Her portion equal his. O, that must be Flo. Pol. Methinks, a father Is, at the nuptials of his son, a guest That best becomes the table. Pray you, once more; Is not your father grown incapable Of reasonable affairs? is he not stupid With age, and altering rheums? Can he speak? hear? Know man from man? dispute his own estate? Lies he not bed-rid? and again does nothing, But what he did being childish? Flo. No, good sir; He has his health, and ampler strength, indeed, Than most have of his age. Pol. By my white beard, You offer him, if this be so, a wrong Something unfilial: Reason, my son, Should choose himself a wife; but as good reason, The father, (all whose joy is nothing else But fair posterity,) should hold some counsel Flo. I yield all this; But, for some other reasons, my grave sir, Shep. Let him, my son; he shall not need to Whom son I dare not call; thou art too base Shep. O, my heart! Pol. I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briars, and made More homely than thy state.-For thee, fond boy,If I may ever know, thou dost but sigh, That thou no more shalt see this knack, (as never I mean thou shalt,) we'll bar thee from succession; Or hoop his body more with thy embraces, As thou art tender to't. Per. Even here undone! [Exit. I was not much afeard 61: for once or twice, I told you, what would come of this: 'Beseech you, Cam. Speak, ere thou diest. Shep. Why, how now, father? I cannot speak nor think, Nor dare to know that which I know.—O, sir, [To Florizel. You have undone a man of fourscore three, That thought to fill his grave in quiet; yea, To lie close by his honest bones: but now That knew'st this was the prince, and would'st ad venture To mingle faith with him.-Undone! undone! To die when I desire. Flo. Why do you look so upon I am but sorry, not afeard; delay'd, But nothing alter'd: What I was, I am: [Exit. me? More straining on, for plucking back; not following My leash unwillingly. Cam. Gracious my lord, You know your father's temper: at this time Flo. I think, Camillo. Cam. I not purpose it. Even he, my lord. Per. How often have I told you, 'twould be thus? How often said, my dignity would last But till 'twere known? Flo. It cannot fail, but by The violation of my faith; and then Let nature crush the sides o'the earth together, And mar the seeds within!-Lift up thy looks:From my succession wipe me, father! I Am heir to my affection. Flo. I am; and by my fancy: if my reason Cam. This is desperate, sir. With her, whom here I cannot hold on shore; A vessel rides fast by, but not prepar'd For this design. What course I mean to hold, |