SCENE III.
A Public Place.
Enter Cloten, and Two Lords.
1 Lord.
Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt: the
violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice.
Where air comes out, air comes in; there's none abroad
so wholesome as that you vent.
Clo.
If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it—Have
I hurt him?
2 Lord [Aside.]
No, faith; not so much as his
patience.
-- 147 --
1 Lord.
Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if
he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be
not hurt.
2 Lord. [Aside.]
His steel was in debt; it went o'
the backside the town.
Clo.
The villain would not stand me.
2 Lord. [Aside.]
No; but he fled forward still,
toward your face.
1 Lord.
Stand you! You have land enough of your
own; but he added to your having, gave you some
ground.
2 Lord. [Aside.]
As many inches as you have oceans.
—Puppies!
Clo.
I would they had not come between us.
2 Lord. [Aside.]
So would I, till you had measured
how long a fool you were upon the ground.
Clo.
And that she should love this fellow, and refuse
me!
2 Lord. [Aside.]
If it be a sin to make a true election,
she is damned.
1 Lord.
Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her
brain go not together: she's a good sign, but I have
seen small reflection of her wit.
2 Lord. [Aside.]
She shines not upon fools, lest the
reflection should hurt her.
Clo.
Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had
been some hurt done!
2 Lord. [Aside.]
I wish not so; unless it had been
the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt.
Clo.
You'll go with us?
1 Lord.
I'll attend your lordship.
Clo.
Nay, come, let's go together.
2 Lord.
Well, my lord.
[Exeunt.
-- 148 --
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
