CAMILLO

I think, this coming Summer, the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the Visitation, which he justly owes him. Beseech you— You pay a great deal to deer, for what's given freely. Sicilia cannot show himself overkind to Bohe mia: They were trained together in their Childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such and affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature Dignities, and Royal Necessities, made seperati on of their Society, their Encounters (though not Person nall) hath been Royally attornyed 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. I very well agree with you, in the Hope's of him: it is a gallant Child; one, that (indeed) Physics the Sub iect, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on Crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a Man. Yes; if there were no other excuse, why they should desire to live. I, my good Lord. You had much ado to make his Anchor hold, When you cast out, it still came home. He would not stay at your Petitions, made His Business more material. At the good Queens entreaty. Business, my Lord? I think most understand Bohemia stays here longer. Stays here longer. To satisfy your Highness, and the Entreaties Of our most gracious Mistress. Be it forbid (my Lord.) 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, Among the infinite doings of the World, Sometime puts forth in your affairs (my Lord.) If ever I were wilfull-negligent, It was my folly: if industriously I played the Fool, it was my negligence, Not weighing well the end: if ever fearful To do a thing, where I the issue doubted, Whereof the execution did cry out Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear Which oft infects the wisest: these (my Lord) Are such allowed Infirmities, that honesty Is never free of. But beseech your Grace Be plainer with me, let me know my Trespass By it's own visage; if I then deny it, It's none of mine. I would not be a stander-by, to hear My Sovereign Mistress clouded so, without My present vengeance taken: beshrew my heart, You never spoke what did become you less Then this; which to reiterate, were sin As deep as that, though true. Good my Lord, be cured Of this diseased Opinion, and betimes, For it's most dangerous. No, no, my Lord. Who do's infect her? Sir (my Lord) I could do this, and that with no rash Potion, But with a lingering Dram, that should not work Maliciously, Like Poison: But I cannot Believe this Crack to be in my dread Mistress (So sovereignly being Honourable.) I have loved thee. I must believe you (Sir) I do, and will fetch off Bohemia for't: Provided, that when he's removed, your Highness Will take again your Queen, as yours at first, Even for your Sons sake, and thereby for sealing The Injury of Tongues, in Courts and Kingdoms Known, and allied to yours. My Lord, Go then; and with a countenance as clear As Friendship wears at Feasts, keep with Bohemia, And with your Queen: I am his Cupbearer, If from me he have wholesome Beveridge, Account me not your Servant. I'll do't, my Lord. Oh miserable Lady. But for me, What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner Of good Polixenes, and my ground to do't, Is the obedience to a Master; one, Who in Rebellion with himself, will have All that are his, so too. To do this deed, Promotion follows: If I could find example Of thousand's that had struck anointed Kings, And flourished after, Ill not do't: But since Nor Brass, nor Stone, nor Parchment bears not one, Let Villainy it self forswear't. I must Forsake the Court: to do't, or no, is certain To me a breakneck. Happy Star reign now, Here comes Bohemia. Hail most Royal Sir. None rare (my Lord.) I dare not know (my Lord.) There is a sickness Which puts some of us in distemper, but I cannot name the Disease, and it is caught Of you, that yet are well. I may not answer. Sir, I will tell you, Since I am charged in Honour, and by him That I think Honourable: therefore mark my counsel, Which must be even as swiftly followed, as I mean to utter it; or both your self, and me, Cry lost, and so good night. I am appointed him to murder you. By the King. He thinks, nay with all confidence he swears, As he had seen't, or been and Instrument To vice you to't, that you have touched his Queen Forbiddenly. Swear his thought over By each particular Star in Heaven, and By all their Influences; you may as well Forbid the Sea for to obey the Moon, As (or by Oath) remove, or (Counsel) shake The Fabric of his Folly, whose foundation Is pile upon his Faith, and will continue The standing of his Body. I know not: but I am sure it's safer to Avoid what's grown, then question how it's born. If therefore you dare trust my honesty, That lies enclosed in this Trunk, which you Shall bear along impawnd, away to Night, Your Followers I will whisper to the Business, And will by twoes, and threes, at several Posterns, Clear them of the City: For my self, I'll put My Fortune's to your service (which are here By this discovery lost.) Be not uncertain, For by the honour of my Parents, I Have uttered Truth: which if you seek to prove, I dare not stand by; nor shall you be safer, Then one condemned by the Kings own mouth: Thereon his Execution sworn. It is in mine authority to command The Keys of all the Posterns: Please your Highness To take the urgent hour. Come Sir, away. It is fifteen years since I saw my Country: though I have (for the most partly) been aired abroad, I de sire to lay my bones there. Beside, the penitent King (my Master) hath sent for me, to whose feeling sorrows I might be some allay, or I oreweene to think so) which is another spur to my departure. Sir, it is three days since I saw the Prince: what his happier affairs may be, are to me unknown: but I have (missingly) noted, he is of late much retired from Court, and is less frequent to his Princely exercises then formerly he hath appeared. I have herd (sir) of such a man, who hath a daughter of most rare note: the report of her is extended more, then can be thought to begin from such a cottage I willingly obey your command. I should leave grazing, were I of your flock, And only live by gazing. He tells her something That makes her blood look on't: Good sooth she is The Queen of Curds and Cream. This shows a found affection. Why how now Father, Speak ere thou diest. Gracious my Lord, You know my 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 sighed, as yet I fear; Then till the fury of his Highness settle Come not before him. Even he, my Lord. Be advised. This is desperate (sir.) Oh my Lord, I would your spirit were easier for advice, Or stronger for your need. He's irremoveable, Resolved for flight: Now were I happy if His going, I could frame to serve my turn, Save him from danger, do him love and honour, Purchase the sighed again of deer Sicillia, And that unhappy King, my Master, whom I so much thirst to see. Sir, I think You have herd of my poor services, in that love That I have born your Father? 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 self; embrace but my direction, If your more ponderous and settled project May suffer alteration. On mine honour, I'll point you where you shall have such receiving As shall become your Highness, where you may Enjoy your Mistress; from the whom, I see There's no disjunction to be made, but by (As heavens forefend) your ruin: Marry her, And with my best endeavours, in your absence, Your discontenting Father, strive to qualify And bring him up to liking. Have you thought on A place whereto you'll go? Sent by the King your Father To greet him, and to give him comforts. Sir, 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 every sitting What you must say: that he shall not perceive, But that you have your Father's Bosom there, And speak his very Heart. A Course more promising, Then a wild dedication of your selves To unpathed Waters, undreamed Shores; most certain, To Misery's enough: no hope to help you, But as you shake off one, to take another. Nothing so certain, as your Anchors, who Do their best office, if they can but stay you, Where you'll be loath to be: beside you know, Prosperity's the very bound of Love, Whose fresh complexion, and whose heart together, Affliction alters. Yea? say you so? There shall not, at your Father's House, these seven years Be born another such. I cannot say, it's pity She lacks Instructions, for she seems a Mistress To most that teach. My Lord, Fear none of this: I think you know my Fortune's Do all lie there: it shall be so my care, To have you royally appointed, as if The Scene you play, were mine. For instance Sir, That you may know you shall not want: one word. Nay, but my Letters by this means being there So soon as you arrive, shall clear that doubt. Shall satisfy your Father. Who have we here? We'll make and Instrument of this: omit Nothing may give us aid. How now (good Fellow) Why shakest thou so? Fear not (man) Here's no harm intended to thee. Why, be so still: here's no body will steal that from thee: yet for the outside of thy poverty, we must make and exchange; therefore dis-case thee instantly (thou must think there's a necessity in't) and change Garments with this Gentleman: Though the pennyworth (on his side) be the worst, yet hold thee, there's some boot. Nay prithee dispatch: the Gentleman is half fled already. Unbuckle, unbuckle. Fortunate Mistress (let my prophecy Come home to you:) you must retire your self Into some Covert; take your sweethearts Hat And pluck it over your Brows, muffle your face, Dismantle you, and (as you can) disliken The truth of your own seeming, that you may (For I do fear eyes over) to Shipboard Get undescried. No remedy: Have you done there? Nay, you shall have no Hat: Come Lady, come: Farewell (my friend.) What I do next, shall be to tell the King Of this escape, and whither they are bound; Wherein, my hope is, I shall so prevail To force him after: in whose company I shall review Sicilia ; for whose sighed, I have a Woman's Longing. The swifter speed, the better. My Lord, your Sorrow was too soar lay'd-on, Which sixteen Winter's cannot blow away, So many Summer's dry: scarce any Joy Did ever so long live; no Sorrow, But killed it self much sooner. She hangs about his neck, If she pertain to life, let her speak too. Then lift to me: This follows, if you will not change your purpose But undergo this flight; make for Sicillia, And there present your self, and your fair Princess, (For so I see she must be) before Leontes ; She shall be habited, as it becomes The partner of your Bed. Me thinks I see Leontes opening his free Arms, and weeping His Welcomes forth: asks thee there Son forgiveness, As 'twere in the Father's person: kisses the hands Of your fresh Princess; over and over divides him, betwixt his unkindness, and his Kindness: the one He chides to Hell, and bids the other grow Faster then Thought, or Time.