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. |