Infected as her life, she would not live The running of one glass*. Cam. Who does infect her? Leon. Why he, that wears her like her medal, hanging About his neck, Bohemia: Who-if I Had servants true about me; that bare eyes Their own particular thrifts,-they would do that To give mine enemy a lasting wink; Which draught to me were cordial. Sir, my lord, Cam. I could do this; and that with no rash+ potion, But with a ling'ring dram, that should not work Maliciously like poison: But I cannot Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress, So sovereignly being honourable. I have lov'd thee,- Leon. Make't thy question, and go rót! Dost think, I am so muddy, so unsettled, To appoint myself in this vexation? sully Which to preserve, is sleep; which being spotted, Cam. I must believe you, sir; I do; and will fetch off Bohemia for't: Provided, that when he's remov'd, your highness Will take again your queen, as yours at first; + Hasty. * Hour-glass. Even for your son's sake; and, thereby, for sealing The injury of tongues, in courts and kingdoms Known and allied to yours. Leon. Thou dost advise me, Even so as I mine own course have set down: Go then; and with a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts, keep with Bohemia, And with your queen: I am his cup-bearer; If from me he have wholesome beverage, Account me not your servant. Leon. This is all:· Do't, and thou hast the one half of my heart; Cam. me. [Exit. Cam. O miserable lady !-But, for me, What case stand I in? I must be the poisoner Of good Polixenes: and my ground to do't Is the obedience to a master; one, Who, in rebellion with himself, will have All that are his, so too.-To do this deed, Promotion follows: If I could find example Of thousands, that had struck anointed kings, And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but since Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment, bears not one, Let villainy itself forswear't. I must 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. Pol. How! caught of me? I have look'd on thousands, who have sped the better In whose success* we are gentle†,-I beseech you, In ignorant concealment. Cam I may not answer. Which honour does acknowledge,-whereof the least *For sucession. + Gentle was opposed to simple; well born. Is not this suit of mine,-that thou declare Is creeping toward me; how far off, how near; If not, how best to bear it. Cam. Sir, I'll tell you; Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him sel; Which must be even as swiftly follow'd, as I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me Pol. 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 vicet you to't,-that you have touch'd his queen Forbiddenly. Pol. 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. * i. e. I am the person appointed, &c. 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, 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, In that be made more bitter. Fear o'ershades me: 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. |