Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Winters Tale/Act 4 Scene 2
Scena Secunda.
Enter Polixenes, and Camillo.
Pol. I pray thee (good Camillo) be no more importunate: 'tis a sicknesse denying thee any thing: a death togrant this.
Cam. It is fifteene yeeres since I saw my Countrey:though I haue (for the most part) bin ayred abroad, I desire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent King(my Master) hath sent for me, to whose feeling sorrowesI might be some allay, or I oreweene to thinke so) whichis another spurre to my departure.
Pol. As thou lou'st me (Camillo) wipe not out the restof thy seruices, by leauing me now: the neede I haue ofthee, thine owne goodnesse hath made: better not tohaue had thee, then thus to want thee, thou hauing mademe Businesses, (which none (without thee) can sufficiently manage) must either stay to execute them thy selfe,or take away with thee the very seruices thou hast done:which if I haue not enough considered (as too much Icannot) to bee more thankefull to thee, shall bee my studie, and my profite therein, the heaping friendshippes.Of that fatall Countrey Sicillia, prethee speake no more,whose very naming, punnishes me with the remembrance of that penitent (as thou calst him) and reconciled Kingmy brother, whose losse of his most precious Queene &Children, are euen now to be a-fresh lamented. Say tome, when saw'st thou the Prince Florizell my son? Kingsare no lesse vnhappy, their issue, not being gracious, thenthey are in loosing them, when they haue approued theirVertues.
Cam. Sir, it is three dayes since I saw the Prince: whathis happier affayres may be, are to me vnknowne: but Ihaue (missingly) noted, he is of late much retyred fromCourt, and is lesse frequent to his Princely exercises thenformerly he hath appeared.
Pol. I haue considered so much (Camillo) and withsome care, so farre, that I haue eyes vnder my seruice,which looke vpon his remouednesse: from whom I hauethis Intelligence, that he is seldome from the house of amost homely shepheard: a man (they say) that from verynothing, and beyond the imagination of his neighbors,is growne into an vnspeakable estate.
Cam. I haue heard (sir) of such a man, who hath adaughter of most rare note: the report of her is extendedmore, then can be thought to begin from such a cottage
Pol. That's likewise part of my Intelligence: but (Ifeare) the Angle that pluckes our sonne thither. Thoushalt accompany vs to the place, where we will (not appearing what we are) haue some question with the shepheard; from whose simplicity, I thinke it not vneasie toget the cause of my sonnes resort thether. 'Prethe be mypresent partner in this busines, and lay aside the thoughtsof Sicillia.
Cam. I willingly obey your command.
Pol. Exit.My best Camillo, we must disguise our selues.