The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1713]
He had most rich Attire, a fair Hat and Feather, a gilt Sword,
and most excellent Hangers.
CLOWN.
Pox on his Hangers, would he had been gelt for his labor.
JOAN.
Had you but heard him swear, you would have thought-
CLOWN
I, as you did; swearing and lying goes together still. Did his Oathes
get you with Childe? we shall have a roaring Boy then, yfaith.
Well, sister, I must leave you.
JOAN.
Dear Brother, stay, help me to finde him out,
I'le ask no further.
CLOWN.
'Sfoot, who should I finde? who should I ask for?
JOAN.
Alas, I know not, he uses in these woods,
And these are witness of his oathes and promise.
CLOWN.
We are like to have a hot suit on't, when our best witness's but
a Knight a'th'Post.
JOAN.
Do but enquire this Forrest, I'le go with you;
Some happy fate may guide us till we meet him.
CLOWN.
Meet him? and what name shall we have for him, when we meet him?
'Sfoot, thou neither knowst him nor canst tell what to call him.
Was ever man so tyr'd with such a business, to have a sister got
with child, and not know who did it? Well, you shalll see him, I'le
do my best for you, Ile make Proclamation; if these Woods and Trees,
as you say, will bear any witness, let them answer. Oh, yes: if there
be any man that wants a name will come in for conscience sake, and
acknowledge himself to be a Whore-Master, he shal have that laid to
his charge in an hour, he shall not be rid on in an age; if he have Lands,
he shall have an heir; if he have patience, he shall have a wife;
if he have neither Lands nor patience, he shall have a whore.
So ho, boy, so ho, so, so.
(Within) PRINCE UTER.
So ho, boy, so ho, illo ho, illo ho.
CLOWN.
Hark, hark, sister, there's one hollows to us; what a wicked world's this!
a man cannot so soon name a whore, but a knave comes presently: and see
where he is; stand close a while, sister.
Enter PRINCE UTER.
PRINCE.
How like a voice that Eccho spake, but oh,
My thoughts are lost for ever in amaazement.
Could I but meet a man to tell her beauties,
These trees would bend their tops to kiss the air
That from my lips should give her praises up.
CLOWN.
He talks of a woman, sister.
JOAN.
This may be he, brother.
CLOWN.
View him well; you see, he has a fair Sword, but his Hangers are faln.
PRINCE.
Here I did see her first, here view her beauty:
Oh, had I known her name, I had been happy.
CLOWN.
Sister, this is he, sure; he knows not thy name neither. A couple of
wise fools yfaith, to get children, and know not one another.
PRINCE.
You weeping leaves, upon whose tender cheeks
Doth stand a flood of tears at my complainy,
Who heard my vows and oathes -
CLOWN.
Law, Law, he has been a great swearer too; tis he, sister.
PRINCE.
For having overtook her;
As I have seen a forward blood-hound strip
The swifter of the cry, ready to seize
His wished hopes, upon the sudden view,
Struck with astonishment, at his arriv'd prey,
Instead of seizure stands at fearful bay;
Or like to Marius soldiers, who, o'retook,
The eye sight killing Gorgon at one look
Made everlasting stand: so fear'd my power,
Whose cloud aspir'd the Sun, dissolv'd a shower.
Pigmalion, then I tasted thy sad fate,
Whose Ivory picture and my fair were one:
Our dotage past imagination.
I saw and felt desire -
CLOWN.
Pox a your fingering! did he feel, sister?
PRINCE.
But enjoy'd not.
Oh fate, thou hadst thy days and nights to feed
On calm affection; one poor sight was all,
Converts my pleasure to perpetual thrall:
Imbracing thine, thou lostest breath and desire,
So I, relating mine, will here expire.
For here I vow to you mounrful plants,
Who were the first made happy by her fame,
Never to part hence, till I know her name.
CLOWN.
Give me thy hand, sister, The Childe has found his Father. This is he,
sure; as I am a man, had I been a woman, these kinde words would
have won me. I should have had a great belly too, that's certain.
Well, I'le speak to him. - Most honest and fleshly minded Gentleman,
give me your hand, sir.