Pisanio.
Imo.
I would, thou grew'st unto the shores o'th' haven,
And question'd'st every sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 7 note
'twere a paper lost
As offer'd mercy is. What was the last
That he spake with thee?
Pis.
'Twas, His Queen, his Queen!
Imo.
Then wav'd his handkerchief?
Pis.
And kiss'd it, Madam.
Imo.
Senseless linnen, happier therein than I!
And that was all?
Pis.
No, Madam; 8 note
for so long
-- 240 --
As he could make me with this eye, or ear,
Distinguish him from others, he did keep
The deck, with glove or hat, or handkerchief,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of's mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,
How swift his ship.
Imo.
Thou should'st have made him
As little as a crow, or less, ere left
To after-eye him.
Pis.
Madam, so I did.
&plquo;Imo.
&plquo;I would have broke mine eye-strings; crackt 'em, but
&plquo;To look upon him; 9 note
'till the diminution
&plquo;Of's space had pointed him sharp as my needle;
&plquo;Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from
&plquo;The smallness of a gnat, to air; and then
&plquo;Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.—But, good Pisanio,&prquo;
When shall we hear from him?
Pis.
Be assur'd, Madam,
With his next vantage.
Imo.
I did not take my leave of him, but had
&wlquo;Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him,
&wlquo;How I would think on him, at certain hours,
&wlquo;Such thoughts, and such; or, I could make him swear,
&wlquo;The She's of Italy should not betray
&wlquo;Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him,
&wlquo;At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,
-- 241 --
&wlquo;T'encounter me with Orisons; (for then
&wlquo;I am in heaven for him;) 1 note
or ere I could
&wlquo;Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
&wlquo;Betwixt two charming words, 2 note
comes in my Father;
-- 242 --
&wlquo;And, like the tyrannous breathing of the North,
&wlquo;Shakes all our buds from blowing.&wrquo;
Enter a Lady.
Lady.
The Queen, Madam,
Desires your Highness' company.
Imo.
Those things I bid you do, get them dispatch'd.
I will attend the Queen.
Pis.
Madam, I shall.
[Exeunt.
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
