Oh pardon, that I name them; your high felf, To fee you fo attired; fworn, I think, " Flo. I blefs the time, a de 40% When my good falcon made her flight a-crofs Per. Now Jove afford you caufe! To me the difference forges dread, your greatness 6The gracious mark o' th' land.] The object of all men's notice and expectation. 7 fworn, I think, To few myself a glass. i. e. One would think that in putting on this habit of a fhepherd, you had fworn to put me out of countenance; for in this, as in a glafs, you flew me how much below yourself you must defcend before you can get upon a level with me. The fentiment is fine, and expreffes all the delicacy, as well as humble modeity of the cha racter: But the Oxford Editor alters it to, her behaviour at the King's threats, when the intrigue was difcovered. WARBURTON. Dr. Thirlby inclines rather to Sir T. Hammer's emendation, which certainly makes an ealy fenfe, and is in my opinion preferable to the prefent reading. But concerning this paffage 1 know not what to decide. 8 His work fo noble, &c.] It is impoffible for any man to rid his mind of his profeffion. The authourfhip of Shakespeare has fupplied him with a metaphor, which rather than he would lofe it, he has put with no great propriety into the mouth of a country maid. Thinking of his own works, his mind paffed naturally to the Binder. But Perdita was not fo much gi-I am glad that he has no hint ven to faconing, as appears by at an Editor. fwoon, I think, Tofhow myself a glass. What he means I don't know. Should Should I in these my borrow'd flaunts behold Flo. Apprehendig Nothing but jollity: The Gods themselves, As I feem now. Their transformations: Per. O, but, dear Sir, Your refolution cannot hold, when 'tis Which then will fpeak, that you must change this purpose, Or I my life. Flo. Thou deareft Perdita, With thefe forc'd thoughts, I pr'ythee, darken not Mine own, nor any thing to any, if I be not thine. To this I am most conftant, Tho' destiny fay no. Be merry, Gentle, Strangle fuch thoughts as thefe, with any thing That you behold the while. Your guests are coming: Lift up your countenance, as 'twere the day Of celebration of that nuptial, which We two have fworn fhall come. Per. O lady fortune, Stand you aufpicious! SCENE SCENE V. Enter Shepherd, Clown, Mopfa, Dorcas, Servants; with Polixenes and Camillo difguis'd. Flo. See, your gueft's approach; Addrefs yourself to entertain them fprightly, Shep. Fy, daughter; when my old wife liv'd, upon As your good flock fhall profper. Per. Sirs, welcome. [To Pol. and Cam. It is my father's will, I fhould take on me The hoftefsfhip o'th' day; you're welcome, Sirs. Give me thofe flowers there, Dorcas.-Reverend Sirs, For you there's rosemary and rue, these keep Seeming and favour all the winter long: *Grace and remembrance be unto you both, And welcome to our thearing! Pol. Shepherdefs, (A fair one are you,) well you fit our ages With flowers of winter. Per. Sir, the year growing ancient," Not yet on fummer's death, nor on the birth * Grace and remembrance-] old Gentlemen, be good, and may 1 fuppofe the means, May you, your memories be honoured. Of Of trembling winter, the fairest flowers o'th' feafon. Pol. Wherefore, gentle maiden, Do you neglect them? Per. For I have heard it faid, none There is an art, which in their piedness shares Pol. Say, there be; Yet nature is made better by no mean, But nature makes that mean; so over that art That nature makes; you fee, fweet maid, we marry A gentler fcyon to the wildest stock; And make conceive a bark of bafer 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 gilly-flowers, And do not call them baftards. Per. I'll not put The dibble in earth, to fet one flip of them: T This youth should fay, 'twere well; and only there..fore Defire to breed by me. Here's flowers for you; Per. Out, alas You'd be fo lean, that blafts of January your flock, Would Would blow you through and through, Now, my fairest friend,, I would, I had fome flowers o'th' fpring, that might For the flowers now, that, frighted, thou let'ft fall That come before the fwallow dares, and take Flo. What? like a coarse? Per. No, like a bank, for love to lie and play on; Not like a coarfe; or if,not to be buried... But quick, and in mine arms. Come, take your flowers; Methinks, I play as I have feen them do In whitfun paftorals: fure, this robe of mine. Flo. What you do, Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet, I'd have you buy and fell for fo,, give alms; To fing them too. When you do dance, I wish you 9 violets dim,' But fweiter than the lids of Juno's eyes, I fufpect that our author mistakes Juno for Pallas, who was the goddess of blue eyes. Sweeter than an eye lid is an odd image: but perhaps he ufes feet in the general fenie, for delightful. Gold is the reading of Sir T. Hanmer; the former editions have told. Nothing |