The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness
And time to speak it in; you rub the sore, 145
When you should bring the plaster.
Seb. Very well.
Ant. And most chirurgeonly.
Gon. It is foul weather in us all, good sir, 148
When you are cloudy.
Seb. Foul weather?
Ant. Very foul.
Gon. Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,—
Ant. He'd sow 't with nettle-seed.
Seb. Or docks, or mallows.
Gon. And were the king on 't, what would I do?
Seb. 'Scape being drunk for want of wine. 153
Gon. I' the commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate; 156
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil; 160
No occupation; all men idle, all;
And women too, but innocent and pure;
No sovereignty,—
Seb. Yet he would be king on 't.
Ant. The latter end of his commonwealth
forgets the beginning. 165
Gon. All things in common nature should produce
Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
147 chirurgeonly: like a surgeon
150 plantation: colonization; taken by Antonio as meaning 'planting'
154–174 Cf. Appendix A, p. 91
157 Letters: learning
158 use of service: custom of having servants
succession: tenure of property by right of inheritance
159 Bourn: boundary
tilth: tilled soil
168 engine: instrument of war
