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.
Shep. His garments are rich, but he wears them
not handsomely.

Clo. He seems to be the more noble in being 790 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 labor.
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.

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

800

him fly: the curses he shall have, the tortures
he shall feel, will break the back of man, the 810
heart of monster.

Clo. Think you so, sir?

Aut. Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy and vengeance bitter; but those

803. "capable" able to apprehend.-C. H. H.

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 820 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?

Aut. 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-vitæ or some other hot 830 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 offenses 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 840 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 au

thority 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 850
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
man in pawn till I bring it you.

young

Aut. After I have done what I promised?
Shep. Aye, sir.

Aut. Well, give me the moiety. Are you a
party in this business?

Clo. In some sort, sir: but though my case be 860 a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flayed out

of it. 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, 870 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 pro-
vided to do us good.

[Exeunt Shepherd and Clown.

Aut. If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would not suffer me: she drops booties 880 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 890 belongs to 't. To him will I present them: there may be matter in it.

[Exit.

889. "I am proof against that title"; he may be called a rogue by way of abuse, but is secure against legal arrest and punishment as a "rogue and vagabond."-C. H. H.

ACT FIFTH

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 10
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.