As now they are; and making practised smiles, Mam. Leon. Ay, my good lord. I'fecks? Why, that's my bawcock.2 What, hast smutched thy nose? They say, it's a copy out of mine. Come, captain, Are all called neat.-Still virginalling 3 [Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE. Upon his palm?-How now, you wanton calf? Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots that I have,* To be full like me yet, they say, we are 6 That will say any thing. But were they false No bourn 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true 1 i. e. the death of the deer. The mort was also certain notes played on the horn at the death of the deer. 2 "Bawcock." A burlesque word of endearment supposed to be derived from beau-coq, or boy-cock. It occurs again in Twelfth Night, and in King Henry V., and in both places is coupled with chuck or chick. It is said that bra'cock is still used in Scotland. 3 Still playing with her fingers as a girl playing on the virginals. Virginals were stringed instruments played with keys like a spinnet, which they resembled in all respects but in shape, spinnets being nearly triangular, and virginals of an oblong square shape like a small piano-forte. 4 Thou wantest a rough head, and the budding horns that I have. A pash in some places denoting a young bull calf whose horns are springing; a mad pash, a mad-brained boy. 5 i. e. entirely. 6 i. e. old, faded stuffs, of other colors, dyed black. 7 Welkin is blue; i. e. the color of the welkin or sky. Most dearest! my collop!'-can thy dam?-May't be? Affection! thy intention stabs the centre;2 Thou dost make possible, things not so held; And fellow'st nothing. Then, 'tis very credent,3 And hardening of my brows. Pol. What means Sicilia? How, my lord? Her. He something seems unsettled. What cheer? How is't with you, best brother? Her. As if you held a brow of much distraction. You look Leon. As ornaments oft do, too dangerous. How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight. 1 In King Henry VI. Part I. we have "God knows thou art a collop of my flesh." 2 Affection here means imagination. Intention is earnest consideration, eager attention. It is this vehemence of mind which affects Leontes, by making him conjure up unreal causes of disquiet; and thus, in the Poet's language, "stabs him to the centre." 3 Credent, credible. 4 i. e. an immature pea-pod. 5 "Will you take eggs for money? A proverbial phrase for "Will you suffer yourself to be cajoled or imposed upon? Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole!1My brother, Are you so fond of your young prince, as we Do seem to be of ours? Pol. Leon. Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's 2 Apparent to my heart. Her. We are yours i'the garden. Be If you would seek us, Shall's attend you there? Leon. To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found, you beneath the sky;-I am angling now, Though you perceive me not how I give line. Go to, go to! [Aside. Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE. How she holds up the neb,3 the bill to him! And arms her with the boldness of a wife To her allowing husband! Gone already! Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a forked one. [Exeunt PoL., HER., and Attendants. Go, play, boy, play;-thy mother plays, and I 1 i. e. may happiness be his portion! 2 Heir apparent, next claimant. 3 i. e. mouth. 4 i. e. a horned one. Or I am much deceived, cuckolds ere now; And many a man there is, even at this present, Sir Smile, his neighbor. Nay, there's comfort in't, Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it, It will let in and out the enemy, With bag and baggage. Many a thousand of us Leon. What! Camillo there? Why, that's some comfort. Cam. Ay, my good lord. Leon. Go play, Mamillius: thou'rt an honest man. [Exit MAMILLIUS. Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer. Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold ; When you cast out, it still came home.' Didst note it? Leon. Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made His business more material.2 Leon. Didst perceive it?— They're here with me already:3 whispering, round 1 "It still came home," a nautical term, meaning, "the anchor would not take hold." 2 The more you requested him to stay, the more urgent he represented that business to be which summoned him away. 3 Not Polixenes and Hermione, but casual observers. 4 To round in the ear was to tell secretly, to whisper. 5 A so-forth, a phrase apparently employed to avoid the utterance of an opprobrious one. So, so, is sometimes used in a similar manner. When I shall gust1 it last.-How came 't, Camillo, At the good queen's entreaty. queen's, be't: good, should be per But so it is, it is not. Was this taken Leon. Cam. 2 Ha? Stays here longer. Leon. Ay, but why? Cam. To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties Of our most gracious mistress. Satisfy Leon. In that which seems so. Cam. Be it forbid, my lord! Leon. To bide upon't: Thou art not honest; or, If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward; Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining From course required; or else thou must be counted A servant, grafted in my serious trust, And therein negligent; or else a fool, That seest a game played home, the rich stake drawn ̧ And tak'st it all for jest. 1 i. e. taste it:-"ille domus sciet ultimus.".........Juv. Sat. x. 2 Messes is here put for degrees, conditions. 3 To hox is to hamstring: the proper word is to hough. |