292 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 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! Enter CLOWN. Sir: I have a kinsman not past three quarters Clo. What manner of fellow was he that robbed you? Aut. A fellow, Sir, that I have known to go about with trol-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 Clo. Let me see;-Every 'leven weather-it, to make it stay there; and yet it will no more but abide.t tods; every tod yields-pound and odd shilling: fifteen hundred shorn,-What comes the wool to? Aut. If the springe hold, the cock's mine. [Aside. Clo. I cannot do't without counters. Let me see; what I am to buy for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pound of sugar; five pound of What will this sister of mine currants; ricedo 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-mens 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 beg; four pound of prunes, and as any of raisins o'the sun. Aut. O, that ever I was born! [Grovelling on the ground. Clo. I'the name of me,Aut. O, help me, help me! pluck but off these rags; and then, death, death! Clo. Alack, poor soul! thou hast need of more rags to lay on thee, rather than have these off. Aut. O, Sir, the loathsomeness of them of fends me more than the stripes I have received; which are mighty ones and millions. Clo. Alas, poor man! a million of beating may come to a great matter. Aut. 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 horse-man, or a foot-man? Clo, Indeed, he should be a foot-man, by the I know this Aut. Vices I would say, Sir. 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 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 put me into this apparel. Clo. Not a more cowardly rogue in all Bohemia; if you had but looked big, and spit at him, h'd 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. 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? Aut. Prosper you, sweet Sir!-[Exit CLOWN.] Your purse is not hot enough to purchase your spice. I'll be with you 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! SCENE III.-The same.-A Shepherd's Enter FLORIZEL and PERDITA. Flo. These your unusual weeds to each part of you Aut. O, good Sir, softly, good Sir: I fear, Do give a life: no shepherdess; but Flora, Sir, my shoulder-blade is out. Clo. How now? canst stand? Aut. 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. Aut. No, good sweet Sir; no, I beseech you, Peering in April's front. This your sheep. Per. Sir, my gracious lord, scur'd With a swain's wearing; and me, poor lowly maid, * The machine used in the game of pigeon-holes. + Sojourn. Thief Excesses. ↑ Puppet-show. Il Take hold of. ** Object of all men's notice. feasts Most goddess-like prank'd up: But that our | These unknown friends to us welcome: for it 1 A way to make us better friends, more known. Come, quench your blushes; and present your 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 Thy father's ground. Per. Now Jove afford you cause! To me, the differencet forges dread; \ your greatness [ble Hath not been us'd to fear. Even now I tremTo think, your father, by some accident, [fates! Should pass this way, as you did: O, the 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, Humbling their deities to love, have taken The shapes of beasts upon them: Jupiter Became a bull, and bellow'd; the green Nep Or I my life. Flo. Thou dearest Perdita, [ken not With these forc'd thoughts, I pr'ythee, darThe 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, 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 We two have sworn shall come. Per. O lady fortune, Stand you auspicious! Enter SHEPHERD, with POLIXENES and CAMILLO, disguised; CLOWN, MOPSA, DORCAS, and others. Flo. See. your guests approach: Address yourself to entertain them sprightly, And let's be red with mirth. Shep. Fie, daughter! when my old wife liv'd, upon all: This day, she was both pantler, butler, cook; * Dressed with ostentation. self That which you are mistress o'the feast: Con And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing, As your good flock shall prosper. Per. Welcome, Sir! [TO POL. It is my father's will, I should take on me For you there's rosemary, and rue; these keep 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 Of trembling winter,-the fairest flowers o'the season Are our carnations, and streak'd gillyflowers, Which some call nature's bastards: of that kind Our rustic garden's barren; and I care not Pol. Wherefore, gentle maiden, Per. Fort 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, Per. So it is. Flo. I think, you have As little skill to fear, as I have purpose Upon the water, as he'll stand, and read, I think, there is not half a kiss to choose, Pol. She dances featly.* Shep. So she does any thing; though I report it, That should be silent: if young Doricles Enter a 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 their tunes. 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; so 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 hurm, 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 fellow. Has he any unbraided wares ?t Serv. He hath ribands of all the colours i'the To put you to't.-But, come; our dance, I rainbow; points, more than all the lawyers in pray: Your hand, my Perdita: so turtles pair, Per. I'll swear for 'em. Pol. This is the prettiest low-born lass, that Bohemia can learnedly handle, though they come to him by the gross; inkles,‡ caddisses, 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 pedlars, that have more in 'em than you'd think, sister. Per. Ay, good brother, or go about to think. Enter AUTOLYCUS, singing. Come, buy of me, come; come buy, come buy; Clo. If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou * Neatly. + Plain goods. ↑ Worsted galloon. A kind of tape. The cuffs. The work about the bosom. **Amber of which necklaces were made fit to perfume a lady's chamber. 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 milkingtime, when you are going to bed, or kiln-hole,* to whistle off these secrets; but you must be tittle-tattling before all our guests? "Tis well they are whispering: Clamour your tongues,t 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 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, 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 money bags 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. Dor. Bless me from marrying a usurer! Aut. Here's the midwife's name to't, one mistress Taleporter; and five or six honest wives' that were present: Why should I carry lies abroad? 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. It is true too, think you? D. Whither? M. O, whither? D. Whither? D. Me too, let me go thither. M. Or thou go'st to the grange, or mill: A. Neither. D. What, neither? A. Neither. Then, whither go'st? say, whither? Aut. And you shall pay well for 'em. [Aside. Of the new'st, and fin'st, fin'st wear-a? Money's a medler, That doth uttert all men's ware-a. [Exeunt CLOWN, AUTOLYCUS, DORCAS, and MOPSA. Enter a SERVANT. 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 gallimaufry|| of gambols, because they are not in't; but they themselves are o'the mind, (if it be hot 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 humble 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. Pol. O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter.[them.Is it not too far gone?-'Tis time to part Aut. This is a merry ballad; but a very pretty He's simple, and tells much. [Aside.]—How Aut. Five justices' hands at it; and witnesses, more than my pack will hold. Clo. Lay it by too: Another. one. Mop. Let's have some merry ones. Aut. Why this is a passing merry one; and goes to the 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. A. Get you hence, for I must go ; Fire-place for drying malt; still a noted gossiping A lace to wear about the head or waist. now, fair shepherd? Your heart is full of something, that does take 296 Flo. Old Sir, I know WINTER'S TALE. 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, As soft as dove's down, and as white as it; How prettily the young swain seems to wash Flo. Do, and be witness to't. Than he, and men; the earth, the heavens, and all: [narch, That, were I crown'd the most imperial moThereof most worthy; were I the fairest youth That ever made eye swerve; had force, and knowledge, [them, More than was ever man's,-I would not prize Without her love: for her, employ them all; Commend them, and condemn them, to her Or to their own perdition. Pol. Fairly offer'd. Cam. This shows a sound affection. Say you the like to him? Per. I cannot speak [service, So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better: [to't: Flo. O, that must be I'the virtue of your daughter: one being dead, Shep. Come, your hand ;- Pol. Soft, swain, awhile, 'beseech you; 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 [more; That best becomes the table. Pray you, once Know man from man? dispute his own estate?t Flo. No, good Sir; He has his health, and ampler strength, in- Pol. By my white beard, [deed, [son, You offer him, if this be so, a wrong Flo. I yield all this; The sieve used to separate flour from bran is called a bolting cloth. + Talk over his affairs. 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 [know piece Of excellent witchcraft; who, of force, must The royal fool thou cop'st with;Shep. O, my heart!" Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with [boy,briers, and made More homely than thy state.-For thee, fond If I may ever know, thou dost but sigh, That thou no more shalt see this knack, (as [sion; I mean thou shalt,) we'll bar thee from succesNot hold thee of our blood, no not our kin. Far than Deucalion off:-Mark thou my [time, words; 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 [TO FLORIZEL. gone? I told you, what would come of this: 'Beseech [mine,you, Of your own state take care: this dream of Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch further, But milk my ewes, and weep. Cam. Why, how now, father? 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 To mingle faith with him.-Undone! undone ! Flo. Why look you so upon me? |