that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. The same. SCENE II. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MA Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne Without a burden: time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, With one we-thank-you, many thousands more That go Leon. Stay your thanks awhile; Sir, that's to-morrow. And pay them when you part. Pol. I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, 6 That may blow No sneaping winds] i. e. Oh! that. Sneaping, nipping winds. This is put forth too truly !] i. e. to make me say, I had too good reason for my fears. VOL. IV. L Leon. We are tougher, brother, No longer stay. Than you can put us to't. Leon. One seven-night longer. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. Leon. We'll part the time between's then: and in that I'll no gain-saying. Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so; There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder, Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace, until You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, sir, The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him, Leon. Well said, Hermione. Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong: But let him say so then, and let him go; But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. Yet of your real presence [To POLIXENES.] I'll adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia 7 this satisfaction] We had satisfactory accounts yes terday of the state of Bohemia. JOHNSON. 8 You take my lord, I'll give him my commission, Pol. Her. Nay, but you will? Pol. Her. Verily! No, madam. I may not, verily. You put me off with limber vows: But I, Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, You shall not go; a lady's verily is As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees, When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you? My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread verily, One of them you shall be. Pol. Your guest then, madam: To be your prisoner, should import offending; Which is for me less easy to commit, Than you to punish. Her. But your kind hostess. Not your gaoler then, Come, I'll question you Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were boys; You were pretty lordlings then. behind the gest] Gest signifies a stage, or journey. In the time of royal progresses the king's stages, as we may see by the journals of them in the herald's office, were called his gests; from the old French word giste, diversorium. yet, good-deed,] signifies, indeed, in very deed. a jar o' the clock-] A jar is, I believe, a single repetition of the noise made by the pendulum of a clock: what children call the ticking of it. STEEVENS. Pol. We were, fair queen, Two lads, that thought there was no more behind, But such a day to-morrow as to-day, And to be boy eternal. Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two? Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i' the sun, And bleat the one at the other: What we chang'd And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd, Hereditary ours. Her. By this we gather, You have tripp'd since. Pol. O my most sacred lady, Temptations have since then been born to us: for Her. Grace to boot!' Of this make no conclusion; lest you say, Your queen and I are devils: Yet, go on; The offences we have made you do, we'll answer; Leon. Is he won yet? Her. He'll stay, my lord. 2 the imposition clear'd, Hereditary ours.] i. e. setting aside original sin; bating the imposition from the offence of our first parents, we might have boldly protested our innocence to Heaven. WARBURTON. 3 Grace to boot!] Grace, or Heaven help me! Leon. At my request, he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st To better purpose. Her. Leon. Never? Never, but once. Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't before? I pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and make us As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongue less, Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace! Nay, let me have't; I long. Leon. purpose: When? Why, that was when Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death, Ere I could make thee open thy white hand, And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter, I am yours for ever. Her. It is Grace, indeed.— Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: The one for ever earn'd a royal husband; The other, for some while a friend. 4 Leon. [Giving her hand to POLIXENES. Too hot, too hot: [Aside. And clap thyself my love;] She opened her hand, to clap the palm of it into his, as people do when they confirm a bargain. Hence the phrase-to clap up a bargain, i. e. make one with no other ceremony than the junction of hands. |