Cam. 'Beseech you,Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence-in so rare-I know not what to say. -We will give you sleepy drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us. Cam. You pay a great deal too dear, for what's given freely. Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance. Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attornied,* with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they have seemed to be together, though absent; shook hands, as over a vast;† and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves! Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note. Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him a man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, CAMILLO, and Attendants. Pol. Nine changes of the wat❜ry star have been Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks Go hence in debt: And therefore, like a cipher, Yet standing in rich place, I multiply, With one we-thank-you, many thousands more That go before it. Leon. Stay your thanks awhile; And pay them when you part. Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow. I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance, *Nobly supplied by ambassadors. + Waste. Or breed upon our absence.* That may blow Leon. We are tougher, brother, Than you can put us to't. Pol. No longer stay. Leon. One seven-night longer. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. Leon. We'll part the time between's then: and in that I'll no gain-saying. Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you so; There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, Do even drag me homeward; which to hinder, Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you. Her. I had thought, Sir, to have held my peace, until You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay. You, Sir, Charge him too coldly: Tell him, you are sure, All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him, Leon. Well said, Hermione. Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong: But let him say so then, and let him go; But let him swear so, and he shall not stay, We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. Yet of your royal presence [To POLIXENES], I'll adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia You take my lord, Ill give him my commission, To let him there a month, behind the gest§ Prefix'd for his parting: yet, good deed,|| Leontes, I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind What lady she her lord.-You'll stay? Pol. No, Madam. Her. Nay, but you will? Pol. I may not, verily. Her. Verily! You put me off with limber** vows: But I, Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily, You shall not go; a lady's verily is As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet? Force me to keep you as a prisoner, The satisfactory intelligence we had yesterday. Tick. ** Flimsy. Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees, When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you? One of them you shall be. Pol. Your guest then, Madam: To be your prisoner, should import offending; Than you to punish. Her. Not your jailer then, But your kind hostess. Come I'll question you Pol. We were, fair queen, Two lads, that thought there was no more behind, And to be boy eternal. Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two? Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i' the sun, And bleat the one at the other: what we changed Was innocence for innocence; we knew not The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd That any did: Had we pursued that life, And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven Her. By this we gather, You have tripp'd since. Pol. O my most sacred lady, Temptations have since then been born to us: for Her. Grace to boot! Of this make no conclusion; lest you say, Your queen and I are devils: Yet, go on; The offences we have made you do, we'll answer; Leon. Is he won yet? Her. He'll stay, my lord. Leon. At my request he would not. Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest To better purpose. Her. Never? Leon. Never, but once. Her. What? have I twice said well? when was't before? I pr'ythee, tell me: Cram us with praise, and make us As fat as tame things: One good deed dying tongueless, * A diminutive of lords. + Setting aside original sin. + Grace help me. Slaughters a thousand, waiting upon that. What was my first? it has an elder sister, Or I mistake you: O, would her name were Grace! Leon. Why, that was when Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death, And clap* thyself my love; then didst thou utter, I am yours for ever. Her. It is Grace, indeed. Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice: The other, for some while a friend. [Giving her hand to POLIXENES Leon. Too hot, too hot: Mam. Ay, my good lord. Leon. I' fecks?§ [Aside Why that's my bawcock.|| What, hast smutch'd thy nose?— We must be neat; not neat, but cleanly, captain: And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf, Are all call'd neat.-Still virginalling¶ [Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE. Upon his palm ?-How now, you wanton calf? Art thou my calf? Mam. Yes, if you will, my lord. Leon. Thou want'st a rough pash, and the shoot's that I have** To be full like me :-yet, they say, we are Almost as like as eggs; women say so, That will say anything: But were they false As o'er-dyed blacks, as wind, as waters; *By joining hands. false + Trembling of the heart. By my faith. The tune played at the death of the deer. I. e. playing with her fingers as on a spinnet. ** Thou wantest a rough head, and the budding horns that I have, ++ I. e. stuffs. As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes No bourn* 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true Look on me with your welkint eye: Sweet villain! Most dear'st! my collop!-Can thy dam ?-may't be ?— Thou dost make possible, things not so held; Communicat'st with dreams;-How can this be ?- And fellow'st nothing: Then, 'tis very credent || Thou mayst co-join with something; and thou dost And hardening of my brows. Pol. What means Sicilia? Her. He something seems unsettled. What cheer? how is't with you, best brother? As if you held a brow of much distraction: Leon. No, in good earnest. How sometimes nature will betray its folly, As ornaments oft do, too dangerous. How like, methought, I then was to this kernel, This quash, this gentleman:-Mine honest friend, Will you take eggs for money ?** Mam. No, my lord, I'll fight. Leon. You will? why, happy man be his dole !++-My brother Are you so fond of your young prince, as we Do seem to be of ours? Pol. If at home, Sir, He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter: Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy; Office'd with me: We two will walk, my lord, |