Page 812 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Apprehend
Nothing but jollity. The gods themselves, [25]
Humbling their deities to love, have taken
The shapes of beasts upon them: Jupiter

Became a bull, and bellow’d; the green Neptune
A ram, and bleated; and the fire-rob’d god,
Golden Apollo, a poor humble swain, [30]
As I seem now. Their transformations

Were never for a piece of beauty rarer,
Nor in a way so chaste, since my desires
Run not before mine honour, nor my lusts
Burn hotter than my faith.

PERDITA
O, but sir, [35]

Your resolution cannot hold when ’tis
Oppos’d, as it must be, by th’ power of the king:
One of these two must be necessities,

Which then will speak, that you must change this purpose,
Or I my life.

FLORIZEL
Thou dearest Perdita, [40]
With these forc’d thoughts, I prithee, darken not
The mirth o’ th’ feast. Or I’ll be thine, my fair,

Or not my father’s. For I cannot be
Mine own, nor anything to any, if
I be not thine. To this I am most constant, [45]
Though destiny say no. Be merry, gentle,

Strangle such thoughts as these with anything
That you behold the while. Your guests are coming:
Lift up your countenance, as it were the day
Of celebration of that nuptial which [50]

We two have sworn shall come.

PERDITA
O lady Fortune,
Stand you auspicious!