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- Edition: The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale (Modern)
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1[1.1]
4If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia on the like occasion 5whereon my services are now on-foot, you shall see (as I have 6said) great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia.
I think this coming summer the King of Sicilia means to 9pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him.
Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be 12justified in our loves. For indeed --
Beseech you --
Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge. We 15cannot with such magnificence -- in so rare -- I know not what to 16say. We will give you sleepy drinks, that your senses 17(unintelligent of our insufficiency) may, though they cannot 18praise us, as little accuse us.
You pay a great deal too dear for what's given 21freely.
Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me 23and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.
1.1.824CamilloSicilia cannot show himself overkind to 25Bohemia. They were trained together in their 26childhoods, and there rooted betwixt them then such an 27affection which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more 28mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their 29society, their encounters (though not personal) hath been royally 30attornied with interchange of gifts, letters, loving 31embassies, that they have seemed to be together, though absent, 32shook hands as over a vast, and embraced as it were from the 33ends of opposed winds. 34The heavens continue their loves.
1.1.935Archidamus I think there is not in the world either malice or matter 36to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young 37Prince Mamillius. It is a gentleman of the 38greatest promise that ever came into my note.
I very well agree with you in the hopes of him. 40It is a gallant child, one that indeed physics the 41subject, makes old hearts fresh. They that went on crutches 42ere he was born desire yet their life to see him a man.
Would they else be content to die?
Yes, if there were no other excuse why they should 45desire to live.
If the King had no son, they would desire to live on 47crutches till he had one.
1.1.13.1Exeunt.