home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare
/
Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso
/
shakes
/
text
/
26
/
04_02
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-04-10
|
3KB
|
61 lines
A Room in Polixenes' Palace.
Enter POLIXENES and CAMILLO.
Polixenes I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate. 'Tis a
sickness denying thee anything; a death to grant this.
Camillo It is fifteen years since I saw my country. Though I have
for the most part been aired abroad, I desire to lay my
bones there. Besides, the penitent king, my master, hath
sent for me; to whose feeling sorrows I might be some allay,
or I o'erween to think so, which is another spur to my
departure.
Polixenes As thou lov'st me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest of thy
services by leaving me now. The need I have of thee, thine
own goodness hath made; better not to have had thee than
thus to want thee. Thou, having made me businesses which
none without thee can sufficiently manage, must either stay
to execute them thyself, or take away with thee the very
services thou hast done, which, if I have not enough
considered, as too much I cannot, to be more thankful to
thee shall be my study, and my profit therein, the heaping
friendships. Of that fatal country, Sicilia, prithee speak
no more, whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance
of that penitent, as thou call'st him, and reconciled king,
my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and
children are even now to be afresh lamented. Say to me, when
saw'st thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Kings are no less
unhappy, their issue not being gracious, than they are in
losing them when they have approved their virtues.
Camillo 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 than formerly he
hath appeared.
Polixenes I have considered so much, Camillo, and with some care, so
far that I have eyes under my service which look upon his
removedness, from whom I have this intelligence, that he is
seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd; a man, they
say, that from very nothing, and beyond the imagination of
his neighbours, is grown into an unspeakable estate.
Camillo I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a daughter of
most rare note. The report of her is extended more than can
be thought to begin from such a cottage.
Polixenes That's likewise part of my intelligence, but, I fear, the
angle that plucks our son thither. Thou shalt accompany us
to the place, where we will, not appearing what we are, have
some question with the shepherd, from whose simplicity I
think it not un-easy to get the cause of my son's resort
thither. Prithee, be my present partner in this business and
lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia.
Camillo I willingly obey your command.
Polixenes My best Camillo! We must disguise ourselves.
[Exeunt.