sheep; which, I fear, the wolf w sooner find, than the master: if any where I have them, 'tis by the sea side, brouzing of ivy. Good luck, an't be thy will! what have we here? [Taking up the child.] Mercy on's, a barne! a very pretty barne! A boy, or a child, I wonder! A pretty one; a very pretty one : Sure some 'scape: tho' I am not bookish, yet I can read waiting gentlewoman in the 'scape. This has been some stair-work, some trunk-work, some behinddoor-work: they were warmer that got this, than the poor thing is here. I'll take it up for pity: yet I'll tarry 'till my son come; he hollow'd but even now. Whoa, ho-hoa!

Clo. Hilloa, loa!

Enter Clown.

368

Skep. What, art so near? If thou'lt see a thing to talk on when thou art dead and rotten, come hither. What ail'st thou, man?

Clo. I have seen two such sights, by sea, and by land; but I am not to say, it is a sea, for it is now the sky; betwixt the firmament and it, you cannot thrust a bodkin's point.

Shep. Why, boy, how is it?

377

Clo. I would, you did but see how it chafes, how it rages, how it takes up the shore! but that's not to the point: Oh, the most piteous cry of the poor souls! sometimes to see 'em, and not to see 'em: now the ship boring the moon with her main-mast; and anon swallow'd with yest and frost, as you'd thrust a cork Fiij

into

into a hogshead. And then for the land serviceTo see how the bear tore out his shoulder-bone; how he cry'd to me for help, and said his name was Antigonus, a nobleman:-But to make an end of the ship; to see how the sea flap-dragon'd it :-But first, how the poor souls roar'd, and the sea mock'd them;

And how the poor gentleman roar'd, and the bear mock'd him; both roaring louder than the sea, or weather.

392

Shep. 'Name of mercy, when was this, boy? Clo. Now, now; I have not wink'd since I saw these sights: the men are not yet cold under water; nor the bear half din'd on the gentlemen; he's at it

now.

Shep. 'Would, I had been by to have help'd the old man.

[Aside.

Clo. I would, you had been by the ship side, to have help'd her; there your charity would have lack'd footing.Shep. Heavy matters! heavy matters! but look thee here, boy. Now bless thyself; thou meet'st with things dying, I with things new-born. Here's a sight for thee; look thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire's child Look thee here; take up, take up, boy; open't; so, let's see; it was told me, I should be rich by the fairies. This is some changeling.-Open't: What's within, boy?

410

Clo. You're a made old man; if the sins of your youth are forgiven you, you're well to live. Gold! all gold

Shep.

Shep. This is fairy gold, boy, and will prove so. Up with it, keep it close: home, home, the next way. We are lucky, boy; and to be so still, requires nothing but secrecy. Let my sheep go: Come, good boy, the next way home.

Clo. Go you the next way with your findings; I'll go see if the bear be gone from the gentleman, and how much he hath eaten: they are never curst but when they are hungry: if there be any of him left, I'll bury it.

"

423

Shep. That's a good deed. If thou may'st discern by that which is left of him, what he is, fetch me to the sight of him.

Clo. Marry, will I; and you shall help to put him i'the ground.

Shep. 'Tis a lucky day, boy; and we'll do good deeds on't.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

Enter TIME, as Chorus.

Time.

I, That please some, try all; both joy and terror
Of good and bad; that make, and unfold error-
Now take upon me, in the name of Time,
To use my wings. Impute it not a crime
To me, or my swift passage, that I slide
O'er sixteen years, and leave the growth untry'd

of

Of that wide gap; since it is in my power

To o'erthrow law, and in one self-born hour
To plant and o'erwhelm custom. Let me pass
The same I am, ere ancient'st order was,
Or what is now receiv'd. I witness to

The times, that brought them in ; so shall I do

10

To the freshest things now reigning; and make stale The glistering of this present, as my tale

Now seems to it. Your patience this allowing,

I turn my glass; and give my scene such growing,
As you had slept between. Leontes leaving
The effects of his fond jealousies; so grieving
That he shuts up himself; Imagine me,
Gentle spectators, that I now may be

In fair Bohemia; and remember well,

I mention here a son o’the king's, which Florizel
I now name to you; and with speed so pace.
To speak of Perdita, now grown in grace
Equal with wond'ring. What of her ensues,
I list not prophecy ;—But let Time's news

20

Be known, when 'tis brought forth :-A shepherd's daughter,

And what to her adheres, which follows after,
Is the argument of Time: Of this allow,
If ever you have spent time worse ere now:
If never, yet that Time himself doth say,
He wishes earnestly you never may..

30

[Exit.

SCENE

!

SCENE I.

The Court of Bohemia. Enter POLIXENES, and

CAMILLO.

Pol. I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate: 'tis a sickness denying thee any thing; a death to grant this.

Cam. It is fifteen years since I saw my country: though I have, for the most part, been aired abroad, I desire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent king, my master, hath sent for me: to whose feeling sorrows I might be some allay, or I o'erween to think so; which is another spur to my departure.

41

Pol. As thou lov'st me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest of thy services, by leaving me now: the need I have of thee, thine own goodness hath made: better not to have had thee, than thus to want thee. Thou having made me businesses, which none, without thee, can sufficiently manage, must either stay to execute them thyself, or take away with thee the very services thou hast done: which if I have not enough consider'd (as too much I cannot) to be more thankful to thee shall be my study; and my profit therein, the heaping friendships. Of that fatal country Sicilia, pr`ythee speak no more: whose very naming punistres me with the remembrance of that penitent, as thou call'st him, and reconciled king, my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and children are even now to be afresh lamented. Say to me, when saw'st thou the