SCENE VII.
Enter an old Shepherd.
Shep.
I would there were no age between ten and three and
twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest: for there is nothing
in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging
the ancientry, stealing, fighting—hark you now—would any
but these boil'd brains of nineteen and two and twenty hunt this
weather? they have scar'd away two of my best sheep, which I
fear the wolf will sooner find than the master; if any where I have
them, 'tis by the sea-side, brouzing of ivy. Good luck, and't
be thy will, what have we here? [Taking up the child] Mercy
on's, a barne! a very pretty barne! a boy or a child, I wonder!
a pretty one, a very pretty one, sure some 'scape: tho' I am not
bookish, yet I can read waiting-gentlewoman in the 'scape. This
has been some stair-work, some trunk-work, some behind-door-work:
they were warmer that got this, than the poor thing is
here. I'll take it up for pity, yet I'll tarry 'till my son come:
he hollow'd but even now. Whoa, ho-hoa.
Enter Clown.
Clo.
Hilloa, loa.
Shep.
What, art so near? if thou'lt see a thing to talk on when
thou art dead and rotten, come hither. What ail'st thou, man?
Clo.
I have seen two such sights, by sea and by land; but I
-- 600 --
am not to say it is a sea, for it is now the sky; betwixt the
firmament and it you cannot thrust a bodkin's point.
Shep.
Why boy, how is it?
Clo.
I would you did but see how it chafes, how it rages, how
it takes up the shore; but that's not to the point; oh the most
piteous cry of the poor souls, sometimes to see 'em, and not to
see 'em: now the ship boring the moon with her main-mast,
and anon swallow'd with yest and froth, as you'd thrust a cork
into a hogshead. And then the land-service, to see how the
bear tore out his shoulder-bone, how he cry'd to me for help,
and said his name was Antigonus, a nobleman. But to make an
end of the ship, to see how the sea flap-dragon'd it. But first,
how the poor souls roar'd, and the sea mock'd them. And how
the poor gentleman roar'd, and the bear mock'd him, both roaring
louder than the sea, or weather.
Shep.
Name of mercy, when was this, boy?
Clo.
Now, now, I have not winked since I saw these sights,
the men are not yet cold under water, nor the bear half dined
on the gentleman; he's at it now.
Shep.
Would I had been by to have help'd the old man.
Clo.
I would you had been by the ship-side, to have help'd
her, there your charity would have lack'd footing.
Shep.
Heavy matters, heavy matters! but look thee here, boy.
Now bless thy self; thou meet'st with things dying, I with things
new born. Here's a sight for thee; look thee, a bearing-cloth
for a squire's child! look thee here; take up, take up, boy,
open't; so, let's see: it was told me I should be rich by the fairies.
This is some changling; open't; what's within, boy?
Clo.
You're a mad old man; if the sins of your youth are forgiven
you, you're well to live. Gold, all gold.
Shep.
This is fairy gold, boy, and 'twill prove so. Up with
it, keep it close: home, home, the next way. We are lucky,
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boy, and to be so still requires nothing but secresie. Let my
sheep go: come, good boy, the next way home.
Clo.
Go you the next way with your findings, I'll go see
if the bear be gone from the gentleman, and how much he
hath eaten: they are never curst, but when they are hungry:
if there be any of him left, I'll bury it.
Shep.
That's a good deed. If thou may'st discern by that
which is left of him, what he is, fetch me to th' sight of him.
Clo.
Marry will I, and you shall help to put him i'th'
ground.
Shep.
'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't.
[Exeunt.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].