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
Will you buy any tape,
Or lace for your cape,
My dainty duck, my dear-a?
Any silk, any thread,
Any toys for your head, 310
Of the new'st, and finest, finest wear-a?
Come to the pedlar;
Money's a medler,
That doth utter all men's ware-a. [_Exit._
_Re-enter_ Servant.
_Serv._ Master, there is three carters, three shepherds, 315
three neat-herds, three swine-herds, that have made themselves
all men of hair, they call themselves Saltiers, and
they have a dance which the wenches say is a gallimaufry of
gambols, because they are not in't; but they themselves
are o' the mind, if it be not too rough for some that know 320
little but bowling, it will please plentifully.
_Shep._ Away! we'll none on't: here has been too much
homely foolery already. I know, sir, we weary you.
_Pol._ You weary those that refresh us: pray, let's see
these four threes of herdsmen. 325
_Serv._ One three of them, by their own report, sir, hath
danced before the king; and not the worst of the three but
jumps twelve foot and a half by the squier.
_Shep._ Leave your prating: since these good men are
pleased, let them come in; but quickly now. 330
_Serv._ Why, they stay at door, sir. [_Exit._
_Here a dance of twelve Satyrs._
_Pol._ O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter.
[_To Cam._] Is it not too far gone? 'Tis time to part them.
He's simple and tells much. How now, fair shepherd!
Your heart is full of something that does take 335
Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young
And handed love as you do, I was wont
To load my she with knacks: I would have ransack'd
The pedlar's silken treasury and have pour'd it
To her acceptance; you have let him go 340
And nothing marted with him. If your lass
Interpretation should abuse and call this
Your lack of love or bounty, you were straited
For a reply, at least if you make a care
Of happy holding her.
_Flo._ Old sir, I know 345
She prizes not such trifles as these are:
The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd
Up in my heart; which I have given already,
But not deliver'd. O, hear me breathe my life
Before this ancient sir, who, it should seem, 350
Hath sometime loved! I take thy hand, this hand,
As soft as dove's down and as white as it,
Or Ethiopian's tooth, or the fann'd snow that's bolted
By the northern blasts twice o'er.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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