-a? That doth utter all men's ware-a. Enter a Servant. [Exit after them. Serv. Master, there is three carters, three shepherds, 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 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. 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 squire. Shep. Leave your prating. Since these good men are pleased, let them come in: but quickly now. Serv. Why, they stay at door, sir. [Exit. Re-enter Servant, with Twelve Rustics habited like Satyrs. They dance, and then exeunt. Is it not too far gone?-'Tis time to part them.- Aut. I can bear my part; you must know, 'tis my And nothing marted with him. If your lass SONG. Aut. Get you hence, for I must go, Whither fits not you to know. Dor. Whither? Mop. O! whither? Interpretation should abuse, and call this Up in my heart, which I have given already, What follows this?- 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; That were I crown'd the most imperial monarch, Thereof most worthy; were I the fairest youth That ever made eye swerve; had sense, and knowledge, 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, Or to their own perdition. Pol. Fairly offer'd. Cam. This shows a sound affection. Say you the like to him? Per. But, my daughter, I cannot speak Pol. Knows he of this? Flo. He neither does, nor shall. Pol. Methinks, a father With age, and altering rheums? Can he speak? hear? No, good sir: Pol. Should choose himself a wife; but as good reason, Mark your divorce, young sir, Whom son I dare not call: thou art too base Per. O, my heart! Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briars, and made More homely than thy state.-For thee, fond boy, That thou no more shalt never see this knack, (as never Per. Even here undone ! [Exit. I was not much afeard; for once, or twice, Why, how now, father? Speak, ere thou diest. You have undone a man of fourscore three, That knew'st this was the prince, and would'st adventure To mingle faith with him.-Undone! undone! Flo. [Exit. 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. This is desperate, sir. Flo. So call it; but it does fulfil my vow: 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 seas hide In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath To this my fair belov'd. 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 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 prepar'd For this design. What course I mean to hold Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor Concern me the reporting. O, my lord! Cam. 1 I would your spirit were easier for advice, Or stronger for your need. Flo. Hark, Perdita. Cam. A place whereto you'll go? Flo. Have you thought on Not any yet; But as th' unthought-on accident is guilty [Going. Cam. 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, The partner of your bed. Methinks, I see Well, my lord, If you may please to think I love the king, 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 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 What you must say, that he shall not perceive, But that you have your father's bosom there, And speak his very heart. Flo. There is some sap in this. Cam. I am bound to you. A course more promising Than a wild dedication of yourselves To unpath'd waters, undream'd shores; most certain, Do their best office, if they can but stay you Whose fresh complexion, and whose heart together, Flo. Dispatch, I pr'ythee. My lord, Fear none of this. I think, you know, my fortunes Enter AUTOLYCUS. Aut. Ha, ha! what a fool honesty is! and trust, his sworn brother, a very simple gentleman! I have sold all my trumpery: not a counterfeit stone, not a riband, glass, pomander, brooch, table-book, ballad, knife, tape, glove, shoe-tie, bracelet, horn-ring, to keep my pack from fasting: they thronged who should buy first; as if my trinkets had been hallowed, and brought a benediction to the buyer: by which 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 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 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 So soon as you arrive, shall clear that doubt. Flo. And those that you'll procure from king Leon tes? Cam. Shall satisfy your father. All that you speak shows fair. Happy be you! Cam. Whom have we here? [Seeing AUTOLYCUS. We'll make an instrument of this: omit 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. 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 the worst, yet hold thee, there's some boot. [Giving money. Aut. I am a poor fellow, sir.-[Aside.] I know ye well enough. Cam. Nay, pr'ythee, dispatch: the gentleman is half flayed already. Aut. Are you in earnest, sir?—[Aside.] I smell the trick of it. Aut. Indeed, I have had earnest; but I cannot with conscience take it. Cam. Unbuckle, unbuckle. [FLO. and AUTOL. 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 ever) to ship-board 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.— [Gives it to PERDITA. Come, lady, come.-Farewell, my friend. Aut. Adieu, sir. Flo. O Perdita! what have we twain forgot? Fortune speed us !- [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 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 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. 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 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 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. 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 U L 1 could have been to him; and then your blood had been mane to him, though removed fifty times, shall all come 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 pedler's 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, 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: 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? 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? Think'st thou, for that I insinuate, or touze from thee thy business, I am therefore no courtier? I am courtier, cap-a-pie; 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. Aut. What advocate hast thou to him? Shep. I know not, an't like you. 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 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 Clo. Advocate's the court-word for a pheasant: say, you have none. Shep. None, sir: I have no pheasant, cock, nor hen. Aut. How bless'd are we that are not simple men! Yet nature might have made me as these are, Therefore I'll not disdain. easy. Clo. Has the old man e'er a son, sir, do you hear, an't like you, sir? Clo. This cannot but be a great courtier. Shep. His garments are rich, but he wears them not handsomely. Aut. He has a son, who shall be flayed alive, then, 'nointed over with honey, set on the head of a wasp's nest; there stand, till he be three quarters and a dram dead; then recovered again with aqua-vitæ, or some other hot-infusion; then, raw as he is, and in the hottest day prognostication 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 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. 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? Shep. Sir, there lie such secrets in this fardel, and Aut. Age, thou hast lost thy labour. Aut. The king is not at the palace: he is gone aboard 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! Shep. So 'tis said, sir; about his son, that should have married a shepherd's daughter. 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. If that shepherd be not in hand-fast, let him Aut. Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make Aut. After I have done what I promised? 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 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 performed; and remain, as he says, your pawn, till it be brought you. Aut. I will trust you. Walk before toward the seaside: go on the right hand; I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you. Clo. We are blessed in this man, as I may say; even blessed. 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 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 luck to my advancement? I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he think it fit to 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 I will present them: there may be matter in it. [Exit. |