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Come, boy; I am past moe children, but thy sons and
daughters will be all gentlemen born.
Clown:
You are well met, sir. You denied to fight with me
this other day, because I was no gentleman born.
See you these clothes? say you see them not and
think me still no gentleman born: you were best say
these robes are not gentlemen born: give me the
lie, do, and try whether I am not now a gentleman born.
AUTOLYCUS:
I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born.
Clown:
Ay, and have been so any time these four hours.
Shepherd:
And so have I, boy.
Clown:
So you have: but I was a gentleman born before my
father; for the king's son took me by the hand, and
called me brother; and then the two kings called my
father brother; and then the prince my brother and
the princess my sister called my father father; and
so we wept, and there was the first gentleman-like
tears that ever we shed.
Shepherd:
We may live, son, to shed many more.
Clown:
Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so
preposterous estate as we are.
AUTOLYCUS:
I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the
faults I have committed to your worship and to give
me your good report to the prince my master.
Shepherd:
Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are
gentlemen.
Clown:
Thou wilt amend thy life?
AUTOLYCUS:
Ay, an it like your good worship.
Clown:
Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince thou
art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.
Shepherd:
You may say it, but not swear it.
Clown:
Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and
franklins say it, I'll swear it.
Shepherd:
How if it be false, son?
Clown:
If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear
it in the behalf of his friend: and I'll swear to
the prince thou art a tall fellow of thy hands and
that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know thou art no
tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt be
drunk: but I'll swear it, and I would thou wouldst
be a tall fellow of thy hands.
AUTOLYCUS:
I will prove so, sir, to my power.
Clown:
Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I do not
wonder how thou darest venture to be drunk, not
being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark! the kings
and the princes, our kindred, are going to see the
queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy
good masters.
LEONTES:
O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort
That I have had of thee!
PAULINA:
What, sovereign sir,
I did not well I meant well. All my services
You have paid home: but that you have vouchsafed,
With your crown'd brother and these your contracted
Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit,
It is a surplus of your grace, which never
My life may last to answer.
LEONTES:
O Paulina,