Of this escape, and whither they are bound: Flo. Fortune speed us! Thus we fet on, Camillo, to th' fea-fide. [Exit Flor. with Per. Cam. The fwifter speed, the better. SCENE XI. [Exit. Aut. I understand the business, I heard it To have an open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is neceffary for a cut-purfe; a good nofe is requifite alio, to fmell out work for th' other fenfes. I fee this is the time that the unjust man doth thrive. What an exchange had this been without boot? what a boot is here with this exchange? Sure the gods do this year connive at us, and we may do any thing extempore. The prince himfelf is about a piece of iniquity; stealing away from his father, with his clog at his heels. If I thought it were not a piece of honefty to acquaint the King withal, I would do't; I hold it the more knavery to conceal it; and therein am I conftant to my profession. Enter Clown and Shepherd. Afide, afide,-here's more matter for a hot-brain; every lane's end, every shop, church, feflion, hanging, yields a careful man work. Clo. See, fee, what a man you are now! there is no other way, but to tell the King fhe's a changling, and none of your fleth and blood. Shep. Nay, but hear me. Clo. Nay, but hear me. Shep. Go to then. Clo. She being none of your flesh and blood, your flesh and blood has not offended the king; and fo your flesh and blood is not to be punifh'd by him. Shew thofe things you found about her, thofe fecret things, all but what he has with her; this being done, let the law go whistle; I warrant you. Shep. I will tell the King all, every word, yea, and his his fon's pranks too; "who, I may fay, is no honest "man neither to his father, nor to me, to go about "to make me the King's brother-in-law." Clo." Indeed, brother-in-law was the fartheft off you could have been to him; and then your blood "had been the dearer by I know how much an ounce.” Aut. Very wifely, puppies: [Afide. Shep. Well; let us to the King; there is that in this farthel will make him fcratch his beard. dut. I know not what impediment this complaint may be to the flight of my master, Clo. Pray heartily he be at the palace. Aut. Though I am not naturally honeft, I am fsẹ fometimes by chance: let me pocket up my pedler's excrement*. How now, ruftiques, whither are you bound? Shep. To th' palace, an it like your Worship. Aut. Your affairs there, what, with whom, the condition of that farthel, the place of your dwelling, your names, your age, of what having, breeding, and any thing that is fitting for to be known, difcover. Clo. We are but plain fellows, Sir. Aut. A lye; you are rough and hairy; let me have no lying; it becomes none but tradesmen, and they often give us foldiers the lye; but we pay them for it with ftamped coin, not ftabbing fteel; therefore they do give us the lye. Clo. Your Worfhip had like to have given us one, if you had not taken yourself with the manner. Shep. Are you a courtier, an like you, Sir? Aut. Whether it like me or no, I am a courtier. Seeft thou not the air of the court in thefe infoldings? hath not my gate in it the measure of the court? receives not thy nofe court-odour from me? reflect I not on thy bafenefs, court-contempt? think't thou, for that I infinuate, or toze from thee thy business, I am there- . fore no courtier? I am courtier Cap-a-pè; and one that will either pufh on or pluck back thy business there; whereupon I command thee to open thy affair. Shep. My bufinefs, Sir, is to the King. Aut. What advocate haft thou to him? * Meaning his falfe beard. Shep. I know not, an't like you. Clo. Advocate's the court word for a pheafant; fay you have none. Shep. None, Sir; I have no pheasant cock nor hen. Aut. "How blefs'd are we that are not fimple men! Yet Nature might have made me as these are; "Therefore I will not difdain." Clo. This cannot be but a great courtier. Shep. His garments are rich, but he wears them not handsomely. 66 Clo." He feems to be the more noble in being fantaftical; a great man, I'll warrant; I know by the picking on's teeth.” Aut. The farthel there; what's i' th' farthel? Wherefore that box? Shep. Sir, there lies fuch fecrets in this farthel and box, which none must know but the King; and which he fhall know within this hour, if I may come to th❞ fpeech of him. Aut. Age, thou haft loft thy labour. Aut. The King is not at the palace; he is gone aboard a new fhip, to purge melancholy and air himfelf; for if thou be'ft capable of things ferious, thou must know the King is full of grief. Shep. So 'tis faid, Sir, about his fon that should have married a fhepherd's daughter. Aut. If that fhepherd be not in hand faft, let him Яly; the curfes he fhall have, the tortures he fhall feel, will break the back of man, the heart of monster. Clo. Think you fo, Sir? Aut. Not he alone shall fuffer what wit can make heavy, and vengeance bitter; but thofe that are ger-. mane to him, tho' remov'd fifty times, fhall all come under the hangman; which tho' it be great pity, yet it is neceffary. An old fheep-whiftling-rogue, a ramtender, to offer to have his daughter come into grace? Some fay he fhall be fton'd; but that death is too foft for him, fay I. Draw our throne into a fheep-cote ! all deaths are too few, the sharpest too easy. Glo. Has the old man e'er a fon, Sir, do you hear, Aut. Aut. He has a fon, who fhall be flay'd alive, then 'nointed over with honey, fet on the head of a wasp's neft, then stand till he be three quarters and a dram dead; then recover'd again with aquavitæ, or feme other hot infufion; then, raw as he is, (and in the hotteft day prognoftication proclaims), fhall he be fet against a brick-wall, the fun looking with a fouthward eye upon him, where he is to behold him, with flies blown to death. But what talk we of these traitorly rascals, whofe miferies are to be smil'd at, their offences being fo capital? Tell ine (for you feem to be honest, plain men) what you have to the King; being fomething gently confider'd, I'll bring you where he is aboard, tender your perfons to his prefence, whisper him in your behalf; and if it be in man befides the King to effect your fuits, here is a man fhall do it. Clo. He feems to be of great authority; close with him, give him gold; "and though authority be a "ftubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold;" fhew the infide of your purfe to the outfide of his hand, and no more ado. Remember, fton'd, and flay'd alive. 66 Shep. An't please you, Sir, to undertake the business for us, here is that gold I have, I'll make it as much more, and leave this young man in pawn till I bring it you. Aut. After I have done what I promised? Shep. Ay, Sir. Aut. Well give me the moiety. Are you a party in this bufinefs? 66 Clo." In fome fort, Sir: but though my cafe be a pitiful one, I hope I fhall not be flay'd out of it. Aut. Oh, that's the cafe of the thepherd's fon; hang him, he'll be made an example. Clo. Comfort, good comfort; we muft to the King, and fhew our strange fights; he must know 'tis none of your daughter, nor my fifter; we are gone elfe. Sir, I will give you as much as this old man does, when the bufinefs is perform'd; and remain, as he fays, your pawn till it be brought you. Aut. I will truft you, walk before toward the fea fide, fide, go on the right hand; I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you. Clo. We are blefs'd in this man, as I may fay, even blefs'd. Shep. Let's before, as he bids us; he was provided to do us good. [Exeunt Shep. and Clown. Aut. If I had a mind to be honeft, I fee Fortune would not fuffer me; fhe drops booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a double occafion; gold, and a means to do the Prince my mafter good; which, who knows how that may turn back to my advancement? I will bring these two moles, thefe blind ones, aboard him; if he think it fit to fhore them again, and that the complaint they have to the King concerns him nothing, let him call me rogue, for being fo far officious; for I am proof against that title, and what Thame elfe belongs to't: to him will I prefent them, there may be matter in it. [Exit. Enter Leontes, Cleomenes, Dion, Paulina, and Servants. Cle. S' IR, you have done enough, and have perform'd A faint-like forrow: no fault could you make, Which you have not redeem'd;` indeed paid down More penitence than done trespass. At the last, Do as the heavens have done, forget your evil; With them, forgive yourlelf. Leo. Whilft I remember Her and her virtues, I cannot forget My blemishes in them, and fo ftill think of Paul. True, too true, my Lord. If one by one you wedded all the world, Or, from the all that are, took fomething good, Mm 2 Leo. |