But not deliver'd.-O, hear me breathe my life How prettily the young swain seems to wash The hand, was fair before!-I have put you out:But, to your protestation; let me hear What you profess. Flo. Do, and be witness to't, Pol. And this my neighbour too? Flo. And he, and more Than he, and men; the earth, the heavens, and all: That,—were I crown'd the most imperial monarch, Thereof most worthy; were I the fairest youth That ever made eye swerve; had force, and know ledge, More than was ever man's,-I would not prize them, Without her love for her, employ them all; Commend them, and condemn them, to her service, So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better: Shep. Take hands, a bargain ;And, friends unknown you shall bear witness to't: or the fann'd snow, That's bolted, &c.] The fine sieve used by millers to separate flower from bran is called a bolting cloth. I give my daughter to him, and will make Flo. Shep. And, daughter, yours. Pol. Come, your hand ; Soft, swain, awhile, 'beseech you ; Have you a father? Flo. I have: But what of him? Pol. Knows he of this? He neither does, nor shall. Pol. Methinks, a father Is, at the nuptial of his son, a guest That best becomes the table. Pray you, once more; Is not your father grown incapable Of reasonable affairs? is he not stupid With age, and altering rheums? Can he speak? hear? Know man from man? dispute his own estate?" Flo. No, good sir; He has his health, and ampler strength, indeed, Than most have of his age. Pol. By my white beard, You offer him, if this be so, a wrong Something unfilial: Reason, my son Should choose himself a wife; but as good reason, The father, (all whose joy is nothing else But fair posterity,) should hold some counsel In such a business. 6 dispute his own estate?] Perhaps for dispute we might read compute but dispute his estate may be the same with talk over his affairs. JOHNSON. Flo. I yield all this; But, for some other reasons, my grave sir, Pol. Let him know't. Flo. He shall not. Pol. Pr'ythee, let him. Flo. No, he must not. Shep. Let him, my son; he shall not need to grieve At knowing of thy choice. Flo. Mark our contract. Pol. Come, come, he must not : Mark your divorce, young sir, [Discovering himself. Whom son I dare not call; thou art too base To be acknowledg'd: Thou a scepter's heir, That thus affect'st a sheep-hook!-Thou old traitor, I am sorry, that, by hanging thee, I can but Shorten thy life one week.-And thou, fresh piece Of excellent witchcraft; who, of force, must know The royal fool thou cop'st with ; Shep. O, my heart! Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briars, and made More homely than thy state.-For thee, fond boy,- That thou no more shalt see this knack, (as never Far than Deucalion off;-Mark thou my words; time, Though full of our displeasure, yet we free thee From the dead blow of it.-And you, enchant ment, Worthy enough a herdsman; yea, him too, That makes himself, but for our honour therein, As thou art tender to't. [Exit. Per. Even here undone! I was not much afeard:" for once, or twice, I was about to speak; and tell him plainly, The selfsame sun, that shines upon his court, Hides not his visage from our cottage, but Looks on alike.-Will't please you, sir, be gone? [TO FLORIZEL. I told you, what would come of this: 'Beseech you, Of your own state take care: this dream of mine,Being now awake, I'll queen it no inch further, But milk my ewes, and weep. Cam. Speak, ere thou diest. Why, how now, father? I cannot speak, nor think, Nor dare to know that which I know.-O, sir, [TO FLORIZEL. You have undone a man of fourscore three, That knew'st this was the prince, and would'st ad venture To mingle faith with him.-Undone! undone ! I was not much afeard: &c.] The character is here finely sustained. To have made her quite astonished at the King's discovery of himself had not become her birth; and to have given her presence of mind to have made this reply to the King, had not become her education. WARBURTON. If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd To die when I desire. Flo. [Exit. Why look you so upon me? I am but sorry, not afeard; delay'd, But nothing alter'd: What I was, I am : More straining on, for plucking back; not following My leash unwillingly. Cam. Gracious my lord, You know your father's temper: at this time Flo. I think, Camillo. Cam. I not purpose it. 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 my faith; And then Let nature crush the sides o'the earth together, And mar the seeds within!-Lift up thy looks :From my succession wipe me, father! I Am heir to my affection. Cam. Be advis'd. Flo. I am; and by my fancy: if my reason If not, my senses, better pleas'd with madness, 8 Cam. This is desperate, sir. Flo. So call it: but it does fulfil my vow; and by my fancy:] It must be remembered that fancy in our author very often, as in this place, means love. VOL. III. R R |