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  • Title: The Winter's Tale (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Hardin Aasand

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-367-0

    Copyright Hardin Aasand. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Hardin Aasand
    Peer Reviewed

    The Winter's Tale (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Winters Tale. 293
    Ser. He hath songs for man, or woman, of all sizes:
    No Milliner can so fit his customers with Gloues: he has
    the prettiest Loue-songs for Maids, so without bawdrie
    (which is strange,) with such delicate burthens of Dil-
    2020do's and Fadings: Iump-her, and thump-her; and where
    some stretch-mouth'd Rascall, would (as it were) meane
    mischeefe, and breake a fowle gap into the Matter, hee
    makes the maid to answere, Whoop, doe me no harme good
    man: put's him off, slights him, with Whoop, doe mee no
    2025harme good man.
    Pol. This is a braue fellow.
    Clo. Beleeue mee, thou talkest of an admirable con-
    ceited fellow, has he any vnbraided Wares?
    Ser. Hee hath Ribbons of all the colours i'th Raine-
    2030bow; Points, more then all the Lawyers in Bohemia, can
    learnedly handle, though they come to him by th' grosse:
    Inckles, Caddysses, Cambrickes, Lawnes: why he sings
    em ouer, as they were Gods, or Goddesses: you would
    thinke a Smocke were a shee-Angell, he so chauntes to
    2035the sleeue-hand, and the worke about the square on't.
    Clo. Pre'thee bring him in, and let him approach sin-
    ging.
    Perd. Forewarne him, that he vse no scurrilous words
    in's tunes.
    2040Clow. You haue of these Pedlers, that haue more in
    them, then youl'd thinke (Sister.)
    Perd. I, good brother, or go about to thinke.

    Enter Autolicus singing.

    Lawne as white as driuen Snow,
    2045 Cypresse blacke as ere was Crow,
    Gloues as sweete as Damaske Roses,
    Maskes for faces, and for noses:
    Bugle-bracelet, Necke-lace Amber,
    Perfume for a Ladies Chamber:
    2050 Golden Quoifes, and Stomachers
    For my Lads, to giue their deers:
    Pins, and poaking-stickes of steele.
    What Maids lacke from head to heele:
    Come buy of me, come: come buy, come buy,
    2055 Buy Lads, or else your Lasses cry: Come buy.

    Clo. If I were not in loue with Mopsa, thou shouldst
    take no money of me, but being enthrall'd as I am, it will
    also be the bondage of certaine Ribbons and Gloues.
    Mop. I was promis'd them against the Feast, but they
    2060come not too late now.
    Dor. He hath promis'd you more then that, or there
    be lyars.
    Mop. He hath paid you all he promis'd you: 'May be
    he has paid you more, which will shame you to giue him
    2065againe.
    Clo. Is there no manners left among maids? Will they
    weare their plackets, where they should bear their faces?
    Is there not milking-time? When you are going to bed?
    Or kill-hole? To whistle of these secrets, but you must
    2070be tittle-tatling before all our guests? 'Tis well they are
    whispring: clamor your tongues, and not a word more.
    Mop. I haue done; Come you promis'd me a tawdry-
    lace, and a paire of sweet Gloues.
    Clo. Haue I not told thee how I was cozen'd by the
    2075way, and lost all my money.
    Aut. And indeed Sir, there are Cozeners abroad, ther-
    fore it behooues men to be wary.
    Clo. Feare not thou man, thou shalt lose nothing here
    Aut. I hope so sir, for I haue about me many parcels
    2080of charge.
    Clo. What hast heere? Ballads?
    Mop. Pray now buy some: I loue a ballet in print, a
    life, for then we are sure they are true.
    Aut. Here's one, to a very dolefull tune, how a Vsu-
    2085rers wife was brought to bed of twenty money baggs at
    a burthen, and how she long'd to eate Adders heads, and
    Toads carbonado'd.
    Mop. Is it true, thinke you?
    Aut. Very true, and but a moneth old..
    2090Dor. Blesse me from marrying a Vsurer.
    Aut. Here's the Midwiues name to't: one Mist. Tale-
    Porter, and fiue or six honest Wiues, that were present.
    Why should I carry lyes abroad?
    Mop. 'Pray you now buy it.
    2095Clo. Come-on, lay it by: and let's first see moe Bal-
    lads: Wee'l buy the other things anon.
    Aut. Here's another ballad of a Fish, that appeared
    vpon the coast, on wensday the fourescore of April, fortie
    thousand fadom aboue water, & sung this ballad against
    2100the hard hearts of maids: it was thought she was a Wo-
    man, and was turn'd into a cold fish, for she wold not ex-
    change flesh with one that lou'd her: The Ballad is very
    pittifull, and as true.
    Dor. Is it true too, thinke you.
    2105Autol. Fiue Iustices hands at it, and witnesses more
    then my packe will hold.
    Clo. Lay it by too; another.
    Aut. This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one.
    Mop. Let's haue some merry ones.
    2110Aut. Why this is a passing merry one, and goes to the
    tune of two maids wooing a man: there's scarse a Maide
    westward but she sings it: 'tis in request, I can tell you.
    Mop. We can both sing it: if thou'lt beare a part, thou
    shalt heare, 'tis in three parts.
    2115Dor. We had the tune on't, a month agoe.
    Aut. I can beare my part, you must know 'tis my oc-
    cupation: Haue at it with you:

    SongGet you hence, for I must goe
    Aut. Where it fits not you to know.
    2120Dor. Whether?
    Mop. O whether?
    Dor. Whether?
    Mop. It becomes thy oath full well,
    Thou to me thy secrets tell.
    2125Dor: Me too: Let me go thether:
    Mop: Or thou goest to th' Grange, or Mill,
    Dor: If to either thou dost ill,
    Aut: Neither.
    Dor: What neither?
    2130Aut: Neither:
    Dor: Thou hast sworne my Loue to be,
    Mop: Thou hast sworne it more to mee.
    Then whether goest? Say whether?
    Clo. Wee'l haue this song out anon by our selues: My
    2135Father, and the Gent. are in sad talke, & wee'll not trouble
    them: Come bring away thy pack after me, Wenches Ile
    buy for you both: Pedler let's haue the first choice; folow
    me girles. Aut. And you shall pay well for 'em.

    Song. Will you buy any Tape, or Lace for your Cape?
    2140 My dainty Ducke, my deere-a?
    Any Silke, any Thred, any Toyes for your head
    Of the news't, and fins't, fins't weare-a.
    Come to the Pedler, Money's a medler,
    That doth vtter all mens ware-a.
    Exit
    2145Seruant. Mayster, there is three Carters, three Shep-
    herds, three Neat-herds, three Swine-herds yt haue made
    Bb3 them
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