Part 18

Cam. Nay, but my Letters by this meanes being there So soone as you arriue, shall cleare that doubt

Flo. And those that you'le procure from King Leontes? Cam. Shall satisfie your Father

Perd. Happy be you: All that you speake, shewes faire

Cam. Who haue we here? Wee'le make an Instrument of this: omit Nothing may giue vs aide

Aut. If they haue ouer-heard me now: why hanging

Cam. How now (good Fellow) Why shak'st thou so? Feare not (man) Here's no harme intended to thee

Aut. I am a poore Fellow, Sir

Cam. Why, be so still: here's no body will steale that from thee: yet for the out-side of thy pouertie, we must make an exchange; therefore dis-case thee instantly (thou must thinke there's a necessitie in't) and change Garments with this Gentleman: Though the penny-worth (on his side) be the worst, yet hold thee, there's some boot

Aut. I am a poore Fellow, Sir: (I know ye well enough.) Cam. Nay prethee dispatch: the Gentleman is halfe fled already

Aut. Are you in earnest, Sir? (I smell the trick on't.) Flo. Dispatch, I prethee

Aut. Indeed I haue had Earnest, but I cannot with conscience take it

Cam. Vnbuckle, vnbuckle. Fortunate Mistresse (let my prophecie Come home to ye:) you must retire your selfe Into some Couert; take your sweet-hearts Hat And pluck it ore your Browes, muffle your face,

Dis-mantle you, and (as you can) disliken The truth of your owne seeming, that you may (For I doe feare eyes ouer) to Ship-boord Get vndescry'd

Perd. I see the Play so lyes, That I must beare a part

Cam. No remedie: Haue you done there? Flo. Should I now meet my Father, He would not call me Sonne

Cam. Nay, you shall haue no Hat: Come Lady, come: Farewell (my friend.) Aut. Adieu, Sir

Flo. O Perdita: what haue we twaine forgot? 'Pray you a word

Cam. What I doe next, shall be to tell the King Of this escape, and whither they are bound; Wherein, my hope is, I shall so preuaile, To force him after: in whose company I shall re-view Sicilia; for whose sight, I haue a Womans Longing

Flo. Fortune speed vs: Thus we set on (Camillo) to th' Sea-side

Cam. The swifter speed, the better. Enter.

Aut. I vnderstand the businesse, I heare it: to haue an open eare, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a Cut-purse; a good Nose is requisite also, to smell out worke for th' other Sences. I see this is the time that the vniust man doth thriue. What an exchange had this been, without boot? What a boot is here, with this exchange? Sure the Gods doe this yeere conniue at vs, and we may doe any thing extempore. The Prince himselfe is about a peece of Iniquitie (stealing away from his Father, with his Clog at his heeles:) if I thought it were a peece of honestie to acquaint the King withall, I would not do't: I hold it the more knauerie to conceale it; and therein am I constant to my Profession. Enter Clowne and Shepheard.

Aside, aside, here is more matter for a hot braine: Euery Lanes end, euery Shop, Church, Session, Hanging, yeelds a carefull man worke

Clowne. See, see: what a man you are now? there is no other way, but to tell the King she's a Changeling, and none of your flesh and blood

Shep. Nay, but heare me

Clow. Nay; but heare me

Shep. Goe too then

Clow. She being none of your flesh and blood, your flesh and blood ha's not offended the King, and so your flesh and blood is not to be punish'd by him. Shew those things you found about her (those secret things, all but what she ha's with her:) This being done, let the Law goe whistle: I warrant you

Shep. I will tell the King all, euery word, yea, and his Sonnes prancks too; who, I may say, is no honest man, neither to his Father, nor to me, to goe about to make me the Kings Brother in Law