THE WINTER'S TALE ACT I. SCENE I. Antechamber in the palace of LEONTES. 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. 4 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 10 Cam. Beseech you, Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge; we cannot with such magnificence - in 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. so rare 15 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. 19 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 attorneyed 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! 30 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. 34 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. 41 Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. 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 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. 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 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, So soon as yours could win me; so it should now, Leon. 20 25 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 30 All in Bohemia 's well; this satisfaction The by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him, He's beat from his best ward. Leon. Well said, Hermione. 35 Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong: But let him say so then, and let him go; But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia You take my lord, I 'll give him my commission 40 To let him there a month behind the gest Prefix'd for 's parting; yet, good deed, Leontes, 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? 50 How say 54 My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread 'Verily,' One of them you shall be. Pol. Your guest, then, madam: To be your prisoner should import offending; Than you to punish. Her. But Not your gaoler, then, your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you 60 Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys; You were pretty lordings then? Pol. We were, fair queen, Two lads that thought there was no more behind |