Dor. Is it true too, think you? Aut. Five justices' hands at it; and witnesses, more than my pack will hold. Clo. Lay it by too: Another. Aut. This is a merry ballad; but a very pretty one. Mop. Let's have some merry ones. Aut. 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. Mop. We can both sing it; if thou'lt bear a part, thou shalt hear; 'tis in three parts. Dor. We had the tune on't a month ago. Aut. I can bear my part; you must know, 'tis my occupation: have at it with you. SONG. A. Get you hence, for 1 must go; Where, it fits not you to know. D. Whither? M. O, whither? D. Whither? M. It becomes thy oath full well, Thou to me thy secrets tell: D. Me too, let me go thither. M. Or thou go'st to the grange, or mill: D. If to either, thou dost ill. A. Neither. D. What, neither? A. Neither. D. Thou hast sworn my love to be; M. Thou hast sworn it more to me: Then, whither go'st? say, whither? Clo. We'll have this song out anon by ourselves; My father and the gentlemen are in sad talk, and sad-] For serious. we'll not trouble them: Come, bring away thy pack after me. Wenches, I'll buy for you both:-Pedler, let's have the first choice.-Follow me, girls. Aut. And you shall pay well for 'em. Any silk, any thread, Any toys for your head, Aside. Of the new'st, and fin'st, fin'st wear-a? Money's a medler, That doth utter" all men's ware-a. [Exeunt Clown, AUTOLYCUS, DORCAS, and MOPSA. Enter a Servant. 8 Serv. Master, there is three carters, three shepherds, three neat-herds, three swine-herds, that have made themselves all men of hair; they call themselves saltiers: 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' the mind, (if it be not too rough for some, that know little but bowling,) it will please plentifully. Shep. Away! we'll none on't; here has been too much humble foolery already:-I know, sir, we weary you. Pol. You weary those that refresh us: Pray, let's see these four threes of herdsmen. Serv. One three of them, by their own report, 1 That doth utter -] To utter. To vend by retail. all men of hair;] Men of hair, are hairy men, or satyrs. A dance of satyrs was no unusual entertainment in the middle ages. 9 they call themselves saltiers:] He means Satyrs. gallimaufry-] A confused heap of things together. sir, hath danced before the king; and not the worst of the three, but jumps twelve foot and a half by the squire.' Shep. Leave your prating: since these good men are pleased, let them come in; but quickly now. Serv. Why, they stay at door, sir. [Exit. Re-enter Servant, with Twelve Rusticks, habited like Satyrs. They dance, and then exeunt. Pol. O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter.3 Is it not too far gone?-'Tis time to part them.— He's simple, and tells much. [Aside.]-How now, fair shepherd? Your heart is full of something, that does take Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young, And handed love, as you do, I was wont To load my she with knacks: I would have ran sack'd The pedler's silken treasury, and have pour'd it Flo. Old sir, I know She prizes not such trifles as these are: The gifts, she looks from me, are pack'd and lock'd Up in my heart; which I have given already, 2 by the squire.] i. e. by the foot-rule. Esquierre, Fr. 5 Pol. O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter.] This is an answer to something which the Shepherd is supposed to have said to Polixenes during the dance. straited] i. e. put to difficulties. But not deliver'd.-O, hear me breathe my life How prettily the young swain seems to wash 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 knowledge, 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 ser So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better: Shep. Take hands, a bargain;And, friends unknown you shall bear witness to't: 5 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. Than most have of his age. Pol. No, good sir; 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, But fair posterity,) should hold some counsel In such a business. 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. |