If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd

To die when I defire.

[Exit.

SCENE
NE IX.

FLO. Why look you so upon me? I am but forry, not afraid; delay'd,

But nothing alter'd: what I was, I am;

More straining on, for plucking back; not following

My leash unwillingly.

CAM. Gracious my lord,

You know your father's temper: at this time
He will allow no speech (which I do guess,
You do not purpose to him;) and as hardly
Will he endure your fight as yet, I fear;
Then, till the fury of his highness settle,
Come not before him.

FLO. I not purpose it.

I think, Camillo?

CAM. Even he, my lord.

PER. How often have I told you, 'twould be thus ?

How often said, my dignity would last

But till 'twere known?

FLO. It cannot fail, but by

The violation of my faith, and then

Let nature crush the fides o'th' earth together,

And mar the feeds within-Lift up thy looks!-
From my fucceffion wipe me, father, I

Am heir to my affection.

CAM. Be advis'd.

FLO. I am; and by my fancy; if my reason
Will thereto be obedient, I have reason;
If not, my fenfes better pleas'd with madness,

Do bid it welcome.

CAM. This is defperate, Sir.

FLO. So call it; but it does fulfil my vow;
I needs must think it honefty. Camillo,
Not for Bohemia, nor the pomp that may
Be thereout glean'd; for all the fun fees, or
The close earth wombs, or the profound feas hide
In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath
To this my fair belov'd; therefore, I pray you,
As you have ever been my father's friend,
When he shall mifs me, as, in faith I mean not
To see him any more, caft your good counfels
Upon his paffion; let myself and fortune
Tug for the time to come. This you may know,
And fo deliver, I am put to fea

With her, whom here I cannot hold on fhore;
And most opportune to our need, I have
A veffel rides faft by, but not prepar'd
For this defign. What courfe I mean to hold
Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor
Concern me the reporting.

CAM. O my lord,

I would your spirit were easier for advice,

Or ftronger for your need.

FLO. Hark, Perdita

I'll hear you by and by.

CAM. He's irremoveable,

[To Camillo

Refolv'd for flight: now were I happy, if
His going I could frame to ferve my turn;
Save him from danger, do him love and honour;
Purchase the fight again of dear Sicilia,
And that unhappy king, my master, whom

I fo much thirst to fee.

FLO. Now, good Camillo

I am fo fraught with curious business, that

I leave out ceremony.

CAM. Sir, I think,

You have heard of my poor fervices, i'th' love
That I have borne your father?

FLO. Very nobly

Have you deserv'd: it is my father's mufick
To speak your deeds, not little of his care
To have them recompenc'd, as thought on.
CAM. Well, my lord,

If you may please to think I love the king,

And through him, what's nearest to him, which is
Your gracious felf, embrace but my direction.
If your more ponderous and fettled project
May fuffer alteration, on mine honour,

I'll point you where you shall have fuch receiving
As fhall become your highness, where you may
Enjoy your mistress; from the whom, I fee,
There's no disjunction to be made, but by

(As heav'ns forfend!) your ruin. Marry her,
And with my best endeavours, in your absence,
Your discontented father I'll ftrive to qualify,
And bring him up to liking.

FLO. How, Camillo,

May this, almoft a miracle, be done?

That I may call thee fomething more than man,

And after that truft to thee.

CAM. Have you thought on

A place whereto you'll go?

FLO. Not any yet;

[Afide

But as th' unthought-on accident is guilty

Of what we wildly do, fo we profess

Ourselves to be the slaves of chance, and flies

Of every wind that blows.

CAM. Then lift to me.

This follows. If you will not change your purpose,
But undergo this flight, make for Sicilia;
And there present yourself, and your fair princess
For fo, I fee, fhe muft be, 'fore Leontes.
She shall be habited, as it becomes

The partner of your bed. Methinks, I fee
Leontes opening his free arms and weeping

His welcomes forth; afks thee, the fon, forgiveness,
As 'twere 'th' father's perfon; kiffes the hands
Of your fresh princefs; o'er and o'er divides him,
"Twixt his unkindness, and his kindness: th' one
He chides to hell, and bids the other grow
Fafter than thought or time.

FLO. Worthy Camillo,

What colour for my visitation shall I
Hold up before him?

CCM. Sent by the king your father

To greet him, and to give him comforts, fir.
The manner of your bearing towards him, with
What you, as from your father, shall deliver,
Things known betwixt us three, I'll write you down';
The which shall point you forth at ev'ry fitting,
What you must say; that he shall not perceive,
But that you have your father's bofom there,
And speak his very heart.

FLO. I am bound to you:
There is fome fap in this.

CAM. A course more promising

Than a wild dedication of yourselves

To unpath'd waters, undream'd fhores; most certain
To miferies enough: no hope to help you,
But as you shake off one, to take another:
Nothing fo certain as your anchors, who

Do their best office, if they can but stay you

Where you'll be loth to be. Befides, you know,
Prosperity's the very bond of love,

Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together
Affliction alters.

PER. One of these is true:

I think, affliction may fubdue the cheek,

But not take in the mind.

CAM. Yea, fay you fo?

There shall not at your father's house, these seven years,

Be born another fuch.

FLO. My good Camillo,

She is as forward of her breeding,

She is i'th' rear of birth.

CAM. I cannot fay, 'tis pity

.as

She lacks instructions, for she seems a mistress

To most that teach.

PER. Your pardon, fir, for this:

I'll blufh you thanks.

FLO. My prettiest Perdita

But, oh, the thorns we stand upon! Camillo,

Preferver of my father, now of me;

The medicine of our houfe! how fhall we do?

We are not furnish'd like Bohemia's fon,
Nor fhall appear in Sicily-

CAM. My lord,

VOL. II.

N

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