Page 1062 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

I’ th’ commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate; [145]
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,

And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
No occupation; all men idle, all; [150]

And women too, but innocent and pure:
No sovereignty; −

SEBASTIAN
Yet he would be King on ’t.

ANTONIO
The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning.

GONZALO
All things in common Nature should produce [155]
Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,

Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
Would I not have; but Nature should bring forth,
Of it own kind, all foison, all abundance,

To feed my innocent people. [160]

SEBASTIAN

No marrying ’mong his subjects?

ANTONIO
None, man; all idle; whores and knaves.

GONZALO
I would with such perfection govern, sir, T’ excel the Golden Age.

SEBASTIAN
’Save his Majesty!