But, for some other reasons, my grave sir, Pol. Let him know't. Flo. He shall not. Pol. Pr'ythee, let him. Flo. No, he must not. Shep. Let him, my son; he shall not need to [Discovering himself. Whom son I dare not call; thou art too base Shorten thy life one week.-And thou, fresh piece Shep. O, my heart! Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briars, and made More homely than thy state.-For thee, fond boy,- That thou no more shalt see this knack, (as never 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, As thou art tender to't. Per. Even here undone! [Exit. I was not much afeard:" for once, or twice, Cam. Speak, ere thou diest. Shep. Why, how now, father? I cannot speak, nor think, Nor dare to know that which I know.-O, sir, [TO FLORIZEL. You have undone a man of fourscore three. To lie close by his honest bones: but now That knew'st this was the prince, and would'st ad venture To mingle faith with him.-Undone! undone! " I was not much afeard: &c.] The character is here finely sustained. To have made her quite astonished at the King's discovery of himself had not become her birth; and to have given her presence of mind to have made this reply to the King, had not become her education. WARBURTON. If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd To die when I desire. Flo. [Exit. 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. Cam. Gracious my lord, You know your father's temper: at this time Flo. I think, Camillo. Cam. I not purpose it. Even he, my lord. Per. How often have I told you, 'twould be thus? How often said, my dignity would last But till 'twere known? Flo. It cannot fail, but by The violation of my faith; And then Let nature crush the sides o'the earth together, And mar the seeds within!-Lift up thy looks:From my succession wipe me, father! I Am heir to my affection. Cam. Be advis'd. Flo. I am; and by my fancy: if my reason If not, my senses, better pleas'd with madness, Cam. This is desperate, sir. 8 — and by my fancy:] It must be remembered that fancy in our author very often, as in this place, means love. I needs must think it honesty. Camillo, With her, whom here I cannot hold on shore; For this design. What course I mean to hold, Cam. O, my lord, I would your spirit were easier for advice, Flo. Hark, Perdita. I'll hear you by and by. Cam. [Takes her aside. [TO CAMILLO. He's irremovable, Resolv'd for flight: Now were I happy, if And that unhappy king, my master, whom Flo. Now, good Camillo, I am so fraught with curious business, that I leave out ceremony. Cam. Sir, I think, [Going. You have heard of my poor services, i'the love Flo. Very nobly Have you deserv'd: it is my father's musick, Well, my lord, If you may please to think I love the king; And, through him, what is nearest to him, which is I'll point you where you shall have such receiving Flo. How, Camillo, That I may call thee something more than man, Cam. A place, whereto you'll go? Flo. Have you thought on Not any yet: But as the unthought-on accident is guilty Ourselves to be the slaves of chance, and flies Cam. Then list to me: This follows,-if you will not change your purpose, • Your discontenting father strive to qualify.] Discontenting is in our author's language the same as discontented. But as the unthought-on accident is guilty To what we wildly do;] Guilty to, though it sounds harsh to our ears, was the phraseology of the time, or at least of Shakspeare; and this is one of those passages that should caution us not to disturb his text merely because the language appears different from that now in use. MALONE. |