ut 'tis all one to me; for had I
been the finder-out of this secret, it would not have relish'd
among my other discredits. Here come those I have done good to
against my will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their
fortune.

[Enter Shepherd and Clown.]

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

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

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 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.

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.

SHEPHERD.
Pr'ythee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.

CLOWN.
Thou wilt amend thy life?

AUTOLYCUS.
Ay, an it like your good worship.

CLOWN.
Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince thou art as honest
a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.

SHEPHERD.
You may say it, but not swear it.

CLOWN.
Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and franklins say
it, I'll swear it.

SHEPHERD.
How if it be false, son?

CLOWN.
If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear it in the
behalf of his friend.--And I'll swear to the prince thou art a
tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt not be drunk; but I
know thou art no tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt be
drunk: but I'll swear it; and I would thou wouldst be a tall
fellow of thy hands.

AUTOLYCUS.
I will prove so, sir, to my power.

CLOWN.
Ay, by any means, prove a tall fellow: if I do not wonder how
thou darest venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust
me not.