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- Edition: The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale (Modern)
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1612[4.2]
I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more 1615importunate. 'Tis a sickness denying thee anything, a death to 1616grant this.
It is fifteen years since I saw my country. 1618Though I have for the most part been aired abroad, I 1619desire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent king, 1620my master, hath sent for me, to whose feeling sorrows 1621I might be some allay, or I o'erween to think so, which 1622is another spur to my departure.
As thou lov'st me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest 1624of thy services by leaving me now. The need I have of 1625thee thine own goodness hath made. Better not to 1626have had thee than thus to want thee. Thou, having made 1627 me businesses which none without thee can 1628sufficiently manage, must either stay to execute them thyself, 1629or take away with thee the very services thou hast done, 1630which if I have not enough considered -- as too much I 1631cannot -- to be more thankful to thee shall be my 1632study, and my profit therein the heaping friendships. 1633Of that fatal country Sicilia, prithee speak no more,1634whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance 1635of that penitent, as thou callst him, and reconciled king 1636my brother, whose loss of his most precious queen and 1637children are even now to be afresh lamented. Say to 1638me when saw'st thou the prince Florizel, my son? Kings 1639are no less unhappy, their issue not being gracious, than 1640they are in losing them when they have approved their 1641virtues.
Sir, it is three days since I saw the Prince. What 1643his happier affairs may be are to me unknown, but I 1644have missingly noted he is of late much retired from 1645court and is less frequent to his princely exercises than 1646formerly he hath appeared.
I have considered so much, Camillo, and with 1648some care, so far, that I have eyes under my service 1649which look upon his removednesse, from whom I have 1650this intelligence: that he is seldom from the house of a 1651most homely shepherd, a man, they say, that from very 1652nothing and beyond the imagination of his neighbors 1653is grown into an unspeakable estate.
I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a 1655daughter of most rare note: the report of her is extended 1656more than can be thought to begin from such a cottage.
That's likewise part of my intelligence, but I 1658fear the angle that plucks our son thither. Thou 1659shalt accompany us to the place where we will, not 1660appearing what we are, have some question with the 1661shepherd, from whose simplicity I think it not uneasy to 1662get the cause of my son's resort thither. Prithee, be my 1663present partner in this business and lay aside the thoughts 1664of Sicilia.
I willingly obey your command.
My best Camillo, we must disguise ourselves.
4.2.9.1[Exeunt.]