Clown. He seems to be of great authority:
close with him, give him gold; and though authority
be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose
with gold: show the inside of your purse to the
outside of his hand, and no more ado. Remember,—ston’d
and flayed alive.
Shepherd. An’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.
Autolycus.
After I have done what I promised?
Shepherd.
Ay, sir.
Autolycus.
Well, give me the moiety. Are you a party in
this business?
Clown.
In some sort, sir: but though my case be a pitiful
one, I hope I
shall not be flayed out of it.
Autolycus.
O, that’s the case of the shepherd’s son.
Hang him, he’ll be made
an example.
Clown. Comfort, good comfort! We must
to the king and show 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 performed;
and remain, as he says, your pawn till it be brought
you.
Autolycus.
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 blessed in this man, as I may say, even blessed.
Shepherd.
Let’s before, as he bids us: he was provided
to do us good.
[Exeunt Shepherd and Clown.]
Autolycus. If I had a mind to be honest,
I see Fortune would not suffer me: she drops
booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a double
occasion,—gold, and a means to do the prince
my master good; which who knows how that may turn
back to my advancement? I will bring these two
moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he think
it fit to shore them again, and that the complaint
they have to the king concerns him nothing, let him
call me rogue for being so far officious; for I am
proof against that title, and what shame else belongs
to’t. To him will I present them: there
may be matter in it.
[Exit.]
Scene I. Sicilia. A Room in the palace of
Leontes.
[Enter Leontes, Cleomenes, Dion, Paulina,
and others.]
Cleomenes.
Sir, you have done enough, and have perform’d
A saint-like sorrow: no fault could you make
Which you have not redeem’d; indeed, paid down
More penitence than done trespass: at the last,
Do as the heavens have done, forget your evil;
With them, forgive yourself.
Leontes.
Whilst
I remember
Her and her virtues, I cannot forget
My blemishes in them; and so still think of
The wrong I did myself: which was so much
That heirless it hath made my kingdom, and
Destroy’d the sweet’st companion that
e’er man
Bred his hopes out of.
