Camillo.
Polixenes.
I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate;
'tis a sickness denying thee any thing, a death to
grant this.
Cam.
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.
Pol.
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 consider'd,
(as too much I cannot) to be more thankful to thee
shall be my study; and my profit therein, the heaping
-- 291 --
friendships.4 note
Of that fatal country Sicilia, pr'ythee,
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.
Cam.
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,5 note
he is of late much retired
from court, and is less frequent to his princely
exercises than formerly he hath appear'd.
Pol.
I have consider'd 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
-- 292 --
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.
Cam.
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.
Pol.
That's likewise a part of my intelligence.
6 noteBut, 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
uneasy to get the cause of my son's resort thither.
Pr'ythee, be my present partner in this business, and
lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia.
Cam.
I willingly obey your command.
Pol.
My best Camillo—we must disguise ourselves.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
