Page 809 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

AUTOLYCUS

No, good sweet sir; no, I beseech you, sir: I have a kinsman not past three-
quarters of a mile hence, unto whom I was going: I shall there have money,
or anything I want: offer me no money, I pray you; that kills my heart. [80]

CLOWN
What manner of fellow was he that robbed you?

AUTOLYCUS

A fellow, sir, that I have known to go about with troll-my-dames: I knew him
once a servant of the prince: I cannot tell, good sir, for which of his virtues it
was, but he was certainly whipped out of the court. [85]

CLOWN
His vices, you would say; there’s no virtue whipped out of the court: they
cherish it to make it stay there; and yet it will no more but abide.

AUTOLYCUS
Vices I would say, sir. I know this man well; he hath been since an ape-

bearer, then a process-server (a [90] bailiff), then he compassed a motion of
the Prodigal Son, and married a tinker’s wife within a mile where my land and
living lies; and, having flown over many knavish professions, he settled only

in rogue. Some call him Autolycus. [95]

CLOWN

Out upon him! prig, for my life, prig: he haunts wakes, fairs, and bear-
baitings.

AUTOLYCUS
Very true, sir; he, sir, he: that’s the rogue that put me into this apparel.

CLOWN
Not a more cowardly rogue in all Bohemia: if you [100] had but looked big
and spit at him, he ’d have run.

AUTOLYCUS
I must confess to you, sir, I am no fighter: I am false of heart that way; and