ACT IV. SCENE I.-Bohemia. A Room in the Palace of Polixenes. Enter POLIXENES and CAMILLO, L. Pol. (c.) I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate: 'tis a death to grant this. Cam. (L. c.) It is sixteen years since I saw my country: besides, the penitent king, my master, has sent for me: to whose feeling sorrows I might be some allay ; which is another spur to my departure. Pol. Of that fatal country, Sicilia, 'prithee, 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 estate. 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 ourselves. SCENE II.-The open Country. Enter AUTOLYCUS singing. When daffodils begin to peer— With, hey! the doxy over the dale, Why, then comes in the sweet o'the year; [Exeunt, L. For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale. I have serv'd Prince Florizel, and, in my time, wore three-pile; but now I am out of service. The white sheet bleaching on the hedge [Sings. With, hey the sweet birds, O, how they sing! Doth set my pugging tooth on edge; For a quart of ale is a dish for a king. The lark, that tirra-lirra chaunts- With hey! with hey! the thrush and the jay, My traffic is sheets; when the kite builds, look to lesser Enter CLOWN, r. Clo. (c.) Let me see. Every 'leven wether tods; every tod yields-pound and odd shilling: fifteen hundred shorn-what comes the wool to? Aut. [Slyly advancing behind him.] If the springe hold, the cock's mine. Clo. I cannot do't without counters. [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. [Wallowing on the ground.] O, that ever I was born! Clo. [Turning round much alarmed.] I'the name of me-Aut. O, help me, help me : pluck but off these rags; and then Clo. 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. Clo. [Bending over him.] What, by a horseman, or a footman? Aut. A footman, sweet sir, a footman. Clo. 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. Clo. How now? Canst stand? Aut. Softly, dear sir; [Picks the Clown's 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, 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. 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. Aut. Vices, I would say, sir. I know this 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, 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. 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. No, good-faced sir; no, sweet sir. Clo. Then fare thee well; I must go buy spices for our sheep-shearing. [Exit Clown, L. 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 un- And merrily hent the stile-a: [Exit, R. SCENE III.-A Lawn before a Shepherd's Cottage. Enter FLORIZEL and PERDITA, from an alcove, R. 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, And you the queen on't. Per. (c.) Sir, my gracious lord, To chide at your extremes, it not becomes me; Flo. (c.) I bless the time, When my good falcon made her flight across Per. Now Jove afford you cause! Even now I tremble To think, your father, by some accident, Flo. Thou dearest Perdita, With these forc'd thoughts, I prithee, darken not To this I am most constant, Though destiny say no. [Tabor and Pipe within, L.] Your guests are coming; Lift up your countenance; as it were the day We two have sworn shall come. Per. O lady fortune, Stand you auspicious! Flo. See, your guests approach: Address yourself to entertain them sprightly, Enter L. U. E. CLOWN, MOPSA, DORCAS, SHEPHERDS, SHEPHERDESSES; and the SHEPHERD, with POLIXENES, and CAMILLO, disguised. She. Fie, daughter! when my old wife liv'd, upon As if you were a feasted one, and not The hostess of the meeting: 'Pray you, bid Per. Welcome, sirs!— It is my father's will, I should take on me The hostess-ship o'the day :-You're welcome, sirs. [Perdita sings.] (This is sometimes omitted.) Come, come, my good shepherds, our flocks we must shear; In your holiday suits, with your lasses appear: Cam. (L.) Good sooth, she is the queen of curds and creams! Per. (c.) Give me those flowers there, Dorcas.-Reverend sirs, [To Polixenes and Camillo, L. For you there's rosemary, and rue : Grace, and remembrance, be to you both, Pol. (L.) Shepherdess, (A fair one are you,) well you fit our ages With flowers of winter. |