Aut. If that Shepherd be not in Hand-faft, let him fiy; the Curfes he fhall have, the Tortures he fhall feel, will break the Back of Man, the Heart of Monster. Clo. Think you fo, Sir? Aut. Not he alone fhall fuffer what Wit can make heavy, and Vengeance bitter; but thofe that are Germain to him, tho' remov'd fifty times, fhall all come under the Hangman; which, tho' it be great Pity, yet it is neceffary. An old Sheep-whiftling Rogue, a Ram-tender, to offer to have his Daughter come into Grace? Some fay he fhall be fton'd; but that Death is too foft for him, fay I: Draw our Throne into a Sheep-Coat? All Deaths are too few, the fharpest too eafie. Clo. Has the old Man e'er a Son, Sir; do you hear, andt like you, Sir? Aut. He has a Son, who fhall be flay'd alive, then 'nointed over with Honey, fet on the Head of a Wafp's Neft, then ftand 'till he be three Quarters and a Dram dead; then recover'd again with Aqua-vite, or fome other hot Infufion; then, raw as he is, (and in the hottest Day Prognoftication proclaims) fhall he be fet 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 thefe Traitorly-Rafcals, whofe Miferies are to be fmil'd at, their Offences being fo capital? Tell me, (for you feem to be honeft plain Men) what you have to the King; being fomething gently confider'd, I'll bring you where he is aboard, tender your Perfons to his Prefence, whifper him in your behalf; and if it be in Man, befides the King, to effect your Suits, here is a Man fhal! do it. Clo. He feems to be of great Authority; clofe with him, give him Gold; and though Authority be a ftubborn Bear, yet he is oft led by the Nofe with Gold; fhew the infide of your Purfe to the outfide of his Hand, and no more ado. Remember fton'd and flay'd alive. Shep. And't pleafe you, Sir, to undertake the Bunnefs for us, here is the Gold I have; I'll make it as much more, and leave this young Man in Pawn 'till I bring it you. Ant. After I have done what I promised? Aut. Well, give me the Moiety. Are you a parting in this Bufinefs? Clo. In fome fort, Sir; but tho' my Case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flay'd out of it. Aut. Oh that's the Cafe of the Shepherd's Son; hang him, he'll be made an Example. Clo. Comfort, good Comfort; we must to the King, and fhew our ftrange Sights; he must know 'tis none of your Daughter nor my Sifter, we are gone elfe. Sir, I will give you as much as this old Man does, when the Bu finefs is perform'd, and remain, as he says, your Pawn 'till it be brought you. Aut. I will truft you, walk before toward the Sea-fide, go on the right Hand, I will but look upon the Hedge, and follow you. Clo. We are blefs'd in this Man, as I may fay, even blefs'd. Shep. Let's before, as he bids us; he was provided to do us good. [Exeunt Shep. and Clows. Aut. If I had a Mind to be honeft, I fee Fortune would not fuffer me; she drops Booties in my Mouth. I am courted now with a double Occafion: Gold, and a Means to do the Prince my Mafter good; which, who knows how that may turn back to my Advancement? I will bring thefe two Moals, thefe blind ones, aboard him; if he think it fit to Shoar them again, and that the Complaint they have to the King concerns him nothing, let him call me Rogue, for being fo far officious, for I am Proof against that Title, and what Shame elfe belongs to't: To him will I prefent them, there may be Matter in it. [Exit. ACT ACT V. SCENE I. Enter Leontes, Cleomines, Dion, Paulina, and Servants. done Cleo. SIR, you have doric enough, and have perform'd and A Saint-like Sorrow: No Fault could you make, Which you have not redeem'd; indeed pay'd down More Penitence, than done Trefpafs. At the laft Do as the Heavens have done; forget your evil With them, forgive your felf. Leo. Whilft I remember Her and her Virtues, I cannot forget My Blemishes in them, and fo ftill think of Paul. Too true, my Lord, If one by one you wedded all the World, Leo. I think fo. Kill'd? She I kill'd? I did fo, but thou strik'st me Upon thy Tongue, as in my Thought. Now, good now, Say fo but feldom, Cleo. Not at all, good Lady; You might have fpoken a thousand things, that would Your Kindness better. Paul. You are one of those, You pity not the State, nor the Remembrance Incertain Incertain lookers on. What were more holy, Than to rejoice the former Queen is well? Paul. There is none worthy, Is't not the Tenor of his Oracle, That King Leontes fhall not have an Heir, 'Till his loft Child be found? Which, that it fhall, And come again to me; who, on my Life, Lea. Good Pauline, Who haft the Memory of Hermione I know in Honour: O, that ever I Had fquar'd me to thy Council; then, even now Paul. And left them More rich, for what they yielded. Leo. Thou fpcak'ft Truth: No more fuch Wives, therefore no Wife; one worfe, Paul. Had the fuch Power, She had juft Cause. Leo. She had, and would incenfe me To murther her I married. Paul. Paul. I should fo: Were I the Ghoft that walk'd, I'd bid you mark You chofe her; then I'd fhriek, that even your Ears Leo. Stars, Stars, And all Eyes elfe, dead Coals; fear thou no Wife: Paul. Will you fwear Never to marry, but by my free Leave? Leo. Never, Paulina, so be bless'd my Spirit. Paul. Unless another, As like Hermione, as is her Picture, Cleo. Good Madam, pray have done. Paul. Yet if my Lord will marry; if you will, Sir; As, walk'd your firft Queen's Ghoft, it should take Joy Leo. My true Paulina, We shall not marry, 'till thou bidft us. Paul. That Shall be, when your firft Queen's again in Breath: Never 'till then. Enter a Servant. Ser. One that gives out himself Prince Florizel, Leo. What with him? He comes not Like to his Father's Greatnefs; his Approach So out of Circumftance, and fudden, tells us, 'Tis not a Vifitation fram'd, but forc'd By need and accident. What Train? Ser. But few, VOL. II. |