ACT II.
[Scene I. A room in] Leontes' palace
[Enter] Hermione, Mamillius, and Ladies.
Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me,
'Tis past enduring.
First Lady. Come, my gracious lord,
Shall I be your play-fellow?
Mam. No, I 'll none of you.
First Lady. Why, my sweet lord?
5
Mam. You'll kiss me hard, and speak to me as if
I were a baby still. I [love] you better.
Sec. Lady. And why so, [my lord]?
Mam. Not for because
Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say,
Become some women best, so that there be not
Too much hair there, but in a [semicircle],
[Or] a half-moon made with a pen.
Sec. Lady. Who taught you this?
Mam. I learn d it out of women's faces. Pray now
What colour [are] your eyebrows?
First Lady. Blue, my lord.
Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose
That has been blue, but not her eyebrows.
15
First Lady. Hark ye;
The queen your mother rounds apace: we shall
Present our services to a fine new prince
One of these days; and then [you'ld] wanton with us,
If we would have you.
Sec. Lady. She is spread of late
Into a goodly bulk: good time encounter her!
Her. What wisdom stirs amongst you? Come, sir, now
I am for you again: pray you, sit by us,
And tell's a tale.
Mam. Merry or sad [shall't] be?
Her. As merry as you will.
25
Mam. A sad tale's best [for winter]: [I have] one
Of sprites and goblins.
Her. Let's have that, [good sir].
Come on, sit down: come on, and do your best
To fright me with your [sprites;] you're powerful at it.
Mam. There was a man—
Her. Nay, come, sit down; then on.
30
Mam. Dwelt by a churchyard: I will tell it softly;
[Yond] crickets shall not hear it.
Her. [Come] on, then,
And [give't] me in mine ear.
[Enter] Leontes, with Antigonus, Lords, and [others.]
Leon. Was he met there? his train? Camillo with him?
[First Lord.] Behind the tuft of pines I met them; never
Saw I men scour so on their way: I eyed them
[Even] to their ships.
Leon. How blest am I
In my just censure, in my true opinion!
Alack, for lesser knowledge! how accursed
In being so blest! There may be in the cup
A spider steep'd, and one may [drink, depart],
And yet partake no venom; for his knowledge
Is not infected: but if one present
The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known
How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider.
Camillo was his help in this, his pander:
There is a plot against my life, my crown;
All's true that is mistrusted: that false villain
Whom I employ'd was pre-employ'd by him:
He [has] discover'd my design, and I
Remain a [pinch'd] thing; yea, a very trick
For them to play at will. How came the posterns
So easily open?
First Lord. By his great authority;
Which [often hath no less prevail'd] than so
On your [command].
55
Leon. I know't [too well].
Give me the boy: [I am] glad you did not nurse him:
Though he does bear some signs of me, yet you
Have too much blood in him.
Her. What is this? sport?
Leon. Bear the boy hence; he shall not come about her;
Away with him! and let her sport herself
With that she's big with; for 'tis [Polixenes]
Has made thee swell thus.
Her. [But I'ld] say he had not,
And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying,
Howe'er you lean to the nayward.
Leon. You, my lords,
Look on her, mark her well; be but about
To say 'she is a goodly lady,' and
The justice of your hearts will thereto add
''Tis pity she's not [honest, honourable:]'
Praise her but for this her without-door form,
Which on my faith deserves high speech, and straight
The shrug, the hum or ha, these petty brands
That calumny doth use; O, I am out,
That mercy [does], for calumny will [sear]
Virtue itself: these shrugs, these hums and ha's,
When you have said 'she's goodly,' come between
Ere you can say 'she's honest:' [but be't] known,
From him that has most cause to grieve it should be,
She's an adulteress.
Her. Should a villain say so,
The most replenish'd villain in the world,
He were as much more villain: you, my lord,
Do but mistake.
Leon. You have mistook, my lady,
Polixenes for Leontes: O thou thing!
Which I 'll not call a creature of thy place,
[Lest] barbarism, making me the precedent,
Should a like language use to all degrees
And mannerly distinguishment leave out
Betwixt the prince and beggar: I have said
She's an adulteress; I have said with whom:
More, she's a traitor and Camillo is
A [federary] with her; [and one] that knows,
What she should [shame] to know [herself]
[But] with her most [vile] principal, that [she's]
A [bed-swerver], [even] as bad as those
[That vulgars] give [bold'st] titles; ay, and privy
To this their late escape.
95
Her. No, by my life,
Privy to none of this. How will this grieve you,
When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that
You thus have publish'd me! Gentle my lord,
You scarce can right me throughly [then to] say
You did mistake.
100
Leon. [No]; if [I mistake]
In those foundations which I build upon,
The centre is not big enough to bear
A school-boy's top. Away with [her, to] prison!
He who shall speak for [her is] [afar off] guilty
But that he speaks.
105
Her. There's some ill planet [reigns]:
I must be patient till the heavens look
With [an aspect more favourable]. Good my lords,
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew
Perchance shall dry your pities: but I have
That honourable grief lodged here which burns
Worse than tears drown: beseech you all, my lords,
With thoughts so qualified as your charities
Shall best instruct you, measure me; and so
The king's will be perform'd!
115
Leon. Shall I be [heard]?
Her. Who is't that goes with me? Beseech your highness,
My women may be with me; for you see
My plight requires it. Do not weep, good fools;
There is no cause: when you shall know your mistress
Has deserved prison, then abound in tears
As I come out: this action I now go on
Is for my better grace. Adieu, my lord:
I never wish'd to see you sorry; now
I trust I shall. My women, come; [you have] leave.
125
Leon. Go, do our bidding; hence!
[[Exit] Queen, guarded; with Ladies.
First Lord. Beseech your highness, call the queen again.
Ant. Be certain what you do, sir, [lest] your justice
Prove violence; in the which three great ones suffer,
Yourself, your queen, your son.
First Lord. For her, my lord,
I dare my life lay down and will do't, sir,
Please you to accept it, that the queen is spotless
I' the eyes of heaven and to you; I mean,
In this which you accuse her.
Ant. I fit prove
She's otherwise, I'll keep [my stables] where
I lodge my wife; I'll go in couples with her;
[Than] when I feel and see her no [farther] trust her;
For every inch of woman in the world,
Ay, every dram of woman's flesh is false,
If she be.
Leon. Hold your peaces.
First Lord. Good my lord,—
140
Ant. It is for you we speak, not for ourselves:
You are [abused and by] some putter-on
That will be damn'd for't; would I knew the villain,
[I would] [land-damn] him. Be she honour-flaw'd,
I have three daughters; the eldest is eleven;
The second and the third, [nine, and some five;]
If this prove true, they'll pay for't: by mine honour,
I'll geld ['em] all; fourteen they shall not see,
To bring false generations: they are co-heirs;
And I had rather [glib] myself than they
Should not produce fair issue.
150
Leon. Cease; no more.
You smell this business with a sense as cold
As is a dead man's nose: [but I do] see't and feel't,
As you feel doing thus; and see [withal]
[The] instruments [that] feel.
Ant. I fit be so,
We need no grave to bury honesty:
There's not a grain of it the face to sweeten
Of the whole dungy earth.
Leon. What! lack I credit?
First Lord. I had rather you did lack than I, my lord,
Upon this ground; and more it would content me
To have [her] honour true than your suspicion,
Be blamed for't how you might.
Leon. Why, what need we
Commune with you [of] this, [but] rather follow
Our forceful instigation? Our prerogative
Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness
Imparts this; which if you, or stupified
Or seeming so in skill, cannot or will not
Relish like us, inform yourselves
We need no more of your advice: the matter,
The loss, the gain, the ordering [on't, is all]
Properly ours.
170
Ant. And I wish, my liege,
You had only in your silent judgement tried it,
Without more overture.
Leon. How could that be?
Either thou art most ignorant by age,
Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight,
Added to their familiarity,
Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture,
That [lack'd] sight only, nought for approbation
But only seeing, all other circumstances
Made up to the deed,—doth push on this proceeding:
Yet, for a greater confirmation,
For in an act of this importance 'twere
Most piteous to be wild, [I have] dispatch'd in post
To sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple,
[Cleomenes] and [Dion], whom you know
Of stuff'd sufficiency: now from the oracle
They will bring all; whose spiritual counsel had,
Shall stop or spur [me]. Have I done well?
First Lord. Well done, my lord.
Leon. Though I am satisfied and need no more
Than what I know, yet shall the oracle
Give rest to the minds of others, such as he
Whose ignorant credulity will not
Come up to the truth. So [have we] thought it good
From our free person she should be confined,
[Lest] that the treachery of the two fled hence
Be left her to perform. Come, follow us;
We are to speak in public; for this business
Will raise us all.
Ant. [[Aside]] To laughter, as I take it,
If the good truth were known. [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[Scene I. A room....] The Palace. Theobald. The Scene continues. Pope.
[Enter....] Enter Hermione, Mamillius, Ladies: Leontes, Antigonus, Lords. Ff. (Lord. F2 F3 F4).
[6,7] [love ... lord?] As one line by S. Walker.
[7] [my lord] pray, my lord Hanmer my good lord Steevens.
[10] [semicircle] cemicircle F1
[11] [Or] Like Hanmer. taught you this] Rowe. taught this F1. taught this F2 F3 F4.
[13] [are] F1. be F2 F3 F4.
[18] [you'ld] F3. you'ld F1 F2. you'l F4. you'll Rowe.
[23] [shall't] shall it Steevens.
[25, 26] [for winter ... goblins] As one line in Hanmer.
[I have ... goblins] Arranged as by Dyce; as one line in Ff.
[26] [good sir] sir Steevens.
[26, 28] [sprites] Capell. sprights Ff.
[31] [Yond] Ff. Yon' Capell.
[31, 32] [Come ... ear] Arranged as in Capell; as one line in Ff.
[32] [give't] give it Hanmer.
[32] [Enter....] Capell. Enter L., A., and Lords. Rowe. om. F1. Enter L. F2 F3 F4.
[33] [Scene II.] Pope.
[34] [First Lord] Capell (and throughout the Scene). Lord. Ff.
[36] [Even] On even Hanmer.] blest] blessed then Steevens conj.
[40] [drink, depart] drink; depart Ff. drink a part Collier MS. deep o't Staunton conj. drain if deep Jervis conj.
[50] [has] hath Rowe.
[51] [pinch'd] perch'd Jackson conj.
[54] [often hath no less prevail'd than so] hath prevailed oftentimes no less Than so Hanmer.
[55] [command] commandement S. Walker conj.
[too well.] too well, too well. Anon. conj.
[56] [I am] I'm Pope.
[61] [Some bear off Mamillius.] Capell.
[62] [But I'ld] F4. But Il'd F1 F2 F3. I'd but Hanmer.
[68] [honest, honourable] honest: honourable Ff. honest-honourable S. Walker conj.
[73] [does] do's Ff. doth Hanmer.
[sear] fear Rowe (ed. 2).
[76] [be't] Ff. be it Steevens. it be Id. (1793), corrected in MS.
[84] [Lest] Least Ff.
[90] [federary] feodary Collier (ed. 2. Malone conj.).
[and one] one Hanmer. ay, and one S. Walker conj.
[91] [shame]be asham'd Hanmer.
[herself] herself with none Anon. conj.
[92] [But ... principal] omitted by Capell.
[vile] Pope. vild Ff.
[92, 93] [she's A bed-swerver] she Is a bed-swerver S. Walker conj. ending lines 90-93 at one ... herself ... she.
[93] [bed-swerver] bed-swarver Ff.
[even] e'en S. Walker conj.
[94] [That vulgars] That vulgar Rowe. The vulgar Hanmer.
[bold'st] bold Steevens (1793).
[99] [then to] than to Rowe (ed. 1).
[100] [No] No, no Steevens (1793).
[I mistake] I do mistake Hanmer.
[103] [her, to] Ff. her to Pope.
[104] [her is] her's S. Walker conj.
[afar off] F4. a farre-off F1 F2. afar-off F3. far off Pope. far of Theobald.
[105] [But] In Hanmer.
[107] [an aspect more favourable] aspect of more favour Hanmer.
[115] [To the Guard.] Capell.
[124] [you have] you've Pope.
[125] [Exit....] Theobald, om. Ff.
[127] [lest] F3 F4. least F1 F2.
[134] [my stables] my stable-stand Hanmer. my stable Rann. me stables Collier (Collier MS.), my stabler or my stablers Edd. conj.
[136] [Than] Pope (ed. 2). Then Ff. [See note (v).]
[farther] F1. further F2 F3 F4.
[141] [abused and by] abus'd and by F1. abus'd by F2 F3 F4. abused by Rowe.
[143] [I would ... him.] And I would—damn him;— Mitford conj.
[143] [land-damn] Land-damne F1. land-damm Hanmer. laudanum Farmer conj. lamback Collier (ed. 2) (Collier MS.), half-damn Heath conj. live-damn S. Walker conj. landan or lantam or rantan Halliwell conj. [See note (vi)].
[145] [nine, and some five] Theobald. nine: and some fiue F1. nine: and sonnes five F2 F3. nine: and sons five F4.
[147] ['em] F3 F4. em F1 F2. them Capell.
[149] [glib] lib Grey conj. unsib Heath conj.
[152] [but I do] I Pope.
[153] [Laying hold of his arm.] Hanmer. Sinking his brows. Johnson. Striking his brows. Steevens.
[154] [The ... so] The instruments of that you feel. Ant. If so Heath conj.
[that] I Hanmer.
[160] [her] your Rowe (ed. 2).
[162] [of] F1. for F2 F3 F4.
[but] not Hanmer.
[167] [a truth] as truth Rowe (ed. 1).
[169, 170] [on't, is all Properly] Theobald. on't, Is all properly Ff. on't, Is properly all Pope. on't are all Properly Hanmer.
[177] [lack'd] lack'd, Staunton.
[182] [I have] I haue F1. I've Hanmer.
[184] [Cleomenes] Capell. Cleomines Ff (and throughout).
[Dion] F1. Deon F2 F3 F4.
[187] [me] me on Hanmer.
[193] [have we] F1 F2. we have F3 F4.
[195] [Lest] F4. Least F1 F2 F3.
[198] [Aside] Hanmer.
[Scene II.] [A prison.]
[Enter Paulina,] a Gentleman, and Attendants.
Paul. The keeper of the prison, call to him;
Let him have [knowledge] [who] I am. [[Exit Gent.]
Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee;
What dost thou then in prison?
Re-enter Gentleman, with the Gaoler.
Now, good sir,
You know me, [do you not?]
5
Gaol. For a worthy lady
And one who much I honour.
Paul. [Pray you,] then,
Conduct me to the queen.
Gaol. I may not, madam:
To the contrary I have express commandment.
Paul. Here's ado,
To lock up honesty and honour from
The access of gentle visitors! Is't lawful, [pray you].
To see her women? any of them? Emilia?
Gaol. [So please] you, madam,
To put [apart] these your attendants, I
Shall bring Emilia forth.
15
Paul. I [pray now], call her.
Withdraw yourselves. [[Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants.]
Gaol. And, madam,
I must be present at [your] conference.
Paul. [Well, be't] so, prithee. [[Exit Gaoler.]
[Here's] such ado to make no stain a stain
As passes colouring.
[Re-enter] Gaoler, with Emilia.
20
Dear gentlewoman,
How fares [our] gracious lady?
Emil. As well as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together: on her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath borne greater,
She is something before her time deliver'd.
Paul. A boy?
Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe,
Lusty and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in't; says 'My poor prisoner,
[I am] innocent as you.'
Paul. I dare be sworn:
These dangerous [unsafe lunes i' the] king, beshrew them!
He must be told [on't], and [he shall]: the office
Becomes a woman best; I'll take't upon me:
If I prove [honey-mouth'd], let my tongue blister,
And never to my red-look'd anger be
The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen:
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I'll show't the king and undertake to be
Her advocate to the loud'st. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o' the child:
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades when speaking fails.
Emil. Most worthy madam,
Your honour and your goodness is so evident,
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving issue: [there is] no lady living
So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I'll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who but to-day [hammer'd of] this design,
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
[Lest] she should be denied.
Paul. Tell her, Emilia,
I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from't
As boldness from my bosom, [let't] not be doubted
I shall do good.
Emil. Now be you blest for it!
I'll to the queen: please you, come something nearer.
Gaol. Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
Having no warrant.
Paul. You need not fear it, sir:
[This child] was prisoner to the womb and is
By law and process of great nature thence
Freed and enfranchised; not a party to
The anger of the king nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.
Gaol. [I do] believe it.
65
Paul. Do not you fear: upon mine honour, I
Will stand [betwixt] you and danger. [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[Scene ii.] Scene iii. Pope.
[A prison.] Pope. Outer room of a prison. Capell.
[Enter Paulina....] Hanmer. Enter Paulina, a Gentleman, Gaoler, Emilia. Ff.
[2] [knowledge] the knowledge Rowe.
[2, 6] [who] F1. whom F2 F3 F4.
[Exit Gent.] Rowe (after line 1). om. Ff.
[4] [Re-enter....] Rowe (after do you not?), om. Ff.
[7-10] [Arranged as in Hanmer.] Here's ... from, as one line in Ff. Capell ends the lines queen ... contrary ... ado, ... from.
[11-13] [Hanmer ends the lines] lawful ... them? ... madam.
[13] [So please] If it so please Hanmer.
[14] [apart] a-part F1 F2 F3. a part F4.
[15] [pray now] F1. pray you now F2 F3 F4.
[16] [Exeunt Gent, and Attendants.] Exeunt Gent. &c. Theobald. om. Ff.
[17] [your] all your Hanmer, ending the lines be ... well, well ... prithee.
[18] [Well, be't] Well; be it Rowe. Well, well; Be it Hanmer.
[Exit G.] Exit Kee. Capell. om. Ff.
[19] [Here's] Here is Capell, reading lines 18-21 as three, ending ado ... colouring ... lady?
[20] [Re-enter....] Re-enter Keeper with E. Capell. Enter Emilia. F2 F3 F4. om. F1.
[21] [our] one F2.
[29] [I am] I'm Pope.
[30] [unsafe] unsane Collier (Collier MS.).
lunes] lures Becket conj.
i' the] i' th' Ff. o' the Steevens.
[31] [On't] of it Pope.
[he shall] shall Rowe.
[33] [honey-mouth'd] honey-mouth Warburton.
[45] [there is] there's Hanmer.
[49] [hammer'd of] hammered of Ff. hammer'd on Hanmer.
[51] [Lest] Rowe. Least Ff.
[53] [let't] F3 F4. le't F1 F2. let it Steevens.
[59] [This child] The child Rowe.
[64-66] [As two lines] in Capell, ending upon ... danger.
[66] [betwixt] 'twixt Pope.
[Scene III.] [A room] in Leontes' palace.
[Enter] Leontes, Antigonus, Lords, and Servants.
Leon. Nor night nor day no rest: it is but weakness
To bear the matter thus; mere [weakness. If]
The cause were not in [being,—]part o' the cause,
She the adulteress; for the harlot king
Is quite beyond mine [arm], out of the blank
And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she
I can hook to me: say that she were gone,
Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest
Might come to me again. Who's there?
First Serv. My lord?
Leon. How does the [boy?]
10
First Serv. He took good [rest to-night;]
'Tis hoped his sickness is discharged.
Leon. To see his nobleness!
Conceiving the dishonour of his mother,
He straight [declined], droop'd, took it [deeply],
Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself,
Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep,
And downright languish'd. Leave me solely: go,
See how he fares. [[Exit] Serv.] Fie, fie! no thought of him:
The very thought of my revenges that way
[Recoil] upon me: in himself too mighty,
[And in] his parties, his [alliance]; [let him be]
Until a time may serve: for present vengeance,
Take it on her. Camillo and Polixenes
Laugh at me, make their pastime at my sorrow:
They should not laugh if I could reach them, nor
Shall she within my [power.]
[Enter Paulina,] with a child.
[First Lord.] You must not enter.
Paul. Nay, rather, good my lords, be second to me:
Fear you his tyrannous passion more, alas,
Than the queen's life? a gracious innocent soul,
More free than he is jealous.
30
Ant. [That's enough.]
[Sec. Serv.] Madam, he hath not slept to-night; commanded
None should come at him.
Paul. Not so hot, good sir:
I come to bring him sleep. 'Tis such as you,
That creep like shadows by him and do sigh
At each his needless heavings, such as you
Nourish the cause of his awaking: I
Do come with words as [medicinal] as true,
Honest as either, to purge him of that humour
That presses him from sleep.
Leon. [What] noise there, ho?
40
Paul. No noise, my lord; but needful conference
About some gossips for your highness.
Leon. How!
Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus,
I charged thee that she should not come about me:
I knew she would.
Ant. I told her so, my lord,
On your displeasure's peril and on mine,
She should not visit you.
Leon. What, canst not rule her?
Paul. From all dishonesty he can: in this,
Unless he take the course that you have done,
Commit me for committing honour, [trust it],
He shall not rule me.
50
Ant. [La you] now, you hear:
When she will take the [rein] I let her run;
But she'll not stumble.
Paul. Good my liege, I come;
And, I beseech you, hear me, who [professes]
Myself your loyal servant, your physician,
Your most obedient counsellor, yet that dares
Less appear so in comforting your evils,
Than such as most [seem] yours: I say, I come
From your good queen.
Leon. Good queen!
Paul. [Good queen,] my lord,
Good queen; [I say good queen];
And would by combat make [her] [good, so] were I
A man, [the worst] about you.
Leon. Force her hence.
Paul. Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes
First hand me: on mine own accord I'll off;
But first I'll do my errand. The good queen,
For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter;
Here 'tis; commends it to your blessing.
[[Laying] down the child.
Leon. Out!
A mankind witch! Hence with her, out o' door:
A most intelligencing bawd!
Paul. Not so:
I am as ignorant in that as you
In so entitling me, and no less honest
Than you are mad; which is enough, I 'll warrant,
As this world goes, to pass for honest.
Leon. [Traitors]!
Will you not push her out? Give her the bastard.
Thou dotard! [thou art] [woman-tired], unroosted
By [thy dame] Partlet here. Take up the bastard;
Take't up, I say; give't to [thy crone].
Paul. For ever
Unvenerable be thy hands, if thou
Takest up the princess by that [forced] baseness
Which he has put upon't!
Leon. He dreads his wife.
80
Paul. So I would you did; then 'twere past all doubt
You'ld call your children yours.
Leon. A nest of traitors!
Ant. I am none, by this good light.
Paul. Nor I; nor any
But one that's here, and that's himself; for he
The sacred honour of himself, his queen's,
His hopeful son's, [his babe's], betrays to slander,
Whose sting is sharper than the sword's; and will not,—
For, as the case now stands, it is a curse
He cannot be compell'd to't,—once remove
The root of his opinion, which is rotten
As ever oak or stone was [sound].
90
Leon. A callat
Of boundless tongue, who late hath beat her husband
And now baits me! This brat is none of mine;
It is the issue of Polixenes:
Hence with it, and together with the dam
Commit [them] to the fire!
95
Paul. It is yours;
And, might we lay the old proverb to your charge,
So like you, 'tis the worse. Behold, my lords,
Although the print be little, the whole matter
And copy of the father, eye, nose, lip;
The trick of's frown; his forehead; nay, the [valley],
The [pretty] dimples [of his chin] and cheek; [his smiles];
The very mould and frame of hand, nail, finger:
And thou, good goddess Nature, which hast made it
So like to him that got it, if thou hast
The ordering of the mind too, 'mongst all colours
No yellow in't, lest she suspect, as he does,
Her children not her husband's!
Leon. A gross hag!
And, lozel, thou art worthy to be hang'd,
That wilt not stay her tongue.
Ant. Hang all the husbands
[That] cannot do that feat, you'll leave [yourself]
Hardly one subject.
Leon. Once more, take her hence.
Paul. A most unworthy and unnatural lord
Can do no more.
Leon. I'll [ha' thee] burnt.
Paul. I care not:
It is an heretic that makes the fire,
Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant;
But this most cruel usage of your queen—
Not able to produce more accusation
Than your own weak-hinged fancy—[something] savours
Of tyranny and will ignoble make you,
Yea, scandalous to [the world].
120
Leon. On your allegiance,
Out of the chamber with her! Were I a tyrant,
Where were her life? she durst not call me so,
If she did know me one. Away with her!
Paul. I pray you, do not push me; I'll be gone.
Look to your babe, my lord; 'tis yours: [Jove] send [her]
A [better guiding] spirit! What [needs] these hands?
You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,
Will never do him good, not one of you.
So, so: farewell; we are gone. [Exit.
130
Leon. [Thou,] traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.
My child? away [with't!] Even [thou], that hast
A heart so tender o'er it, take it hence
And see it instantly consumed with fire;
Even thou and none but thou. Take it up straight:
Within this hour bring me word 'tis done,
And by good testimony, or I'll seize thy life,
With [what thou else call'st] thine. If thou refuse
And wilt encounter with my wrath, say so;
The bastard brains with these my proper hands
Shall I dash out. Go, take it to the fire;
For thou [set'st] on thy wife.
Ant. I did not, sir:
[These lords], my noble fellows, if they please,
Can clear me in't.
[Lords.] [We can:] my royal liege,
He is not guilty of her coming hither.
145
Leon. You're liars all.
[First Lord.] Beseech your highness, give us better credit:
[We have] always truly served you; and [beseech you]
So to esteem of us: and on our knees we beg,
As recompense of our dear [services]
Past and to come, that you do change this purpose,
Which being so horrible, so bloody, must
Lead on to some foul issue: [we all kneel].
Leon. I am a [feather] for each wind that blows:
Shall I live on to see this bastard kneel
And call me father? better burn it now
Than curse it then. But be it; let it live.
It shall not neither. You, sir, come you [hither;]
You that have been so tenderly officious
With Lady Margery, your [midwife] there,
To save this bastard's life,—for 'tis a bastard,
So sure as [this] beard's grey,—what will you adventure
To save this brat's life?
Ant. Any thing, my lord,
That my ability may undergo,
And nobleness impose: [at least] thus much:
I'll pawn the little blood which I have left
To save the innocent: [any thing possible].
Leon. It shall be possible. Swear by this sword
Thou wilt perform my bidding.
Ant. I will, my lord.
Leon. Mark and perform it: seest thou? for the fail
Of any point in't shall not only be
Death to thyself but to thy [lewd-tongued] wife,
Whom for this time we pardon. We enjoin thee,
As thou art liege-man to us, that thou carry
This female bastard hence and that thou bear it
To some remote and desert place quite out
Of our dominions, and that there thou leave it,
Without [more] mercy, to [its] own protection
And favour of the climate. As by strange fortune
It came to us, I do in justice charge thee,
On thy soul's peril and thy body's torture,
That thou commend it [strangely to some] place
Where [chance] may nurse or end it. Take it up.
Ant. I swear to do this, though a present death
Had been more merciful. Come on, poor babe:
Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens
To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say,
Casting their savageness aside have done
Like offices of pity. Sir, be prosperous
In more than this deed does [require]! And blessing
Against [this] cruelty fight on thy side,
Poor thing, condemn'd to loss! [[Exit with the child].
Leon. No, I'll not [rear]
Another's issue.
[Serv.] Please your highness, posts
From those you sent to the oracle are come
An hour since: Cleomenes and Dion,
Being well arrived from Delphos, are both landed,
Hasting to the court.
[First Lord.] So please you, sir, their speed
Hath been beyond [account].
Leon. Twenty three days
They have been absent: ['tis good speed;] [foretells]
The great Apollo suddenly will have
The truth of this appear. Prepare you, lords;
Summon a session, that we may arraign
Our most disloyal lady; for, as she hath
Been publicly accused, so shall she have
A just and open trial. While she lives
My heart will be a burthen to me. Leave me,
And think upon my bidding. [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[Scene III.] Scene IV. Pope.
[A room....] Scene changes to the Palace. Theobald.
[Enter ... and Servants] Enter Leontes, Servants, Paulina, Antigonus and Lords. Ff.
[2] [weakness. If] Collier. weaknesse, if Ff.
[3] [being,—] being: Ff.
[5] [arm] aim Field conj.
[9] [First Atten.] [advancing] Capell. Ser. Ff. Enrer. F2. Enter. F3 F4. om. F1.
[10,11] [rest to-night; 'Tis hoped his] rest to night: 'tis hop'd His Ff. rest To-night tis hop'd his Hanmer.
[14] [declined] declin'd upon't Capell.
[deeply] most deeply Hanmer.
[18] [Exit....] Theobald.
[20] [Recoil] Recoyle F1 F2. Recoyl F3 F4. Recoils Hanmer.
[21] [And in ... be] F1. omitted in F2 F3 F4.
And] om. Capell.
[alliance;] Alliance; F1. alliances,— Capell conj.
[21, 22] [let him be Until] let him Be 'till Hanmer.
[26] [Scene V.] Pope.
[Enter P. ... child.] Rowe. Enter P. Ff.
[First Lord.] Malone. Lord. Ff.
[30] [That's enough.] Marked as aside by Capell.
[31] [Sec. Serv.] Ser. Ff. Atten. [within. Theobald. 2 A. Capell.
[37] [medicinal] med'cinal Capell.
[39] [What] F2 F3 F4. Who F1.
[49] [trust it] trust me Hanmer.
[50] [La you] La-you Ff. Lo-you Pope.
[51] [rein] Rowe. raine F1 F2. rain F3 F4.
[53] [professes] profess Rowe (ed. 2).
[57] [seem] seems Pope (ed. 2).
[58, 59] [Paul. Good ... say good queen] As one line in Capell.
[59] [I say good queen] As one line in Ff.
[60] [her] it Heath conj.
[good, so] Theobald, good so, Ff. good, Rowe (ed. 2).
[61] [the worst] on th' worst Hanmer (Warburton).
[66] [Laying....] Rowe. om. Ff.
[73] [To Ant. Rowe.]
[74] [thou art] that art Capell.
[woman-tired] woman-tyr'd F1 F2 F3. woman-tir'd F4.
[75] [thy dame] the dame Rowe (ed. 2).
[76] [thy crone] thy croane F1. the croane F2 F3. the croan F4.
[78] [forced] falsed Collier conj.
[85] [his babe's] this babe's Capell.
[90] [sound] F1. found F2 F3 F4.
[95] [them] it Capell conj.
[100] [valley] valleys Hanmer.
[101] [pretty] om. Hanmer.
[of his chin] of's chin Dyce.
[his smiles] omitted by Capell.
[109] [That] Thou Rowe (ed. 2).
[Aside.] Anon. conj.
[113] [ha' thee] have thee Steevens.
[118] [something] sometimes Rowe.
[120] [the world] all the world Pope.
[125] [Jove] God Anon. conj.
[her] him Heath conj.
[126] [better guiding] better-guiding S. Walker conj.
[needs] F1. neede F2. need F3 F4.
[130] [Scene VI.] Pope.
[131] [with't!] with't? Ff.
[thou,] thou, thou Theobald.
[137] [what thou else call'st] all that's Hanmer, ending line 136 at seize.
[141] [set'st] sett'd'st Hanmer.
[142] [These lords] The Lords Hanmer.
[143] [Lords.] Ff. Lord. Rowe. 1. L. Capell.
[143, 144] [Lords. We can ... hither] Lords. We can. First Lord. My ... hither Anon. conj.
[146] [First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff. Lords. Rowe.
[147] [We have] We've Pope.
[beseech you] Rowe. beseech' F1. beseech F2 F3 F4.
[149] [services] service Hanmer, ending line 148 at knees.
[152] [we all kneel] Lords. We all kneel Anon. conj.
[153] [feather] F1 F2 F3. father F4.
[157] [To Ant.] Rowe.
[159] [midwife] Mid-wife Ff. mild wife Rann (Capell conj.).
[161] [this] his Theobald conj. thy Collier (Egerton MS.).
[164] [at least] F1. at last F2 F3 F4.
[166] [any thing possible] what's possible Hanmer.
[171] [lewd-tongued] loud-tongued Anon. conj.
[177] [more] F1. much F2 F3 F4.
[its] F3 F4. it F1 F2. [See note (vii)].
[181] [strangely to some] to some stranger Hanmer.
[182] [chance] F1 F2. change F3 F4.
[189-191] [require! ... loss!] require; and ... side (Poor ... losse.) Ff. require; and ... side! Poor ... loss.— Theobald.
[190] [this] his Roderick conj.
[191] [Exit ... child.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.
[rear] F3 F4. reare F1. rare F2.
[192] [Enter a Servant.] Ff. Enter a Messenger. Rowe. om. Capell.
[Serv.] Ff. Mes. Rowe. 2. A. Capell.
[196] [First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff.
[197] [account] F4. accompt F1 F2 F3.
[198] ['tis good speed; foretells] this good speed foretels Pope.
[foretells] and foretells or it foretells Keightley conj.
[ACT III.]
Scene I. [A sea-port] in Sicilia.
Cleo. The climate's delicate, the air most sweet,
Fertile the [isle], the temple much surpassing
The common praise it bears.
Dion. [I shall report,]
[For most it] caught me, the celestial habits,
Methinks I so should term them, and the reverence
Of the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice!
How ceremonious, solemn and unearthly
It was i' the offering!
Cleo. But of all, the burst
And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle,
Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my sense,
That I was nothing.
Dion. If the event o' the journey
Prove as successful to the queen,—O be't so!—
As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy,
The [time] is worth the use on't.
Cleo. Great Apollo
Turn all to the best! These proclamations,
So forcing faults upon Hermione,
I little like.
Dion. The violent carriage of it
Will clear or end the business: when the oracle,
Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up,
Shall the contents discover, something rare
Even then will rush to knowledge. Go: fresh horses!
And gracious be the issue! [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[Act III. Scene I.] Act II. Scene IV. Theobald conj.
[A sea-port....] Edd. A part of Sicily near the seaside. Theobald. The same. A street in some town. Capell.
[Enter C. and D.] Enter C., D., and an Attendant. S. Walker conj.
[2] [isle] soil Hanmer (Warburton conj.).
[3] [I shall report,] It shames report. Warburton.
[4] [For most] Foremost Warburton.
it] they Hanmer.
[14] [time ... use] use ... time Hanmer (Warburton).
[Scene II.] A court of Justice.
[Enter] Leontes, Lords, and Officers.
Leon. This [sessions], to our great grief we [pronounce],
[Even] pushes 'gainst our heart: the party tried
The daughter of a king, our wife, and one
Of us too much beloved. Let us be clear'd
Of being tyrannous, since we so openly
Proceed in justice, which shall have due course,
Even to the guilt or the purgation.
Produce the prisoner.
Off. It is his highness' pleasure that the queen
Appear in person here in court. [Silence!]
[Enter] Hermione guarded; Paulina and Ladies attending.
Leon. Read the indictment.
[Off. [reads] Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, king of
Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason, in committing
adultery with Polixenes, king of Bohemia, and conspiring
with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king,
thy royal husband: the pretence whereof being by [circumstances]
partly laid open, thou, Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance
of a true subject, didst counsel and aid them, for their better safety,
to fly away by night.
20
Her. Since what I am to say must be but that
Which contradicts my accusation and
The testimony on my part no other
But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me
To say 'not guilty:' mine integrity
Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,
Be so received. But thus, if powers divine
Behold our human actions, as they do,
I doubt not then but innocence shall make
False [accusation] blush, and tyranny
Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know,
[Who] least will seem to do so, my past life
Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,
As I am now unhappy; which is more
Than history can pattern, though devised
And play'd to take spectators. For behold me
A fellow of the royal bed, which [owe]
A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter,
The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing
To [prate] and talk for life and honour 'fore
Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it
As I weigh [grief], [which I would spare]: for honour,
'Tis a derivative from me to mine,
And only that I stand for. I appeal
To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes
Came to your court, how I was in your grace,
How merited to be so; since he came,
With what encounter so uncurrent I
[Have] [strain'd,] to appear thus: if one jot beyond
The [bound] of honour, or in act or will
That way inclining, harden'd be the hearts
Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin
Cry fie upon my grave!
Leon. I ne'er heard yet
That any of [these] bolder vices wanted
Less impudence to gainsay what they did
Than to perform it first.
55
Her. [That's] true enough;
Though 'tis a saying, sir, not due to me.
Leon. You will not own it.
Her. More than [mistress of]
[Which] comes to me in name of fault, I must not
At all acknowledge. For Polixenes,
With whom I am accused, I do confess
I loved him as in honour he required,
With such a kind of love as might become
A lady like me, with a love even such,
So and no other, as yourself commanded:
Which not to have done I think had been in me
Both disobedience and ingratitude
To you and [toward] your [friend]; whose love had spoke,
[Even] since it could speak, from an infant, freely
That it was yours. Now, for conspiracy,
I know not how it tastes; though it be dish'd
For me to try how: all I know of it
Is that Camillo was an honest man;
And why he left your court, the gods themselves,
Wotting no more than I, are ignorant.
75
Leon. You knew of his departure, as you [know]
What you have underta'en to do in's absence.
Her. Sir,
You speak a language that I understand not:
My life stands in the level of your dreams,
Which I'll lay down.
80
Leon. Your actions are my dreams;
You had a bastard by Polixenes,
And I but dream'd it. As you were past all shame,—
Those of your [fact] are so,—[so past all] truth:
[Which to deny] concerns more than avails; [for as]
Thy [brat hath been] cast out, [like] to itself,
No father owning it,—which is, indeed,
More criminal in thee than it,—so thou
Shalt feel our justice, in whose easiest passage
Look for no less than death.
Her. Sir, spare your threats:
The bug which you would fright [me] with I seek.
To me can life be no commodity:
The crown and comfort of my life, your favour,
I do give lost; for I do feel it gone,
But know not how it went. My second joy
[And] first-fruits of my body, from his presence
[I am] barr'd, like one infectious. My third comfort,
Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast,
The innocent milk in [it] most innocent mouth,
Haled out to murder: myself on every post
Proclaimed a [strumpet]: with immodest hatred
The child-bed privilege denied, which 'longs
To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried
Here to this place, i' the open air, before
I have got strength of [limit]. Now, my liege,
Tell me what blessings I have here alive,
That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed.
But yet hear this; mistake me not; [no life],
I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour,
Which I would free, if I shall be condemn'd
Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else
But what your jealousies awake, I tell you
'Tis rigour and not law. Your honours all,
I do refer me to the oracle:
Apollo be my judge!
First Lord. This your [request]
Is altogether just: therefore bring forth,
And in Apollo's name, his oracle. [[Exeunt] certain Officers.
Her. The Emperor of Russia was my father:
O that he were alive, and here beholding
His daughter's trial! that he did but see
The flatness of my misery, yet with eyes
Of pity, not revenge!
[Re-enter] Officers, with Cleomenes and Dion.
Off. You here shall swear upon [this] sword of justice,
That you, Cleomenes and Dion, have
Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought
This seal'd-up oracle, by the hand deliver'd
Of great Apollo's priest and that since then
You have not dared to break the holy seal
Nor read the secrets in't.
Cleo. Dion. All this we swear.
Leon. Break up the seals and read.
130
Off. [reads] Hermione is [chaste]; Polixenes blameless;
Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent babe truly
begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost
be not found.
Lords. Now blessed be the great Apollo!
Her. Praised!
Leon. Hast thou read truth?
135
Off. [Ay,] my lord; even so
As [it is] here set down.
Leon. There is no [truth] at all i' the oracle:
The [sessions] shall proceed: this is mere falsehood.
Serv. My lord the king, the king!
Leon. What is the business?
140
Serv. O sir, I shall be hated to report it!
The prince your son, with mere conceit and fear
Of the queen's speed, is gone.
Leon. How! gone!
Serv. Is dead.
Leon. Apollo's angry; and the heavens themselves
Do strike at my injustice. [[Hermione faints].] [How now there!]
145
Paul. This news is mortal to the queen: look down
And see what death is doing.
Leon. Take her hence:
Her heart is but o'ercharged; she will recover:
I have too much believed mine own suspicion:
Beseech you, tenderly apply to her
Some remedies for [life.]
[[Exeunt] Paulina and Ladies, with Hermione.
Apollo, pardon
My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle!
I'll reconcile me to Polixenes;
New woo my queen; recall the good Camillo,
Whom I proclaim a man of truth, of mercy;
For, being transported by my jealousies
To bloody thoughts and to revenge, I chose
Camillo for the minister to poison
My friend Polixenes: which had been done,
But that the good mind of Camillo tardied
My swift command, though I with death and with
Reward did threaten and encourage him,
Not doing it and being done: he, most humane
And fill'd with honour, to my kingly guest
Unclasp'd my practice, quit his fortunes here,
Which you knew [great], and to the [hazard]
Of all incertainties himself commended,
No richer than his honour: how he glisters
[Thorough my] rust! and how his piety
Does my deeds make the [blacker!]
[Re-enter] Paulina.
Paul. Woe the while!
O, cut my lace, [lest] my heart, cracking it,
Break too!
[First Lord.] What fit is this, good lady?
Paul. What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me?
What wheels? [racks? fires?] what [flaying? boiling?]
In [leads or oils]? what old or [newer] torture
Must I receive, whose [every] word deserves
To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny
Together working with thy jealousies,
Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle
For girls of nine, O, think what they have done
And then run mad indeed, stark mad! for all
Thy by-gone fooleries were [but] spices [of] it.
That thou betray'dst Polixenes, 'twas nothing;
That did but show [thee, of a fool,] inconstant
And [damnable ingrateful:] nor was't much,
Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's honour,
To have him kill a king; poor trespasses,
More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon
The casting forth [to crows thy] baby-daughter
To be or none or little; though a devil
Would have shed water out of fire ere done't:
Nor is't directly laid to thee, the death
Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts,
Thoughts high for one so tender, cleft the heart
That could conceive a gross and foolish sire
Blemish'd his gracious dam: this is not, no,
Laid to thy answer: but the last,—O lords,
When I have said, cry 'woe!'—the queen, the queen,
The [sweet'st, dear'st] creature's dead, and vengeance for't
Not dropp'd down yet.
First Lord. The higher powers forbid!
200
Paul. I say she's dead, I'll swear't. If word nor oath
Prevail not, go and see: if you can bring
Tincture or lustre in her lip, her eye,
Heat outwardly or breath within, I'll serve you
As I would do the gods. But, O thou tyrant!
[Do] not repent these things, for they are [heavier]
Than all thy [woes] can stir: therefore betake thee
To nothing but despair. A thousand knees
Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting,
Upon a barren mountain, and still winter
In storm perpetual, could not move the gods
To look that way thou wert.
Leon. Go on, go on:
Thou canst not speak too much; I have deserved
All tongues to talk their bitterest.
First Lord. Say no more:
Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault
I' the boldness of your speech.
215
Paul. I am sorry for't:
All faults I make, when I shall come to know them,
I do repent. Alas! [I have] show'd too much
The rashness of a woman: he is touch'd
To the noble heart. What's gone and what's past help
Should be past grief: do not [receive] affliction
At [my petition;] I beseech [you], rather
Let me be punish'd, that have minded you
Of what you should forget. Now, good my liege,
Sir, royal sir, forgive a foolish woman:
The love I bore your queen, lo, fool again!
I'll speak of her no more, nor of your children;
I'll not remember you of my own lord,
[Who is] lost too: [take your] patience [to you,]
And I'll say nothing.
Leon. Thou didst speak but well
When most the truth; which I receive much better
Than to be pitied of thee. Prithee, bring me
To the dead bodies of my queen and son:
One grave shall be for both; upon them shall
The causes of their death appear, unto
Our shame perpetual. Once a day I'll visit
The chapel where they lie, and tears shed there
Shall be my recreation: so long as nature
[Will] bear up with this exercise, so long
I daily vow to use it. Come and lead me
[To] these [sorrows]. [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[Scene II. A court....] Scene represents a Court of Justice. Theobald.
[Enter...] Enter Leontes, Lords, Officers: Hermione (as to her Triall), Ladies: Cleomines, Dion. Ff.
At the upper End, a Throne; Lords, on either Hand, Judges, and other Officers, seated; People attending. Enter Leontes, and train of Lords, to his Throne. Capell.
[1] [sessions] session Theobald.
[pronounce] pronounce it Keightley conj.
[2] [Even] Ever Anon. conj.
[10] [Silence!] [See note (viii)].
[Enter...] Hermione is brought in, guarded; Pauline, and Ladies, attending. Theobald. om. Ff.
[12] [Off. [reads].] Capell. Officer. Ff.
[16] [circum stances] F1. circumstance F2 F3 F4.
[29] [accusation] F1. accusations F2 F3 F4.
[31] [Who] Rowe. Whom Ff.
[36] [owe] owes Steevens (1785).
[39] [prate] plead Keightley conj.
[41] [grief] [See note (ix)].
[which .. spare:] (which ... spare) Ff.
[47, 48] [I Have] have I Hanmer.
[I Have strain'd] have I Been stain'd Johnson conj. I Have stray'd Collier (Mason conj.).
[49] [bound] bounds Rowe.
[53] [these] those F4.
[55] [That's] That is Rowe.
[57] [mistress of] I'm mistress of Hanmer. misreport or misprision Anon. conj. A line omitted. Anon. conj.
[58] [Which] What Rowe. That Seymour conj.
[67] [toward] F1 F2. towards F3 F4.
[friend] F1. friends F2 F3 F4.
[68] [Even] Ever Long MS.
[75, 76] [know What you] know what You S. Walker conj., reading lines 75-77 as two lines, ending know what ... Sir.
[83] [fact] pack Johnson conj. sect Farmer conj. pact Anon. conj.
[fact are so,—so past] fact are] so you're past] Hanmer.
[84] [Which to deny] To deny Capell.
[84, 85] [for as ... itself] As two lines in Steevens (1793), ending as ... itself.
[85] [brat hath been] brat's Hanmer, reading for as ... itself as one line.
[like] left Keightley conj.
[90] [me] we Capell (corrected in MS.).
[95] [And] The Rowe (ed. 2).
[96] [I am] I'm Pope.
[98] [it] Ff. its Rowe. See note (vii).
[100] [strumpet: ... hatred] strumpet ... hatred; Hanmer.
[104] [limit] F1 F2. limbs F3 F4. limbs. And Hanmer. limb. And Johnson conj.
[107] [no life,] no! life, Hanmer. my life, Grant White. for life, Keightley conj.
[114] [Scene III.] Pope.
[116] [Exeunt....] Capell. om. Ff.
[121] [Re-enter....] Re-enter Officers, with C. and D., bringing in the Oracle. Capell. Enter Dion and Cleomenes. F2 F3 F4 (at line 114). om. F1.
[122] [this] F1. the F2 F3 F4.
[130] [reads] Capell.
[chaste] cast F2.
[135, 136] [Ay ... down] Arranged as in Capell; as one line in Ff.
[136] [it is] om. Hanmer.
[137] [truth] the truth Hanmer. true Jervis conj.
[138] [sessions] session Theobald.
[Enter Servant.] Rowe. om. Ff. Enter a Gentleman, hastily. Capell.
[144] [H. faints.] Rowe.
[How now there!] How now there? Ff. How now? there!Johnson.
[148] [Scene IV.] Pope.
[150] [Exeunt....] Malone. Exeunt.... Rowe (after line 148). om. Ff.
[165] [great] to be great Anon. conj.
[hazard] F1. certain hazard F2 F3 F4. fearful hazard Rann conj. doubtful hazard Malone conj. hazarding Anon. conj.
[168] [Thorough my] Malone. Through my F1. Through my dark F2 F3 F4.
[169] [Scene V.] Pope.
[Re-enter P.] Re-enter P., hastily. Capell. Enter P. Rowe. om. Ff.
[170] [lest] F3 F4. least F1 F2.
[171, 193, 213] [First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Lord. Ff.
[173] [racks? fires?] what racks? what fires? Keightley conj.
[flaying? boiling?] F1. flaying?] boyling? burning, F2 F3 F4. flaying, rather! boiling Capell. flaying, burning, boiling Collier MS.
[174] [leads or oils] lead or oil S. Walker conj.
[newer] F1. new F2 F3 F4.
[175] [every] F1. very F2 F3 F4.
[181] [but] om. Theobald.
[of] F1. for F2 F3 F4.
[183] [thee, of a fool,] Ff. thee of a soul Theobald. thee off, a fool, Warburton.
[184] [damnable] damnably Long MS.
ingrateful] ungrateful Rann.
[188] [to crows] of crows F4.
thy] F1. the F2 F3 F4.
[198] [sweet'st, dear'st] sweetest Hanmer.
[205] [Do] F1. Dot F2. Dost F3 F4.
[205, 206] [Do ... stir:] Dost ... stir? Pope.
[206] [woes] vows Hanmer.
[217] [I have] I've Pope.
[220] [receive] revive Staunton conj.
[221] [my petition] my relation Singer conj. repetition Collier (Collier MS.).
[petition; ... you,] F1. petition ... you, F2 F3 F4. petition,... you; Rowe.
[228] [Who is] Who's S. Walker conj.
[take your] take you your Rowe (ed. 2).
[228, 229] [to you, And I'll] to you, and I will S. Walker conj. to you, sir, And I'll Keightley conj.
[238-240] [Will ... sorrows] Johnson ends these lines at exercise ... come, ... sorrows.
[240] [To] Unto S. Walker conj.
[sorrows] my sorrows Hanmer.
[Scene III.] [Bohemia]. A desert country near the sea.
[Enter Antigonus] with a Child, and a Mariner.
Ant. Thou art perfect, then, our ship hath touch'd upon
The deserts of Bohemia?
Mar. Ay, [my lord;] and fear
[We have] landed in ill time: the skies look grimly
And threaten present blusters. In my conscience,
The heavens with that we have in hand are angry
And frown [upon's].
Ant. Their sacred wills be done! [Go, get] aboard;
Look to thy bark: I'll not be long before
I call [upon] thee.
10
Mar. Make your best haste, and go not
Too far i' the land: 'tis like to be loud weather;
Besides, this place is famous for the creatures
Of prey that keep upon't.
Ant. Go thou away:
I'll follow instantly.
Mar. [I am] glad at heart
To be so rid o' the business. [Exit.
15
Ant. Come, poor babe:
I have heard, but not believed, the spirits o' the dead
May walk again: if such thing be, thy mother
Appear'd to me last night, for ne'er was dream
So like . To me comes a creature,
Sometimes her head [on] one side, [some another;]
I never saw a vessel of like sorrow,
So fill'd and so [becoming:] in pure white robes,
Like very sanctity, she did approach
My cabin where I lay; thrice bow'd before me,
And gasping to begin some speech, her eyes
Became two spouts: the fury spent, anon
Did this break from her: 'Good Antigonus,
Since fate, against thy better disposition,
Hath made thy person for the [thrower-out]
Of my poor babe, according to thine oath,
Places remote enough are in Bohemia,
There [weep] and leave it crying; and, for the babe
Is counted lost for ever, Perdita,
I prithee, call't. For this ungentle business,
Put on thee by my lord, thou ne'er shalt see
Thy wife Paulina more.' And so, with shrieks,
She melted into air. Affrighted much,
I did in time collect myself, and thought
This was [so] and no slumber. Dreams are toys:
Yet for this once, yea, superstitiously,
I will be squared by this. I do believe
Hermione hath suffer'd death; and that
Apollo would, this being indeed the issue
Of King [Polixenes], it should here be laid,
Either for life or death, upon the earth
Of [its] right father. Blossom, speed thee [well]!
There lie, and there thy character: there [these];
Which may, if fortune [please], both breed thee, [pretty],
And still rest thine. The storm begins: poor wretch,
That for thy mother's fault art thus exposed
To loss and what may follow! Weep I cannot,
But my heart bleeds; and most accursed am I
To be by oath enjoin'd to this. Farewell!
The day frowns more and more: [thou'rt] like to have
A lullaby too rough: I never saw
The heavens so dim by day. A savage clamour!
Well may I get aboard! This is the chase:
I am gone for ever. [Exit, pursued by a bear.
Shep. I would there were no age between [ten] and three-and-twenty,
or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there
is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child,
wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting—Hark you now!
Would any but these boiled brains of nineteen and two-and-twenty
hunt this weather? They have [scared] away
two of my best sheep, which I fear the wolf will sooner find
than the master: if any where I have them, 'tis by the sea-side,
browzing of ivy. Good luck, [an't] be [thy will!] what
have we [here]? Mercy on's, a barne; a very pretty barne!
A [boy] or a [child], I wonder? A pretty one; a very pretty
one: sure, some scape: though I am not bookish, yet I
can read waiting-gentlewoman in the scape. This has
been some stair-work, some trunk-work, some behind-door-work:
they were warmer that got this than the poor thing
is here. I'll take it up for pity: yet I'll tarry till my son
come; he [hallooed] but even now. Whoa, ho, hoa!
[Clo.] Hilloa, loa!
Shep. What, art so near? If thou'lt see a thing to
talk on when thou art dead and rotten, come hither. What
ailest thou, man?
80
Clo. I have seen two such sights, by sea and by land!
but I am not to say it is a sea, for it is now the sky: betwixt
the firmament and it you cannot thrust a bodkin's point.
Shep. Why, boy, how is it?
Clo. I would you did but see how it chafes, how it rages,
how it [takes] up the shore! but that's not to the point. O,
the most piteous cry of the poor souls! sometimes to see 'em,
[and not] to see 'em; now the ship boring the moon with her
main-mast, and anon swallowed with yest and froth, as
you'ld thrust a cork into a hogshead. And then [for the]
[land-service], to see how the bear tore out his shoulder-bone;
how he cried to me for help and said his name was Antigonus,
a nobleman. But to make an end of the ship, to see how
the sea flap-dragoned it: but, first, how the poor souls
roared, and the sea mocked them; and how the poor gentleman
roared and the bear mocked him, both roaring louder
than the sea or weather.
Shep. Name of mercy, when was this, boy?
Clo. Now, now: I have not winked since I saw these
sights: the men are not yet cold under water, nor the bear
half dined on the [gentleman]: he's at it now.
Shep. Would I had been by, to have helped [the old man]!
Clo. I [would] you had been by the [ship] side, to have
helped her: there your charity would have lacked [footing].
Shep. Heavy matters! heavy matters! but look thee here,
boy. Now bless thyself: thou [mettest] with things dying, I
with things new-born. Here's a sight for thee; look thee,
a bearing-cloth for a squire's child! look thee here; take up,
take up, boy; open't. So, let's see: it was told me I should
be rich by the fairies. This is some changeling: open't.
What's within, boy?
Clo. You're a [made] old man: if the sins of your youth
are forgiven you, [you're] well to live. Gold! all gold!
Shep. This is fairy gold, boy, and ['twill] prove so: up
[with't], keep it close: home, home, the next way. We are
lucky, boy; and to be so still requires nothing but secrecy.
Let my sheep go: come, good boy, the next way home.
Clo. Go you the next way with your findings. I'll go
see if the bear be gone from the gentleman and how much
he hath eaten: they are never curst but when they are
hungry: if there be any of him left, I'll bury it.
Shep. That's a good deed. If thou mayest discern by that
which is left of him what he is, fetch me to the [sight] of him.
Clo. Marry, will I; and you shall help to put him i'the
ground.
125
Shep.'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't. [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[Scene III.] Scene VI. Pope.
[Bohemia.] A desert.... ] Malone. om. Ff. A desert Country; the Sea at a little distance. Rowe.
[Enter A.... ] Rowe. Enter Antigonus, a Mariner, Babe, Shepherd, and Clown. Ff.
[2] [my lord] om. Hanmer.
[3] [We have] We've Pope.
[6] [upon's] upon us Capell.
[Go, get] go get F1. get F2 F3 F4. get thee Rowe.
[9] [upon] on Hanmer.
[14] [I am] I'm Pope.
[19] [a waking] awaking Anon. conj.
[20] [on] F1. is on F2 F3 F4.
[some] some' Capell.
another] on other Anon. conj.
[22] [becoming] becomming F1. o'er-running Collier (Collier MS.).
[29] [thrower-out] thower-out F1.
[32] [weep] wend Collier (Collier MS.).
[39] [so] sooth Warburton conj.
[44] [Polixenes] Polexenus F2.
[46] [its] it's Ff.
[Laying down the child.] Rowe.
[47] [Laying down a bundle.] Johnson.
[48] [please ... pretty] please, both breed thee (pretty) Ff. please, both breed thee pretty, Reed (1813). please both breed thee, (pretty!) Staunton.
[pretty] pretty one Rowe.
[54] [thou'rt] thou art F4.
[58] [Enter....] Ff. Enter an old Shepherd. Rowe. Enter a Shepherd. Crooke. Collier MS.
[59] [Scene VII.] Pope.
[ten] thirteen Hanmer. sixteen Edd. conj. [See note (x)].
[64] [scared] scarr'd Ff.
[67] [an't] Pope (ed. 2). and't Ff.
[thy will] F1. the will F2 F3 F4.
[68] [here?] here? [taking up the child. Rowe.
[69] [boy] god Grant White.
[child] maid child Keightley conj.
[75] [hallooed] hallow'd F1 F2 F3. hollow'd F4.
[76] [Enter Clown.] Ff. Dyce puts it after hither, line 78.
[Clo.] Clo. [within. Dyce. Clo. [without. Staunton.
[85] [takes] rakes Hanmer.
[87] [and not] and then not Capell.
[89] [for] om. Rowe (ed. 2).
[89, 90] [for the land-service] the land-service Rowe (ed. 2). the land-sight Hanmer.
[100] [gentleman] old gentleman Malone conj.
[101] [the old man] the nobleman Theobald. tho' old man Jackson conj.
[102] [would] would not Theobald conj.
[ship] ship's Collier.
[103] [Aside.] Theobald.
[105] [mettest] met'st F1 F2 F3. meet'st F4.
[111] [made] Theobald (L. H. conj.). mad Ff.
[112] [you're] you are F4.
[113] ['twill] will Theobald.
[114] [with't] with it Rowe (ed. 2).
[122] [sight] fight F1. [See note (xi)].
[ACT IV. Scene I.]
Enter Time, the Chorus.
[Time.] I, that please some, try all, both joy and terror
Of good and bad, that [makes and unfolds] error,
Now take upon me, in the name of Time,
To use my wings. Impute it not a crime
To me or my swift passage, that I slide
O'er sixteen years and leave the [growth] untried
Of that wide [gap, since] it is in my power
To o'erthrow law and in one self-born hour
To plant and o'erwhelm custom. Let me pass
The same I am, ere ancient'st order was
Or what is now received: I [witness] to
The times that brought them in; so shall I do
To the freshest things now reigning and make stale
The glistering of this present, as my tale
Now seems to it. Your patience this allowing,
I turn my glass and give my scene such growing
As you had slept between: Leontes [leaving],
[The] effects of his fond jealousies so grieving
That he shuts up himself, [imagine me],
Gentle spectators, that I now may be
In fair Bohemia; and remember well,
[I mentioned] a son o' the king's, [which] Florizel
I now name to you; and with speed so pace
To speak of Perdita, now grown in grace
Equal with wondering: what of her ensues
I list not prophesy; but let Time's news
Be known when 'tis brought forth. A shepherd's daughter,
And what to her adheres, which follows after,
Is the argument of Time. Of this allow,
If ever you have spent time worse ere now;
If never, yet that Time himself doth say
He wishes earnestly you never may. [Exit.
LINENOTES:
[Act IV. Scene I] Actus Quartus, Scena Prima. Ff. om. Warburton. Act IV. Capell. [See note (xii)].
[1-32] [Spurious.] Heath conj.
[2] [makes and unfolds] Ff. make and unfold Rowe. mask and unfold Theobald.
[6] [growth] gulf Warburton.
[7-9] [gap, since ... custom. Let] gap. Since ... custom, let Lloyd conj.
[11] [witness] witness'd Capell.
[17, 18, 19] [leaving, ... jealousies ... himself, imagine] leaving,—jealousies ... himself;—imagine Staunton. leaving ... jealousies, ... himself. Imagine F1. leaving ... jealousies, ... himself, imagine F2 F3 F4.
[18] [The] To the Keightley conj.
[19, 20] [imagine me, ... that I] imagine we ... that you Johnson conj.
[22] [I mentioned] F1. I mention here F2 F3 F4. There is Hanmer. I mention'd Capell.
[which] whom Pope.
[Scene II.] Bohemia. [The palace of Polixenes.]
Enter Polixenes and Camillo.
Pol. I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate:
'tis a sickness denying thee any thing; a death to grant this.
Cam. It is [fifteen] years since I saw my country:
though I have for the most part been aired abroad, I desire
to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent king, my
master, hath sent for me; to whose feeling sorrows I might
be some allay, or I o'erween to think so, which is another
spur to my departure.
Pol. As thou lovest me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest
of thy services by leaving me now: the need I have of thee,
thine own goodness hath made; better not to have had thee
than thus to want thee: thou, having made me [businesses],
which none without thee can sufficiently manage, must
either stay to execute them thyself, or take away with thee
the very services thou hast done; which if I have not enough
considered, as too much I cannot, to be more thankful to
thee shall be [my] study; and my profit therein, the heaping
[friendships]. Of that fatal country, Sicilia, prithee speak no
more; whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance
of that penitent, as thou callest him, and reconciled
king, my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and
children are even now to be afresh lamented. Say to me,
when sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Kings are
no less unhappy, their issue not being gracious, than they
are in losing them when they have approved their virtues.
Cam. Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince. What
his happier affairs may be, are to me unknown: but I have
[missingly] noted, he is of late much retired from court and
is less frequent to his princely exercises than formerly he
hath appeared.
Pol. I have considered so much, Camillo, and with some
[care; so far,] that 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, and beyond
the imagination of his neighbours, 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; but, I
[fear, the angle] that plucks our son thither. 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]. Prithee, be my present partner in
this business, and lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia.
Cam. I willingly obey your command.
Pol. My best Camillo! We must disguise ourselves. [[Exeunt.]
LINENOTES:
[Scene II.] Scena Secunda. Ff.
[The palace of Polixenes.]? Court of Bohemia. Pope. A room in Polixenes' Palace. Capell.
[3] [fifteen] sixteen Hanmer.
[12] [businesses] business Rowe (ed. 2).
[17] [my] thy Long MS.
[17, 18] [heaping friendships] heaping friendship Hanmer. reaping friendships Warburton.
[28] [missingly] (missingly) Ff. musingly Hanmer. missing him Warburton.
[32] [care; so far,] Capell. care, so farre, F1 F2 F3. care so far, F4.
[41] [part] a part Theobald.
[41, 42] [but, I fear, the angle] but (I fear) the Angle Ff. and, I fear, the Engle Theobald, and, I fear, the angle Hanmer. but, I fear the angle Steevens.
[46] [thither] thether F1.
[49] [Exeunt.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.
[Scene III.] [A road] near the Shepherd's cottage.
Enter Autolycus, singing.
When [daffodils] begin to peer,
With heigh! the doxy over the dale,
Why, then [comes] in the sweet o' the year;
For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale.
5
The white sheet bleaching on the hedge,
With [heigh]! 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-lyra] chants,
[With heigh! with heigh!] the thrush and the jay,
Are summer songs for me and my aunts,
While we lie tumbling in the hay.
I have served Prince Florizel and in my time wore three-pile;
but now I am out of service:
15
But shall I go mourn for that, my dear?
The pale moon shines by night:
And when I wander here and there,
I then do [most go] right.
If tinkers may have leave to live,
And bear the [sow-skin budget,]
Then my account I well may give,
And in the stocks avouch it.
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. Gallows and
[knock] are too powerful on the highway: [beating and hanging]
are terrors to me: for the life to come, I sleep out the
thought of it. A prize! a prize!
Enter [Clown.]
Clo. Let me see: every ['leven wether] tods; every [tod]
yields [pound and odd] shilling; fifteen hundred shorn, what
comes the wool to?
Ant. [[Aside]] If the springe hold, the cock's mine.
35
Clo. I cannot do't without [counters]. Let me see; what
am I to buy for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pound of
[sugar;] five pound of [currants;] 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. She hath made me
four and twenty nosegays for the shearers, [three-man] song-men
all, and very good ones; but they are most of them
means and bases; but one puritan [amongst] them, and he
sings psalms to hornpipes. I must have saffron to colour
the warden pies; mace; dates, none, that's out of my note;
nutmegs, seven; a race or two of ginger, but that I may
beg; four pound of [prunes], and as many of [raisins] o' the sun.
Ant. O that ever I was born! [[Grovelling] on the ground.
Clo. I' the name of [me—]
Ant. O, help me, help me! pluck but off these rags;
and then, death, death!
Clo. Alack, poor soul! thou hast need of more rags to
lay on thee, rather than have these off.
Ant. O sir, the loathsomeness of them [offends] me more
than the stripes I have received, which are mighty ones and
millions.
Clo. Alas, poor man! a million of beating may come
to a great matter.
Ant. I am robbed, sir, and beaten; my money and apparel
ta'en from me, and these [detestable] things put upon me.
60
Clo. What, by a horseman, or a footman?
Ant. 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.]
Ant. O, good sir, tenderly, O!
Clo. Alas, poor soul!
Ant. O, good sir, softly, good sir! I fear, sir, my
shoulder-blade is out.
70
Clo. How now! canst stand?
Ant. Softly, dear sir [[picks] his pocket]; good sir, softly.
You [ha'] done me a charitable office.
Clo. Dost lack any money? I have a little money for
thee.
75
Ant. 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?
80
Ant. A fellow, sir, that I have known to go about with
[troll-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: they cherish it to make it stay there;
and yet it will no more but abide.
Aut. Vices I would say, sir. I know this man well:
he hath been since an ape-bearer; then a process-server,
; 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.
95
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'ld 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.
105
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.
Aut. Prosper you, sweet sir! [[Exit Clown].] 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!
Song. Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way,
And merrily [hent] the stile-a:
A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in [Exit.
LINENOTES:
[Scene iii.] Scena Tertia. Ff. Scene ii. Warburton.
[A road....] Malone. om. Ff. The country. Pope. Fields near the Shepherd's. Capell.
[1] [daffodils] Johnson. daffadils Ff.
[3, 4] [comes ... For ... reigns in the winter's] comes ... For ... reigns o'er the winter's Hanmer. come ... 'Fore ... reins in the winter Warburton. comes ... For ... runs in the winter Thirlby conj. comes ... For ... runs in the winters Mason conj.
[6] [heigh] Hey Ff.
[7] [pugging] progging Hanmer. prigging Collier MS.
[on] Theobald. an Ff.
[9] [that] with Rowe (ed. 2).
tirra-lyra] tirra-Lyra F1 F2. tirra Lyra F3. tirra Lycra F4.
[10] [With heigh! with heigh!] With heigh, with heigh F2 F3 F4. With heigh, F1. With heigh ho! S. Walker conj.
[18] [most go] go most Pope.
[20] [sow-skin] show-skin? F4.
budget] Rowe. bowget Ff.
[24, 25] [Autolycus; who ... was likewise] Autolicus, being littered under Mercury, who, as I am, was likewise Theobald.
[26] [this] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.
[27] [silly] sly Hanmer.
[28] [knock] knocks Hanmer.
[28, 29] [beating and hanging] hanging and beating Collier conj.
[31] [Scene iii.] Warburton.
['leven wether] 'leven weather Capell. Leaven-weather Ff. eleven weather Rowe. eleventh-weather Hanmer. living wether Malone conj.
[tod] F1. told F2 F3 F4.
[32] [pound and odd] a pound and one odd Hanmer.
[34] [Aside] Rowe.
[35] [counters] Capell. compters Ff.
[37] [sugar] sugar [reading out of a Note. Capell.
[currants] Rowe. currence Ff.
[40] [three-man] they're men or they're main or thrum-men Theobald conj.
[42] [amongst] among F4.
[46] [prunes] Pope. Prewyns Ff. pruns Rowe (ed. 1). pruins Id. (ed. 2).
[raisins] Pope. reysons F1 F2. reasons F3 F4. rasins Rowe.
[47] [Grovelling....] Rowe.
[48] [me—] Rowe. me. Ff. the— Theobald conj. om. Johnson conj. [See note (xiii)].
[53] [offends] F2 F3 F4. offend F1.
[59] [detestable] derestable F1.
[65] [Helping].... Rowe. om. Ff.
[71] [picks....] Capell. om. Ff.
Cuts his purse. Collier (Collier MS.).
[72] [ha'] ha Ff.
[81] [troll-my-dames] troll-madams Hanmer.
[him] him him F2.
[89] [a bailiff] to a bailiff Edd. conj.
[compassed] compos'd Long MS.
[90] [where] of where Keightley conj.
[92] [rogue] a rogue Warburton.
[101] [do you] do you do F4.
[105] [the way] thy way F4.
[107] [fare thee well] fartheewell F1. farewell F2. farewel F3 F4.
[buy] F1. to buy F2 F3 F4.
[109] [Exit Clown.] Capell. Exit. Ff (after line 108).
[112, 113] [unrolled] unrold Ff. enrolled Collier (Collier MS.). unrogued W. N. L. (N. and Q.). conj.
[115] [hent] hend Hanmer.
[115-117] [stile-a ... mile-a] stile, o ... mile, o The Dancing Master (1650). stil-e ... mil-e Lewis conj.
[Scene IV.] [The Shepherd's cottage.]
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.
5
Per. [Sir], my gracious lord,
To chide at your extremes it not becomes me:
O, pardon, that I name them! Your high self,
The gracious mark o' the land, you have obscured
With a swain's wearing, and me, poor lowly maid,
Most goddess-like prank'd up: but that our feasts
In every mess have folly and the feeders
[Digest it] with a [custom, I should blush]
To see you so attired, [sworn], I think,
To show myself a [glass].
Flo. I bless the time
When my good falcon made her flight across
Thy father's ground.
Per. Now Jove afford you cause!
To me the difference forges dread; your greatness
Hath not been used to fear. Even now I tremble
To think your father, by some accident,
Should pass this way as you did: O, the Fates!
How would he look, to see his work, so noble,
[Vilely] bound up? What would he say? Or how
Should I, in these my borrow'd flaunts, behold
The sternness of his presence?
Flo. Apprehend
Nothing but jollity. The gods themselves,
Humbling their deities to love, have taken
The shapes of beasts upon them: Jupiter
Became a bull, and bellow'd; [the green] Neptune
A ram, and bleated; and the fire-robed god,
Golden Apollo, a poor humble swain,
As I seem [now. Their] transformations
Were never for a piece of beauty rarer,
Nor [in a way] so chaste, since my desires
Run not before mine honour, nor my lusts
Burn hotter than my [faith].
35
Per. O, but, [sir],
Your resolution cannot hold, when 'tis
Opposed, as it must be, by the power of the king:
One of these two [must be necessities],
Which then will speak, that you must change this purpose,
Or I my life.
40
Flo. Thou [dearest] Perdita,
With these forced thoughts, I prithee, darken not
The mirth o' the feast. Or I'll be thine, my fair,
Or not my father's. For I cannot be
Mine own, nor any thing to any, if
I be not thine. To this I am most constant,
Though destiny say no. Be merry, [gentle];
Strangle such thoughts as these with any thing
That you behold the while. Your guests are coming:
Lift up [your] countenance, as [it were] the day
Of celebration of that nuptial which
We two have sworn shall come.
Per. O lady Fortune,
Stand you auspicious!
Flo. See, your guests approach:
Address yourself to entertain them sprightly,
And let's be red with mirth.
[Enter] Shepherd, Clown, Mopsa, Dorcas, and others, with Polixenes and Camillo disguised.
55
[Shep.] Fie, daughter! when my old wife lived, upon
This day she was both pantler, butler, cook,
Both dame and servant; welcomed all, served all;
Would sing her song and dance her turn; now here,
At upper end o' the table, now i' the middle;
On his shoulder, [and] his; her face o' fire
With labour and the [thing] she took to quench it,
She would to each one sip. You are retired,
As if you were a feasted one and not
The hostess of the meeting: pray you, bid
These unknown friends to's welcome; for it is
A way to make us better friends, more known.
Come, quench your blushes and present yourself
That which you are, mistress o' the feast: [come on],
And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing,
As your good flock shall prosper.
70
Per. [To Pol.] Sir, welcome:
It is my father's will I should take on me
The hostess-ship o' the day. [To Cam.] You're welcome, [sir].
Give me those flowers there, Dorcas. Reverend sirs,
For you there's rosemary and rue; these keep
Seeming and savour all the winter long:
Grace and remembrance be [to you] both,
And welcome to our shearing!
Pol. Shepherdess,
A fair one are you, [well] you fit our ages
With flowers of winter.
Per. Sir, the year growing ancient,
Not yet on summer's death, nor on the birth
Of trembling winter, the [fairest] flowers o' the season
Are our carnations and streak'd [gillyvors],
Which some [call] nature's bastards: of that kind
Our rustic [garden's] barren; and I care not
To get slips of them.
85
Pol. Wherefore, gentle maiden,
Do you neglect them?
Per. For I have heard it said
There is an art which in their piedness shares
With great creating nature.
Pol. Say there be;
Yet nature is made better by no mean,
But nature makes that mean: so, [over] that art
Which you say adds to nature, is an art
That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry
A gentler [scion] to the [wildest] stock,
And make conceive a bark of baser kind
By bud of nobler race: this is an art
Which does mend nature, change it rather, but
The art itself is nature.
Per. So it is.
Pol. Then make [your] garden rich in [gillyvors],
And do not call them bastards.
Per. I'll not put
The dibble in earth to set one slip of them;
No more than were I painted I would wish
This youth should say 'twere well, and only therefore
Desire to breed by me. Here's flowers for you;
Hot lavender, [mints], savory, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed [wi' the] sun
And with him rises weeping: these are flowers
Of middle summer, and I think they are given
To men of middle age. [You're] [very welcome].
Cam. I should leave grazing, were I of your flock,
And only live by gazing.
110
Per. Out, alas!
You'ld be so lean, that blasts of January
Would blow you through and through. Now, [my fair'st friend],
I would I had some flowers o' the spring that might
Become your time of day; and yours, and yours,
That wear upon your virgin branches yet
Your maidenheads growing: O Proserpina,
For the flowers now, that frighted thou let'st fall
From [Dis's] waggon! [daffodils],
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty; violets dim
But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes
Or Cytherea's breath; pale primroses,
That die unmarried, ere they can behold
Bright Phœbus in his strength, a malady
Most incident to maids; [bold] oxlips and
The crown imperial; lilies of all kinds,
The [flower-de-luce] being one! O, these I lack,
To make you garlands of; and my sweet friend,
To strew him o'er and o'er!
Flo. What, like a corse?
130
Per. No, like a bank for love to lie and play on;
Not like a corse; or if, not to be buried,
But quick and in mine arms. Come, take your flowers:
Methinks I play as I have seen them do
In [Whitsun] pastorals: sure this robe of mine
Does change my disposition.
135
Flo. What you do
Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet,
[I'ld] have you do it ever: when you sing,
I'ld have you buy and sell so, so give alms,
Pray so; and, for the ordering your affairs,
To sing them too: when you do dance, I wish you
A wave o' the sea, that you might ever do
Nothing but that; [move] still, [still so,]
[And own no] other function: each your doing,
So singular in each particular,
Crowns what [you are] doing in the present [deeds],
That all your acts are [queens].
Per. O Doricles,
Your praises are too large: but that your youth,
And the true blood which [peeps] fairly through 't,
Do plainly give you out an unstain'd shepherd,
With wisdom I might fear, my Doricles,
You woo'd me the false way.
Flo. I think you have
As little skill [to fear] as I have purpose
To put you to't. But come; our dance, I pray:
Your hand, my Perdita: so turtles pair,
That never mean to part.
155
[Per.] [I'll swear] for'em.
Pol. This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever
Ran on the [green-sward]: nothing she does or [seems]
But smacks of something greater than herself,
Too noble for this place.
Cam. He tells her something
That [makes] her blood [look out:] good sooth, she is
The queen of curds and cream.
Clo. Come on, strike up!
Dor. [Mopsa] must be your mistress: [marry, garlic],
To mend her kissing with!
Mop. Now, in good time!
Clo. Not a word, a word; we stand upon our manners.
Come, [strike up]!
[[Music.] Here a dance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses.
Pol. [Pray], good shepherd, what fair swain is this
[Which] dances with your daughter?
Shep. They call him Doricles; [and boasts] himself
To have a worthy [feeding]: [but I have it]
Upon his own report and I believe it;
He looks like sooth. He says he loves my daughter:
I think so too; for never gazed the moon
Upon the water, as he'll stand and read
As 'twere my daughter's eyes: and, to be plain,
I think there is not half a kiss to choose
[Who loves another] best.
Pol. She dances featly.
Shep. [So she] does any thing; though I report it,
That should be silent: if young Doricles
Do light upon her, she shall bring him that
Which he not dreams of.
Enter [Servant.]
Serv. O master, if you did but hear the pedlar at the
door, you would never dance again after a tabor and pipe;
no, the bagpipe could not move you: he sings several tunes
faster than you'll tell money; he utters them as he had
eaten ballads and all men's ears [grew] to his tunes.
Clo. He could never come better; he shall come in. I
love a ballad but even too well, if it be doleful matter
merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung
lamentably.
190
Serv. He hath songs for man or woman, of all sizes;
no milliner can so fit his customers with gloves: he has the
prettiest love-songs for maids; so without bawdry, which is
strange; with such delicate burthens of dildos and [fadings],
'jump her and thump her;' and where some stretch-mouthed
rascal would, as it were, mean mischief and break a foul
[gap] into the matter, he makes the maid to answer 'Whoop,
do me no harm, good man;' puts him off, slights him, with
'Whoop, do me no harm, good man.'
Pol. This is a brave fellow.
200
Clo. Believe me, thou talkest of an [admirable conceited]
fellow. Has he any [unbraided wares]?
Serv. He hath ribbons of all the colours i' the rainbow;
points more than all the lawyers in Bohemia can learnedly
handle, though they come to him by the gross: inkles, caddisses,
cambrics, lawns: why, he sings 'em over as they
were gods [or] goddesses; you would think a smock were a
she-angel, he so chants to the [sleeve-hand] and the work
about the square on't.
Clo. Prithee bring him in; and let him approach singing.
210
Per. Forewarn him that he use no scurrilous words in's
tunes. [[Exit] Servant.
Clo. You have of these pedlars, that have more in [them]
than you'ld think, sister.
Per. Ay, good brother, or go about to think.
Enter Autolycus, singing.
215
Lawn as white as driven snow;
[Cypress] black as e'er was crow;
Gloves as sweet as damask roses;
Masks for faces and for noses;
[Bugle bracelet], necklace amber,
Perfume for a lady's chamber;
Golden quoifs and stomachers,
For my lads to give their dears;
Pins and poking-sticks of steel,
What maids lack from head to heel:
Come buy of me, [come;] come buy, come buy;
[Buy], lads, or else your lasses cry:
Come buy.
Clo. If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou shouldst take
no money of me; but being enthralled as I am, it will also
be the bondage of certain ribbons and gloves.
Mop. I was promised them against the feast; but
they come not too late now.
Dor. He hath promised you more than that, or there
be liars.
235
Mop. He hath paid you all he promised you: may be, he
has paid you more, which will shame you to give him again.
Clo. Is there no manners left among maids? will they
wear their plackets where they should [bear] their faces? Is
there not milking-time, when you are going to bed, or [kiln-hole],
to [whistle off] these secrets, but you must be tittle-tattling
before all our guests? 'tis well they are whispering:
[clamour] your tongues, and not a word more.
Mop. I have done. Come, you promised me a tawdry-lace
and a pair of sweet gloves.
245
Clo. Have I not told thee how I was cozened by the
way and lost all my money?
Ant. And indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; therefore
it behoves men to be wary.
Clo. Fear not thou, man, thou shall lose nothing here.
250
Ant. I hope so, sir; for I have about me many parcels
of charge.
Clo. What hast here? ballads?
Mop. Pray now, buy some: I love a [ballad] in print o'
[life,] for then we are sure they are true.
255
Ant. Here's one to a very doleful tune, how a usurer's
wife was brought to bed [of] twenty money-bags at a [burthen]
and how she longed to eat adders' heads and toads carbonadoed.
Mop. Is it true, think you?
Ant. Very true, and but a month old.
Dor. Bless me from marrying a usurer!
Ant. Here's the [midwife's] name to't, one Mistress
Tale-porter, and five or six honest [wives] that were present.
Why should I carry lies abroad?
265
Mop. Pray you now, buy it.
Clo. Come on, lay it by: and let's first see [moe] ballads;
we'll buy the other things anon.
Ant. Here's another [ballad of] a fish, that appeared upon,
the coast on [Wednesday] the fourscore of April, forty thousand
[fathom] above water, and sung this ballad against the
hard hearts of maids: it was thought she was a woman, and
was turned into a [cold] fish for she would not exchange flesh
with one that loved her: the ballad is very pitiful and as true.
Dor. Is it true too, think you?
275
Ant. Five justices' hands at it, and witnesses more
than my pack will hold.
Clo. Lay it by too: another.
Ant. This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one.
Mop. Let's have some merry ones.
280
Ant. Why, this is a passing merry one and goes to the
tune of 'Two maids wooing a man:' there's scarce a maid
westward but she sings it; 'tis in request, I can tell you.
Mop. We can both sing it: if thou'lt bear a part, thou
shalt hear; 'tis in three parts.
285
Dor. We had the tune on't a month ago.
Ant. I can bear my part; you must know 'tis my
occupation: have at it with you.
A. Get you hence, for I must go
[Where it] fits not you to know.
D.. Whither? M. O, whither? D. [Whither]?
M. It becomes thy oath full well,
Thou to me thy secrets tell:
D. Me too, let me go [thither].
M. Or thou goest to the grange or mill:
D. If to either, thou dost ill.
A. Neither. D. What, neither? A. Neither.
D. Thou hast sworn my love to be;
M. Thou hast sworn it more to me:
Then whither goest? say, whither?
300
Clo. We'll have this song out anon by ourselves: my
father and the [gentlemen] are in sad talk, and we'll not
trouble them. Come, bring away thy pack after me.
Wenches, I'll buy for you both. Pedlar, let's have the
first choice. Follow me, girls. [[Exit] with Dorcas and Mopsa.
305
Ant. And you shall pay well for 'em. [Follows singing.]
[Will you] [buy] any tape,
Or lace for your [cape],
My dainty duck, my dear-a?
[Any] silk, any thread,
Any toys for your head,
Of the new'st, and finest, finest [wear-a]?
Come to the pedlar;
Money's a medler,
That doth utter all men's ware-a. [Exit.
[Re-enter] Servant.
315
Serv. [Master, there is three carters], three shepherds,
three neat-herds, [three swine-herds], that have made themselves
all men of hair, they call themselves Saltiers, and
they have a dance which the wenches say is a gallimaufry of
gambols, because they are not in't; but they themselves
are o' the mind, if it be not too rough for some that know
little but bowling, it will please plentifully.
Shep. Away! we'll none on't: here has been too much
homely foolery already. I know, sir, we weary you.
Pol. You weary those that refresh us: pray, let's see
these four threes of herdsmen.
Serv. One three of them, by their own report, sir, hath
danced before the king; and not the worst of the three but
jumps twelve foot and a half by the [squier].
Shep. Leave your prating: since these good men are
pleased, let them come in; but quickly now.
Serv. [Why,] they stay at door, sir. [Exit.]
[Here] a dance of twelve Satyrs.
[Pol.] O, father, you'll know more of that [hereafter.]
[To Cam.] Is it not too far gone? 'Tis time to part them.
He's simple and tells much. How now, fair shepherd!
Your heart is full of something that does take
Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young
And [handed] love as you do, I was wont
To load my she with knacks: I would have ransack'd
The pedlar's silken treasury and have pour'd it
To her acceptance; you have let him go
And nothing marted with him. If your lass
Interpretation should abuse and call this
Your lack of love or bounty, you were straited
For a [reply, at least] if you make
Of happy holding her.
Flo. Old sir, I know
She prizes not such trifles as these are:
The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd
Up in my heart; which I have given already,
But not deliver'd. O, hear me breathe my [life]
Before this ancient sir, [who], it should seem,
Hath sometime loved! I take thy hand, this hand,
As soft as dove's down and as white as it,
[Or] [Ethiopian's] tooth, or the fann'd snow that's bolted
By the northern [blasts] twice o'er.
Pol. What follows this?
How prettily the young swain seems to wash
The hand was fair before! [I have] put you out:
But to your protestation; let me hear
What you profess.
Flo. Do, and be witness to't.
Pol. And this my neighbour too?
Flo. And he, and more
Than he, and men, the earth, [the heavens], and all:
That, were I crown'd the most imperial monarch,
Thereof most worthy, were I the fairest youth
That ever made eye swerve, had [force] and knowledge
More than was ever man's, I would not prize them
Without her love; for her employ them all;
Commend them and condemn them to her service
Or to their own perdition.
Pol. Fairly offer'd.
Cam. This shows a sound affection.
Shep. But, my daughter,
Say you the like to [him?]
Per. I cannot speak
So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better:
By the pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out
The purity of his.
Shep. Take hands, a bargain!
And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to't:
I give my daughter to him, and will make
Her portion equal his.
375
Flo. O, that must be
I' the virtue of your daughter: one being dead,
I shall have more than you can dream of yet;
Enough then for [your] wonder. But, come on,
Contract us 'fore these witnesses.
Shep. Come, your hand;
And, daughter, yours.
380
Pol. Soft, swain, [awhile, beseech you;]
Have you a father?
Flo. I have: but what of him?
Pol. Knows he of this?
Flo. He neither does nor shall.
Pol. Methinks a father
Is at the nuptial of his son a guest
That best becomes the table. Pray you once more,
Is not your father grown incapable
Of reasonable affairs? is he not stupid
With age and altering rheums? can he speak? hear?
Know man from man? [dispute] his own estate?
Lies he not bed-rid? and again does nothing
But what he did being childish?
Flo. No, good sir;
He has his health and ampler strength indeed
Than most have of his age.
Pol. By my white beard,
You offer him, if this be so, a wrong
Something unfilial: reason [my] son
Should choose himself a wife, but as good reason
The father, all whose joy is nothing else
But fair posterity, should hold some counsel
In such a business.
Flo. I yield all this;
But for some other reasons, my grave sir,
Which 'tis not fit you know, I not acquaint
My father of this business.
Pol. Let him know't.
Flo. He shall not.
Pol. Prithee, let him.
Flo. No, he must not.
Shep. Let him, my son: he shall not need to grieve
At knowing of thy choice.
405
Flo. Come, come, he must not.
Mark our contract.
Pol. Mark your divorce, young sir, [[Discovering] himself.
Whom son I dare not call; them art too base
To be [acknowledged:] thou a sceptre's heir.
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 them, fresh piece
Of excellent witchcraft, [who] of force must know
The royal fool them [copest with],—
[Shep.] O, my heart!
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 them dost but sigh
That them 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 [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
As thou art tender [to't.] [[Exit].
430
Per. 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?
I told you what would come of this: beseech you,
Of your own state take care: [this dream of mine,—]
Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch farther,
But milk my ewes and weep.
Cam. Why, how now, father!
Speak ere thou diest.
440
Shep. 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
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].
Flo. Why look you so [upon me]?
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.
455
Cam. Gracious my lord,
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 not purpose it.
I think, [Camillo?]
Cam. 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!
465
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.
470
Cam. Be advised.
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.
Cam. This is desperate, sir.
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 [sea hides]
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.
495
Flo. Hark, Perdita. [[Drawing] her aside.
I'll hear you by and [by].
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. Now, good Camillo;
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. 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,
[And,] with my best endeavours in your absence,
Your [discontenting] father [strive to qualify]
And bring [him up] to liking.
Flo. How, Camillo,
May this, almost a miracle, be done?
That I may call thee something more than man
And after that trust to thee.
525
Cam. Have you thought on
A place whereto you'll go?
Flo. Not any yet:
But as the unthought-on accident is guilty
[To] what we wildly do, so we profess
Ourselves to be the slaves of chance, and flies
Of every wind that blows.
530
Cam. Then list to me:
This follows, if you will not change your purpose
But undergo this flight, make for Sicilia,
And there present yourself and your fair princess,
For so I see she must be, 'fore Leontes:
She shall be habited as it becomes
The partner of your bed. Methinks I see
Leontes opening his free arms and weeping
His welcomes forth; [asks] thee the [son] forgiveness,
As 'twere i' the father's person; [kisses] the hands
Of your fresh princess; o'er and o'er [divides] him
'Twixt his unkindness and his kindness; the one
He chides to hell and bids the other grow
Faster than thought or time.
Flo. Worthy Camillo,
What colour for my visitation shall I
Hold up before him?
545
Cam. Sent by the king your father
To greet him and to give him [comforts]. Sir,
The manner of your bearing towards him, with
What you as from your father shall deliver,
Things known betwixt us three, I 'll write you down:
The which shall point you forth at every [sitting]
What you must say; that he shall not perceive
But that you have your father's bosom there
And speak his very heart.
Flo. I am bound to you:
There is some sap in this.
Cam. A course more promising
Than a wild dedication of yourselves
To unpath'd waters, undream'd shores, most certain
To miseries enough: no hope to help you,
But as you shake off one to take [another:]
Nothing so certain as your anchors, [who]
Do their best office, if they can but stay you
Where you'll be loath to be: besides you know
Prosperity's the very bond of love,
Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together
Affliction alters.
Per. One of these is true:
I think affliction may subdue the cheek,
But not take in the mind.
Cam. Yea, say you so?
There shall not at your father's house these seven years
Be'born another such.
Flo. My good Camillo,
She is as forward of her breeding as
[She is] i' the rear o' our [birth.]
570
Cam. I cannot say 'tis pity
She lacks instructions, for she seems a mistress
To most that teach.
Per. Your pardon, [sir; for this]
I'll blush you thanks.
Flo. My prettiest Perdita!
But O, the thorns we stand upon! Camillo,
Preserver of my father, now of me,
The [medicine] of our house, how shall we do?
We are not furnish'd like Bohemia's son,
Nor shall [appear in Sicilia.]
Cam. My lord,
Fear none of this: I think you know my fortunes
Do all lie there: it shall be so my care
To have you royally appointed as if
The scene you play were [mine]. For instance, sir,
That you may know you shall not want, one word. [[They talk aside].
Re-enter Autolycus.
Aut. Ha, ha! what a fool Honesty is! and Trust, his
sworn brother, a very simple gentleman! I have sold all
my trumpery; not a counterfeit stone, not a ribbon, glass,
pomander, [brooch,] table-book, ballad, knife, tape, glove,
shoe-tie, bracelet, horn-ring, to keep my pack from [fasting]:
they [throng] who should buy first, as if my trinkets had been
hallowed and brought a benediction to the buyer: by which
means I saw whose purse was best in [picture]; and what I
saw, to my good use I remembered. [My clown], who wants
but something to be a reasonable man, grew so in love with
the [wenches'] song, that he would not stir his pettitoes till
he had both tune and words; which so drew the rest of the
herd to me, that all their other senses stuck in [ears:] you
might have pinched a placket, it was senseless; 'twas nothing
to geld a codpiece of a purse; I [would] have [filed keys off]
that hung-in chains: no hearing, no feeling, but my sir's
song, and admiring the [nothing] of it. So that in this time
of lethargy I picked and cut most of their festival purses;
and had not the old man come in with a whoo-bub against
his daughter and the king's son and scared my choughs
from the chaff, I had not left a purse alive in the whole army.
[[Camillo], Florizel, and Perdita come forward.
Cam. Nay, but my letters, by this means being there
So soon as you arrive, shall clear that doubt.
Flo. And those that you'll procure from King [Leontes]—
Cam. Shall satisfy your father.
Per. Happy be you!
All that you speak shows fair.
Cam. [Who] have we here? [[Seeing Autolycus].
We'll make an instrument of this; omit
Nothing may give us aid.
Aut. If they have overheard me now, why, [hanging.]
Cam. [How] now, good fellow! [why] shakest thou so?
Fear not, man; here's no harm intended to thee.
615
Aut. I am a poor fellow, sir.
Cam. Why, be so still; here's nobody will steal that
from thee: yet for the outside of thy poverty we must
make an exchange; therefore discase thee instantly,—thou
must think there's in't,—and change garments
with this gentleman: though the pennyworth on his side be
the worst, yet hold thee, there's some [boot].
Aut. I am a poor fellow, sir. [Aside] I know ye well
enough.
Cam. Nay, prithee, [dispatch: the gentleman] is half
[flayed] already.
Aut. Are you in earnest, sir? [Aside] I smell the
trick on't.
Flo. Dispatch, I prithee.
Aut. Indeed, I have had earnest; but I cannot with
conscience take it.
Cam. Unbuckle, unbuckle.
[Florizel] and Autolycus exchange garments.
Fortunate mistress,—let my prophecy
Come home to ye!—you must retire yourself
Into some covert: take your sweetheart's hat
And pluck it o'er [your] brows, muffle your face,
Dismantle you, and, as you can, disliken
The truth of your own seeming; that you may—
For I do fear eyes [over]—to shipboard
Get undescried.
Per. I see the play so lies
That I must bear a part.
Cam. No remedy.
Have you done there?
Flo. Should I now meet my father,
He would not call me son.
Cam. Nay, you shall have [no hat.]
Come, lady, come. Farewell, my friend.
Aut. [Adieu, sir].
Flo. O Perdita, what have we twain forgot!
Pray you, a [word.]
Cam. [Aside] What I do next, shall be to tell the king
Of this escape and whither they are bound;
Wherein my hope is I shall so prevail
To force him after: in [whose] company
I shall review Sicilia, for whose sight
I have a woman's longing.
Flo. Fortune speed us!
Thus we set on, Camillo, to the sea-side.
Cam. The swifter speed the better.
[[Exeunt] Florizel, Perdita, and Camillo.
Aut. I understand the business, I [hear] it: to have an
open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a
cut-purse; a good nose is requisite also, to smell out work
for the other senses. I see 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 himself is about a piece of iniquity,
stealing away from his father with his clog at his
heels: if I [thought it were] a piece of honesty to acquaint the
king withal, I would not do't: I hold it the more knavery
to conceal it; and therein am I constant to my profession.
[Re-enter] Clown and Shepherd.
Aside, aside; [here is] more matter for a hot brain: every
lane's end, every shop, church, session, hanging, yields a
careful man work.
Clo. See, see; what a man you are now! There is no
other way but to tell the king she's a changeling and none
of your flesh and blood.
Shep. Nay, but hear me.
Clo. Nay, but hear me.
Shep. Go to, then.
675
Clo. She being none of your flesh and blood, your flesh
and blood has not offended the king; and so your flesh and
blood is not to be punished by him. Show [those] things
you found about her, those secret things, all but what she
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
son's pranks too; who, I may say, is no honest man, neither
to his father nor to me, to go about to make me the king's
brother-in-law.
685
Clo. Indeed, brother-in-law was the farthest off you
could have been to him and then your blood had been the
dearer by I [know] how much an ounce.
Aut. [Aside] Very wisely, puppies!
Shep. Well, let us to the king: there is that in this
[fardel] will make him scratch his beard.
Aut. [Aside] I know not what impediment this complaint
may be to the flight of my master.
Clo. Pray heartily he be [at palace].
Aut. [Aside] Though I am not naturally honest, I am
so sometimes by chance: let me pocket up my pedlar's
excrement. [[Takes off] his false beard.] How now, rustics!
whither are you bound?
Shep. To the palace, [an] it like your worship.
Aut. Your affairs there, what, with whom, the condition
of that fardel, the place of your dwelling, your names,
your [ages], of what having, breeding, and any thing that is
fitting [to be] known, discover.
Clo. We are but plain fellows, sir.
Aut. A lie; you are rough and hairy. Let me have no
lying: it becomes none but tradesmen, and they often give us
soldiers the lie: but we pay them for it with stamped coin,
[not stabbing] steel; therefore they do [not give] us the lie.
Clo. Your worship had like to have given us one, if you
had not taken yourself with the [manner].
710
Shep. Are you a courtier, [an't] like you, sir?
Aut. Whether it like me or no, I am a courtier. Seest
thou not the air of the court in these enfoldings? hath not
my gait in it the measure of the court? receives not thy
nose court-odour from me? reflect I not on thy baseness
court-contempt? Thinkest thou, for that I insinuate, [or]
toaze from thee thy business, I am therefore no courtier? I
am courtier cap-a-pe; and one that will either push on or
[pluck] back thy business there: whereupon I command thee
to open thy affair.
720
Shep. My business, sir, is to the king.
Aut. What advocate hast thou to him?
Shep. I know not, [an't] like you.
Clo. Advocate's the court-word for a [pheasant]: say you
have none.
725
Shep. None, sir; I have no [pheasant, cock] nor hen.
Aut. How [blessed] are we that are not simple men!
Yet nature might have made me as these are,
Therefore I will not disdain.
Clo. This cannot [be but] a great courtier.
730
Shep. His garments are rich, but he wears them not
handsomely.
Clo. He seems [to be] the more noble in being fantastical:
a great man, I'll warrant; I know by the picking [on's] teeth,
Aut. The [fardel] there? what's i' the fardel? Wherefore
that box?
Shep. Sir, there lies such secrets in this fardel and box,
which none must know but the king; and which he shall
know within this hour, if I may come to the speech of him.
Aut. Age, thou hast lost thy labour.
740
Shep. Why, sir?
Aut. The king is not at the palace; he is gone aboard a
new ship to purge melancholy and air himself: for, if thou
beest capable of things serious, thou must know the king is
full of grief.
745
Shep. So 'tis said, sir; about his son, that should have
married a shepherd's daughter.
Aut. If that shepherd be not in [hand-fast], let him fly:
the curses he shall have, the tortures he shall feel, will
break the back of man, the heart of monster.
750
Clo. Think you so, sir?
Aut. Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy
and vengeance bitter; but those that are [germane] to him,
though removed fifty times, shall all come under the hangman:
which though it be great pity, yet it is necessary. An
old sheep-whistling rogue, a ram-tender, to offer to have his
daughter come into grace! Some say he shall be stoned; but
that death is too soft for him, say I: draw our throne into
a sheep-cote! all deaths are too few, the sharpest too easy.
Clo. Has the old man e'er a son, sir, do you hear, an't
like you, sir?
Ant. He has a son, who shall be flayed alive; then
'nointed over with honey, set on the head of a wasp's nest;
[then stand] till he be three quarters and a dram dead; then
recovered again with aqua-vitae or some other hot infusion;
then, raw as he is, and in the hottest day prognostication
proclaims, shall he be set against a brick-wall, the sun
looking with a southward eye upon him, where he is to
behold him with flies blown to death. But what talk we of
these traitorly rascals, whose miseries are to be smiled at,
their offences being so capital? Tell me, for you seem to be
honest plain men, what you have to the king: being something
gently considered, I'll bring you where he is aboard,
tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your
[behalfs;] and if it be in man besides the king to effect your
suits, here is [man] shall do it.
Clo. He seems to be of great authority: close with
him, give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn
bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold: show the inside
of your purse to the outside of his hand, and no more
ado. Remember 'stoned,' and 'flayed alive.'
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?
785
Shep. Ay, sir.
Aut. Well, give me the moiety. Are you a party in this
business?
Clo. In some sort, sir: but though my case be a pitiful
one, I hope I shall not be flayed out of it.
790
Aut. O, that's the case of the shepherd's son: hang
him, he'll be made an example.
Clo. Comfort, good comfort! We must to the king and
show our strange sights: he must know 'tis none of your
daughter nor my sister; we are gone else. Sir, I will give
you as much as this old man does when the business is
performed, and remain, as he says, your pawn till it be
brought you.
Aut. I will trust you. Walk before toward the sea-side;
go on the right hand: I will but [look] upon the hedge and
follow you.
Clo. We are [blest] in this man, as I may say, even
blest.
Shep. Let's before as he bids us: he was provided to
do us good. [[Exeunt Shepherd and Clown.]
805
Aut. If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would
not suffer me: she drops booties in my mouth. I am courted
now with a double occasion, gold and a means to do the
prince my master good; which who knows how that may
turn [back] to my advancement? I will bring these two
moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he think it fit to
shore them again and that the complaint they have to the
king concerns him nothing, let him call me rogue for
being so far officious; for I am proof against that title and
what shame else belongs to't. To him will I present them:
there may be matter in it. [[Exit.]
LINENOTES:
[Scene iv.] Scene iii. Capell.
[The Shepherd's cottage.] The prospect of a Shepherd's Cotte. Theobald. A Room in the Shepherd's House. Capell.
[Enter F. and P.] Rowe. Enter F., P., Shepherd, Clowne, Polixenes, Camillo, Mopsa, Dorcas, Servants, Autolicus. Ff.
[2] [Do] Theobald. Do's Ff. Does Rowe.
[4] [Is as] Is Rowe.
[a meeting] F1. a merry meeting F2 F3 F4.
[5] [Sir] Sure Collier (Collier MS.).
[12] [Digest it] F2 F3 F4. Digest F1.
[12, 13] [custom, I should blush ... think,] custom (sworn I think) To see you so attired, I should blush Steevens conj.
[13] [sworn] F3 F4. sworne F1 F2. swoon Hanmer (Theobald conj.). scorn Mitford conj. so worn Collier (Jackson conj.).
[13, 14] [sworn, I think ... glass] swoon, I think, To see myself i' the glass Theobald conj. and more I think ... a glass Ingleby conj. frown, I think, ... a glass or sorely shrink ... i' th' glass or more, I think ... a glass or more, I think ... i' th' glass Bailey conj.
[22] [Vilely] Hanmer. Vildly Ff.
[28] [the green] sea green Anon. conj.
[31, 32] [now. Their ... beauty rarer,] Rowe. now. Their ... beauty, rarer, Ff. now:—Their ... beauty rarer,— Dyce.
[33] [in a way] any way Collier (Ritson conj.).
[35] [faith] faith does Keightley conj.
[sir] F1. deere sir F2. dear sir F3 F4.
[38] [must be necessities] necessities must be Hanmer.
[40] [dearest] F3 F4. deer'st F1. deerest F2.
[46] [gentle] gentlest Hanmer. girl Collier (Collier MS.).
[49] [your] you F4.
[it were] 'twere Pope.
[54] [Enter....] Enter All. F2 F3 F4 (after auspicious! line 52). om. F1.
[55] [Scene v.] Pope.
[60] [and] and on Keightley conj.
[61] [thing] things F4.
[68] [come on] Pol. Come on Theobald conj.
[70] [To Pol.] Sir, welcome] Malone. Sir, welcome, Ff. Sirs, welcome [To Polix. and Cam. Rowe. Sirs, you're welcome [To Pol. and Cam. Hanmer. Welcome, sir Capell.
[72] [To Cam.] Malone.
[sir] sirs Rowe.
[76] [to you] unto you Pope.
[78, 79] [well ... winter.] will ... winter? Staunton conj.
[81] [fairest] fair'st S. Walker conj.
[82] [gillyvors] Gilly-vors Ff. giily-flowers Rowe. [See note (xiv)].
[83] [call] cail F2.
[84] [garden's] F2 F3 F4. gardens F1.
[90] [over] o'er Capell. ever or e'er Anon. conj. even Craik conj.
[93] [scion] Steevens (1793). sien Ff. scyon Pope, scyen Capell. cyon Steevens (1778).
[wildest] wilder Anon. conj.
[98] [your] you F1.
[gillyvors] Gilly 'vors Ff. gillyflowers Rowe.
[104] [mints] mint S. Walker conj. (withdrawn).
[105] [wi' the] Capell. with' Ff. with th' Rowe.
[108] [You're] Y'are Ff.
[very welcome] welcome F4.
[112] [my fair'st friend] Ff. my fairest friends Rowe (ed. 2). fairest friend Hanmer.
[118] [Dis's] Dysses F1. Disses F2 F3 F4.
[daffodils] early daffodils Hanmer. golden daffodils Coleridge conj. yellow daffodils Keightley conj.
[125] [bold] gold Hanmer.
[127] [flower-de-luce] flower-de-lis Rowe.
[134] [Whitsun] Johnson. Whitson Ff. Whitsund' Hanmer.
[137, 138] [I'ld] F1 F2 F3. I'le F4. I'll Rowe.
[142] [move] but so move Keightley conj.
[still so] still so, my fair Capell.
[142, 143] [still so, And own no] still so, and own No Malone.
[145] [you are] you're Pope.
[deeds] deed Spedding conj.
[146] [queens] queen's Singer.
[148] [peeps ... through't] F3 F4. peepes ... through't F1 F2. peeps forth ... through it Rowe. peeps so ... through t' Capell. fairly peeps through it Steevens (1793). peeps ... through it Collier. through it ... peeps Staunton conj. peepeth ... through't Anon. conj.
[152] [to fear] in fear Hanmer.
[155, 156] [Per. I'll ... 'em. Pol. This] Pol. [Aside] I'll ... This Johnson conj.
[155] [I'll swear] Elsewhere Jackson conj.
for 'em] for them [Music. Dance forming. Capell. for one Rann (Theobald and Ritson conj.).
[157] [green-sward] Steevens. greensord Ff.
[seems] says Collier (Collier MS.). deems Anon. conj.
[160] [makes ... out] wakes her blood: look on't Collier (Collier MS.).
[look out] Theobald. look on't Ff.
[162, 163] [Arranged] as in Capell. As prose in Ff.
[marry, garlic, To ... with!] marry Garlick to ... with. Ff. marry, garlick to ... with— Johnson.
[165] [strike up] strike up, pipers Capell, ending lines 166, 167 at what ... daughter?
[165] [Music.] Malone. om. Ff.
[166] [Pray] I pray Hanmer. Pray you S. Walker conj.
[167] [Which] Who Pope.
[168] [and boasts] and he boasts Rowe. he boasts Capell. 'a boasts Steevens conj.
[169] [feeding] breeding Hanmer.
[but I have it] I have it but Hunter conj.
[176] [Who loves another] Which loves the other Hanmer. Who loves the other Mason conj.
[177] [So she] She Warburton.
[181] [Scene vi.] Pope.
[185] [grew] grow Rowe (ed. 2).
[193] [fadings] fapings Rowe (ed. 2). fa-dings Theobald.
[196] [gap] jape Singer (Collier MS.).
[200] [admirable conceited] Ff. admirable-conceited Theobald.
[201] [unbraided] braided Johnson conj. embroided Collier (Collier MS.).
wares] warres F2.
[206] [or] and Pope.
[207] [sleeve-hand] sleeve-band Hanmer. Silesia or sleasie holland Peck conj.
[211] [Exit....] Capell.
[212] [them] 'em Warburton.
[216] [Cypress] Cyprus Rowe (ed. 2).
[219] [Bugle bracelet] Bugle-bracelets F4.
[225] [ come;] come buy; Keightley conj.
[226, 227] [Buy ... Come buy.] Buy ... Come buy, &c. Theobald. As one line in Ff.
[238] [bear] wear Warburton.
[239, 240] [kiln-hole] Malone. kill-hole Ff.
[240] [whistle off] Hanmer. whistle of Ff. whisper off Collier MS.
[242] [clamour] charm Hanmer. chamber Jackson conj. chommer Cornish conj. clammer Keightley conj. chawmer Singer conj.
[253] [ballad] F3 F4. ballet F1 F2.
[253, 254] [o' life] o'-life Collier, a life Ff. or a life Rowe (ed. 2). a'-life Malone.
[256] [of] F1 F2. with F3 F4.
[burthen] birth Anon. conj.
[262] [midwife's] Rowe. midwives Ff.
[263] [wives] wives' Steevens. [See note (xv)].
[266] [moe] more Rowe (ed. 2).
[268] [ballad of] Ff. ballad, Of Capell.
[269] [Wednesday] Wensday F1 F2.
[270] [fathom] Johnson, fadom Ff.
[272] [cold] cod Anon conj.
[288] [Song] [See note (xvi)].
[289] [Where it] Whither Collier (Collier MS.).
[290, 299] [whither] F4. whether F1 F2 F3.
[293] [thither] F3 F4. thether F1 F2.
[301] [gentlemen] Rowe. Gent. Ff.
[304] [Exit....] Dyce om. Ff. Exeunt Cl., A., D., and M. Rowe (after line 314).
[305] [Follows singing.] Edd. Song. Ff.
[306-314] [As six lines] in Ff.
[306] [buy] by Pope (ed. i).
[307] [cape] crpe F1.
[309] [Any ... any] And ... and Theobald.
[311] [wear-a] ware-a Rowe.
[315] [Scene vii.] Pope.
Re-enter....] Enter a Servant. Rowe.
[Master] Mayster F1.
there is] there are Rowe.
carters] goatherds Theobald.
[316] [three swine-herds] and three swine-herds Rowe.
[328] [squier] squire Ff. square Rowe. [See note (xvii)].
[331] [Serv. Why ... sir] Ff. Omitted by Rowe and all Edd. before Capell.
[Exit.] Capell.
[Here....] Ff. Enter twelve Rusticks, presenting Satyrs. Company seat themselves. Dance, and Exeunt Rusticks. Capell.
[332, 333] [Pol.] O, father ... Is it] Flo. O, father ... hereafter (Here a dance of twelve Satyrs). Pol. Is it Hanmer.
[332] [Aside.] Johnson. [Rising from beside the Shepherd. Capell.
[333] [To Cam.] Edd [Aside. Capell.
[337] [handed] handled Collier (Collier MS.).
[344] [reply, at least] reply, at least, Theobald, reply at least, Ff.
[a care] care Theobald.
[349] [life] love Theobald.
[350] [who] whom F1.
[353, 354] [Or ... o'er] Arranged as in F1. In F2 F3 F4 line 353 ends at snow.
[353] [Ethiopian's] Ethiop's Dyce conj. Ethiop Lettsom conj.
[354] [blasts] F1. blast F2 F3 F4.
[356] [I have] I've Pope.
[360] [the heavens] and heavens F4.
[363] [force] sense Collier MS.
[369] [him?] Rowe. him. Ff.
[378] [your] you F4.
[380] [awhile, beseech you;] Capell. a-while, beseech you, F1. a-while; 'beseech you, F2 F3 F4.
[389] [dispute] compute Johnson conj. dispose Collier MS. dispense Anon. conj.
[395] [my] the Anon. conj.
[406] [Discovering ...] Rowe.
[408] [acknowledged] acknowledge F1.
[409] [affects] Ff. affect'st Pope.
[410] [I am] I'm Pope.
[410, 411] [can But shorten] can but Shorten Warburton.
[412] [who] whom F1.
[413] [copest with,—] coap'st with— Pope. coap'st with. Ff.
[Shep.] Per. Theobald conj.
[415] [fond] found F4.
[417] [shalt] Rowe. shalt never Ff. [See note (xviii)].
[420] [Far than] F4. Farre then F1. Farre than F2 F3. Less than Hanmer. Far' than Warburton. Far as Capell (Johnson conj.). Farther than Heath conj. Far'r than Grant White.
[423] [dead] dread Anon. conj.
[you] your F3 F4. thou Anon. conj.
[426] [thee,—if] thee. If Ff.
[428] [hoop] hoope Pope. hope Ff.
[430] [to't] to it Rowe.
[Exit.] Rowe.
Scene viii. Pope.
[431] [afeard] afraid Rowe.
[435] [on] on both Malone conj. on all
Singer (Hunter conj.). on's Anon. conj.
[Will't] Hanmer. Wilt Ff.
[To Flo. Rowe.
[437] [this dream of mine,—] Johnson. this dream of mine, Ff. from this my dream Hanmer. as for this dream of mine,— Capell conj.
[441] [To Flo.] Rowe.
[444] [died] died on Keightley conj.
[447] [To Perdita.] Rowe.
[451] [Scene ix.] Pope.
[upon me] om. Steevens conj.
[452] [afeard] afraid Rowe.
[456] [your] my F1.
[459] [sight as yet] Hanmer. sight, as yet Ff.
[462] [Camillo?] Camillo?—Johnson.
Camillo. Ff. Camillo— Theobald.
[465] [fail] fall Anon. conj.
[469] [my] thy Capell.
[473] [better pleased with madness,] F1. better (pleas'd with madness) F2 F3 F4.
[478] [thereat] thereout Hanmer.
[all] F1. all that F2 F3 F4.
[or] om. Long MS.
[479] [sea hides] Capell. seas hides F1. seas hide F2 F3 F4.
[480] [fathoms] Johnson. fadomes Ff.
[482] [As you have ever] Ff. As you have e'er Malone. As y' have e'er S. Walker conj.
[honour'd] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.
[488] [whom] F2 F3 F4. who F1.
[489] [our] Theobald. her Ff. the Capell.
[495] [Drawing....] Capell.
[496] [To Camillo.] Theobald.
[irremoveable] immovable Anon. conj.
[497] [Resolved] Rosolv'd F2.
[503] [curious] serious Collier MS.
[504] [Going.] Malone. [See note (xix)].
[511] [through him what is] Hanmer. through him, what's Ff. thorough him, what's Theobald.
[nearest] near'st S. Walker conj.
[514] [alteration, on] alteration. On F1. alteration: On F2 F3 F4.
[520] [And] I'll Long MS.
[521] [discontenting] discontented Rowe.
[strive to qualify] I'll strive to qualifie Rowe (ed. 2). I will strive To qualifie Hanmer.
[522] [him up] om. Rowe.
[528] [To] Of Rowe. Towards Hanmer.
[538] [asks] ask Long MS.
[thee the son] F3 F4. thee there Sonne F1 F2. there the son Ritson conj.
[539] [kisses] kiss Long MS.
[540] [divides] divide Long MS.
[546] [comforts] comfort Anon conj.
[550] [sitting] fitting Theobald. sifting Thirlby conj.
[558, 559] [another: Nothing] another Nothing Hanmer.
[559] [who] which Hanmer.
[569] [She is] Pope. She's Ff.
[570] [She is i' the rear o' our birth] Rowe (ed. 2). She is i' th' reare 'our birth F1 F2 F3. She is i' th' reare 'our birth F4. She is i' the rear o' her birth Rowe (ed. 1). I' th' rear of birth Hanmer. She is i' th' rear of birth Johnson. She is i' the rear our birth Boswell. She is i' th' rear'f our birth Grant White.
[572] [sir; for this] Hanmer. sir, for this, F1. sir, for this, F2 F3 F4.
[576] [medicine] medecin Theobald conj.
[578] [appear in Sicilia.] appeare in Sicilia. F1. appeare in Sicily. F2. appear in Sicily. F3 F4. appear in Sicily— Rowe. appear in Sicilia— Boswell. appear't in Sicilia. Collier (Collier MS.). appear so in Sicilia. Staunton conj.
[582] [mine] true Collier MS.
[583] [They talk aside.] Rowe.
[587] [brooch] Steevens. browch Ff. broch Capell.
[588] [fasting] F1. fastning F2 F3 F4.
[589] [throng] thronged Collier (Collier MS.).
[591] [picture] pasture Anon. conj.
[592] [My clown] My good clown Rowe.
[594] [wenches'] Johnson. wenches Ff.
[596] [ears] their ears Rann (Mason conj.).
[598] [would] could Long MS.
[filed keys off] F3 F4. fill'd keyes of F1 F2.
[600] [nothing] noting Anon. conj.
[604] [Camillo....] Theobald.
[607] [Leontes—] Rowe. Leontes? Ff.
[609] [Who] Whom Collier.
[Seeing A.] Theobald.
[612] [Aside.] Theobald.
[613, 614] [As three] lines in Ff, ending fellow ... man ... thee; as prose first in Malone.
[613] [why] come, why Hanmer. wherefore Capell, reading 613, 614 as two lines of verse.
[619] [a necessity] necessity Steevens.
[621] [Giving money.] Dyce.
[622, 626] [Aside].] Indicated by brackets in Ff.
[624] [dispatch ... gentleman is] now dispatch ... gentleman 'S Capell, reading as verse.
[625] [flayed] fled Ff. flead Rowe.
[631] [Florizel....] Capell.
[635] [your] thy Boswell.
[638] [over] over you Rowe. ever Collier (Egerton and Collier MS.). overt Jervis conj.
[642, 643] [no hat ... friend] As one line in Hanmer.
[642] [Giving....] Capell.
[643] [Adieu, sir.] Adieu, sir. [retiring, Capell.
[645] [Talking with her aside.] Capell.
[646] [Aside] Rowe.
[649] [whose] his Anon. conj.
[653] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exit Ff. Exit Flo and Per. (after 652). Exit (after line 653) Rowe.
[654] [Scene xi.] Pope.
hear] heard Hanmer.
[663, 664] [thought it were ... would not do't] thought it were not ... would do't Hanmer. thought not it were ... would do't Capell.
[665] [Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter.... Ff.
[666] [here is] F1 F2. here's F3 F4.
[677] [those] these Theobald.
[687] [know] know not Hanmer.
[688] [Aside] Rowe.
[690, 700] [fardel] Steevens. Farthell F1 F2 F3. Farthel F4. And passim.
[691, 694] [Aside] So marked by Capell.
[693] [at palace] at 'Pallace F1. at Pallace F2 F3 F4. at the palace Rowe. [See note (xx)].
[696] [Takes off....] Steevens (1793).
[698] [an] Hanmer. and Ff.
[701] [ages] age Rowe (ed. 2).
[702] [to be] for to be Rowe (ed. 2).
[707] [not stabbing] note-stabbing Theobald conj.
[not give] give Hanmer.
[709] [manner] manour Hanmer.
[710] [an't] Hanmer. and't F1 F2 F3. and' F4. and Rowe.
[715] [or] F2 F3 F4. at F1. to Capell. and Malone. [See note (xxi)].
[718] [pluck] push Rowe (ed. 2).
[722, 759,
781] [an't] Hanmer. and't Ff.
[723] [pheasant] present Kenrick conj.
[725] [pheasant, cock] Capell. pheazant cock, Ff (pheasant F4).
[726] [blessed] Ff. bless'd Pope.
[729] [be but] but be Hanmer.
[732] [to be] to me S. Walker conj.
[733] [on's] of's Capell conj.
[734] [fardel] Steevens. Farthell F1 F2. Farthel F3 F4.
[747] [hand-fast] band, fast Grant White conj.
[752] [germane] Iermaine F1 F2. Jermain F3 F4.
[763] [then stand] there stand Capell.
[774] [behalfs] behalf F4.
[775] [man] F1 F2. a man F3 F4. the man Long MS.
[799] [look] F3 F4. looke F1 F2. leake Theobald conj.
[801, 802] [blest] bless'd Ff.
[804] [Exeunt S. and C.] Rowe. Exeunt. F2 F3 F4. om. F1.
[809] [back] luck Collier (Collier MS.).
[815] [Exit.] Rowe. [Exeunt. Ff.
ACT V.
[Scene I. A room in] Leontes' palace.
[Enter] Leontes, Cleomenes, Dion, Paulina, and Servants.
Cleo. Sir, you have done enough, and have perform'd
A saint-like sorrow: 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 yourself.
Leon. Whilst I remember
Her and her virtues, I cannot forget
My blemishes in them, and so still think of
The wrong I did myself: which was so much,
That heirless it hath made my kingdom; and
Destroy'd the sweet'st companion that e'er man
Bred his hopes out of.
Paul. [True, too true,] my lord:
If, one by one, you wedded all the world,
Or from the all that are took something good,
To make a perfect woman, she you kill'd
Would be unparallel'd.
Leon. I think so. Kill'd!
[She I kill'd!] I did so: but thou strikest me
Sorely, to say I did; it is as bitter
Upon my tongue as in my thought: now, good now,
Say so but seldom.
20
Cleo. Not at all, good lady:
You might have [spoken] a thousand things that would
Have done the time more benefit and graced
Your kindness better.
Paul. You are one of those
Would have him wed again.
Dion. If you would not [so,]
You pity not the state, nor the remembrance
Of his most sovereign [name]; consider [little]
What dangers, by his highness' fail of issue,
May drop upon his kingdom and devour
Incertain lookers on. What were more holy
Than to rejoice the former [queen is well?]
What holier than, for royalty's repair,
For present comfort and for future good,
To bless the bed of majesty again
With a sweet fellow to't?
Paul. There is none worthy,
Respecting her that's gone. Besides, the gods
Will have [fulfill'd] their secret purposes;
For has not the divine Apollo [said],
Is't not the tenor of his oracle,
That King Leontes shall not have an heir
Till his lost child be found? which that it shall,
Is all as monstrous to our human reason
As my [Antigonus] to break his grave
And come again to me; who, on my life,
Did perish with the infant. 'Tis your counsel
My lord should to the heavens be [contrary],
Oppose against their wills. [To Leontes.] Care not for issue;
The crown will find an heir: great Alexander
Left his to the worthiest; so his successor
Was like to be the best.
Leon. [Good] Paulina,
Who hast the memory of Hermione,
I know, in honour, O, that ever I
Had squared me to thy counsel!—then, even now,
I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes;
Have taken treasure from her [lips],—
Paul And left them
More rich for what they yielded.
55
Leon. Thou speak'st truth.
No more such wives; therefore, no wife: one worse,
And better used, would make her sainted spirit
Again possess her corpse, and on this [stage,]
Where we offenders now, appear soul-vex'd,
60
Paul. Had she such power,
She had just [cause].
Leon. She had; and would incense me
To murder her I married.
Paul. I should so.
Were I the ghost that [walk'd], I'ld bid you mark
Her eye, and tell me for what dull part in't
You chose her; then I'ld shriek, that even your ears
Should rift to hear me; and the words that follow'd
Should be 'Remember mine.'
Leon. [Stars, stars,]
And all eyes else dead coals! Fear thou no wife;
I'll have no wife, Paulina.
Paul. Will you swear
Never to marry but by my free leave?
Leon. Never, Paulina; so be [blest] my spirit!
Paul. Then, good my lords, bear witness to his oath.
Cleo. You tempt him over-much.
Paul. Unless another,
As like Hermione as is her picture,
Affront his eye.
Cleo. [Good madam,—]
75
Paul. I have done.
Yet, if my lord will marry,—if you will, sir,
No remedy, but you will,—give me the office
To choose [you a] queen: she shall not be so young
As was your former; but she shall be such
As, walk'd your first queen's ghost, it should take joy
To see her in your arms.
Leon. My true Paulina,
We shall not marry till thou bid'st us.
Paul. That
Shall be when your first queen's again in breath;
Never till then.
85
[Gent.] One that gives [out himself] Prince Florizel,
Son of Polixenes, with his princess, she
The [fairest I have] yet beheld, desires access
To your high presence.
Leon. What with him? he comes not
Like to his father's greatness: his approach,
So out of circumstance and sudden, tells us
'Tis not a visitation framed, but forced
By need and accident. What train?
Gent. But few,
And those but mean.
Leon. His princess, say you, with him?
Gent. [Ay,] the most peerless piece of earth, I think,
That e'er the sun shone bright on.
95
Paul. O Hermione,
As every present time doth boast itself
Above a better gone, so must thy [grave]
Give way to what's seen now! Sir, you yourself
Have said and writ so, but your writing now
Is colder [than] that theme, 'She had not been,
Nor was not to be equall'd;'—thus your verse
Flow'd with her beauty once: 'tis shrewdly ebb'd,
To say [you have] seen a better.
Gent. Pardon, madam:
The one I have almost forgot,—your pardon,—
The other, when she has obtain'd your eye,
Will have your tongue too. [This is] a [creature],
Would she begin a sect, might quench the zeal
Of all professors else; make proselytes
Of [who] she but [bid] follow.
Paul. How! not women?
110
Gent. Women will love her, that she is a woman
More worth than any man; men, that she is
The rarest of all women.
Leon. Go, Cleomenes;
Yourself, assisted with your honour'd friends,
Bring them to our embracement. Still, 'tis strange
[[Exeunt Cleomenes] and others.
He thus should steal upon us.
115
Paul. Had our prince,
Jewel of children, seen this hour, he had pair'd
Well with this lord: there was not [full a] month
Between their births.
Leon. [Prithee], no more; cease; thou know'st
He dies to me again when talk'd of: sure,
When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches
Will bring me to consider that which may
Unfurnish me of reason. They are come.
[Re-enter Cleomenes] and others, with Florizel and Perdita.
Your mother was most true to wedlock, [prince;]
For she did print your royal father off,
Conceiving you: were I but twenty one,
Your father's image is so hit in you,
His very air, that I should call you brother,
As I did him, and speak of something wildly
By us perform'd before. Most dearly welcome!
And [your] fair [princess,—goddess!]—O, alas!
I lost a couple, that 'twixt heaven and earth
Might thus have stood begetting wonder, as
You, gracious couple, do: and then I lost,
All mine own folly, the society,
Amity too, of your brave father, [whom,]
Though bearing misery, I desire my life
Once more to look [on him].
Flo. [By] his command
Have I here touch'd Sicilia, and from him
Give you all greetings, that a king, [at friend],
Can send his brother: and, but infirmity
Which waits upon worn times hath something seized
His wish'd ability, he had himself
The lands and waters 'twixt your throne and his
Measured to look upon you; whom he loves,
He bade me say so, more than all the sceptres
And those that bear them living.
Leon. O my brother,
Good gentleman! the wrongs I have done thee stir
Afresh within me; and these thy offices,
So rarely kind, are as interpreters
Of my behind-hand slackness! Welcome hither,
As is the spring to the earth. And hath he too
Exposed this paragon to the fearful usage,
At least ungentle, of the dreadful Neptune,
To greet a man not worth her pains, much less
The adventure of her person?
Flo. Good my Lord,
She came from [Libya].
Leon. Where the warlike Smalus,
That noble honour'd lord, is fear'd and loved?
Flo. [Most] royal sir, from thence; from him, whose daughter
His tears proclaim'd [his, parting] with her: thence,
A prosperous south-wind friendly, we have cross'd,
To execute the charge my father gave me,
For visiting your highness: my best train
I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd;
Who for Bohemia bend, to signify
Not only my success in Libya, sir,
But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety
Here where [we are].
Leon. [The blessed] gods
Purge all infection from our air whilst you
Do climate here! You have a [holy] father,
A graceful gentleman; against whose person,
So sacred as it is, I have done sin:
For which the heavens, taking angry note,
Have left me issueless; and your father's [blest],
As he from heaven merits it, with you
Worthy his goodness. What might I have been,
Might I a son and daughter now have look'd on,
Such goodly things as you!
Lord. Most noble sir,
That which I shall report will bear no credit,
Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great sir,
Bohemia greets you from himself by me;
Desires you to attach his son, who has—
His dignity and duty both cast off—
Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with
A shepherd's daughter.
185
Leon. Where's Bohemia? speak.
Lord. Here in [your] city; I now came from him:
I speak amazedly; and it becomes
My marvel and my message. To your court
[Whiles] he was hastening, in the chase, it seems,
Of this fair couple, meets he on the way
The father of this seeming lady and
Her brother, having both their country quitted
With this young prince.
Flo. Camillo has betray'd me;
Whose honour and whose honesty till now
Endured all weathers.
195
Lord. Lay't so to his charge:
He's with the king your father.
Leon. Who? Camillo?
Lord. Camillo, sir; I spake with him; who now
Has these poor men in question. Never saw I
Wretches so quake: they kneel, they kiss the earth;
Forswear themselves as often as they speak:
Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them
With divers deaths in death.
Per. O my poor father!
The heaven [sets spies upon] us, will not have
Our contract celebrated.
Leon. You are married?
205
Flo. We are not, sir, nor are we like to be;
The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first:
The odds for high and low's alike.
Leon. My lord,
Is this the daughter of a king?
Flo. She is,
When once she is my wife.
210
Leon. That 'once,' I see by your good father's speed,
Will come on very slowly. I am sorry,
Most sorry, you have broken from his liking
Where you were tied in duty, and as sorry
Your choice is not so rich in [worth] as beauty,
That you might well enjoy her.
215
Flo. Dear, look up:
Though [Fortune, visible] an enemy,
Should chase us with my father, power no jot
Hath she to change our loves. Beseech you, sir,
Remember since you owed no more to time
Than I do now: with thought of such [affections],
Step forth mine advocate; at your request
My father will grant precious things as trifles.
Leon. Would he do so, I'ld beg your precious mistress,
Which he counts but a trifle.
Paul. Sir, my liege,
Your eye hath too much youth in't: not a month
'Fore your queen died, she was more worth such gazes
Than what you look on now.
Leon. I thought of her,
Even in these looks I made. [To Florizel.] But your petition
Is yet unanswer'd. I will to your father:
Your honour not o'erthrown by your desires,
[I am] [friend] to them and you: upon which errand
I now go toward him; therefore follow me
And mark what way I make: come, good my lord. [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[Scene I. A room....] Capell.
[Enter....] Rowe. Enter L., C., D., P., Servants: Florizel, Perdita. Ff.
[12] [Paul. True, too true] Theobald. true. Paul. Too true. Ff. Paul. 'Tis true, too true Long MS.
[17] [She I kill'd!] kill'd?—She I kill'd? Theobald.
[21] [spoken] spoke Pope.
[24] [so] om. Hanmer.
[26] [name] dame Reed (1803).
[little] a little Heath conj.
[30] [queen is well?] queen? This will. Hanmer (Warburton).
[36] [fulfill'd] fulfill'n F2.
[37] [said,] F4. said? F1 F2 F3.
[42] [Antigonus] Antigomus F2.
[45] [contrary] contray F2.
[46] [To L.] To the King. Theobald.
[49] [Good] Ah! good Hanmer. Thou good Capell. My good Keightley conj.
[54] [lips,—] Capell. lips. Ff. lips! Pope.
[58, 59] [stage ... appear] stage, (Where we offenders now) appear, Knight. stage (Where we offenders now appeare) Ff (appear F3 F4). stage, (Where ... now) appear Theobald. stage, (Where we offended anew) appear Hanmer. stage, Were we offenders now—appear Heath conj. stage (Where we offenders now appear, soul-vex'd) Steevens conj. stage (Where we offended,) now appear Jackson conj. stage (Where we offend her) new appear Spedding conj. stage, (Where we offenders move) appear Delius conj. stage, Where we're offenders now, appear Anon conj.
[60] [And begin, 'Why to me?'] And begin, why to me? F1. And begin, why to me; F2 F3. And begin, why to me. F4. Begin, 'And why to me?' Capell. And begin, Why? to me. Rann (Mason conj.). [See note (xxii)].
[61] [cause] F3 F4. such cause F1 F2.
[63] [walk'd] wak'd Rowe (ed.2). Servant post. Collier MS.
[67] [Stars, stars] Stars, very stars Hanmer.
[71] [blest] bless'd Ff.
[75] [Cleo. Good madam,—] Paul. I have done] Capell. Cleo. Good madam, I have done Ff. Cleo. Good madam, pray have done Rowe.
[78] [you a] your Anon. conj.
[84] [Enter a Gentleman.] Theobald. Enter a Servant. Ff. Enter a Servant-post. Collier MS.
[85] [Scene II.] Pope.
Gent.] Ser. Ff (and throughout the scene).
[out himself] himself out Pope.
[87] [fairest I have] Ff. fair'st I've S. Walker conj.
[94] [Ay,] I: Ff. Yes; Rowe.
[97] [grave] grace Collier (Egerton MS.).
[100] [than] on Hanmer.
[103] [you have] you've Pope.
[106] [This is] This is such Hanmer. This' S. Walker conj.
[creature] creature, who Keightley conj.
[109] [who] whom Hanmer.
[bid] did Collier (ed. 1).
[114] [Exeunt C....] Exeunt C., Lords, and Gentlemen. Capell. Exit. Ff.
[117] [full a] F1 F2. a full F3 F4.
[119] [Prithee] Pray S. Walker conj. cease] om. Hanmer.
[123] [Re-enter C....] Re-enter Cleomenes, &c. with Florizel and Perdita. Capell. Enter Florizell, Perdita, Cleomenes, and others. Ff.
[124] [Scene III.] Pope.
[131] [your] you Boswell.
[princess,—goddess] princesse (goddese) F1 F2. princess (goddess) F3 F4. princess-goddess S. Walker conj.
[136] [whom,] whom,— Malone.
[138] [on him] on Theobald. upon Steevens.
[By] Sir, by Theobald.
[140] [at friend] F1. as friend F2 F3 F4. a friend Steevens conj. and friend Harness (Malone conj.). at friends Seymour conj.
[157, 166] [Libya] Libia F1 F2. Lybia F3 F4. Lydia or Lycia Douce conj.
[159] [Most ... daughter] Hanmer. As two lines in Ff, ending Sir ... daughter.
[160] [his, parting] Hanmer. his parting Ff. her parting Thirlby conj. at parting Heath conj.
[168] [we are] we happily are Hanmer.
[The blessed] Oh! may the blessed or And may the blessed Mitford conj. The ever-blessed Anon. apud Halliwell conj.
[170] [holy] noble Collier MS.
[174] [blest] bless'd Ff.
[178] [Scene IV.] Pope.
[186] [your] the Reed (1803).
[189] [Whiles] Whilst Rowe.
[203] [sets spies upon] which sets spies on Hanmer.
[214] [worth] birth Hanmer (Warburton).
[216] [Fortune, visible] Fortune visible, Hanmer.
[220] [affections,] Ff. affections. Warburton.
[228] [To Florizel.] Theobald.
[231] [I am] I'm Pope.
[friend] a friend Reed (1803).
[Scene II. Before] Leontes' palace.
Enter Autolycus and a Gentleman.
Aut. Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation?
[First Gent.] I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard
the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it:
whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all commanded
out of the chamber; only this methought I heard
the shepherd say, he found the child.
Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it.
First Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business;
but the changes I perceived in the king and Camillo were
very notes of admiration: they seemed almost, with staring
on one another, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was
speech in their dumbness, language in their [very] gesture;
they looked [as they] had heard of a world ransomed, or one
destroyed: a notable passion of wonder appeared in them;
but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing,
could not say if the importance were joy or sorrow; but in
the extremity of the one, it must needs be.
Enter another Gentleman.
Here comes a gentleman that [haply] knows more. The
news, Rogero?
20
[Sec. Gent.] Nothing but bonfires: the oracle is fulfilled;
the king's daughter is found: such a deal of wonder is
broken out within this hour, that ballad-makers cannot be
able to express it.
Enter a third Gentleman.
Here comes the Lady Paulina's steward: he can deliver
you more. How goes it now, sir? this news which is
called true is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in
strong suspicion: has the king found his heir?
[Third Gent.] Most true, if ever truth were pregnant by
circumstance: that which you hear you'll swear you see,
there is such unity in the proofs. The mantle of Queen
[Hermione's], her jewel about the neck of it, the letters of
Antigonus found with it which they know to be his character,
the majesty of the creature in resemblance of the
mother, the affection of nobleness which nature shows
above her breeding, and many other evidences proclaim
her with all certainty to be the king's daughter. Did you
see the meeting of the two kings?
Sec. Gent. No.
Third Gent. Then have you lost a sight, which was to
be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might you have beheld
one joy crown another, so and in such manner, that
it seemed sorrow wept to take leave of them, for their joy
waded in tears. There was casting up of eyes, holding up
of hands, with countenance of such distraction, that they
were to be known by garment, not by favour. Our king,
being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter,
as if that joy were now become a loss, cries 'O, thy
mother, thy mother!' then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then
embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his daughter
with clipping her; now he thanks the old shepherd, [which]
stands by like a [weather-bitten] conduit of many kings'
reigns. I never heard of such another encounter, which
lames report to follow it and undoes description [to do it.]
Sec. Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that
carried hence the child?
Third Gent. Like an old tale still, which will have
[matter] to rehearse, though credit be asleep and not an ear
open. He was torn to pieces [with] a bear: this avouches
the shepherd's son; who has not only his innocence, which
seems much, to justify him, but a handkerchief and rings
of his that Paulina knows.
First Gent. What became of his bark and his followers?
Third Gent. [Wrecked] the same instant of their master's
death and in the view of the shepherd: so that all the instruments
which aided to expose the child were even then
lost when it was found. But O, the noble combat that
'twixt joy and sorrow was fought in Paulina! She had one
eye declined for the loss of her husband, another elevated
that the oracle was fulfilled: she lifted the princess from the
earth, and so [locks] her in embracing, as if she would pin her
to her heart that she might no more be in danger of [losing].
First Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audience
of kings and princes; for by such was it acted.
Third Gent. One of the prettiest touches of all and that
which angled for mine eyes, [caught] the water though not
the [fish,] was when, at the relation of the queen's death, with
the manner how she came to 't [bravely] confessed and lamented
by the king, how attentiveness wounded his daughter;
till, from one sign of dolour to another, she did, with
an 'Alas,' I would fain say, bleed tears, for I am sure my
heart wept blood. Who was most [marble there] changed
colour; some [swooned], all sorrowed: if all the world could
have seen 't, the woe had been universal.
First Gent. Are they returned to the court?
85
Third Gent. No: the princess hearing of her mother's
statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina,—a piece many
years in doing and now newly performed by that rare Italian
master, Julio Romano, who, had he himself eternity and
could put breath into his work, would beguile Nature of her
custom, so perfectly he is her ape: he so near to Hermione
hath done Hermione, that they say one would speak to her
and stand in hope of answer:—thither with all greediness of
affection are they gone, and there they intend to sup.
Sec. Gent. I thought she had some great matter there
in hand; for she hath privately twice or thrice a day, ever
since the death of Hermione, visited that removed house.
Shall we thither and with our company piece the rejoicing?
First Gent. Who would be thence that has the benefit
of access? every [wink] of an eye, some new grace will be
born: our absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge.
Let's along. [[Exeunt Gentlemen.]
Aut. Now, [had I not] the dash of my former life in me,
would preferment drop on my head. I brought the old
man and his son aboard the prince; told him I heard them
talk of a fardel and I know not what: but he at that time,
overfond of the shepherd's daughter, so he then took her
to be, who began to be much sea-sick, and himself little
better, [extremity] of weather continuing, this mystery remained
undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me; for had I
been the finder out of this secret, it would not have relished
among my other discredits.
[Enter] Shepherd and Clown.
Here come those I have done good to against my will,
and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune.
Shep. Come, boy; I am past [moe] children, but thy
sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.
Clo. You are well met, sir. You denied to fight with
me [this other] day, because I was no gentleman born. See
you these clothes? say you see them not and think me
still no gentleman born: you were best say these robes are
not gentlemen born: give me the lie, do, and try whether
I am not now a gentleman born.
Aut. I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born.
Clo. Ay, and have been so any time these four hours.
Shep. And so have I, boy.
125
Clo. So you have: but I was a gentleman born before
my father; for the king's son took me by the hand, and
called me brother; and then the two kings called my father
brother; and then the prince my brother and the princess
my sister called my father father; and so we wept, and
there was the first gentleman-like tears that ever we shed.
Shep. We may live, son, to shed many more.
Clo. Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so pre-posterous
estate as we are.
Aut. I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the
faults I have committed to your worship and to give me
your good report to the prince my master.
Shep. Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we
are gentlemen.
Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life?
140
Aut. Ay, [an] it like your good worship.
Clo. Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince thou
art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.
Shep. You may say it, but not swear it.
Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors
and franklins say it, I'll swear it.
Shep. How if it be false, son?
Clo. If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear
it in the behalf of his friend: and I'll swear to the prince
thou art a tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt not
be drunk; but I know thou art no tall fellow of thy hands
and that thou wilt be drunk: but I'll swear it, and I would
thou wouldst be a tall fellow of thy hands.
Aut. I will prove so, sir, to my power.
Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I do not
wonder how thou darest venture to be drunk, not being a
tall fellow, trust me not. Hark! the kings and the princes,
our kindred, are going to see the queen's picture. Come,
follow us: we'll be thy good [masters]. [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[ Scene ii.] Scene v. Pope.
Before ...] The same. Before the Palace. Capell. Near the court in Sicily. Theobald.
[2] [First Gent.] Gent. 1. Ff.
[12] [very] every Anon. conj.
[13] [as they] as if they Rowe.
[18] [haply] Collier. happily Ff.
[20] [Sec. Gent.] Gent. 2. Ff (and throughout).
[28] [Third Gent.] Gent. 3. Ff (and throughout).
[31] [Hermione's] Hermiones Ff. Hermione Rowe.
[50] [which] who Rowe.
[51] [weather-bitten] F1 F2. weather-beaten F3 F4.
[53] [to do it] to draw it Hanmer. to do it justice Singer conj. to show it Collier (Collier MS.).
[57] [matter] matters F4.
[58] [with] of Capell conj.
[63] [Wrecked] Wrackt Ff.
[70] [locks] lock'd Hanmer.
[71] [losing] losing her Collier (Collier MS.).
[75] [caught] and caught Keightley conj.
[75, 76] [caught ... fish] omitted by Hanmer (Warburton).
[77] [bravely] heavily Collier (Collier MS.).
[81] [marble there] F3. marble, there F1 F2. marble there, F4.
[82] [swooned] Pope. swownded F1 F2. swounded F3 F4.
[99] [wink] winking S.Walker conj., reading lines 98-101 as four lines of verse, ending benefit ... eye ... makes us ... along.
[101] [Exeunt Gentlemen.] Capell. Exit. Ff. Exeunt. Rowe.
[102] [had I not] had not I Rowe (ed. 2).
[108] [extremity] and extremity Keightley conj.
[112] [Scene vi.] Pope.
[114] [moe] F1. more F2 F3 F4.
[117] [this other] the other Hanmer.
[140] [an] Hanmer. and Ff.
[158] [masters] F1. master F2 F3 F4.
[Scene III.] [A chapel] in Paulina's house.
Enter Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, [Lords, and Attendants].
Leon. O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort
That I have had of thee!
Paul. What, sovereign sir,
I did not well, I meant well. All my services
You have paid home: but that you have vouchsafed
With your crown'd brother and these your contracted
Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit,
It is a surplus of your grace, which never
My life may last to answer.
Leon. O Paulina,
We honour you with trouble: but we came
To see the statue of our queen: your gallery
Have we pass'd through, not without much content
In many singularities; but we saw not
That which my daughter came to look upon,
The statue of her mother.
Paul. As she lived peerless,
So her dead likeness, I do well believe,
Excels whatever yet [you] look'd upon
Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it
[Lonely], apart. But here it is: prepare
To see the life as lively mock'd as ever
Still sleep mock'd death: behold, and say 'tis well.
[[Paulina] draws a curtain, and discovers Hermione standing like a statue.
I like your silence, it the more shows off
Your wonder: but yet speak; first, you, my liege.
Comes it not something near?
Leon. Her natural posture!
Chide me, dear stone, that I may say indeed
Thou art Hermione; or rather, thou art she
In thy not chiding, for she was as tender
As infancy and grace. But yet, Paulina,
Hermione was not so [much] wrinkled, nothing
So aged as this seems.
Pol. O, not by much.
30
Paul. So much the more our carver's excellence;
Which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her
As she lived now.
Leon. As now she might have done,
So much to my good comfort, as it is
Now piercing to my soul. O, thus she stood,
Even with such life of majesty, warm life,
As now it coldly stands, when first I woo'd her!
I am ashamed: does not the stone rebuke me
For being more stone than it? O royal piece
There's magic in thy majesty, which has
My evils conjured to remembrance, and
From [thy] admiring daughter took the spirits,
Standing like stone with thee.
Per. And give me leave,
And do not say 'tis superstition, that
I kneel and [then] implore her blessing. Lady,
Dear queen, that ended when I but began,
Give me that hand of yours to kiss.
Paul. O, patience!
The statue is but newly fix'd, the [colour's]
Not [dry.]
Cam. My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on,
Which sixteen winters cannot blow away,
So many summers dry: scarce any joy
Did ever so long live; no [sorrow]
But kill'd itself much sooner.
Pol. Dear my brother,
Let him that was the cause of this have power
To take off so much grief from you as he
Will piece up in himself.
Paul. Indeed, my lord,
If I had thought the sight of my poor image
Would thus have wrought you, for the stone [is mine],
I'ld not have show'd it.
Leon. Do not draw the curtain.
60
Paul. No longer shall you gaze on't, lest your fancy
May think anon it [moves].
Leon. Let be, let be.
Would I were dead, but that, methinks, [already—]
What was he that did make it? See, my lord,
Would you not deem it breathed? and that those veins
Did verily bear blood?
65
Pol. Masterly done:
The very life seems warm upon her lip.
Leon. The [fixure] of her eye has motion in't,
[As] we [are] mock'd with art.
Paul. I'll draw the curtain:
My lord's almost so far transported that
He'll think anon it lives.
Leon. O sweet Paulina,
Make me to think so twenty years together!
No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness. [Let't] alone.
Paul. [I am] sorry, sir, I have thus far stirr'd you: but
I could afflict you [farther].
75
Leon. Do, Paulina;
For this affliction has a taste as sweet
As any cordial comfort. Still, methinks,
There is an air comes from her: what fine chisel
Could ever yet cut breath? Let no man mock me,
For I will kiss her.
80
Paul. Good [my] lord, forbear:
The ruddiness upon her lip is wet;
You'll mar it if you kiss it, stain your own
With oily painting. Shall I draw the curtain?
Leon. No, not these twenty years.
Per. So long could I
Stand by, a looker on.
85
Paul. Either forbear,
Quit presently the chapel, or resolve you
For more amazement. If you can behold it,
I'll make the statue move indeed, descend
And take you by the hand: but then you'll think,
Which I protest against I am assisted
By wicked powers.
Leon. What you can make her do,
I am content to look on: what to speak,
I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy
To make her speak as move.
Paul. It is required
You do awake your faith. Then all stand still;
[On: those] that think it is unlawful business
I am about, let them depart.
Leon. Proceed:
No foot shall stir.
Paul. Music, awake her; strike!
[[Music].
'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach;
Strike all that look [upon] with marvel. Come,
I'll fill your grave up: stir, nay, come away,
Bequeath to death your numbness, for from him
Dear life redeems you. You perceive she stirs:
[[Hermione] comes down.
Start not; her actions shall be holy as
You hear my spell is lawful: do not shun her
Until you see her die again; for then
You kill her double. Nay, present your hand:
When she was young you woo'd her; now in age
Is she become the [suitor?]
Leon. O, she's warm!
If this be magic, let it be an art
Lawful as eating.
Pol. She embraces him.
Cam. [She hangs] about his neck:
If she pertain to life let her speak too.
Pol. Ay, and [make't] manifest where she has lived,
Or how stolen from the dead.
115
Paul. That she is living,
Were it but told you, should be hooted at
Like an old tale: but it appears she lives,
Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while.
Please you to interpose, fair madam: kneel
And pray your mother's blessing. Turn, good lady;
Our Perdita is [found.]
Her. You gods, look down
And from your sacred [vials] pour your graces
Upon my daughter's head! Tell me, mine own,
Where hast thou been preserved? where lived? how found
Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear that I,
Knowing by Paulina that the oracle
Gave hope thou wast in being, have preserved
Myself to see the issue.
Paul. There's time enough for that;
[Lest] they desire upon this push to trouble
Your joys with like relation. Go together,
You precious winners all; your exultation
Partake to every one. I, an old turtle,
Will wing me to some wither'd bough and there
My mate, that's never to be found again,
Lament till I am lost.
135
Leon. O, peace, Paulina!
Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent,
As I by thine a wife: this is a match,
And made between's by vows. Thou hast found mine;
But how, is to be question'd; for I saw her,
As I thought, dead; and have in vain said many
A prayer upon her grave. I'll not seek far,—
For him, I partly know his mind,—to find thee
An honourable husband. Come, Camillo,
And take her [by the] hand, whose worth and honesty
Is richly noted and here justified
By us, a pair of kings. Let's from this place.
What! look upon my brother: both your [pardons],
That e'er I put between your holy looks
My ill suspicion. [This] your son-in-law,
And son unto the king, [whom heavens directing,]
Is troth-plight to your daughter. Good Paulina,
Lead us from hence, where we may leisurely
Each one demand, and answer to his part
Perform'd in this wide gap of time, since first
[We were] dissever'd: hastily lead away. [Exeunt.
LINENOTES:
[Scene iii.] Scene vii. Pope.
[A chapel ...] A Chapel in Paulina's House: at upper End a Nich; a Curtain before it. Capell.
[Lords and Attendants.] Rowe. Hermione (like a Statue:) Lords, &c. Ff.
[16] [you] you've Anon. conj.
[18] [Lonely] Hanmer. Louely F1. Lovely F2 F3 F4. [See note (xxiii)].
[20] [Paulina ...] Rowe.
[28] [much] om. Seymour conj.
[41] [thy] my Theobald.
[44] [then] thus Collier (Collier MS.).
[47] [colour's] colours S. Walker conj.
[48] [Staying Perdita.] Capell.
[52, 53] [sorrow But] sorrow but It S. Walker conj.
[58] [is mine,] i' th' mine Tyrwhitt conj.
[61] [moves] move Pope.
[62] [already—] Rowe. alreadie. F1. already. F2 F3 F4. already I am but dead stone, looking upon stone Collier (Collier MS.). already I'm in heaven, amd looking on an angel. Anon. apud Singer conj.
[67] [fixure] fixture F4. fissure Warburton conj.
[68] [As] And Capell. So Mason conj.
[are] were Rowe (ed. 2).
[73] [Let't] Let Johnson.
[74] [I am] I'm Pope.
[75] [farther] F1 F2. further F3 F4.
[80] [my] me F2.
[96] [On: those] Ff. And those Pope. Or those Hanmer.
[98] [Music.] Rowe.
[100] [upon] on you Hanmer. upon you Keightley conj. upon't Anon. conj.
[103] [Hermione ...] Rowe.
[109] [suitor?] Ff. suitor. Rowe (ed. 2).
[Embracing her. Rowe.
[112, 113] [She hangs... too] Arranged by S. Walker as two lines, ending pertain ... too.
[114] [make't] Capell. make it Ff. make Hanmer.
[121] [Presenting Perdita,] who kneels to Her. Rowe.
[122] [vials] Pope. viols Ff.
[129] [Lest] F3 F4. Least F1 F2.
[144] [by the] om. Collier (Collier MS.).
[147] [To Her.] Hanmer.
[149] [This] This' S. Walker conj.
[150] [whom heavens directing,] from heav'n's directing, Hanmer. who, heavens directing, Capell. (whom heavens directing,) Malone.
[155] [We were] F1 F2. Were F3 F4.
NOTES.
I. 2. 42. Warburton, who reads 'good heed' with the later Folios, says that Mr Theobald, not understanding the phrase, altered it to 'good deed.' In reality Theobald recalled the reading of the first Folio, which Warburton had not taken the trouble to collate.
I. 2. 154. 'Methoughts' is of course a form grammatically inaccurate, suggested by the more familiar 'methinks.' It occurs, however, sufficiently often in the old editions to warrant us in supposing that it came from the author's pen. We therefore retain it.
I. 2. 272. Mr Collier tells us that some copies of the second Folio read 'think it.' Ours has 'think.'
I. 2. 459. Johnson says: 'Dr Warburton's conjecture is, I think, just; but what shall be done with the following words of which I can make nothing? Perhaps the line, which connected them to the rest, is lost.' In fact we should have expected Polixenes to say that his flight without Hermione would be the best means not only of securing his own safety but of dispelling the suspicions Leontes entertained of his queen.
II. 1. 136. The Folios spell 'than' and 'then' indifferently 'then.' In this passage Malone was inclined to restore 'then.'
II. 1. 143. If 'land-damn' be the right reading it has not yet received a satisfactory explanation. The word 'lamback' which in his first edition Mr Collier offered as a conjecture, he afterwards found in the corrected copy of the second Folio. But with the sense which he assigns to it 'to beat,' it seems an anticlimax after the threat contained in the line preceding. We omitted to record in our note that Dr Nicholson proposes to read 'Lent-damn.'
II. 3. 177. 'It,' as a possessive pronoun, is found again in this play (III. 2. 99). In the latter place Rowe was the first to make the correction 'its.' In The Tempest (II. 1. 157), as here, the change is made by the third Folio. See our note on that passage. It is remarkable that the only comedies in which this ancient usage occurs, viz. The Tempest and The Winter's Tale, are among the latest of our author's works. Perhaps the printer is responsible for the singularity.
Mr Staunton has mentioned the following instances in the Histories and Tragedies: King John, ii. 1, Timon of Athens, v. 2, King Lear, i. 4, Hamlet, i. 2 and v. 1. 'It' occurs besides in Henry V., v. 2, Cymbeline, iii. 4, Romeo and Juliet, i. 3, and Antony and Cleopatra, ii. 7.
In Hamlet, i. 2, the first Quarto has his, the first Folio, published twenty years later, has it. In the same play, v. 1, one of the Quartos has it's. Professor Craik quotes also from the Quarto, ith or it in King Lear, iv. 2. But the two Quartos of 1608 in Capell's collection both read it. 'Its' is found in The Tempest, i. 2. 95, 393, Measure for Measure, i. 2. 4, Winter's Tale, i. 2. 151, 152, 157, 266, iii. 3. 46, 2 Henry VI. iii. 2, Henry VIII. i. 1. On the whole we think it most probable that Shakespeare would not deliberately have written it for its, or his, except when imitating the language of rustics or children. It is only fair, however, to mention that Mr Staunton and Professor Craik are of a different opinion. After all it is not of very great consequence which form we preserve in the text, as we carefully record all the minutest variations at the foot of the page.
III. 2. 10. The first Folio prints 'silence' in italics, like a stage-direction. The subsequent Folios have 'Silence. Enter,' also in italics. Rowe printed it, as we have done, as part of the officer's speech. Capell assigned it to a crier, and Mr Dyce, in support of this, quotes the commencement of Queen Catharine's trial, in Henry the Eighth, ii. 4. But there is no reason why in this play the officer who has already spoken should not also command silence.
III. 2. 41. "It is surprising," says Mr Staunton, "that this passage should have passed without question, for grief must surely be an error. Hermione means that life to her is of as little estimation as the most trivial thing which she would part with; and she expresses the same sentiment shortly after in similar terms,—'no life,—I prize it not a straw.' Could she speak of grief as a trifle, of no moment or importance?"
Is not the meaning this, that Hermione now holds life and grief to be inseparable and would willingly be rid of both? Johnson's note is to this effect.
III. 3. 59. If written in Arabic numerals 16 would be more likely to be mistaken for 10 than 13, which Capell suggested. Besides 'sixteen' seems to suit the context better than 'thirteen.' Another mistake of one number for another occurs IV. 2. 3, but this may have been an error on the author's part.
III. 3. 122. Capell's copy of the first Folio has distinctly 'fight.' A copy in the possession of the Rev. N. M. Ferrers, Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, has as distinctly 'sight.'
IV. 1. 1. Johnson followed Theobald and Warburton in printing Time's speech at the end of the third act, but said in his note: 'I believe this speech of Time rather begins the fourth act than concludes the third.' He had not referred, apparently, to the Folios or to Rowe and Pope. Theobald did not mean to include the speech in either act, but drew a line above it to mark that it was an interlude between the third and fourth. Warburton, and Johnson after him, omitted the line.
IV. 3. 48. A writer in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1st series, Vol. LX. p. 306, suggests that by 'me—' in this place is meant 'mercy,' and that the clown's exclamation is interrupted by Autolycus.
IV. 4. 82. We have retained here the spelling 'gillyvors' in preference to the more familiar form 'gillyflowers,' because the latter is due to an etymological error. The original word is 'caryophyllus,' which becomes 'girofle' in French, and thence by metathesis 'gilofre,' 'gillyvor.'
IV. 4. 263. We have retained wives in this passage because Steevens' reading wives' is too strictly grammatical to accord with the reckless volubility of the charlatan. To be consistent, Steevens ought to have printed witnesses' for witnesses in line 275.
IV. 4. 288. The first three Folios read thus;
Song. Get you hence for I must goe
Aut. Where it fits not you to know.
The fourth thus:
Song.
Get you hence for I must go,
Aut. Where fits not you to know.
Rowe first set it right.
IV. 4. 328. We have adopted the spelling 'squier' here, as in Love's Labour's Lost, v. 2. 474, because the word in this sense is now obsolete, and because this spelling comes nearest to 'esquierre,' from which it is derived.
IV. 4. 417. We have followed Rowe in ejecting the first 'never' from the line, for these reasons. 1. The misprint is of a very common sort. The printer's eye caught the word at the end of the line. 2. The metre is improved by the change. The line was made doubly inharmonious by the repetition of 'never.' 3. The sense is improved. Polixenes would rather make light of his son's sighs than dwell so emphatically upon their cause.
IV. 4. 504. We think Malone's stage direction 'going' was inserted under a mistaken view of Florizel's meaning. He apologises to Camillo for talking apart with Perdita in his presence. At the commencement of this whispered conversation he said to Camillo, 'I'll hear you by and by,' and at the close of it he turns again to him with 'Now, good Camillo;' &c.
IV. 4. 693. In the first Folio the reading is 'at 'Pallace,' the apostrophe, if it be not a misprint, pointing either to the omission of the article or its absorption in rapid pronunciation, as in iv. 4. 105, 'with' Sun.' Perhaps the Clown speaks of the King being 'at palace' as he would have spoken of an ordinary man being 'at home.'
IV. 4. 715. The first Folio has 'at toaze,' which is apparently a corruption. The subsequent Folios read 'or toaze,' which in default of a more certain correction we have adopted. It is not improbable, however, that Autolycus may have coined a word to puzzle the clowns, which afterwards puzzled the printers.
V. I. 60. Steevens distinctly claims as his own the emendation which is due to Capell, and credit has been given him for it by Malone and subsequent editors. In a similar manner he appropriates Capell's division of the speeches in line 75 as a conjecture of his own. Malone proposes to retain the reading of the Folios in lines 58-60, with a different punctuation, thus:
"Again possess her corpse, (and on the stage
Where we offenders now appear soul-vex'd)
And begin, 'why to me?'"
In the last words there is probably a corruption which cannot be removed by simple transposition.
V. 3. 18. Mr Halliwell says that 'Lonely' is the reading of the first Folio. Capell's copy has 'Lowely,' and the same is found in Mr Ferrers' copy.
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