That thus affects a sheep-hook! Thou old traitor,
I am sorry that by hanging thee I can

But shorten thy life one week. And thou, fresh piece Of excellent witchcraft, who of force must know

The royal fool thou copest with,

Shep.

O, my heart!

415

Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briers, and

made

More homely than thy state. For thee, fond boy,
If I may ever know thou dost but sigh

That thou no more shalt see this knack, as never
I mean thou shalt, we 'll bar thee from succession:
Not hold thee of our blood, no, not our kin,
Far than Deucalion off: mark thou my words:
Follow us to the court. Thou churl, for this time,
Though full of our displeasure, yet we free thee
From the dead blow of it. And
And you, enchantment,—
Worthy enough a herdsman; yea, him too,
That makes himself, but for our honour therein,
Unworthy thee,-if ever henceforth thou
These rural latches to his entrance open,
Or hoop his body more with thy embraces,
I will devise a death as cruel for thee

420

425

430

As thou art tender to 't.

Per.

[Exit.

Even here undone !

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 gone?

435

I told you what would come of this: beseech you,
Of your own state take care: this dream of mine,- 440
Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch farther,

But milk my ewes and weep.

Cam.

Speak ere thou diest.

Shep.

Why, how now, father!

I cannot speak, nor think,

Nor dare to know that which I know. O sir!
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

445

450

Some hangman must put on my shroud and lay me
Where no priest shovels in dust. O cursed wretch,
That knew'st this was the prince, and wouldst adventure
To mingle faith with him! Undone! undone !
If I might die within this hour, I have lived
To die when I desire.

[Exit.

440 this dream of mine,-] Johnson.
this dream of mine Ff. from this
my dream Hanmer. as for this
dream of mine,— Capell conj.
441 farther] further Steevens (1793).
444 [To Flo. Rowe.

447 died] died on Keightley.

450 [To Perdita. Rowe.

454 SCENE IX. Pope.

upon me] om. Steevens conj.

455

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.

You know your father's temper: at this time
He will allow no speech, which I do guess
You do not purpose to him; and as hardly
Will he endure your sight as yet, I fear:
Then, till the fury of his highness settle,
Come not before him.

Flo.

I think, Camillo ?

Cam.

I not purpose it.

Even he, my lord.

Per. How often have I told you 'twould be thus! How often said, my dignity would last

But till 'twere known!

Flo.

It cannot fail but by

The violation of my faith; and then
Let nature crush the sides o' the earth together
And mar the seeds within! Lift up thy looks:
From my succession wipe me, father, I

Am heir to my affection.

Flo. I am, and by my fancy: if my reason
Will thereto be obedient, I have reason;

If not, my senses, better pleased with madness,
Do bid it welcome.

455 afeard] affear'd FF2. afear'd F3 F4. afraid Rowe.

459 your] my F1.

462 sight as yet] Hanmer. sight, as yet Ff.

465 Camillo?] Camillo? Johnson.

Camillo. Ff.

460

465

470

475

Camillo-Theobald.

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 beloved: 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 prepared
For this design. What course I mean to hold
Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor
Concern me the reporting.

Cam.

O my lord!

I would your spirit were easier for advice,
Or stronger for your need.

Flo.

I'll hear you by and by.

480

485

490

495

Hark, Perdita. [Drawing her aside.

478 call it but it] call 't; but as it Taylor conj. MS.

481 thereat] thereout Hanmer.

glean'd] Pope. gleaned Ff.
all] F. all that F2F3F4-
or] om. Long MS.

482 seas hide] F2FF seas hides F1.
sea hides Capell.

483 fathoms] Johnson. fadomes Ff. 485 As you have ever] Ff. As you have e'er Malone. As y'

have e'er S.

Walker conj.
been] bin F1F2.

honour'd] F. om. FF3F4

486, 487 me,—as, in...more,-] me, (as... more) Rowe. me, as (in.....more) Ff. 491 whom] FF3F4 who F1.

492 our] Theobald. her Ff. the Ca-
pell.

498 Hark,] Dear Gould conj.
[Drawing...] Capell.

499 [To Camillo. Theobald.

Cam.

He's irremoveable,

Resolved for flight. Now were I happy, if
His going I could frame to serve my turn,
Save him from danger, do him love and honour,
Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia

And that unhappy king, my master, whom
I so much thirst to see.

Flo.

500

I am so fraught with curious business that

I leave out ceremony.

Cam.

Sir, I think

You have heard of my poor services, i' the love
That I have borne your father?

Flo.
Very nobly
Have you deserved: it is my father's music
To speak your deeds, not little of his care
To have them recompensed as thought on.
Cam.

510

Well, my lord,

If you may please to think I love the king,
And through him what is nearest to him, which is
Your gracious self, embrace but my direction,
If your more ponderous and settled project
May suffer alteration, on mine honour

I'll point you where you shall have such receiving
As shall become your highness; where you may
Enjoy your mistress, from the whom, I see,
There's no disjunction to be made, but by
As heavens forefend your ruin; marry her,

499 irremoveable,] immoveable, Anon.
conj. irremoveable Staunton.

500 Resolved] Rosolv'd F.
506 curious] serious Hudson (Collier

MS.). anxious Gould conj.
507 [Going. Malone. See note (XIX).

515

520

514 through him, what is] Hanmer. through him, what's Ff. thorough him, what's Theobald.

nearest] near❜st S. Walker conj. 517 alteration, on] alteration. On F1. alteration: On F2F3F4