I was not much afeard: for once, or twice, Cam. Speak, ere thou diest. Why, how now, father? Shep. I cannot speak, nor think, Nor dare to know that which I know.-O, sir, [To FLO. 9 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. 1 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.] So, in Nosce Teipsum, a poem, by Sir John Davies, 1599: "Thou, like the sunne, dost with indifferent ray, Again, in The Legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, 1597: 66 No, my lord, "You know no more than others, but you blame i. e. that are known alike by all. To look upon, without any substantive annexed, is a mode of expression, which though now unusual, appears to have been legitimate in Shakspeare's time. So, in Troilus and Cressida: "He is my prize; I will not look upon." Again, in King Henry VI, P. III: "Why stand we here "And look upon, as if the tragedy "Were play'd. in jest by counterfeited actors." Malone. To look upon, in more modern phrase, is to look on, i. e. to be a mere idle spectator. In this sense it is employed in the two preceding instances. Steevens. the selfsame sun, &c.] "For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good." St. Matthew, c. 5, v. 45. Douce. You have undone a man of fourscore three,2 To lie close by his honest bones: but now [7% PER. Flo. Why look you so upon I am but sorry, not afeard; delay'd, [Exit. me? More straining on, for plucking back; not following Cam. Gracious my lord, You know your father's temper: at this time Flo. I think, Camillo. I not purpose it. 2 You have undone a man of fourscore three, &c.] These sentiments, which the poet has heightened by a strain of ridicule that runs through them, admirably characterize the speaker; whose selfishness is seen in concealing the adventure of Perdita; and here supported, by showing no regard for his son or her, but being taken up entirely with himself, though fourscore three. Warburton. 3 Where no priest shovels-in dust.] This part of the priest's office might be remembered in Shakspeare's time: it was not left off till the reign of Edward VI. Farmer. That is-in pronouncing the words earth to earth, &c. Henley. 4 If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd To die when I desire.] So, in Macbeth: "Had I but died an hour before this chance, "I had liv'd a blessed time." Steevens. 5 Why look you so upon me?] Perhaps the two last words should be omitted. Steevens. You know your father's temper:] The old copy reads—my father's. Corrected by the editor of the second folio. Malone. 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, Flo. I am; and by my fancy: 9 if my reason If not, my senses, better pleas'd with madness, Cam. To this my fair belov'd: Therefore, I pray you, With her, whom here1 I cannot hold on shore; 7 And mar the seeds within!] So, in Macbeth: 9 "And nature's germins tumble all together." Steevens. Lift up thy looks:] Lift up the light of thy countenance." Psalm iv, 6. Steevens. - and by my fancy:] It must be remembered that fancy in our author very often, as in this place, means love. Johnson. So, in A Midsummer Night's Dream: "Fair Helena in fancy following me." See Vol. II, p. 347, n. 5. Steevens. 1 whom here] Old copy-who. Corrected by the editor of the second folio. Malone. 2 And, most opportune to our need,] The old copy has-her need. This necessary emendation was made by Mr. Theobald. Malone. A vessel rides fast by, but not prepar'd For this design. What course I mean to hold, Cam. O, my lord, I would your spirit were easier for advice, Flo. Hark, Perdita. [Takes her aside. [To CAM. He's irremovable, I'll hear you by and by. Cam. His going I could frame to serve my turn; And that unhappy king, my master, whom I so much thirst to see. Flo. I am so fraught with curious business, that I leave out ceremony. Cam. Now, good Camillo, [Going. Sir, I think, You have heard of my poor services, i' the love Flo. 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 3 And (with my best endeavours, in your absence,) Your discontenting father strive to qualify, And bring him up to liking.] And where you may, by letters, How, Camillo, Flo. May this, almost a miracle, be done? 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 4 To what we wildly do; so we profess Ourselves to be the slaves of chance,5 and flies Cam. Then list to me: This follows, if you will not change your purpose, And there present yourself, and your fair princess, The partner of your bed. Methinks, I see His welcomes forth: asks thee, the son, forgiveness, intreaties, &c. endeavour to soften your incensed father, and reconcile him to the match; to effect which, my best services shall not be wanting during your absence. Mr. Pope, without either authority or necessity, reads-I'll strive to qualify;-which has been followed by all the subsequent editors. ed. Discontenting is in our author's language the same as discontentMalone. 4 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. See The Comedy of Errors, Act III, sc. ii: "But lest myself be guilty to self-wrong, "I'll stop mine ears against the mermaid's song." Malone. The unthought-on accident is the unexpected discovery made by Polixenes. M. Mason. 5 Ourselves to be the slaves of chance,] As chance has driven me to these extremities, so I commit myself to chance, to be conducted through them. Johnson. 6 asks thee, the son,] The old copy reads-thee there son. Corrected by the editor of the third folio. Malone. Perhaps we should read-(as Mr. Ritson observes) "Asks there the son forgiveness," Steevens, |