Cam. Why, how now, father?

Speak, ere thou diest.

Shep. I cannot fpeak, nor think,

Nor dare to know that which I know.-O, fir, [To Florizel.
You have undone a man of fourscore three,

That thought to fill his grave in quiet; yea,
To die upon the bed my father dy'd,

To lie close by his honeft bones: but now

Some hangman must put on my fhrowd, and lay me
Where no priest shovels-in duft.-O curfed wretch !

[To Perdita. That knew'ft this was the prince, and would'st adventure To mingle faith with him. Undone ! undone !

If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd
To die when I defire.

Flo. Why look you fo upon me?

I am but forry, not afeard; delay'd,

But nothing alter'd: What I was, I am :

[Exit.

More straining on, for plucking back; not following
My leash 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 purpose 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 last

But 'till 'twere known?

f and lay me where no prieft fhovels-in duft.]-and bury me without the funeral fervice, in unconfecrated ground.

Flo. It cannot fail, but by

The violation of my faith; And then

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

Am heir to my affection.

Cam. Be advis'd.

h

Flo. I am; and by my fancy: if my reason
Will thereto be obedient, I have reason;

If not, my fenfes, better pleas'd with madness,
Do bid it welcome.

Cam. This is defperate, fir.

Flo. So call it but it does fulfil my vow;
I needs must think it honefty. Camillo,
Not for Bohemia, nor the pomp that may
Be thereat glean'd; for all the fun fees, or
The clofe earth wombs, or the profound fea hides
In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath
To this my fair belov'd: Therefore, I pray you,
As you have ever been my father's friend,

When he shall mifs me, (as, in faith, I mean not
To fee him any more) caft your good counfels
Upon his paffion; Let myfelf, 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 shore ;
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,

8 my.

fancy:]-love.

I would

I would your spirit were easier for advice,

Or stronger for your need.

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.

Flo. Now, good Camillo,

I am fo fraught with curious bufinefs, that

I leave out ceremony.

Cam. Sir, I think,

You have heard of my poor fervices, i'the love
That I have borne 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;

And, through him, what is neareft to him, which is
Your gracious felf; embrace but my direction,
(If your more ponderous and fettled project
May fuffer alteration) on mine honour,

I'll point you where you fhall have fuch receiving
As fhall become your highnefs; where you may
Enjoy your mistress; from the whom, I fee,
There's no disjunction to be made, but by
(As heavens forefend !) your ruin: Marry her;
And (with my beft endeavours in your abfence)

Your 'difcontenting father I'll strive to qualify,
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, trust to thee.

Cam. Have you thought on

A place, whereto you'll go?
Flo. Not any yet:

* But as the unthought-on accident is guilty
To 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 :

This follows,-if you will not change your purpose,
But undergo this flight;-Make for Sicilia;
And there present yourself, and your fair princess,
(For fo, I see, she must be) 'fore Leontes;
She shall 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'the father's person: kiffes the hands
Of your fresh princess: 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 visitation shall I
Hold up before him?

difcontenting father]-with whom you have cause to be diffatisfied. * But as the unthought-on accident is guilty, &c.]-As the late unexpected discovery hath forc'd me upon these measures, fo I commit myfelf entirely to the guidance of chance through the whole adventure. i 'Twixt his unkindness and his kindness ;]-Betwixt the thoughts of his past unkindness and prefent kindness.

Cam.

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 say; that he shall not perceive,
But that you have your father's bofom there,
And speak his very heart.

Flo. I am bound to you :

n

There is fome " fap in this.

Cam. A courfe more promising

Than a wild dedication of yourselves

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

Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together
Affliction alters.

Per. One of these is true:

I think, affliction may subdue the cheek,

But not take in the mind,

Cam. Yea, fay you fo?

There shall not, at your father's house, these seven years,

Be born another fuch,

Flo. My good Camillo,

She is as forward of her breeding, as

I'the rear of birth.

mfitting,]-audience, interview-fitting-fit occafion.

"Jap]-relish.

'the rear of birth.]-Behind hand in point of defcent.

• take in]-reach, affect.