SCENE I. - Sicilia. An Antichamber in Leontes' | such an affection, which cannot choose but branch Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st Palace. Arch. Verily, I speak it in the fredom 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. 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 attornied1, 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. Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physicks 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. 1 Supplied by substitution of embassies. 2 Wide waste of country. 3 Affords a cordial to the state. Exeunt. 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 The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne Without a burden: time as long again Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks; And yet we should for perpetuity, Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, With one we-thank-you, many thousands more Leon. Stay your thanks awhile; Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong; But let him say so then, and let him go; But let him say so, and he shall not stay, We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. At my request, he would not. Yet of your royal presence [To POLIXENES.] I'll To better purpose. Never? adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia Her. You take my lord, I'll give him my commission, Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't To let him there a month, behind the gest 5 Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed, Leontes, before? I pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and make us I love thee not a jar o'the clock behind As fat as tame things: One good deed, dying What lady she her lord. - You'll stay? tongueless, Pol. No, madam. Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace! 4 Nipping. 5 Gests were the names of the stages where the king appointed to lie, during a royal progress, 6 Indeed. 7 A diminutive of lords, Of my boy's face, methoughts, I did recoil Twenty-three years: and saw myself unbreech'd, In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled, As ornaments oft do, too dangerous. Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: Lest it should bite its master, and so prove, Leon. [Giving her hand to POLIXENES. Too hot, too hot: [Aside. To mingle friendship far, is mingling bloods. I have tremor cordis & on me: - my heart dances; From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom, Mam. Leon. Ay, my good lord. I'fecks? What, hast smutch'd They say, it's 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 2 [Observing POLIXenes and HERMIONE. Upon his palm? - How now, you wanton calf? Art thou my calf? Yes, if you will, my lord. Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoots that I have 3, Mam. To be full like me: yet, they say we are No bourn 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true be? Affection! thy intention stabs the center: Thou dost make possible, things not so held, Communicat'st with dreams; (How can be?) How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole! 8 - My brother, Are you so fond of your young prince, as we Go, play, boy, play; - thy mother plays, and I this Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now; You look, And many a man there is, even at this present, Why, that's some comfort. What! Camillo there? man. Cam. You had much ado to make his anchor hold; When you cast out, it still came home. Her. 8 Trembling of the heart. 9 The tune played at the death of the deer. 1 Hearty fellow. 2 i. e. Playing with her fingers, as if on a spinet. 3 Thou wantest a rough head, and the budding horns that I have. 4 Blue, like the sky. 5 Credible. 6 Pea-cod. 7 Will you be cajoled P 8 May his lot in life be a happy one! 9 Heir apparent, next claimant, 1 Approving. Leon. Didst note it? | (For, to a vision so apparent, rumour Cam. He would not stay at your petitions; made His business more material. Leon. Didst perceive it? - Cam. - How came't, Camillo, At the good queen's entreaty. Leon. At the queen's be't: good should be pertinent; But so it is, it is not. Was this taken Cam. Business, my lord? I think, most under The entreaties of your mistress? satisfy?- Thy penitent reform'd: but we have been Deceiv'd in thy integrity, deceiv'd In that which seems so. Cam. Be it forbid, my lord! 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 As deep as that, though true. Is whispering nothing? Is leaning cheek to cheek? stopping the career I say, thou liest, Camillo, and I hate thee; Or else a hovering temporizer, that Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil, Infected as her life, she would not live Leon. To bide upon't; -Thou art not honest : or, The running of one glass. If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward; Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining From course requir'd: Or else thou must be counted A servant, grafted in my serious trust, And therein negligent; or else a fool, Cam. Who does infect her? Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, hanging 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, I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful; It was my folly; if industriously I play'd the fool, it was my negligence, Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear 'Tis none of mine. Have not you seen, Camillo, (But that's past doubt: you have; or your eye-glass Is thicker than a cuckold's horn ;) or heard, Leon. To round in the ear was to tell secretly 3 Taste. 6 Disorders of the eye 7 Hasty. |