Clown.

See, see, what a man you are now—there is no other way, but to tell the king she is a changeling, and none of your flesh and blood.

Old Shep.

Nay, but hear me.

Clown.

Nay, but hear me.

Old Shep.

Go to, then—

Clown.

Let him know the truth of the matter; how you found her by the sea-side some eighteen years agone; that there was this bundle with her, with the things and trinkets contained therein; but there was some money too, which being spent in nursing her, you need say nothing about it, together with all the circumstances of the whole affair; do it, I say.

Old Shep.

And what then, think'st thou?

Clown.

Why then, 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 punish'd by him: shew those things—I say, you found about her, those secret things: this being done, let the law go whistle—I warrant you.

Old Shep.

I will tell the king all, every word; yea, and his son's pranks too; who, I may say, is no honest man, neither to his father nor to me, to go about to make me the king's brother-in-law.

Clown.

Indeed, brother-in-law was the farthest off you cou'd have been to him; and then your blood had been the dearer, by I know not how much an ounce.

Autolicus. (Aside.)

Very wisely, puppies.

Old Shep.

Well, let us to the king; there is that in this fardel, will make him scratch his beard.

Clown.

Pray heartily he be at the palace.

Autolicus. (Coming forward.)

How now, rustics, whither are you bound?

Old Shep.

To th' palace, an' it like your worship.

Autolicus.

Your affairs there? what? with whom? the condition of that fardel, the place of your dwelling,

your names, your age, of what having, breeding, and any thing that is fitting to be known, discover.

Clown.

We are but plain fellows, Sir.

Autolicus.

A lye—you are rough and hairy; let me have no lying, it becomes none but tradesmen.

Old Shep.

Are you a courtier, an' like you, Sir?

Autolicus.

Whether it like me or no, I am a courtier—see'st 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-odour from me? reflect not I on thy baseness, court-contempt? think'st thou for that I insinuate, or toze from thee thy business, I am therefore no courtier? I am a courtier cap-à-pee; and one that will either push on, or push back thy business there; whereupon, I command thee to open thy affair.

Old Shep.

My business, Sir, is to the king.

Autolicus.

What advocate hast thou to him?

Old Shep.

I know not, and't like you.—Advocate!

Clown.

Advocate's the court word for a pheasant; say you have none.

Old Shep.
None, Sir; I have no pheasant, cock nor hen.

Autolicus.
How blest are we, that are not simple men!
Yet nature might have made as these are,
Therefore I will not disdain. [Aside.

Clown, to Shep.
This cannot be but a great courtier.

Old Shep. to Clown.

His garments are rich, but he wears 'em not handsomely.

Clown.

He seems to be more noble in being fantastical; a great man, I'll warrant, I know by the picking on's teeth.

Autolicus.
The fardel there, what's in the fardel?
Wherefore that box?

Old Shep.

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.

Autolicus.

Age, thou hast lost thy labour.

Old Shep.

Why, Sir?

Autolicus.

The king is not at the palace, he's gone aboard a new ship to purge melancholy, and air himself; for if thou be'st capable of things serious, thou must know the king is full of grief.

Old Shep.

So, 'tis said, Sir, about his son that shou'd have marry'd a shepherd's daughter.

Autolicus.

If that shepherd be not in hand fast, let him fly; the curses he shall have, the tortures he shall feel, will break the heart of man, the back of monster.

Old Shep.

Think you so, Sir?

Autolicus.

Not he, alone, shall suffer what wit can make heavy, and vengeance bitter; but those that are germain to him, tho' remov'd fifty times, shall all come under the hangman; which, tho' 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 ston'd; but that death is too soft for him, say I: draw our throne into a sheep-cot! all deaths are too few, the sharpest too easy.

Clown.

Has the old man e'er a son, Sir, do you hear, an't like you, Sir?

Autolicus.

He has a son, who shall be stay'd alive, then 'nointed over with honey, set on the head of a wasp's nest; then stand 'till he be three quarters and a dram dead; then recover'd again with aqua-vita, or some other hot infusion; then (raw as he is, and in the hottest day prognostication proclaims) shall 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 smil'd at, their offences being so capital? tell me, (for you seem to be honest, plain men) what you have to the king; being something gently consider'd, I'll bring you where he is, tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your behalf, and if it be in man, besides the king, to effect your suits, here is a man shall do it.

Clown.

He seems to be of great authority, close with him, give him gold; tho' authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is often led by the nose with gold; shew the inside of your purse to the outside of his hand, and no more ado; remember ston'd and stay'd alive.

Old Shep.

And'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 young man in pawn 'till I bring it you.

Autolicus.

After I have done what I promis'd—

Clown.

Ay, Sir.

Autolicus.

Well, give me the moiety—are you a party in this business?

Clown.

In some sort, Sir: but tho' my case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be stay'd out of it.

Autolicus.

O, that's the case of the shepherd's son; hang him, he'll be made an example.

Clown (To Shep.)

Comfort! good comfort! we must to the king, and shew 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 perform'd, and remain, as he says, your pawn 'till it be brought you.

Autolicus.

I will trust you; walk before toward the sea-side; go on the right hand, I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you.

Clown.

We are blest in this man, as I may say, ev'n blest.

Old Shep.

Let's before as he bids us; he was provided to do us good.