Camillo.
Pol.
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 note 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 lovest 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 note,
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 note profit therein, the heaping
friendships note. Of that fatal country, Sicilia, prithee speak no
more; whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance
of that penitent, as thou callest him, and reconciled
-- 373 --
king, my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and
children are even now to be afresh lamented. Say to me,
when sawest 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 note noted, he is of late much retired from court and
is less frequent to his princely exercises than formerly he
hath appeared.
Pol.
I have considered so much, Camillo, and with some
care; so far, note 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.
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 part note of my intelligence; but, I
fear, the angle note 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 note. Prithee, 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. note
-- 374 --
note
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].