SCENE VI.
Enter Shepherd and Clown.
Here come those I have done good to against my will,
and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune.
Shep.
Come, boy, I am past more children; but
thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born.
Clo.
You are well met, Sir; you denied to fight
with me this other day, because I was no gentleman
born: see you these cloaths? say, you see them not,
and think me still no gentleman born. You were best
say, these robes are not gentlemen born. Give me
the lye; do, and try whether I am not now a gentleman
born.
Aut.
I know you are now, Sir, a gentleman born.
Clo.
Ay, and have been so any time these four hours.
Shep.
And so have I, boy.
Clo.
So you have; but I was a gentleman born before
my father; for the King's son took me by the
hand, and call'd me brother; and then the two King's
call'd my father brother; and then the Prince my brother,
and the Princess my sister, call'd my father, father,
and so we wept; and there was the first gentleman-like
tears that ever we shed.
Shep.
We may live, son, to shed many more.
Clo.
Ay, or else 'twere hard luck, being in so preposterous
estate as we are.
Aut.
I humbly beseech you, Sir, to pardon me all
the faults I have committed to your worship, and to
give me your good report to the Prince, my master.
Shep.
'Pr'ythee, son, do; for we must be gentle,
now we are gentlemen.
Clo.
Thou wilt amend thy life?
Aut.
Ay, an it like your good worship.
-- 343 --
Clo.
Give me thy hand; I will swear to the Prince,
thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.
Shep.
You may say it, but not swear it.
Clo.
Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? let boors
and * notefranklins say it, I'll swear it.
Shep.
How if it be false, son?
Clo.
If it be near so false, a true gentleman may
swear it in the behalf of his friend: and I'll swear [illeg.]
the Prince, thou art a tall fellow of thy hands, and
that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know, thou art
no † notetall fellow of thy hands; and that thou wilt be
drunk; but I'll swear it; and, I would, thou would'st
be a tall fellow of thy hands.
Aut.
I will prove so, Sir, to my power.
Clo.
Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow; if I do
not wonder how thou dar'st venture to be drunk, not
being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark, the Kings
and the Princes, our kindred, are going to see the
Queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy
good masters.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].