Mam.

And

yet the steer, the heifer and the calf
Are all call'd neat.-Still virginalling
Upon his palm!-How now, you wanton calf!
my calf?

Art thou

Yes, if you will, my lord.

Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash and the shoots that I

have,

To be full like me: yet they say we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will say any thing: but were they false
As o'er-dyed blacks, as wind, as waters, false
As dice are to be wish'd by one that fixes
No bourn 'twixt his and mine,
Το say this boy were like me.

yet were it true

Come, sir page,

Look on me with your welkin eye

130

sweet villain!

Most dear'st! my collop! Can thy dam?-may't be?-
Affection! thy intention stabs the centre:

Thou dost make possible things not so held,
Communicatest with dreams ;-how can this be?—
With what's unreal thou coactive art,

And fellow'st nothing: then 'tis very credent

141

Thou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost,
And that beyond commission, and I find it,
And that to the infection of my brains

And hardening of my brows.

Pol.

What means Sicilia?

Her. He something seems unsettled.

Pol.

Her.

Leon.

How, my lord!

What cheer? how is 't with you, best brother?

As if you held a brow of much distraction:
Are you moved, my lord?

You look

No, in good earnest. 150
How sometimes nature will betray its folly,
Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime
To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines
Of my boy's face, methoughts I did recoil
Twenty-three years, and saw myself unbreech'd,
In my green velvet coat, my dagger muzzled
Lest it should bite its master, and so prove,
As ornaments oft do, too dangerous:

How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,

This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest friend,
Will you take eggs for money?

Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.

161

Leon. You will! why, happy man be 's dole! My brother,

Pol.

Are

you so fond of your young prince, as we Do seem to be of ours?

If at home, sir,

He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter:

Leon.

Her.

Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all:
He makes a July's day short as December;
And with his varying childness cures in me
Thoughts that would thick my blood.

170

So stands this squire
Officed with me: we too will walk, my lord,
And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione,
How thou lovest us, show in our brother's welcome
Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap :

Next to thyself and my young rover, he's
Apparent to my heart.

If you would seek us,

We are yours i' the garden: shall's attend you there?
Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found,
Be you beneath the sky. [Aside] I am angling now,
Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to!

How she holds up the neb, the bill to him!
And arms her with the boldness of a wife

To her allowing husband!

181

[Exeunt Polixenes, Hermione, and Attendants. Gone already!

Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd

one !

Go, play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and I
Play too; but so disgraced a part, whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour
Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play. There
have been,

Or I am much deceived, cuckolds ere now;

190

And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now, while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm,
That little thinks she has been sluiced in 's absence
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour : nay, there's comfort in 't,
Whiles other men have gates and those gates open'd,
As mine, against their will. Should all despair
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physic for 't there is none;
It is a bawdy planet, that will strike

201

Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it,
From east, west, north and south: be it concluded,
No barricado for a belly; know 't;

It will let in and out the enemy

With bag and baggage: many thousand on's

Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!

Mam. I am like you, they say.

Leon.

What, Camillo there?

Why, that's some comfort.

Cam. Ay, my good lord.

210

Leon. Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man. [Exit Mamillius.

Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer. Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold: When you cast out, it still came home.

Didst note it?

Leon.
Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made
His business more material.

Leon.

Cam.

Didst perceive it? [Aside] They're here with me already; whispering,

rounding

• Sicilia is a so-forth: ' 'tis far gone,

When I shall gust it last.-How came 't, Camillo,
That he did stay?

At the good queen's entreaty. 220

Leon. At the queen's be 't:
But, so it is, it is not.

'good' should be pertinent; Was this taken

By any understanding pate but thine ?

For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in

More than the common blocks: not noted, is 't,
But of the finer natures? by some severals
Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes
Perchance are to this business purblind? say.

Cam. Business, my lord! I think most understand