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 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
-- 487 --
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, 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, 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, 11Q0491 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, 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.
-- 488 --
Pol.
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 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.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].