Page 801 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

a cork into a hogs-head. And then [90] for the land-service, to see how the
bear tore out his shoulder-bone, how he cried to me for help and said his
name was Antigonus, a nobleman. But to make an end of the ship, to see
how the sea flap-dragoned it: but first, how the poor souls roared, and the

sea mocked them: and [95] how the poor gentleman roared, and the bear
mocked him, both roaring louder than the sea or weather.

SHEPHERD
Name of mercy, when was this, boy?

CLOWN
Now, now: I have not winked since I saw these sights: the men are not yet
cold under water, nor the bear [100] half dined on the gentleman: he’s at it

now.

SHEPHERD
Would I had been by, to have helped the old man!

CLOWN
I would you had been by the ship side, to have helped her: there your charity
would have lacked footing. [105]

SHEPHERD
Heavy matters! heavy matters! But look thee here, boy. Now bless thyself:
thou met’st with things dying, I with things new-born. Here’s a sight for thee;

look thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire’s child! look thee here; take up, take
up, boy; open ’t. So, let’s see: it was told me [110] I should be rich by the
fairies. This is some changeling: open ’t. What’s within, boy?

CLOWN
You’re a made old man: if the sins of your youth are forgiven you, you’re well

to live. Gold! all gold!

SHEPHERD
This is fairy gold, boy, and ’twill prove so; up [115] with’t, keep it close:
home, home, the next way. We are lucky, boy; and to be so still requires
nothing but secrecy. Let my sheep go: come, good boy, the next way home.