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of hair; they call themselves Saltiers, and they have 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 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 see these

four threes of herdsmen.

SERVANT.

One three of them, by their own report, sir, hath danc'd

before the King; and not the worst of the three but jumps twelve

foot and a half by th' squier.

SHEPHERD.

Leave your prating; since these good men are pleas'd, let

them come in; but quickly now.

SERVANT.

Why, they stay at door, sir. Exit

Here a dance of twelve SATYRS

POLIXENES.

[To SHEPHERD] O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter.

[To CAMILLO] Is it not too far gone? 'Tis time to part them.

He's simple and tells much. [To FLORIZEL] 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 ransack'd

The pedlar's silken treasury and have pour'd it

To her acceptance: you have let him go

And nothing marted with him. If your lass

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.

FLORIZEL.

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,

But not deliver'd. O, hear me breathe my life

Before this ancient sir, whom, it should seem,

Hath sometime lov'd. I take thy hand- this hand,

As soft as dove's down and as white as it,

Or Ethiopian's tooth, or the fann'd snow that's bolted

By th' northern blasts twice o'er.

POLIXENES.

What follows this?

How prettily the young swain seems to wash

The hand was fair before! I have put you out.

But to your protestation; let me hear

What you profess.

FLORIZEL.

Do, and be witness to't.

POLIXENES.

And this my neighbour too?

FLORIZEL.

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 service

Or to their own perdition.

POLIXENES.

Fairly offer'd.

CAMILLO.

This shows a sound affection.

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

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.

FLORIZEL.

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.

SHEPHERD.

Come, your hand;

And, daughter, yours.

POLIXENES.

Soft, swain, awhile, beseech you;

Have you a father?

FLORIZEL.

I have, but what of him?

POLIXENES.

Knows he of this?

FLORIZEL.

He neither does nor shall.

POLIXENES.

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 alt'ring 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?

FLORIZEL.

No, good sir;

He has his health, and ampler strength indeed

Than most have of his age.

POLIXENES.

By my white beard,

You offer him, if this be so, a wrong

Something unfilial. Reason