Thou dost advise me Leon. Even so as I mine own course have set down: I'll give no blemish to her honour, none. Go then; and with a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia, Account me not your servant. Leon. I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd me. [Exit. Cam. O miserable lady! — But, for me, Is the obedience to a master; one, 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. Hail, most royal sir! Pol. What is the news i' th' Court? Cam. 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 th' 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; Myself thus alter'd with 't. Cam. There is a sickness Which puts some of us in distemper; but Pol. How caught of me? Make me not sighted like the basilisk: I have look'd on thousands who have sped the bet ter By my regard, but kill'd none so. Camillo, As you are certainly a gentleman; thereto In whose success we are gentle, — I beseech you, edge Thereof to be inform'd, imprison 't 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 What incidency thou dost guess of harm If not, how best to bear it. Cam. Sir, I will tell you; Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him That I think honourable: therefore, mark my counsel; I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me Pol. On, good Camillo. Cam. I am appointed him to murther you. Pol. By whom, Camillo ? Cam. Pol. By the King. For what? Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he swears, As he had seen 't or been an instrument To vice you to 't, that you have touch'd his Queen Forbiddenly. Pol. O, then my best blood turn To an infected jelly; and my name A savour that may strike the dullest nostril Where I arrive; and my approach be shunn'd, Nay, hated too, worse than the great'st infection Cam. Swear this, though, over Pol. How should this grow? Cam. I know not; but, I am sure, 'tis safer to Have utter'd truth: which, if you seek to prove, Pol. I do believe thee; I saw his heart in 's face. Give me thy hand; Is for a precious creature as she's rare, He is dishonour'd by a man which ever Profess'd to him, why, his revenges must In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me: Good expedition be my friend, and comfort The gracious Queen, part of his theme, but nothing Of his ill-ta'en suspicion! Come, Camillo ; I will respect thee as a father, if 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. — Sicilia. The Palace. Enter HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, and Ladies. HERMIONE. AKE the boy to you: he so troubles me 'Tis past enduring. 1 Lady. Shall I be your playfellow? Come, my gracious lord, Why, my sweet lord? Mam. No, I'll none of you. 1 Lady. 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 lord? Not for because Mam. Your brows are blacker; — yet black brows, they say, Become some women best, so that there be not |