If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd'

To die when I defire.

SCENE IX.

Flo. Why look you fo upon me?

I am but forry, not afraid'; delay'd,'
But nothing alter'd: what I was I am;

More ftraining on for plucking back; not following
My leafh unwillingly.

Cam. Gracious my Lord,

You know your father's temper: at this time
He will allow no fpeech, which I do guefs
You do not purpofe to him ; and as hardly
Will he endure your fight as yet, I fear;
Then, 'till the fury of his Highness settle,
Come not before him.

Flo. I not purpose it.

I think, Camillo.

Cam. Even he, my Lord.

Per. How often have I told you 'twould be thus ? How often faid, my dignity would laft

But 'till 'twere known?

Flo. It cannot fail but by

The violation of my faith, and then

Let nature crush the fides o'th' earth together,
And mar the feeds within!Lift up thy looks.-
From my fucceffion wipe me, father, I

Am heir to my affection.

Cam. Be advis'd.

Flo. I am; and by my fancy: if my reafon
Will thereto be obedient, I have reafon;
If not, my fenfes better pleas'd with madness
Do bid it welcome.

Cam. This is defperate, Sir.

22

Flo. So call it; but it does fulfil my vow;
I needs muft think it honefty. Camillo,
Not for Bithynia, nor the pomp that may
Be thereout glean'd; for all the fun fees, or
The clofe earth wombs, or the profound feas hide
In unknown fadems, will I break my oath
To this my fair belov'd: therefore, I pray you,

As

As you have ever been my father's friend,
When he fhall mifs me, (as in faith I mean not
To fee him any more) caft your good counfels
Upon his paffion; let my self and fortune
Tug for the time to come. This you may know
And fo deliver, I am put to fea

With her, whom here I cannot hold on fhore;
And most opportune to our need, I have
A veffel rides faft by, but not prepar'd

For this defign. What courfe I mean to hold
Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor
Concern me the reporting.

Cam. O my Lord,

I would your spirit were easier for advice,
Or ftronger for your need.

Flo. Hark, Perdita.

I'll hear you by and by.

Cam. He's irremoveable,

Refolv'd for flight: now were I happy, if
His going I could frame to ferve my turn;

Save him from danger, do him love and honour,
Purchase the fight again of dear Sicilia,

And that unhappy King, my mafter, whom
I fo much thirft to fee.

Flo. Now, good Camillo

am fo fraught with curious business, that

I leave out ceremony.

Cam. Sir, I think

You have heard of my poor fervices, i'th' love
That I have born your father.

Flo. Very nobly

Have you deferv'd: it is my father's mufick
To speak your deeds, not little of his care
To have them recompenc'd, as thought on.
Cam. Well, my Lord,

If

you may please to think I love the King,

[To Cam

And through him what is nearest to him, which is
Your gracious felf, embrace but my direction,

If your more ponderous and fettled project

May fuffer alteration; on mine honour,

VOL. IV,

[Afide

I'

I'll point you where you fhall have fuch receiving
As fhall become your Highnefs, where you may
Enjoy your miftrefs; from the whom, I fee,
There's no disjunction to be made, but by
(As heav'ns forefend) your ruin. Marry her,
And with my beft endeavours, in your abfence,
Your difcontented father I will strive
To qualifie and bring him up to liking.
Flo. How, Camillo,

May this, almoft a miracle, be done?

That I may call thee fomething more than man,
And after that truft to thee.

Cam. Have you thought on
A place whereto you'll go?
Flo. Not any yet:

But as th' unthought-on accident is guilty.
Towards what we wildly do, fo we profefs
Our felves to be the flaves of chance, and flies
Of every wind that blows.

Cam Then lift to me:

This follows, if you will not change your purpose,
But undergo this flight; make for Sicilia,
And there prefent your felf, and your fair Princess
(For fo I fee the muft be) 'fore Leontes;
She fhall be habited as it becomes

The partner of your bed. Methinks I fee
Leontes opening his free arms, and weeping
His welcomes forth; afks thee, the fon, forgiveness,
As 'twere i'th' father's perfon; kiffes the hands
Of your fresh Princefs; o'er and o'er divides him
"Twixt his unkindness, and his kindness: the one
He chides to hell, and bids the other grow
Fafter than thought or time.

Flo. Worthy Camillo,

What colour for my vifitation fhall I
Hold up before him?

Cam. Sent by the King your father
To greet him, and to give him comforts. Sir,
The manner of your bearing towards him, with
What you, as from your father, fhall deliver,

Things known betwixt us three, I'll write you down;
The which shall point you forth at every fitting
What you must fay, that he fhall not perceive,
But that you have your father's bofom there,
And fpeak his very heart.

Flo. I am bound to you: 1
There is fome fap in this.

Cam. A courfe more promifing
Than a wild dedication of your felves

To unpath'd waters, undream'd fhores; most certain,
To miferies enough; no hope to help you,
But as you fhake off one, to take another
Nothing fo certain as your anchors, which
Do their beft office, if they can but stay you
Where you'll be loth to be: befides, you know,
Profperity's the very bond of love,

Whofe fresh complexion and whose heart together
Affliction alters.

Per. One of these is true:

I think affliction may fubdue the cheek,

But not take in the mind,

Cam. Yea, fay you so?

There fhall not at your father's houfe, these feven years,
Be born another fuch.

Flo. My good Camillo,

She is as forward of her breeding, as

I'th' rear of birth.

Cam. I cannot fay, 'tis pity

She lacks inftructions, for the feems a mistress

To moft that teach.

Per. Your pardon, Sir; for this

I'll blush you thanks.

Flo. My prettieft Perdita.

But oh, the thorns we ftand upon! Camillo,

Preferver of my father, now of me;

The medicine of our houfe; how fhall we do?

We are not furnish'd like Bithynia's fon,

Nor fhall appear in Sicily

Cam. My Lord,

Fear none of this: I think you know my fortunes

G 2

ᎠᎴ

Do all lye there: it fhall be fo my care
To have you royally appointed, as if

The scene you play were mine. For instance, Sir,
That you may know you shall not want; one word.
[They talk afide.
SCENE X. Enter Autolicus.

Aut. Ha, ha, what a fool honefty is! and truft, his fworn brother, a very fimple gentleman! I have fold all my trumpery; not a counterfeit ftone, not a ribbon, glass, pomander, browch, table-book, ballad, knife, tape, glove, fhoe-tye, bracelet, horn-ring, to keep my pack from fafting: they throng who should buy firft, as if my trinkets had been hallowed and brought a benediction to the buyer; by which means, I faw whofe purfe was beft in picture and what I faw, to my good ufe, I remember'd. My good Clown (who wants but fomething to be a reasonable man) grew fo in love with the wenches fong, that he would not ftir his pettitoes 'till he had both tune and words, which fo drew the reft of the herd to me, that all their other fenfes ftuck in ears; you might have pinch'd a placket, it was fenfelefs; 'twas nothing to geld a cod-piece of a purfe; I would have filed keys off, that hung in chains: no hearing, no feeling, but my Sir's fong, and admiring the nothing of it. So that in this time of lethargy, I pick'd and cut most of their feftival purfes: and had not the old man come in with a whoo-bub against his daughter and the King's fon, and fear'd my choughs from the chaff, I had not left a purfe alive in the whole army.

Camillo, Florizel, and Perdita come forward.

Cam. Nay; but my letters by this means being there, So foon as you arrive, fhall clear that doubt.

Flo. And thofe that you'll procure from King Leontes d Cam. Shall fatisfie your father.

Per. Happy be you!

All that you speak fhews fair.

Cam. Who have we here?

We'll make an inftrument of this; omit

Nothing may give us aid.

[Seeing Autol.

Aut. If they have over-heard me now: why, hanging.

Cam.