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if you had but look'd big, and spit at him, he'd have

run.

Aut. I must confess to you, sir, I am no fighter: I am false at 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 thy way?

Aut. No, good-fac'd sir; no, sweet sir.

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Clo. Then, farewel, I must go to buy spices for

our sheep-shearing.

[Exit

Aut. Prosper you, sweet sir!-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 unroll'd, and my name put into the book of virtue !

Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way,
And merrily hend the stile-a:

A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mile-a.

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[Exit.

SCENE III.

A Shepherd's Cot. 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,

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To chide at your extremes, it not becomes me;
Oh pardon, that I name them: your high self,

The gracious mark o'the land, you have obscur'd With a swain's wearing; and me, poor lowly maid, Most goddess-like prank'd up. But that our feasts 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 shew myself a glass.

Flo. I bless the time,

When my good falcon made her flight across
Thy father's ground.

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Per. Now Jove afford you cause ! To me, the difference forges dread; your greatness Hath not been us'd to fear. Even now I tremble To think, your father, by some accident, Should pass this way, as you did: Oh, the fates! 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 241 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

Became a bull, and bellow'd; the green Neptune
A ram, and bleated; and the fire-rob'd god,
Golden Apollo, a poor humble swain,
As I seem now. Their transformations
Were never for a piece of beauty rarer;

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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, dear sir,

Your resolution cannot hold, when 'tis

Oppos'd, as it must be, by the power o'the king.
One of these two must be necessities,

Which then will speak; that you must change this

purpose,

Or I my life.

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Flo. Thou dearest Perdita,

With these forc'd thoughts, I pr'ythee, 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,
Tho' 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!

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[blocks in formation]

Enter Shepherd, Clown, MOPSA, DORCAS, Servants; with POLIXENES, and CAMILLO, disguised.

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

Shep. Fy, daughter! when my old wife liv'd,

upon

This day, she was both pantler, butler, cook; 279
Both dame and servant: welcom'd all, serv'd 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
With labour; and the thing, she took to quench it
She would to each one sip. You are retir'd,
As if you were a feasted one, and not
The hostess of the meeting: Pray you, bid
These unknown friends to us welcome; for it is
A way to make us better friends, more known. 289
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. Sir, welcome !

[To POL. and CAM.

It is my father's will, I should take on me

The hostessship o' the day: 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:

Grace

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