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You were pretty lordings then?

Pol. We were, fair Queen,

Two lads, that thought there was no more behind,

But fuch a day to morrow as to-day,

And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my lord

The verier wag o'th' two?

Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i' th'
Sun,

And bleat the one at th' other: what we chang'd,
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill doing; no, nor dream'd,
That any did had we purfu'd that life,

And our weak fpirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With ftronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven
Boldly, Not guilty; th' impofition clear'd, (2)
Hereditary ours.

Her. By this we gather,

You have tript fince.

Pol. O my most facred lady,

Temptations have fince then been born to's: for
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl;
Your precious felf had then not crofs'd the eyes
Of
my young play-fellow.

Her. Grace to boot!

Of this make no conclufion, left you say,

Your Queen and I are devils. Yet, go on ;

Th' offences we have made you do, we'll answer; you first finn'd with us, and that with us

If

You did continue fault; and that you flipt not,

With but with us.

any

Lea. Is he won yet?

Her. He'll ftay, my lord.

Leo. At my request he would not:

Hermione, my deareft, thou ne'er spok'ft

(2)- ---tb' Impofition clear'd,

Hereditary ours.] i. e. fetting afide Original Sin: bating That Impofition from the Offence of our first Parents, we might have boldly protefted our Innocence to Heaven, against any Guilt committed by Ourselves.

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To better purpose.

Her. Never?

Leo. Never, but once.

Her. What? have I twice faid well? when was't be fore?

I pr'ythee, tell me; cram's with praife, and make's
As fat as tame things: one good deed, dying tongue-lefs,
Siaughters a thoufand, waiting upon That.

Our praifes are our wages. You may ride's
With one foft kifs a thousand furlongs, ere
With fpur we heat an acre.
But to th' goal:
My laft good deed was to intreat his stay;
What was my firft? it has an elder fifter,

Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace Į
But once before I spake to th' purpose? when ?
Nay, let me have't; I long.

Leo. Why, that was when

Three crabbed months had fowr'd themselves to death, Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,

And clepe thyfelf my love; then didst thou utter, "I am yours for ever."

Her. 'Tis grace, indeed.

Why, lo you now; I've spoke to th' purpose twice;
The one for ever earn'd a royal husband;

Th' other, for fome while a friend.

Leo. Too hot, too hot

To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods.

I have tremor cordis on me

-my heart dances;

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But not for joy not joy.This entertainment
May a free face put on; derive a liberty
From heartinefs, from bounty, fertile bofom,
And well become the Agent: 't may, I grant;
But to be padling palms, and pinching fingers,
As now they are, and making practis'd smiles,
As in a looking glafs-and then to figh, as 'twere
The mort o' th' deer; oh, that is entertainment
My bofom likes not, nor my brows-Mamillius,
Art thou my boy?

Mam. Ay, my good lord.
Leo. I'fecks!

Why,

Why, that's my bawcock; what? has't fmutch'd thy

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They fay, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain,
We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain;
And yet the fteer, the heifer, and the calf,

Are all call'd neat. Still virginalling

Upon his palm?

Art thou my calf?

[Obferving Polixenes and Hermione. how now, you wanton calf!

Mam. Yes, if you will, my Lord.

Leo. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots that
I have,

To be full like me.-Yet they say, we are
Almost as like as eggs; women say so,
That will fay any thing; but were they false,
As o'er-dy'd blacks, as winds, as waters; falfe
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
No bourne 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true
To fay, this boy were like me. Come, Sir page,
Look on me with your welkin-eye, fweet villain.
Moft dear'ft, my collop-can thy dam-may't be-
Imagination! thou doft ftab to th' center.

Thou doft make poffible things not be fo held,
Communicat'ft with dreams- -(how can this be?),
With what's unreal, Thou co-active art,

And fellow'ft Nothing. Then 'tis very credent,
Thou may'ft co join with fomething, and thou doft,
And That beyond commiffion; and I find it;
And That to the infection of my brains,

And hardning of my brows.

Pol. What means Sicilia ?

Her. He fomething feems unfettled.

Pol. How my lord?

Leo. What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?

Her. You look,

As if you held a brow of much Distraction.

Are not you mov'd, my lord?

Leo. No, in good earnest.

How fometimes nature will betray its folly!
Its tenderness! and make itself a paftime

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To harder bofoms! Looking on the lines
Of my boy's face, methoughts, I did recoil
Twenty-three years, and saw myself unbreech'd,
In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled,
Left it should bite its mafter; and fo prove,
As ornaments oft do, too dangerous;

How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,
This fquafh, this gentleman. Mine honest friend,
Will you take eggs for mony?

Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight.

Leo. You will! why, happy man be's dole!
brother,

Are you fo fond of your young Prince, as we
Do feem to be of ours?

Pol. If at home, Sir,

He's all my exercife, my mirth, my matter;
Now my fworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parafite, my foldier, ftates-man, all;
He makes a July's day fhort as December;
And with his varying childness, cures in me
Thoughts that should thick my blood.
Leo. So ftands this Squire

Offic'd with me: we two will walk, my lord,

And leave you to your graver steps.

Hermione,

How thou lov'ft us, fhew in our brother's welcome :

Let what is dear in Sicily, be cheap:

Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's
Apparent to my heart.

Her. If you will seek us,

My

We are yours i' th' garden: fhall's attend you there?
Leo. To your own bents difpofe you; you'll be found,

Be you beneath the sky: I am angling now,

Tho' you perceive me not, how I give line;

Go to, go to.

[Afide, obferving Her.

How the holds up the neb! the bill to him!

And arms her with the boldnefs of a wife

[Exe. Polix. Her. and attendants. Manent Leo. Mam. and Cam.

To her allowing husband. Gone already,

Inch-thick, knee-deep; o'er head and ears, a fork'd one.

Go,

1

Go, play, boy, play-thy mother plays, and I
Play too; but fo difgrac'd a part, whose iffue
Will hifs me to my grave: contempt and clamour
Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play
have been,

there

Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now while I fpeak this, holds his wife by th' arm,
That little thinks, she has been sluic'd in's absence ;
And his pond fifh'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour : nay, there's comfort in't,
Whiles other men have gates; and thofe gates open'd,
As mine, against their will. Should all despair,
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Phyfick for't, there is none:
It is a bawdy planet, that will strike

Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful: think it.
From eait, weft, north and south, be it concluded,
No barricado for a belly. Know't,

It will let in and out the enemy,

How now, boy?

With bag and baggage: many a thousand of's
Have the difeafe, and feel't not.
Mam. I am like you, they say.
Leo. Why, that's fome comfort.
What? Camillo there?

Cam. Ay, my good Lord.

Leo. Go play, Mamillius.

thou'rt an honeft man:

[Exit Mamillius.

Camille, this Great Sir will yet stay longer.

Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold;

When you caft out, it still came home.

Leo. Didft note it?

Cam. He would not stay at your petitions made;

His bufinefs more material.

Leo. Didft perceive it?

They're here with me already; whisp'ring, rounding: Sicilia is a fo-forth; 'tis far gone,

When I fhall guft it laft. How came't, Camillo,

That he did ftay?

Cam. At the good Queen's entreaty.

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Lev.

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