Of thousands, that had struck anointed kings, Forsake the court: to do't, or no, is certain To me a break-neck. Happy star, reign now! Pol. Enter POLIXenes. This is strange! methinks, My favour here begins to warp. Not speak? Good-day, Camillo. Cam. Pol. What is the news i'the court? Cam. Hail, most royal sir! None rare, my lord. Pol. The king hath on him such a countenance, As he had lost some province, and a region, Lov'd as he loves himself: even now I met him With customary compliment; when he, Wafting his eyes to the contrary, and falling A lip of much contempt, speeds from me; and So leaves me, to consider what is breeding, That changes thus his manners. Cam. I dare not know, my lord. Pol. How! dare not? do not. Do you know, and dare not Be intelligent to me? 'Tis thereabouts; For, to yourself, what you do know, you must; And cannot say, you dare not. Good Camillo, Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror, Which shows me mine chang'd too: for I must be A party in this alteration, finding Myself thus alter'd with it. Cam. Of Pol. How! caught of me? Make me not sighted like the basilisk: I have look'd on thousands who have sped the better Thereof to be inform'd, imprison it not Cam. I may not answer. Pol. A sickness caught of me, and yet I well! I must be answer'd.-Dost thou hear, Camillo, I conjure thee, by all the parts of man, Which honour does acknowledge,-whereof the least Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare If not, how best to bear it. Cam. Sir, I'll tell you; Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him That I think honourable: Therefore, mark my counsel; Which must be even as swiftly follow'd, as Pol. 8 1 In whose success we are gentle,] Success here means succession. Gentle is evidently opposed to simple; alluding to the distinction between the gentry and yeomanry. 8 I am appointed Him to murder you.] i. e. I am the person appointed to murder VOL. IV. you. M Pol. By whom, Camillo ? Cam. Pol. By the king. For what? Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, you As he had seen't, or been an instrument O, then my best blood turn Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best! A savour, that may strike the dullest nostril Cam. Swear his thought over By each particular star in heaven, and By all their influences, you may as well Forbid the sea for to obey the moon, As or, by oath, remove, or counsel, shake The fabrick of his folly; whose foundation Is pil'd upon his faith, and will continue The standing of his body. Pol. How should this grow? Cam. I know not: but, I am sure, 'tis safer to Avoid what's grown, than question how 'tis born. If therefore you dare trust my honesty,That lies enclosed in this trunk, which you Shall bear along impawn'd,-away to-night. Your followers I will whisper to the business; And will, by twos, and threes, at several posterns, Clear them o' the city: For myself, I'll put To vice-] i. e. to draw, persuade you; probably for advise. whose foundation Is pil'd upon his faith,] This folly which is erected on the foundation of settled belief. My fortunes to your service, which are here Have utter'd truth: which if you seek to prove, His execution sworn. Pol. I do believe thee: I saw his heart in his face. Give me thy hand; Still neighbour mine: My ships are ready, and Is for a precious creature: as she's rare, Thou bear'st my life off hence: Let us avoid. Cam. It is in mine authority, to command The keys of all the posterns: Please your highness To take the urgent hour: come, sir, away. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies. Her. Take the boy to you: he so troubles me, 'Tis past enduring. 1 Lady. Come, my gracious lord. Shall I be your play-fellow? Mam. No, I'll none of you. 1 Lady. Why, my sweet lord? Mam. You'll kiss me hard; and speak to me as if I were a baby still.-I love you better. 2 Lady. And why so, my good lord? Not for because Mam. Your brows are blacker; yet black brows, they say, Become some women best; so that there be not Too much hair there, but in a semi-circle, Or half-moon made with a pen. 2 Lady. Mam. I learn'd it out of women's faces.-Pray now Who taught you this? Blue, my lord. What colour are your eye-brows? 1 Lady. Mam. Nay, that's a mock: I have seen a lady's nose That has been blue, but not her eye-brows. Hark ye: 2 Lady. The queen, your mother, rounds apace: we shall Present our services to a fine new prince, One of these days; and then you'd wanton with us, If we would have you. 1 Lady. She is spread of late Into a goodly bulk: Good time encounter her! |