Tho' full of our displeasure, yet we free thee SCENE VIII. Per. Even here, undone, [Exit. I was not much afraid; for once or twice you, [To Florizel. I told you what would come of this. 'Beseech Of your own state take care :—this dream of mine,Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch farther, But milk my ewes, and weep. Cam. Why, how now, father? Speak, ere thou dieft. Shep. I cannot fpeak, nor think, Nor dare to know that which I know. O Sir, [To Florizel. You have undone a man of fourfcore three 2, I was not much afraid; &c.] The Character is here finely fuftained. To have made her quite aftonished on the king's difcovery of himself, had not become her birth; and to have given her prefence of mind to have made this reply to the King, had not become her education. WARBURTON. 2 You have undone a man of fourfcore three, &c.] Thefe fentiments, which the Poet has heighten'd by a strain of ridicule that runs thro' them, admirably characterise the speaker; whose felfishness is seen in concealing the adventure of Perdita; and here fupported, by shewing no regard for his fon or her, but being taken up entirely with himself, though four core three. WARBURTON. That thought to fill his grave in quiet; yea, To lie close by his honeft bones; but now venture To mingle faith with him. Undone, undone ! SCENE IX. Flo. Why look you fo upon me? [Exit. More ftraining on, for plucking back; not following My leafh unwillingly. Cam. Gracious my Lord, You know your father's temper: at this time 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 said, my dignity would last But till 'twere known? Flo. It cannot fail, but by The violation of thy faith, and then Let nature crush the fides o'th' earth together, Am heir to my affection. Cam. Be advis'd. Flo. Flo. I am; and by my fancy *; if Cam. This is defperate, Sir. Flo. So call it, but it does fulfil my vow; With her, whom here I cannot hold on fhore; For this defign. What courfe I mean to hold Cam. O my Lord, I would your spirit were easier for advice, Flo. Hark, Perdita I'll hear you by and by. Cam. [afide.] He's irremoveable, [To Camillo. 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 master, whom I fo much thirst to fee. * It must be remembered that fancy in this authour very often, as in this place, means love. Flo. Flo. Now, good Camillo I am fo fraught with curious business, that I leave out ceremony. Cam. Sir, I think, You have heard of my poor fervices, o'th' love Have you deferv'd: it is my father's mufick If you may please to think I love the King, I'll point you where you fhall have fuch receiving Flo. How, Camillo, May this, almost a miracle, be done? That I may call thee fomething more than man, Cam. Have you thought on A place whereto you'll go? Flo. Not any yet; *But as th❜unthought-on accident is guilty Of what we wildly do, fo we profefs Ourselves to be the flaves of chance, and flies Of every wind that blows. Cam. Then lift to me. * As chance has driven me to thefe extremities, fo I commit myself to chance to be conducted through them. This follows. If you will not change your purpose, And there present yourself, and your fair Princess, She shall be habited, as it becomes The partner of His welcomes forth; afks thee, the fon, forgiveness, Flo. Worthy Camillo, What colour for my vifitation fhall I Cam. Sent by the King your father To greet him, and to give him comforts, Sir. Things known betwixt us three, I'll write you down3; Flo. I am bound to you: 3 Things known betwixt us three I'll write you down, The which shall point you forth at ev'ry fitting, What you must Jay;] Every Sitting, methinks, gives but a very poor Idea. Every fitting, as I have ventur'd to correct the Text, means, very convenient Opportunity: every Juncture, when it is fit to fpeak of fuch, or fuch, a Point. THEOBALD. The which shall point you forth at every fitting,] Every fitting, fays Mr. Theobald, methinks, gives us but a very poor idea. But a poor idea is better than none; which it comes to, when he has alter'd it to every fitting. The truth is, the common reading is very expreffive; and means, at every audience you shall have of the King and Council. The Council days being, in our author's time, called, in common speech, the Sittings. WARB. Cam. |