SCENE I. ACT I. - Sicilia. An Antichamber in Leontes' such an affection, which cannot choose but branch 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. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, indeed, Cam. 'Beseech you, Arch. Verily, I speak it in the fredom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificencein 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. Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts 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 now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied', 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 the 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. him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, phyCam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of sicks the subject 3, 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. !Supplied by substitution of embassies. 2 Wide waste of country. 3 Affords a cordial to the state. SCENE II. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, Stay your thanks awhile; Sir, that's to-morrow 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, This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd To tire your royalty. I'll no gain-saying. Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you so: There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now, Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder, Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace, until You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, sir, Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure, Leon. But let him say so then, and let him go; We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st Yet of your royal presence [To POLIXENES.] I'll To better purpose. adventure Her. Leon. Never? Never, but once. Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't before? I pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and make us As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying tongueless, Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. 7 A diminutive of lords, ; But once before I spoke to the purpose: When? Leon. Why, that was when Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to Ere I could make thee open thy white hand, It is Grace, indeed. As if you held a brow of much distraction: Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: Lest it should bite its master, and so prove, [Giving her hand to POLIXENES. Ay, my good lord. Mam. I'fecks? Upon his palm? Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. To be full like me : - - yet, they say we are No bourn 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true Affection! thy intention stabs the center: be?) As ornaments oft do, too dangerous. How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight. Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole! 8 - Are you so fond of your young prince, as we Pol. So stands this squire Her. If you would seek us, (How can this Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now; (For, to a vision so apparent, rumour Cannot be mute,) or thought, (for cogitation To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought,) then say, Cam. I would not be a stander-by, to hear Is whispering nothing? Cam. Leon. Cam. No, no, my lord. Leon. Say, it be; 'tis true. It is; you lie, you lie : I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee; Pronounce thee a gross lout, a mindless slave: Or else a hovering temporizer, that Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil, Inclining to them both: Were my wife's liver Infected as her life, she would not live The running of one glass. About his neck, Bohemia: Who - if I Had servants true about me, that bare eyes That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake To see alike mine honour as their profits, drawn, And tak'st it all for jest. Cam. My gracious lord, I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful; In every one of these no man is free, But that his negligence, his folly, fear, Amongst the infinite doings of the world, Sometime puts forth: In your affairs, my lord, If ever I were wilful-negligent, It was my folly; if industriously I play'd the fool, it was my negligence, Their own particular thrifts, they would do that |