SCENE I. Antechamber in LEONTES' palace. Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS. Arch. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him. 10 Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will be justified in our loves; for indeedCam. Beseech you, Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence-in so rare-I know not what to say. We will give you sleepy drinks, that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us. Cam. You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely. 19 Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me and as mine honesty pu's it to utterance. Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attor neyed with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seemed to be together, though absent, shook hands, as over a vast, and embraced, as it were, from tho ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves! Arch. I think there is not in the world either malice or matter to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius: it is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my note. 40 Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that indeed physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to see him a man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. 50 SCENE II. A room of state in the same. Enter LEONTES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, POLIXENES, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the watery star hath been Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher, With one "We thank you" many thousands moe Leon. Stay your thanks a while; And pay them when you part. Pol. Sir, that's to morrow. 10 I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance Or breed upon our absence; that may blow No sneaping winds at home, to make us say 66 This is put forth too truly:" besides, I have stay'd To tire your royalty. Leon. We'll part the time between 's then; and in that I'll no gainsaying. Pol. Press me not, beseech you, so. There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder Leon. You sir, Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure The by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him, Leon. Well said, Hermione. Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong: But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure Pol. Her. Nay, but you will? Pol. Her. Verily! You'll stay? No, madam I may not, verily. You put me off with limber vows; but I, Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet say "Sir, no going. Verily, You shall not go a lady's "Verily" 's As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Force me to keep you as a prisoner, Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you? 30 40 50 My prisoner? or my guest! by your dread “Verily," Pol. Your guest, then, madam : Than you to punish. Her. Not your gaoler, then, But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys : Pol. We were, fair queen, Two lads that thought there was no more behind But such a day to-morrow as to-day, And to be boy eternal. Her. Was not my lord The verier wag o' the two? 60 Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun, And bleat the one at the other: what we changed Was innocence for innocence; we knew not The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd That any did. Had we pursued that life, And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven Hereditary ours. Her. By this we gather Pol. Her. Grace to boot! Leon. Is he won yet? Her. He'll stay, my lord.. At my request he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest To better purpose. Her. Leon. Never? Never, but once. 70 80 Her. What have I twice said well? when wast 't before? 91 I prithee tell me; cram's with praise, and make 's Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace! Leon. Why, that was when Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death, "I am yours for ever." Her. "Tis grace indeed. Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: The other for some while a friend. Leon. Mam. Leon. Ay, my good lord. I' fecks! 100 110 120 Why, that's my bawcock. What, hast smutch'd thy nose? They say it is a copy out of mine. Come, captain, We must be neat ; not neat, but cleanly, captain: And yet the steer, the heifer and the calf Are all call'd neat.-Still virginalling Upon his palm !-How now, you wanton calf! Art thou my calf? Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash and the shoots that I have, To be full like me yet they say we are Almost as like as eggs; women say so, 130 |