Speeches (Lines) for Old Shepherd
in "Winter's Tale"
Total: 42

1

III,3,1553

I would there were no age between sixteen and
three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the
rest; for there is nothing in the between but
getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry,
stealing, fighting—Hark you now! Would any but
these boiled brains of nineteen and two-and-twenty
hunt this weather? They have scared away two of my
best sheep, which I fear the wolf will sooner find
than the master: if any where I have them, 'tis by
the seaside, browsing of ivy. Good luck, an't be thy
will what have we here! Mercy on 's, a barne a very
pretty barne! A boy or a child, I wonder? A
pretty one; a very pretty one: sure, some 'scape:
though I am not bookish, yet I can read
waiting-gentlewoman in the 'scape. This has been
some stair-work, some trunk-work, some
behind-door-work: they were warmer that got this
than the poor thing is here. I'll take it up for
pity: yet I'll tarry till my son come; he hallooed
but even now. Whoa, ho, hoa!

2

III,3,1575

What, art so near? If thou'lt see a thing to talk
on when thou art dead and rotten, come hither. What
ailest thou, man?

3

III,3,1582

Why, boy, how is it?

4

III,3,1598

Name of mercy, when was this, boy?

5

III,3,1603

Would I had been by, to have helped the old man!

6

III,3,1606

Heavy matters! heavy matters! but look thee here,
boy. Now bless thyself: thou mettest with things
dying, I with things newborn. Here's a sight for
thee; look thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire's
child! look thee here; take up, take up, boy;
open't. So, let's see: it was told me I should be
rich by the fairies. This is some changeling:
open't. What's within, boy?

7

III,3,1616

This is fairy gold, boy, and 'twill prove so: up
with't, keep it close: home, home, the next way.
We are lucky, boy; and to be so still requires
nothing but secrecy. Let my sheep go: come, good
boy, the next way home.

8

III,3,1626

That's a good deed. If thou mayest discern by that
which is left of him what he is, fetch me to the
sight of him.

9

III,3,1630

'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't.

10

IV,4,1921

Fie, daughter! when my old wife lived, upon
This day she was both pantler, butler, cook,
Both dame and servant; welcomed all, served all;
Would sing her song and dance her turn; now here,
At upper end o' the table, now i' the middle;
On his shoulder, and his; her face o' fire
With labour and the thing she took to quench it,
She would to each one sip. You are retired,
As if you were a feasted one and not
The hostess of the meeting: pray you, bid
These unknown friends to's welcome; for it is
A way to make us better friends, more known.
Come, quench your blushes and present yourself
That which you are, mistress o' the feast: come on,
And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing,
As your good flock shall prosper.

11

IV,4,2057

They call him Doricles; and boasts himself
To have a worthy feeding: but I have it
Upon his own report and I believe it;
He looks like sooth. He says he loves my daughter:
I think so too; for never gazed the moon
Upon the water as he'll stand and read
As 'twere my daughter's eyes: and, to be plain.
I think there is not half a kiss to choose
Who loves another best.

12

IV,4,2067

So she does any thing; though I report it,
That should be silent: if young Doricles
Do light upon her, she shall bring him that
Which he not dreams of.

13

IV,4,2226

Away! we'll none on 't: here has been too much
homely foolery already. I know, sir, we weary you.

14

IV,4,2233

Leave your prating: since these good men are
pleased, let them come in; but quickly now.

15

IV,4,2284

But, my daughter,
Say you the like to him?

16

IV,4,2290

Take hands, a bargain!
And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to 't:
I give my daughter to him, and will make
Her portion equal his.

17

IV,4,2299

Come, your hand;
And, daughter, yours.

18

IV,4,2333

Let him, my son: he shall not need to grieve
At knowing of thy choice.

19

IV,4,2346

O, my heart!

20

IV,4,2377

I cannot speak, nor think
Nor dare to know that which I know. O sir!
You have undone a man of fourscore three,
That thought to fill his grave in quiet, yea,
To die upon the bed my father died,
To lie close by his honest bones: but now
Some hangman must put on my shroud and lay me
Where no priest shovels in dust. O cursed wretch,
That knew'st this was the prince,
and wouldst adventure
To mingle faith with him! Undone! undone!
If I might die within this hour, I have lived
To die when I desire.

21

IV,4,2667

Nay, but hear me.

22

IV,4,2669

Go to, then.

23

IV,4,2676

I will tell the king all, every word, yea, and his
son's pranks too; who, I may say, is no honest man,
neither to his father nor to me, to go about to make
me the king's brother-in-law.

24

IV,4,2684

Well, let us to the king: there is that in this
fardel will make him scratch his beard.

25

IV,4,2693

To the palace, an it like your worship.

26

IV,4,2706

Are you a courtier, an't like you, sir?

27

IV,4,2717

My business, sir, is to the king.

28

IV,4,2719

I know not, an't like you.

29

IV,4,2722

None, sir; I have no pheasant, cock nor hen.

30

IV,4,2727

His garments are rich, but he wears
them not handsomely.

31

IV,4,2734

Sir, there lies such secrets in this fardel and box,
which none must know but the king; and which he
shall know within this hour, if I may come to the
speech of him.

32

IV,4,2739

Why, sir?

33

IV,4,2744

So 'tis said, sir; about his son, that should have
married a shepherd's daughter.

34

IV,4,2784

An't please you, sir, to undertake the business for
us, here is that gold I have: I'll make it as much
more and leave this young man in pawn till I bring it you.

35

IV,4,2788

Ay, sir.

36

IV,4,2804

Let's before as he bids us: he was provided to do us good.

37

V,2,3236

Come, boy; I am past moe children, but thy sons and
daughters will be all gentlemen born.

38

V,2,3246

And so have I, boy.

39

V,2,3254

We may live, son, to shed many more.

40

V,2,3260

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

41

V,2,3266

You may say it, but not swear it.

42

V,2,3269

How if it be false, son?