The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
Gone already! 185
Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one!
Go, play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and I
Play too; but so disgraced a part, whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour
Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play. There have been, 190
Or I am much deceived, cuckolds ere now;
And many a man there is, even at this present,
Now while I speak this, holds his wife by the arm,
That little thinks she has been sluiced in's absence
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by 195
Sir Smile, his neighbour: nay, there's comfort in't
Whiles other men have gates and those gates open'd,
As mine, against their will. Should all despair
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is none; 200
It is a bawdy planet, that will strike
Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful, think it,
From east, west, north and south: be it concluded,
No barricado for a belly; know't;
It will let in and out the enemy 205
With bag and baggage: many thousand on's
Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!
_Mam._ I am like you, they say.
_Leon._ Why, that's some comfort.
What, Camillo there?
_Cam._ Ay, my good lord. 210
_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.
_Leon._ Didst note it?
_Cam._ He would not stay at your petitions; made 215
His business more material.
_Leon._ Didst perceive it?
[_Aside_] They're here with me already; whispering, rounding
'Sicilia is a so-forth:' 'tis far gone,
When I shall gust it last. How came't, Camillo,
That he did stay?
_Cam._ At the good queen's entreaty. 220
_Leon._ At the queen's be't: 'good' should be pertinent;
But, so it is, it is not. Was this taken
By any understanding pate but thine?
For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in
More than the common blocks: not noted, is't, 225
But of the finer natures? by some severals
Of head-piece extraordinary? lower messes
Perchance are to this business purblind? say.
_Cam._ Business, my lord! I think most understand
Bohemia stays here longer.
_Leon._ Ha!
_Cam._ Stays here longer. 230
_Leon._ Ay, but why?
_Cam._ To satisfy your highness, and the entreaties
Of our most gracious mistress.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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