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 1 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 honor, nor my lusts
Burn hotter than my faith.
Per.

O, but, sir,
Your resolution cannot hold, when 'tis
Opposed, as it must be, by the power o' the king:
One of these two must be necessities,

:

Which then will speak; that you must change this

purpose, Or I my

life.
Flo. Thou dearest Perdita,
With these forced thoughts, I pr’ythee, 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 !

Enter SHEPHERD, with POLIXENES and CAMILLO dis

guised ; clown, MOPSA, DORCAS, and others. Flo.

See, your guests approach : Address yourself to entertain them sprightly, And let's be red with mirth. 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 labor; 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 us 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. Per.

Welcome, sir! [to Pol. It is my father's will, I should take on me The hostess-ship o' the day.—You 're welcome, sir !

[to Camillo. Give me those flowers there, Dorcas.-Reverend

sirs,
For
you
there's rosemary

and rue; these keep
Seeming and savor 1 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