me: to whose feeling sorrows I might be some allay; which is another spur to my departure. Pol. Of that fatal country, Sicilia, 'pr'ythee, speak no more. Say to me, when saw'st thou the prince Florizel my son? I have eyes under my service, which look upon his removedness: from whom I have this intelligence; that he is seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd; a man, they say, that, from very nothing, is grown into an unspeakable es tate. Cam. I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a daughter of most rare note: the report of her is extended more, than can be thought to begin from such a cottage. Pol. That's likewise part of my intelligence. Thou shalt accompany us to the place; where we will, not appearing what we are, have some question with the shepherd; from whose simplicity, I think it not uneasy to get the cause of my son's resort thither.'Pr'ythee, be my present partner in this business, and lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia. Cam. I obey your commands. Pol. My best Camillo !-We must disguise ourBelves. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The open Country. Enter AUTOLYCUS singing. When daffodils begin to peer, With, hey! the doxy over the dale, I have serv'd prince Florizel, and, in my time, wore three-pile; but now I am out of service. [Sings. The white sheet bleaching on the hedge,- For a quart of ale is a dish for a king. The lark, that tirra-lirra chants,— With, hey! with, hey! the thrush and the jay, 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.-A prize! a prize! Enter CLOWN. Clown. Let me see:-Every 'leven wether 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. [Takes out a Paper, and reads. Let me see what am I to buy for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pound of sugar; five pound of rice;— What will this sister of mine do with rice? But my father hath made her mistress of the feast, and she lays it on.-Mace ;-dates,-none; that's out of my note:-nutmegs, seven; four pound of prunes, and as many of raisins o'the sun. Aut. O, that ever I was born! [Groveling on the Ground. Clown. I'the name of me, Aut. O, help me, help me: pluck but off these rags; and then,— Clown. Alack, poor soul! thou hast need of more rags to lay on thee, rather than have these off. Aut. I am robbed, sir, and beaten; my money and apparel ta'en from me, and these detestable things put upon me. Clown. What, by a horseman, or a footman ? Aut. A footman, sweet sir, a footman. Clown. Indeed, he should be a footman, by the garments he has left with thee; if this be a horseman's coat, it hath seen very hot service. Lend me thy hand, I'll help thee:-Come, lend me thy hand. [Helping him up. Aut. O, good sir, softly, good sir: I fear, sir, my shoulder-blade is out. Clown. How now? Canst stand? Aut. Softly, dear sir; [Picks the CLOWN's Pocket.] good sir, softly.-You ha' done me a charitable office. Clown. Dost lack any money? I have a little money for thee. Aut. No, good sweet sir; no, I beseech you, sir: I have a kinsman not past three quarters of a mile hence, unto whom I was going; I shall there have money, or any thing I want: offer me no money I pray you! that kills my heart. Clown. 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. Clown. His vices, you would say; there's no virtue whipped out of the court. Aut. Vices, I would say, sir. I know this man well: he hath been since an ape-bearer; then a pro. cess 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. Clown. 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. Clown. Not a more cowardly rogue in all Bohemia; if you had but looked big, and spit at him, he'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. Clown. 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. Clown. Shall I bring thee on the way? Aut. No, good-faced sir; no, sweet sir. Clown. Then fare thee well; I must go buy spices for our sheep-shearing. [Exit CLOWN. 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 unrolled, and my name put in the book of virtue! Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way, A merry heart goes all the day, [Exit. SCENE III. A Lawn before a Shepherd's Cottage. 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, Per. Sir, my gracious lord, To chide at your extremes, it not becomes me; Flo. I bless the time, When my good falcon made her flight across Thy father's ground. Per. Now Jove afford Even now I tremble you cause! To think, your father, by some accident, Flo. Thou dearest Perdita, With these forc'd thoughts, I pr'ythee, darken not Or not my father's. To this I am most constant, Though destiny say no. [Tabor and Pipe within.] Your guests are coming; Lift up your countenance; as it were the day |