Aut. Here's the midwife's name to't, one mistress Taleporter; and five or six honest wives' that were present: Why should I carry lies abroad? Mop. 'Pray you now, buy it. Clo. Come on, lay it by: And let's first see more ballads; we'll buy the other things anon. Aut. 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 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. 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 I 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 : A. Neither. D. What, neither? A. Neither. 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 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. Will you buy any tape, Or lace for your cape, Any toys for your head, Of the new'st, and fin'st, fin'st wear-a? Come to the pedler; Money's a medler, That doth utter all men's ware-a. [Aside. [Exeunt Clown, AUTOLYCUS, DORCAS, and MOPSA. Enter a Servant. 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 6 : sad] For serious. 7 That doth utter -] To utter; to vend by retail. 8 all men of hair ;] Men of hair, are hairy men, or satyrs. A dance of satyrs was no unusual entertainment in the middle ages. they call themselves saltiers :] He means satyrs. VOL. III. I i 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 homely 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, 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 '- Your heart is full of something, that does take To load my she with knacks: I would have ransack'd 1 2 gallimaufry-] A confused heap of things together. by the squire.] i. e. by the foot rule. Esquierre, Fr. 3 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. 4 straited] i. e. put to difficulties. For a reply, at least, if you make a care 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 How prettily the young swain seems to wash What you profess. Flo. Do, and be witness to't. And he, and more Pol. And this my neighbour too? That ever made eye swerve; had force, and knowledge, Commend them, and condemn them, to her service, Pol. Cam. This shows a sound affection. Shep. Say you the like to him? Per. Fairly offer'd. But, my daughter, I cannot speak So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better; 5 or the fann'd snow, That's bolted, &c.] The fine sieve used by millers to separate flour from bran is called a bolting cloth. By the pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out The purity of his. Shep. Take hands, a bargain; And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to't: Her portion equal his. Flo. O, that must be I'the virtue of your daughter: one being dead, 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*? Lies he not bed-rid? and again does nothing, But what he did being childish? 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, 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. |