Page 863 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

You are well met, sir. You denied to fight with me this other day, because I
was no gentleman born. See you [125] these clothes? say you see them not
and think me still no gentleman born: you were best say these robes are not
gentleman 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. [130]

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 [135] 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. [140]

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. [145]

SHEPHERD
Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.

CLOWN
Thou wilt amend thy life?