Original Text |
Translated Text |
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Florizell and Perdita. FLORIZELL These your unusual weeds to each part of you Does give a life—no shepherdess, but Flora Peering in April’s front. This your sheep-shearing Is as a meeting of the petty gods, And you the queen on ’t. 5 PERDITA Sir, my gracious lord, To chide at your extremes it not becomes me; O, pardon that I name them! Your high self, The gracious mark o’ th’ land, you have obscured With a swain’s wearing, and me, poor lowly maid, 10 Most goddesslike pranked up. But that our feasts In every mess have folly, and the feeders Digest it with a custom, I should blush To see you so attired, swoon, I think, To show myself a glass. 15 | At the festival, Perdita (who is dressed up as the Queen of the Feast) and Florizel (dressed up as a young shepherd named “Doricles”) bat their eyelashes and flirt with one another. (FYI –costumes are pretty standard at these kinds of shindigs and, yes, Perdita knows that Florizel isn’t really some poor shepherd boy named “Doricles.”) Florizel lays it on pretty thick, describing Perdita as “Flora,” goddess of flowers, which totally embarrasses Perdita, who points out that, in real life, she’s the daughter of a lowly shepherd, while Florizel is royalty. In other words, she’s embarrassed to be dressed up like something she’s not, which is pretty ironic given that Perdita is actually a princess but just doesn’t know it. |
FLORIZELL I bless the time When my good falcon made her flight across Thy father’s ground. PERDITA Now Jove afford you cause. To me the difference forges dread. Your greatness 20 Hath not been used to fear. Even now I tremble To think your father by some accident Should pass this way as you did. O the Fates, How would he look to see his work, so noble, Vilely bound up? What would he say? Or how 25 Should I, in these my borrowed flaunts, behold The sternness of his presence? | Florizel assures Perdita that she’s the best thing that’s ever happened
to him but she worries about what Florizel’s dad (King Polixenes) would
think if he knew about their relationship. |
FLORIZELL Apprehend Nothing but jollity. The gods themselves, Humbling their deities to love, have taken 30 The shapes of beasts upon them. Jupiter Became a bull, and bellowed; the green Neptune A ram, and bleated; and the fire-robed god, Golden Apollo, a poor humble swain, As I seem now. Their transformations 35 Were never for a piece of beauty rarer, Nor in a way so chaste, since my desires Run not before mine honor, nor my lusts Burn hotter than my faith. | Florizel tells Perdita not to worry and then proceeds to compare himself
to a bunch of gods who transformed themselves so they could have sex
with women. (Apollo dressed as a shepherd to hook up with Alcestis,
Jupiter transformed himself into a bull and carried off Europa, and
Neptune turned into a ram before he abducted Theopane.) Unlike these
gods, however, Florizel says he’s not just in it for sex – he’ll treat
Perdita with “honour.” |
PERDITA O, but sir, 40 Your resolution cannot hold when ’tis Opposed, as it must be, by th’ power of the King. One of these two must be necessities, Which then will speak: that you must change this purpose 45 Or I my life. FLORIZELL Thou dear’st Perdita, With these forced thoughts I prithee darken not The mirth o’ th’ feast. Or I’ll be thine, my fair, Or not my father’s. For I cannot be 50 Mine own, nor anything to any, if I be not thine. To this I am most constant, Though destiny say no. Be merry, gentle. Strangle such thoughts as these with anything That you behold the while. Your guests are coming. 55 Lift up your countenance as it were the day Of celebration of that nuptial which We two have sworn shall come. PERDITA O Lady Fortune, Stand you auspicious! 60 FLORIZELL See, your guests approach. Address yourself to entertain them sprightly, And let’s be red with mirth. | Perdita says King Polixenes might sentence her to death if he finds out
about them but Florizel tells her to cheer up and start acting like a
proper Queen of the Feast. |
Enter Shepherd, Shepherd’s Son, Mopsa, Dorcas, Shepherds and Shepherdesses, Servants, Musicians, and Polixenes and Camillo in disguise. SHEPHERD Fie, daughter, when my old wife lived, upon This day she was both pantler, butler, cook, 65 Both dame and servant; welcomed all; served all; Would sing her song and dance her turn, now here At upper end o’ th’ table, now i’ th’ middle; On his shoulder, and his; her face afire With labor, and the thing she took to quench it 70 She would to each one sip. You are retired As if you were a feasted one and not The hostess of the meeting. Pray you bid These unknown friends to ’s welcome, for it is A way to make us better friends, more known. 75 Come, quench your blushes and present yourself That which you are, mistress o’ th’ feast. Come on, And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing, As your good flock shall prosper. | The Old Shepherd shows up with the Clown, Mopsa, Dorcas, Polixenes (in disguise), Camillo (also in disguise), and a bunch of other party-goers. The Old Shepherd tells Perdita she’s a lousy Queen of the Feast – she’s supposed to be welcoming and entertaining the festival-goers. The Old Shepherd’s late wife did a much better job when she was alive. |
PERDITA, to Polixenes Sir, welcome. 80 It is my father’s will I should take on me The hostess-ship o’ th’ day. To Camillo. You’re welcome, sir.— Give me those flowers there, Dorcas.—Reverend sirs, 85 For you there’s rosemary and rue. These keep Seeming and savor all the winter long. Grace and remembrance be to you both, And welcome to our shearing. POLIXENES Shepherdess— 90 A fair one are you—well you fit our ages With flowers of winter. PERDITA Sir, the year growing ancient, Not yet on summer’s death nor on the birth Of trembling winter, the fairest flowers o’ th’ season 95 Are our carnations and streaked gillyvors, Which some call nature’s bastards. Of that kind Our rustic garden’s barren, and I care not To get slips of them. | After being hassled by her old man, Perdita plays hostess-with-the-mostess and welcomes the guests to the festival by handing out flowers. Perdita points out that she doesn’t have any “gillyvors” (gillyflowers or, carnations), which she refers to as “nature’s bastards.” (She might be referring to the fact that gillyflowers were thought to have been crossbred with other flowers.) |
POLIXENES Wherefore, gentle maiden, 100 Do you neglect them? PERDITA For I have heard it said There is an art which in their piedness shares With great creating nature. POLIXENES Say there be; 105 Yet nature is made better by no mean But nature makes that mean. So, over that art Which you say adds to nature is an art That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry A gentler scion to the wildest stock, 110 And make conceive a bark of baser kind By bud of nobler race. This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature. | Polixenes takes issue with Perdita hating on gillyflowers and argues
that crossbred flowers and are superior to plain old carnations. What’s
more, he argues that the art of grafting is completely “natural.” (FYI:
“Grafting” is a horticultural practice where a plant’s tissue is fused
with another plant in order to create a “hybrid.”) |
PERDITA So it is. 115 POLIXENES Then make your garden rich in gillyvors, And do not call them bastards. PERDITA I’ll not put The dibble in earth to set one slip of them, No more than, were I painted, I would wish 120 This youth should say ’twere well, and only therefore Desire to breed by me. Here’s flowers for you: Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram, The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ th’ sun 125 And with him rises weeping. These are flowers Of middle summer, and I think they are given To men of middle age. You’re very welcome. CAMILLO I should leave grazing, were I of your flock, And only live by gazing. 130 PERDITA Out, alas! You’d be so lean that blasts of January Would blow you through and through. (To Florizell.) Now, my fair’st friend, I would I had some flowers o’ th’ spring, that might 135 Become your time of day, (to the Shepherdesses) and yours, and yours, That wear upon your virgin branches yet Your maidenheads growing. O Proserpina, For the flowers now that, frighted, thou let’st fall 140 From Dis’s wagon! Daffodils, That come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty; violets dim, But sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes Or Cytherea’s breath; pale primroses, 145 That die unmarried ere they can behold Bright Phoebus in his strength—a malady Most incident to maids; bold oxlips and The crown imperial; lilies of all kinds, The flower-de-luce being one—O, these I lack 150 To make you garlands of, and my sweet friend, To strew him o’er and o’er. | Perdita and Polixenes continue to argue about cross-breeding flowers. Perdita prefers flowers that are pure and that haven’t been influenced by the “art” of grafting. Polixenes sees nothing wrong with cross-breeding flowers to produce a “nobler” breed. For Polixenes, grafting is a natural process while Perdita sees cross-breeding as “artifice.” Check out “Quotes” for “Art and Culture” if you want to know more about this argument. |
FLORIZELL What, like a corse? PERDITA No, like a bank for love to lie and play on, Not like a corse; or if, not to be buried, 155 But quick and in mine arms. Come, take your flowers. Methinks I play as I have seen them do In Whitsun pastorals. Sure this robe of mine Does change my disposition. 160 FLORIZELL What you do Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet, I’d have you do it ever. When you sing, I’d have you buy and sell so, so give alms, Pray so; and for the ord’ring your affairs, 165 To sing them too. When you do dance, I wish you A wave o’ th’ sea, that you might ever do Nothing but that, move still, still so, And own no other function. Each your doing, So singular in each particular, 170 Crowns what you are doing in the present deeds, That all your acts are queens. PERDITA O Doricles, Your praises are too large. But that your youth And the true blood which peeps fairly through ’t 175 Do plainly give you out an unstained shepherd, With wisdom I might fear, my Doricles, You wooed me the false way. FLORIZELL I think you have As little skill to fear as I have purpose 180 To put you to ’t. But come, our dance, I pray. Your hand, my Perdita. So turtles pair That never mean to part. PERDITA I’ll swear for ’em. | Perdita continues to pass out flowers to the festival guests and
Florizel takes the opportunity to tell Perdita how pretty she is. |
POLIXENES, to Camillo This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever 185 Ran on the greensward. Nothing she does or seems But smacks of something greater than herself, Too noble for this place. CAMILLO He tells her something That makes her blood look out. Good sooth, she is 190 The queen of curds and cream. SHEPHERD’S SON, to Musicians Come on, strike up. DORCAS Mopsa must be your mistress? Marry, garlic To mend her kissing with. MOPSA Now, in good time! 195 SHEPHERD’S SON Not a word, a word. We stand upon our manners.— Come, strike up. Music begins. Here a Dance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses. | Polixenes tells Camillo that Perdita is the “prettiest” poor girl that he’s ever seen. In fact, she seems like she’s too “noble” to be a lowly shepherd’s daughter. The band strikes up a tune and everybody parties, country style. |
POLIXENES Pray, good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances with your daughter? SHEPHERD They call him Doricles, and boasts himself 200 To have a worthy feeding. But I have it Upon his own report, and I believe it. He looks like sooth. He says he loves my daughter. I think so too, for never gazed the moon Upon the water as he’ll stand and read, 205 As ’twere, my daughter’s eyes. And, to be plain, I think there is not half a kiss to choose Who loves another best. POLIXENES She dances featly. SHEPHERD So she does anything, though I report it 210 That should be silent. If young Doricles Do light upon her, she shall bring him that Which he not dreams of. | Polixenes (wearing a disguise) strikes up a conversation with the Old
Shepherd, who tells him that his daughter’s boyfriend is a rich
nobleman. (The Shepherd has no idea he’s talking to the King of Bohemia,
who isn’t thrilled about Florizel’s choice in girlfriends.) |
Enter a Servant. SERVANT O, master, if you did but hear the peddler at the door, you would never dance again after a tabor 215 and pipe; no, the bagpipe could not move you. He sings several tunes faster than you’ll tell money. He utters them as he had eaten ballads and all men’s ears grew to his tunes. SHEPHERD’S SON He could never come better. He shall 220 come in. I love a ballad but even too well if it be doleful matter merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung lamentably. SERVANT He hath songs for man or woman, of all sizes. No milliner can so fit his customers with gloves. He 225 has the prettiest love songs for maids, so without bawdry, which is strange, with such delicate burdens of dildos and fadings, “Jump her and thump her.” And where some stretch-mouthed rascal would, as it were, mean mischief and break a foul 230 gap into the matter, he makes the maid to answer “Whoop, do me no harm, good man”; puts him off, slights him, with “Whoop, do me no harm, good man.” POLIXENES This is a brave fellow. 235 SHEPHERD’S SON Believe me, thou talkest of an admirable conceited fellow. Has he any unbraided wares? SERVANT He hath ribbons of all the colors i’ th’ rainbow; points more than all the lawyers in Bohemia 240 can learnedly handle, though they come to him by th’ gross; inkles, caddises, cambrics, lawns—why, he sings ’em over as they were gods or goddesses. You would think a smock were a she-angel, he so chants to the sleeve-hand and the work about the 245 square on ’t. SHEPHERD’S SON Prithee bring him in, and let him approach singing. | A Servant enters and announces that there’s a peddler (a guy who travels
around selling worthless items) at the door who happens to be a great
singer. The Clown lets him in to the party. |
PERDITA Forewarn him that he use no scurrilous words in ’s tunes. Servant exits. 250 SHEPHERD’S SON You have of these peddlers that have more in them than you’d think, sister. PERDITA Ay, good brother, or go about to think. Enter Autolycus, wearing a false beard, singing. AUTOLYCUS Lawn as white as driven snow, Cypress black as e’er was crow, 255 Gloves as sweet as damask roses, Masks for faces and for noses, Bugle bracelet, necklace amber, Perfume for a lady’s chamber, Golden coifs and stomachers 260 For my lads to give their dears, Pins and poking-sticks of steel, What maids lack from head to heel, Come buy of me, come. Come buy, come buy. Buy, lads, or else your lasses cry. 265 Come buy. | Perdita warns the Clown that the peddler better not sing any songs with dirty lyrics. Autolycus (the guy who picked the Clown’s pocket earlier) strolls in, disguised as the peddler with a great voice. He sings a song about how everyone should step up and buy some of his stuff. |
SHEPHERD’S SON If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou shouldst take no money of me; but being enthralled as I am, it will also be the bondage of certain ribbons and gloves. 270 MOPSA I was promised them against the feast, but they come not too late now. DORCAS He hath promised you more than that, or there be liars. MOPSA He hath paid you all he promised you. Maybe 275 he has paid you more, which will shame you to give him again. SHEPHERD’S SON Is there no manners left among maids? Will they wear their plackets where they should bear their faces? Is there not milking time, 280 when you are going to bed, or kiln-hole, to whistle of these secrets, but you must be tittle-tattling before all our guests? ’Tis well they are whisp’ring. Clamor your tongues, and not a word more. | The Clown buys some ribbons and gloves for his girlfriend, Mopsa.
Dorcas, who’s a little jealous, makes crack about how the Clown promised
to marry Mopsa but hasn’t done it yet. Mopsa retorts that Dorcas slept
with the Clown and may be pregnant, to which the Clown says something
like: “Geez – whatever happened to modesty?” |
MOPSA I have done. Come, you promised me a tawdry 285 lace and a pair of sweet gloves. SHEPHERD’S SON Have I not told thee how I was cozened by the way and lost all my money? AUTOLYCUS And indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; therefore it behooves men to be wary. 290 SHEPHERD’S SON Fear not thou, man. Thou shalt lose nothing here. AUTOLYCUS I hope so, sir, for I have about me many parcels of charge. | When Mopsa asks the Clown to buy her some more stuff, he complains about being robbed on his way to the market. Autolycus (the guy who picked the Clown’s pockets) says something like “Oh, how awful. I hope I don’t get robbed while I’m here.” |
SHEPHERD’S SON What hast here? Ballads? 295 MOPSA Pray now, buy some. I love a ballad in print alife, for then we are sure they are true. AUTOLYCUS Here’s one to a very doleful tune, how a usurer’s wife was brought to bed of twenty moneybags at a burden, and how she longed to eat adders’ 300 heads and toads carbonadoed. MOPSA Is it true, think you? AUTOLYCUS Very true, and but a month old. DORCAS Bless me from marrying a usurer! AUTOLYCUS Here’s the midwife’s name to ’t, one Mistress 305 Taleporter, and five or six honest wives that were present. Why should I carry lies abroad? MOPSA, to Shepherd’s Son Pray you now, buy it. SHEPHERD’S SON, to Autolycus Come on, lay it by, and let’s first see more ballads. We’ll buy the other 310 things anon. AUTOLYCUS Here’s another ballad, of a fish that appeared upon the coast on Wednesday the fourscore of April, forty thousand fathom above water, and sung this ballad against the hard hearts of maids. It 315 was thought she was a woman, and was turned into a cold fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that loved her. The ballad is very pitiful, and as true. DORCAS Is it true too, think you? 320 AUTOLYCUS Five justices’ hands at it, and witnesses more than my pack will hold. SHEPHERD’S SON Lay it by too. Another. AUTOLYCUS This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one. 325 MOPSA Let’s have some merry ones. AUTOLYCUS Why, this is a passing merry one and goes to the tune of “Two Maids Wooing a Man.” There’s scarce a maid westward but she sings it. ’Tis in request, I can tell you. 330 MOPSA We can both sing it. If thou ’lt bear a part, thou shalt hear; ’tis in three parts. DORCAS We had the tune on ’t a month ago. AUTOLYCUS I can bear my part. You must know ’tis my occupation. Have at it with you. 335 Song. AUTOLYCUS Get you hence, for I must go Where it fits not you to know. DORCAS Whither? MOPSA O, whither? DORCAS Whither? 340 MOPSA It becomes thy oath full well Thou to me thy secrets tell. DORCAS Me too. Let me go thither. MOPSA Or thou goest to th’ grange or mill. DORCAS If to either, thou dost ill. 345 AUTOLYCUS Neither. DORCAS What, neither? AUTOLYCUS Neither. DORCAS Thou hast sworn my love to be. MOPSA Thou hast sworn it more to me. 350 Then whither goest? Say whither. SHEPHERD’S SON We’ll have this song out anon by ourselves. My father and the gentlemen are in sad talk, and we’ll not trouble them. Come, bring away thy pack after me.—Wenches, I’ll buy for you 355 both.—Peddler, let’s have the first choice.—Follow me, girls. He exits with Mopsa, Dorcas, Shepherds and Shepherdesses. AUTOLYCUS And you shall pay well for ’em. Song. Will you buy any tape, Or lace for your cape, 360 My dainty duck, my dear-a? Any silk, any thread, Any toys for your head, Of the new’st and fin’st, fin’st wear-a? Come to the peddler. 365 Money’s a meddler That doth utter all men’s ware-a. He exits. Enter a Servant. SERVANT, to Shepherd Master, there is three carters, three shepherds, three neatherds, three swineherds, that have made themselves all men of hair. 370 They call themselves saultiers, and they have a dance which the wenches say is a gallimaufry of gambols, because they are not in ’t, but they themselves are o’ th’ mind, if it be not too rough for some that know little but bowling, it will please 375 plentifully. SHEPHERD Away! We’ll none on ’t. Here has been too much homely foolery already.—I know, sir, we weary you. POLIXENES You weary those that refresh us. Pray, let’s 380 see these four threes of herdsmen. SERVANT One three of them, by their own report, sir, hath danced before the King, and not the worst of the three but jumps twelve foot and a half by th’ square. 385 SHEPHERD Leave your prating. Since these good men are pleased, let them come in—but quickly now. SERVANT Why, they stay at door, sir. He admits the herdsmen. Here a Dance of twelve herdsmen, dressed as Satyrs. Herdsmen, Musicians, and Servants exit. | Autolycus, Mopsa, and Dorcas sing a song together about a love triangle
and then a group of country dancers show up to entertain the
festival-goers. |
POLIXENES, to Shepherd O father, you’ll know more of that hereafter. Aside to Camillo. Is it not too far gone? ’Tis time to 390 part them. He’s simple, and tells much. To Florizell. How now, fair shepherd? Your heart is full of something that does take Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young 395 And handed love, as you do, I was wont To load my she with knacks. I would have ransacked The peddler’s silken treasury and have poured it To her acceptance. You have let him go And nothing marted with him. If your lass 400 Interpretation should abuse and call this Your lack of love or bounty, you were straited For a reply, at least if you make a care Of happy holding her. | Meanwhile, Polixenes approaches his son (Florizel), who doesn’t
recognize his disguised father, and asks Florizel about his relationship
with Perdita. |
FLORIZELL Old sir, I know 405 She prizes not such trifles as these are. The gifts she looks from me are packed and locked Up in my heart, which I have given already, But not delivered. To Perdita. O, hear me breathe my life 410 Before this ancient sir, who, it should seem, Hath sometime loved. I take thy hand, this hand As soft as dove’s down and as white as it, Or Ethiopian’s tooth, or the fanned snow that’s bolted 415 By th’ northern blasts twice o’er. POLIXENES What follows this?— How prettily th’ young swain seems to wash The hand was fair before.—I have put you out. But to your protestation. Let me hear 420 What you profess. FLORIZELL Do, and be witness to ’t. POLIXENES And this my neighbor too? FLORIZELL And he, and more Than he, and men—the Earth, the heavens, and 425 all— That were I crowned the most imperial monarch, Thereof most worthy, were I the fairest youth That ever made eye swerve, had force and knowledge More than was ever man’s, I would not prize them 430 Without her love; for her employ them all, Commend them and condemn them to her service Or to their own perdition. POLIXENES Fairly offered. CAMILLO This shows a sound affection. 435 SHEPHERD But my daughter, Say you the like to him? PERDITA I cannot speak So well, nothing so well, no, nor mean better. By th’ pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out 440 The purity of his. SHEPHERD Take hands, a bargain.— And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to ’t: I give my daughter to him and will make Her portion equal his. 445 FLORIZELL O, that must be I’ th’ virtue of your daughter. One being dead, I shall have more than you can dream of yet, Enough then for your wonder. But come on, Contract us fore these witnesses. 450 SHEPHERD Come, your hand— And daughter, yours. | Florizel doesn’t need anyone to twist his arm to talk about his
girlfriend – he professes his love for Perdita, which prompts the Old
Shepherd to give his daughter permission to marry. |
POLIXENES, To Florizell Soft, swain, awhile, beseech you. Have you a father? 455 FLORIZELL I have, but what of him? POLIXENES Knows he of this? FLORIZELL He neither does nor shall. POLIXENES Methinks a father Is at the nuptial of his son a guest 460 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 alt’ring rheums? Can he speak? Hear? Know man from man? Dispute his own estate? 465 Lies he not bedrid, and again does nothing But what he did being childish? FLORIZELL No, good sir. He has his health and ampler strength indeed Than most have of his age. 470 POLIXENES 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 475 But fair posterity, should hold some counsel In such a business. FLORIZELL I yield all this; But for some other reasons, my grave sir, Which ’tis not fit you know, I not acquaint 480 My father of this business. POLIXENES Let him know ’t. FLORIZELL He shall not. POLIXENES Prithee let him. FLORIZELL No, he must not. 485 SHEPHERD Let him, my son. He shall not need to grieve At knowing of thy choice. FLORIZELL Come, come, he must not. Mark our contract. | Before the Old Shepherd can bind his daughter’s hand to Florizel’s (an act of betrothal), the disguised Polixenes steps in and says not so fast – where’s Florizel’s father? Polixenes and Florizel argue about whether or not Florizel should tell his dad about his plans to marry Perdita. |
POLIXENES, removing his disguise Mark your divorce, 490 young sir, Whom son I dare not call. Thou art too base To be acknowledged. Thou a scepter’s heir That thus affects a sheep-hook!—Thou, old traitor, I am sorry that by hanging thee I can 495 But shorten thy life one week.—And thou, fresh piece Of excellent witchcraft, whom of force must know The royal fool thou cop’st with— SHEPHERD O, my heart! 500 POLIXENES I’ll have thy beauty scratched with briers and made More homely than thy state.—For thee, fond boy, If I may ever know thou dost but sigh That thou no more shalt see this knack—as never I mean thou shalt—we’ll bar thee from succession, 505 Not hold thee of our blood, no, not our kin, Far’r than Deucalion off. Mark thou my words. Follow us to the court. To Shepherd. Thou, churl, for this time, Though full of our displeasure, yet we free thee 510 From the dead blow of it.—And you, enchantment, Worthy enough a herdsman—yea, him too, That makes himself, but for our honor therein, Unworthy thee—if ever henceforth thou These rural latches to his entrance open, 515 Or hoop his body more with thy embraces, I will devise a death as cruel for thee As thou art tender to ’t. He exits. | When it becomes clear that Florizel has no intention of sharing his engagement with his dad, Polixenes removes his disguise and goes “Aha! You thought you could get married to some country bumpkin without my permission?” Polixenes throws a tantrum and disowns his son, sentences the Old Shepherd to death, and says he’s going to have Perdita’s gorgeous face “scratched with briars and made more homely” than her lowly social status. (Yikes! He sounds a lot like Leontes, don’t you think?) |
PERDITA Even here undone. I was not much afeard, for once or twice 520 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. To Florizell. Will ’t please you, sir, be gone? 525 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 farther, But milk my ewes and weep. | Perdita says she knew it was the king in disguise all along and was just
about to say something before Polixenes removed his disguise. Now that
the jig is up, she’ll have to forget about being queen and go back to
milking sheep. |
CAMILLO, to Shepherd Why, how now, father? 530 Speak ere thou diest. SHEPHERD I cannot speak, nor think, Nor dare to know that which I know. To Florizell. O sir, You have undone a man of fourscore three, 535 That thought to fill his grave in quiet, yea, To die upon the bed my father died, To lie close by his honest bones; but now Some hangman must put on my shroud and lay me Where no priest shovels in dust. To Perdita. O 540 cursèd wretch, That knew’st this was the Prince, and wouldst adventure To mingle faith with him!—Undone, undone! If I might die within this hour, I have lived 545 To die when I desire. He exits. | The Old Shepherd yells at Florizel and Perdita for not telling him that
Florizel was the prince. He wanted to retire in peace but now he’s going
to be put to death, which totally ruins his retirement plans. |
FLORIZELL, to Perdita Why look you so upon me? I am but sorry, not afeard; delayed, But nothing altered. What I was, I am, More straining on for plucking back, not following 550 My leash unwillingly. CAMILLO Gracious my lord, You know your father’s temper. At this time He will allow no speech, which I do guess You do not purpose to him; and as hardly 555 Will he endure your sight as yet, I fear. Then, till the fury of his Highness settle, Come not before him. FLORIZELL I not purpose it. I think Camillo? 560 CAMILLO, removing his disguise Even he, my lord. PERDITA, to Florizell How often have I told you ’twould be thus? How often said my dignity would last But till ’twere known? FLORIZELL It cannot fail but by 565 The violation of my faith; and then Let nature crush the sides o’ th’ Earth together And mar the seeds within. Lift up thy looks. From my succession wipe me, father. I Am heir to my affection. 570 CAMILLO Be advised. FLORIZELL I am, and by my fancy. If my reason Will thereto be obedient, I have reason. If not, my senses, better pleased with madness, Do bid it welcome. 575 CAMILLO This is desperate, sir. FLORIZELL So call it; but it does fulfill my vow. I needs must think it honesty. Camillo, Not for Bohemia nor the pomp that may Be thereat gleaned, for all the sun sees or 580 The close earth wombs or the profound seas hides In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath To this my fair beloved. Therefore, I pray you, As you have ever been my father’s honored friend, When he shall miss me, as in faith I mean not 585 To see him anymore, cast your good counsels Upon his passion. Let myself and fortune Tug for the time to come. This you may know And so deliver: I am put to sea With her who here I cannot hold on shore. 590 And most opportune to our need I have A vessel rides fast by, but not prepared For this design. What course I mean to hold Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor Concern me the reporting. 595 CAMILLO O my lord, I would your spirit were easier for advice Or stronger for your need. FLORIZELL Hark, Perdita.— I’ll hear you by and by. 600 Florizell and Perdita walk aside. | Florizel says he wants to run away with Perdita – he’s got a ship nearby so they can sail off together. |
CAMILLO He’s irremovable, Resolved for flight. Now were I happy if His going I could frame to serve my turn, Save him from danger, do him love and honor, Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia 605 And that unhappy king, my master, whom I so much thirst to see. FLORIZELL, coming forward Now, good Camillo, I am so fraught with curious business that I leave out ceremony. 610 CAMILLO Sir, I think You have heard of my poor services i’ th’ love That I have borne your father? FLORIZELL Very nobly Have you deserved. It is my father’s music 615 To speak your deeds, not little of his care To have them recompensed as thought on. CAMILLO Well, my lord, If you may please to think I love the King 620 And, through him, what’s nearest to him, which is Your gracious self, embrace but my direction, If your more ponderous and settled project May suffer alteration. On mine honor, I’ll point you where you shall have such receiving 625 As shall become your Highness, where you may Enjoy your mistress—from the whom I see There’s no disjunction to be made but by, As heavens forfend, your ruin—marry her, And with my best endeavors in your absence, 630 Your discontenting father strive to qualify And bring him up to liking. FLORIZELL How, Camillo, May this, almost a miracle, be done, That I may call thee something more than man, 635 And after that trust to thee? CAMILLO Have you thought on A place whereto you’ll go? FLORIZELL Not any yet. But as th’ unthought-on accident is guilty 640 To what we wildly do, so we profess Ourselves to be the slaves of chance, and flies Of every wind that blows. CAMILLO Then list to me. This follows: if you will not change your purpose 645 But undergo this flight, make for Sicilia, And there present yourself and your fair princess, For so I see she must be, ’fore Leontes. She shall be habited as it becomes The partner of your bed. Methinks I see 650 Leontes opening his free arms and weeping His welcomes forth, asks thee, the son, forgiveness, As ’twere i’ th’ father’s person; kisses the hands Of your fresh princess; o’er and o’er divides him ’Twixt his unkindness and his kindness. Th’ one 655 He chides to hell and bids the other grow Faster than thought or time. FLORIZELL Worthy Camillo, What color for my visitation shall I Hold up before him? 660 CAMILLO 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, shall deliver, Things known betwixt us three, I’ll write you down, 665 The which shall point you forth at every sitting What you must say, that he shall not perceive But that you have your father’s bosom there And speak his very heart. FLORIZELL I am bound to you. 670 There is some sap in this. CAMILLO A course more promising Than a wild dedication of yourselves To unpathed waters, undreamed shores, most certain 675 To miseries enough; no hope to help you, But as you shake off one to take another; Nothing so certain as your anchors, who Do their best office if they can but stay you Where you’ll be loath to be. Besides, you know 680 Prosperity’s the very bond of love, Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together Affliction alters. PERDITA One of these is true. I think affliction may subdue the cheek 685 But not take in the mind. CAMILLO Yea, say you so? There shall not at your father’s house these seven years Be born another such. 690 FLORIZELL My good Camillo, She’s as forward of her breeding as she is I’ th’ rear our birth. CAMILLO I cannot say ’tis pity She lacks instructions, for she seems a mistress 695 To most that teach. PERDITA Your pardon, sir. For this I’ll blush you thanks. FLORIZELL My prettiest Perdita. But O, the thorns we stand upon!—Camillo, 700 Preserver of my father, now of me, The medicine of our house, how shall we do? We are not furnished like Bohemia’s son, Nor shall appear in Sicilia. CAMILLO My lord, 705 Fear none of this. I think you know my fortunes Do all lie there. It shall be so 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. 710 They step aside and talk. | Camillo says that, since the prince won’t change his mind about marrying Perdita, he’ll give the kid some advice, which is to sail for Sicily with Perdita, where Leontes will most likely embrace him like a “son.” Since Camillo’s still got connections in Sicily, he’ll make sure Florizel and Perdita are outfitted like a prince and princess. Florizel can tell King Leontes that he’s been sent by his father to Sicily in order to see him. |
Enter Autolycus. AUTOLYCUS Ha, ha, what a fool Honesty is! And Trust, his sworn brother, a very simple gentleman! I have sold all my trumpery. Not a counterfeit stone, not a ribbon, glass, pomander, brooch, table book, ballad, knife, tape, glove, shoe tie, bracelet, horn ring, 715 to keep my pack from fasting. They throng who should buy first, as if my trinkets had been hallowed and brought a benediction to the buyer; by which means I saw whose purse was best in picture, and what I saw, to my good use I remembered. My 720 clown, who wants but something to be a reasonable man, grew so in love with the wenches’ song that he would not stir his pettitoes till he had both tune and words, which so drew the rest of the herd to me that all their other senses stuck in ears. You might have 725 pinched a placket, it was senseless; ’twas nothing to geld a codpiece of a purse. I could have filed keys off that hung in chains. No hearing, no feeling, but my sir’s song and admiring the nothing of it. So that in this time of lethargy I picked and cut most of 730 their festival purses. And had not the old man come in with a hubbub against his daughter and the King’s son, and scared my choughs from the chaff, I had not left a purse alive in the whole army. | Meanwhile, Autolycus comes on stage and brags about how he managed to
sell all of his junk to the suckers at the sheep-shearing festival. He
also managed to pick everybody’s pockets while he was at it, heh-heh. |
Camillo, Florizell, and Perdita come forward. CAMILLO, to Florizell Nay, but my letters, by this means being there 735 So soon as you arrive, shall clear that doubt. FLORIZELL And those that you’ll procure from King Leontes— CAMILLO Shall satisfy your father. PERDITA Happy be you! All that you speak shows fair. 740 CAMILLO, noticing Autolycus Who have we here? We’ll make an instrument of this, omit Nothing may give us aid. AUTOLYCUS, aside If they have overheard me now, why, hanging. CAMILLO How now, good fellow? Why shak’st thou so? 745 Fear not, man. Here’s no harm intended to thee. AUTOLYCUS I am a poor fellow, sir. CAMILLO Why, be so still. Here’s nobody will steal that from thee. Yet for the outside of thy poverty we must make an exchange. Therefore discase thee 750 instantly—thou must think there’s a necessity in ’t—and change garments with this gentleman. Though the pennyworth on his side be the worst, yet hold thee, there’s some boot. He hands Autolycus money. AUTOLYCUS I am a poor fellow, sir. Aside. I know you 755 well enough. CAMILLO Nay, prithee, dispatch. The gentleman is half flayed already. AUTOLYCUS Are you in earnest, sir? Aside. I smell the trick on ’t. 760 FLORIZELL Dispatch, I prithee. AUTOLYCUS Indeed, I have had earnest, but I cannot with conscience take it. | Then we get back to Camillo, Florizel, and Perdita. Camillo promises to write letters of introduction for the young couple. Camillo spots Autolycus and makes him trade clothes with Florizel so the prince can escape Bohemia without being recognized. |
CAMILLO Unbuckle, unbuckle. Florizell and Autolycus exchange garments. Fortunate mistress—let my prophecy 765 Come home to you!—you must retire yourself Into some covert. Take your sweetheart’s hat And pluck it o’er your brows, muffle your face, Dismantle you, and, as you can, disliken The truth of your own seeming, that you may— 770 For I do fear eyes over—to shipboard Get undescried. PERDITA I see the play so lies That I must bear a part. CAMILLO No remedy.— 775 Have you done there? FLORIZELL Should I now meet my father, He would not call me son. CAMILLO Nay, you shall have no hat. He gives Florizell’s hat to Perdita. Come, lady, come.—Farewell, my friend. 780 AUTOLYCUS Adieu, sir. FLORIZELL O Perdita, what have we twain forgot? Pray you, a word. They talk aside. | Camillo advises Perdita to disguise herself as well so she can make it to the ship safely. |
CAMILLO, aside What I do next shall be to tell the King Of this escape, and whither they are bound; 785 Wherein my hope is I shall so prevail To force him after, in whose company I shall re-view Sicilia, for whose sight I have a woman’s longing. FLORIZELL Fortune speed us!— 790 Thus we set on, Camillo, to th’ seaside. CAMILLO The swifter speed the better. Camillo, Florizell, and Perdita exit. | Camillo tells the audience that, after the kids set sail, he’s actually going to tattle on them to Polixenes. His hope is that Polixenes will ask him to tag along while he chases after them. That way, Camillo can finally go back home to Sicily. Florizel, Perdita, and Camillo run off, leaving Autolycus alone on stage. |
AUTOLYCUS I understand the business; I hear it. To have an open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand is necessary for a cutpurse; a good nose is requisite 795 also, to smell out work for th’ other senses. I see this is the time that the unjust man doth thrive. What an exchange had this been without boot! What a boot is here with this exchange! Sure the gods do this year connive at us, and we may do anything extempore. 800 The Prince himself is about a piece of iniquity, stealing away from his father with his clog at his heels. If I thought it were a piece of honesty to acquaint the King withal, I would not do ’t. I hold it the more knavery to conceal it, and therein am I 805 constant to my profession. | Autolycus tells the audience he’s figured out what’s going on but he’s
not going to tell the king because that would be way too honest. As a
con artist and a thief, Autolycus loathes honesty. (Plus, he’s probably
hoping for some kind of reward from the Prince.) |
Enter Shepherd’s Son and Shepherd, carrying the bundle and the box. Aside, aside! Here is more matter for a hot brain. Every lane’s end, every shop, church, session, hanging, yields a careful man work. He moves aside. SHEPHERD’S SON, to Shepherd See, see, what a man 810 you are now! There is no other way but to tell the King she’s a changeling and none of your flesh and blood. SHEPHERD Nay, but hear me. SHEPHERD’S SON Nay, but hear me! 815 SHEPHERD Go to, then. SHEPHERD’S SON She being none of your flesh and blood, your flesh and blood has not offended the King, and so your flesh and blood is not to be punished by him. Show those things you found 820 about her, those secret things, all but what she has with her. This being done, let the law go whistle, I warrant you. SHEPHERD I will tell the King all, every word, yea, and his son’s pranks too; who, I may say, is no honest 825 man, neither to his father nor to me, to go about to make me the King’s brother-in-law. SHEPHERD’S SON Indeed, brother-in-law was the farthest off you could have been to him, and then your blood had been the dearer by I know how much an 830 ounce. AUTOLYCUS, aside Very wisely, puppies. SHEPHERD Well, let us to the King. There is that in this fardel will make him scratch his beard. AUTOLYCUS, aside I know not what impediment this 835 complaint may be to the flight of my master. SHEPHERD’S SON Pray heartily he be at’ palace. | The Clown and the Old Shepherd show up carrying the bundle that was left with Perdita when she was abandoned as a baby – the Old Shepherd wants to show the King proof that Perdita is a “changeling” and that she isn’t his “flesh and blood” daughter. (Remember, the Old Shepherd doesn’t know Perdita’s a princess – he thinks she was left in Bohemia by a bunch of fairies.) The Old Shepherd thinks that, if he can prove Perdita’s not his biological daughter, he won’t be put to death. |
AUTOLYCUS, aside Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance. Let me pocket up my peddler’s excrement. (He removes his false beard.) 840 How now, rustics, whither are you bound? SHEPHERD To th’ palace, an it like your Worship. AUTOLYCUS Your affairs there? What, with whom, the condition of that fardel, the place of your dwelling, your names, your ages, of what having, breeding, 845 and anything that is fitting to be known, discover! SHEPHERD’S SON We are but plain fellows, sir. AUTOLYCUS A lie; you are rough and hairy. Let me have no lying. It becomes none but tradesmen, and they often give us soldiers the lie, but we pay them for it 850 with stamped coin, not stabbing steel; therefore they do not give us the lie. SHEPHERD’S SON Your Worship had like to have given us one, if you had not taken yourself with the manner. 855 SHEPHERD Are you a courtier, an ’t like you, sir? AUTOLYCUS Whether it like me or no, I am a courtier. Seest thou not the air of the court in these enfoldings? Hath not my gait in it the measure of the court? Receives not thy nose court odor from me? 860 Reflect I not on thy baseness court contempt? Think’st thou, for that I insinuate and toze from thee thy business, I am therefore no courtier? I am courtier cap-a-pie; and one that will either push on or pluck back thy business there. Whereupon I 865 command thee to open thy affair. SHEPHERD My business, sir, is to the King. AUTOLYCUS What advocate hast thou to him? SHEPHERD I know not, an ’t like you. SHEPHERD’S SON, aside to Shepherd Advocate’s the 870 court word for a pheasant. Say you have none. SHEPHERD, to Autolycus None, sir. I have no pheasant, cock nor hen. AUTOLYCUS How blest are we that are not simple men! Yet Nature might have made me as these are. 875 Therefore I will not disdain. SHEPHERD’S SON, to Shepherd This cannot be but a great courtier. SHEPHERD His garments are rich, but he wears them not handsomely. 880 SHEPHERD’S SON He seems to be the more noble in being fantastical. A great man, I’ll warrant. I know by the picking on ’s teeth. AUTOLYCUS The fardel there. What’s i’ th’ fardel? Wherefore that box? 885 SHEPHERD Sir, there lies such secrets in this fardel and box which none must know but the King, and which he shall know within this hour if I may come to th’ speech of him. AUTOLYCUS Age, thou hast lost thy labor. 890 SHEPHERD Why, sir? AUTOLYCUS The King is not at the palace. He is gone aboard a new ship to purge melancholy and air himself, for, if thou beest capable of things serious, thou must know the King is full of grief. 895 | Autolycus hears all this and decides the bundle may possibly contain
something that could prevent the prince from marrying Florizel, so he
convinces the Old Shepherd and his son that he’s a courtier and that
King Polixenes has boarded a ship. |
SHEPHERD So ’tis said, sir—about his son, that should have married a shepherd’s daughter. AUTOLYCUS If that shepherd be not in handfast, let him fly. The curses he shall have, the tortures he shall feel, will break the back of man, the heart of 900 monster. SHEPHERD’S SON Think you so, sir? AUTOLYCUS Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy and vengeance bitter; but those that are germane to him, though removed fifty times, shall 905 all come under the hangman—which, though it be great pity, yet it is necessary. An old sheep-whistling rogue, a ram tender, to offer to have his daughter come into grace! Some say he shall be stoned, but that death is too soft for him, say I. Draw our throne 910 into a sheepcote? All deaths are too few, the sharpest too easy. SHEPHERD’S SON Has the old man e’er a son, sir, do you hear, an ’t like you, sir? AUTOLYCUS He has a son, who shall be flayed alive; then 915 ’nointed over with honey, set on the head of a wasps’-nest; then stand till he be three-quarters and a dram dead, then recovered again with aqua vitae or some other hot infusion; then, raw as he is, and in the hottest day prognostication proclaims, shall 920 he be set against a brick wall, the sun looking with a southward eye upon him, where he is to behold him with flies blown to death. But what talk we of these traitorly rascals, whose miseries are to be smiled at, their offenses being so capital? Tell me—for you 925 seem to be honest plain men—what you have to the King. Being something gently considered, I’ll bring you where he is aboard, tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your behalfs; and if it be in man besides the King to effect your suits, here is 930 man shall do it. | Autolycus tells the pair a bit of gossip about Perdita (who pretends not to recognize the Old Shepherd and the Clown). He says he heard that Perdita’s shepherd father is going to be put to death and her brother is going to be tortured. Specifically, the brother’s going to be whipped and then covered in honey before being placed next to a wasp’s nest. After he scares the bejeezus out of the two men, he offers to take them to the king and make proper introductions. |
SHEPHERD’S SON, to Shepherd He seems to be of great authority. Close with him, give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold. Show the inside of your 935 purse to the outside of his hand, and no more ado. Remember: “stoned,” and “flayed alive.” SHEPHERD, to Autolycus An ’t please you, sir, to undertake the business for us, here is that gold I have. I’ll make it as much more, and leave this 940 young man in pawn till I bring it you. AUTOLYCUS After I have done what I promised? SHEPHERD Ay, sir. AUTOLYCUS Well, give me the moiety. Shepherd hands him money. Are you a party in this business? 945 | Not wanting to be tortured, the Clown votes to give Autolycus a bunch of gold to take them to King Polixenes. The Shepherd hands over some dough and promises to give Autolycus more money after he’s introduced him to the king. |
SHEPHERD’S SON In some sort, sir; but though my case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flayed out of it. AUTOLYCUS O, that’s the case of the shepherd’s son! Hang him, he’ll be made an example. SHEPHERD’S SON, to Shepherd Comfort, good comfort. 950 We must to the King, and show our strange sights. He must know ’tis none of your daughter nor my sister. We are gone else.—Sir, I will give you as much as this old man does when the business is performed, and remain, as he says, your pawn till it 955 be brought you. AUTOLYCUS I will trust you. Walk before toward the seaside. Go on the right hand. I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you. SHEPHERD’S SON, to Shepherd We are blessed in this 960 man, as I may say, even blessed. SHEPHERD Let’s before, as he bids us. He was provided to do us good. Shepherd and his son exit. | Autolycus says something like, “Great – you go on ahead to the sea shore and I’ll meet you there.” |
AUTOLYCUS If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would not suffer me. She drops booties in my 965 mouth. I am courted now with a double occasion: gold, and a means to do the Prince my master good; which who knows how that may turn back to my advancement? I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him. If he think it fit to shore 970 them again and that the complaint they have to the King concerns him nothing, let him call me rogue for being so far officious, for I am proof against that title and what shame else belongs to ’t. To him will I present them. There may be matter in it. 975 He exits. | Left alone on stage, Autolycus confides to the audience that he’s the luckiest guy on earth – not only is he going to make a bunch of money by scamming the Old Shepherd and his son, he’s also going to do the prince a big favor (by leading the Old Shepherd to the prince’s ship instead of to the King), which means that Prince Florizel will be indebted to Autolycus. |