made themselves all men of hair 42; they call themselves saltiers 43: 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'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:-1 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 44. 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 45. Is it not too far gone?—'Tis time to part them. 42 It is most probable that they were dressed in goat-skins. A dance of satyrs was no unusual entertainment in Shakspeare's time, or even at an earlier period. A very curious relation of a disguising or mummery of this kind, which had like to have proved fatal to some of the actors in it, is related by Froissart as occurring in the court of France in 1392. The reader may also consult Melvil's Memoirs, p. 152, ed. 1725, or the late edition of Shakspeare, by Mr. Boswell, vol. xiv. p. 371. Mr. Douce has given a song for four voices from Ravenscroft's collection, called The Satyres Daunce. Antimasques,' says Lord Bacon, are usually composed of satyrs, baboons, antiques, beasts, &c.'—Essay 37. 43 Satyrs. 44 Foot rule, esquierré, Fr. 45 This is an answer to something which the shepherd is supposed to have said to Polixenes during the dance. 6 He's simple, and tells much. [Aside.]-How now, fair shepherd? Your heart is full of something, that does take To load my she with knacks: I would have ransack'd Of happy holding her. 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. Pol. And this my neighbour too? 46 Bought, trafficked. 47 Straitened, put to difficulties. 48 That is sifted. This is a beautiful image, which the poet has repeated with a little variation in A Midsummer Night's Dream: 'That pure congealed white, high Taurus' snow And he, and more Flo. 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. 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: Shep. 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. O, that must be Flo. Shep. And, daughter, yours. Pol. Come, your hand; Soft, swain, a while, 'beseech you; Have you a father? Flo. I have: But what of him? Pol. Knows he of this? He neither does, nor shall. Pol. Methinks, a father 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? Flo. No, good sir; He has his health, and ampler strength, indeed, Than most have of his age. Pol. 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, But fair posterity) should hold some counsel Flo. I yield all this; But, for some other reasons, my grave sir, Pol. Let him know't. Flo. He shall not. Pol. Pr'ythee, let him. Flo. No, he must not. Shep. Let him, my son; he shall not need to grieve At knowing of thy choice. Whom son I dare not call; thou art too base To be acknowledg'd: Thou a sceptre's heir, 49 i. e. converse about his own affairs.' The phrase occurs again in Romeo and Juliet:- 'Let me dispute with thee of thy estate. That thus affect'st a sheep-hook!-Thou, old traitor, I am sorry, that, by hanging thee, I can but Shorten thy life one week.—And thou, fresh piece Of excellent witchcraft; who, of force, must know The royal fool thou cop'st with;— Shep. O, my heart! Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briars, 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 never see this knack, (as never I mean thou shalt), we'll bar thee from succession; Per. I was not much afeard: [Exit. Even here undone! for once, or twice, and tell him plainly, 50 Far, in the old spelling farre, i. e. farther. The ancient comparative of fer was ferrer. This in the time of Chaucer was softened into ferre. Thus was it peinted, I can say no ferre.' 51 The old copy reads hope. 52 Warburton remarks that Perdita's character is here finely sustained. To have made her quite astonished at the king's discovery of himself had not become her birth; and to have given her presence of mind to have made this reply to the king, had not become her education.' |