The selfsame sun, that shines upon his court, I told you, what would come of this: 'Beseech you, and weep. Why, how now, father, Speak, ere thou diest. Shep. 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 54, To lie close by his honest bones: but now 53 To look on or look upon without any substantive annexed is a mode of expression, which, though now unusual, appears to have been legitimate in Shakspeare's time. So in Troilus and Cressida: He is my prize: I will not look upon.' Sir John Davies in his Nosce Teipsum, 1599, has a similar thought: Thou like the sunne dost with indifferent ray Into the palace and the cottage shine.' and Habington in his Queen of Arragon has imitated it not inelegantly: An equal influence on the open cottage, Where the poor shepherd's child is rudely nursed, And on the cradle where the prince is rock'd With care and whisper.' 54 This speech of the old clown is admirably characteristic ; his selfishness is seen by his concealing the adventure of Perdita, and here supported by the little regard he shows for his son or her: he is entirely taken up with himself though fourscore and three. Where no priest shovels-in dust 55.. -O cursed wretch ! [To PERDITA. That knew'st this was the prince, and would'st ad venture To mingle faith with him.-Undone! undone! To die when I desire. I Flo. [Exit. Why look you so upon me? 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 56 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. 'twould be thus? Per. How often have I told you, 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 Cam. affection. Be advis'd. 55 Before the reform of the burial service by Edward VI. it was the custom for the priest to throw earth on the body in the form of a cross, and then sprinkle it with holy water. 56 Leash, a leading-string. my reason Flo. I am; and by my fancy 57 Cam. This is desperate, sir. With her, whom here I cannot hold on shore; Cam. O, my lord, I would your spirit were easier for advice, Flo. Hark, Perdita. I'll hear you by and by. Cam. -[Takes her aside. [To CAMILLO. He's irremovable. Resolv'd for flight: Now were I happy, if 57 Fancy here means love, as in other places already pointed out. 58 Our need.' The old copy reads her. The emendation is Theobald's. Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia, Flo. Now, good Camillo, I am so fraught with curious business, that I leave out ceremony. Cam. Sir, I think, [Going. You have heard of my poor services, i'the love Flo. Cam. Well, my lord, If you may please to think I love the king; And, through him, what is nearest to him, which is I'll point you where you shall have such receiving Flo. How, Camillo, May this, almost a miracle, be done? That I may call thee something more than man, And, after that, trust to thee. But as the unthought-on accident 00 is guilty Then list to me: Cam. The partner of your bed. Methinks, I see Flo. What colour for Worthy Camillo, my visitation shall I Hold up before him? Sir, The manner of your bearing towards him, with you 60 This unthought-on accident is the unexpected discovery made by Polixenes. 61 Guilty to, though it sound harsh to our ears, was the phraseology of Shakspeare. So in the Comedy of Errors, Act iii. Sc. 2: 'But lest myself be guilty to self wrong, I'll stop my ears against the mermaid's song.' 62 The old copy reads, thee there son.' The correction was made in the third folio. 63 The council-days were called sittings, in Shakspeare's time. |