Cam.

Gracious my lord,

You know your father's temper: at this time
He will allow no speech,-which, I do guess,
You do not purpose to him;-and as hardly
Will he endure your sight as yet, I fear:
Then, 'till the fury of his highness settle,
Come not before him.

Flo.

I think, Camillo !

Cam.

I not purpose it.—

Even he, my lord.

Per. How often have I told you, 'twould be thus? How often said, my dignity would last

But till 'twere known?'

Flo.

It cannot fail, but by

The violation of my faith; And then

Let nature crush the sides o'the earth together, And mar the seeds within!-Lift up thy looks:From my succession wipe me, father! I

Am heir to my affection.

Cam.

Be advis'd.

Flo. I am; and by my fancy: if my reason
Will thereto be obedient, I have reason;

If not, my senses, better pleas'd with madness,
Do bid it welcome.

Cam.

This is desperate, sir. Flo. So call it: but it does fulfil my vow; I needs must think it honesty. Camillo, Not for Bohemia, nor the pomp that may Be thereat glean'd; for all the sun sees, or The close earth wombs, or the profound seas hide In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath To this my fair belov'd: Therefore, I pray you,

As you have e'er been my father's honour'd friend,
When he shall miss me, (as, in faith, I mean not
To see him any more,) cast your good counsels
Upon his passion; Let myself, and fortune,
Tug for the time to come. This you may know,
And so deliver,-I am put to sea

With her, whom here I cannot hold on shore;
And, most opportune to our need, I have
A vessel rides fast by, but not prepar'd

For this design. What course I mean to hold,
Shall nothing benefit your knowledge, nor
Concern me the reporting.

Cam.

O, my lord,

I would your spirit were easier for advice,

Or stronger for your need.

Resolv'd for flight: Now were I happy, if

His going I could frame to serve my turn;
Save him from danger, do him love and honour;
Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia,

And that unhappy king, my master, whom
I so much thirst to see.

Flo.

Now, good Camillo,

I am so fraught with curious business, that

I leave out ceremony.

Cam.

Sir, I think,

[Going.

You have heard of my poor services, i'the love
That I have borne your father?

Flo.

Very nobly

Have you deserv'd: it is my father's musick,

To speak your deeds; not little of his care
To have them recompens'd as thought on.

Cam.

Well, my lord,
If you may please to think I love the king;
And, through him, what is nearest to him, which is
Your gracious self; embrace but my direction,
(If your more ponderous and settled project
May suffer alteration,) on mine honour

I'll point you where you shall have such receiving
As shall become your highness; where you may
Enjoy your mistress; (from the whom, I see,
There's no disjunction to be made, but by,
As heavens forefend! your ruin:) marry her;
And (with my best endeavours, in your absence,)
Your discontenting father strive to qualify,

And bring him up to liking.

Flo.

How, Camillo,

May this, almost a miracle, be done?

That I may call thee something more than man,

And, after that, trust to thee.

Cam.

A place, whereto you'll go?

Flo.

Have you thought on

Not any yet:

But as the unthought-on accident is guilty
To what we wildly do; so we profess

Ourselves to be the slaves of chance, and flies
Of every wind that blows.

Then list to me:

Cam. This follows,-if you will not change your purpose, But undergo this flight;-Make for Sicilia; And there present yourself, and your fair princess, (For so, I see, she must be,) 'fore Leontes;

She shall be habited, as it becomes

The partner of your bed. Methinks, I see
Leontes, opening his free arms, and weeping
His welcomes forth: asks thee, the son, forgiveness,
As 'twere i'the father's person: kisses the hands
Of your fresh princess: o'er and o'er divides him
"Twixt his unkindness and his kindness; the one
He chides to hell, and bids the other grow,
Faster than thought, or time.

Flo.

Worthy Camillo, What colour for my visitation shall I

Hold up before him?

Cam. Sent by the king your father To greet him, and to give him comforts. Sir, The manner of your bearing towards him, with What you, as from your father, shall deliver, Things known betwixt us three, I'll write you down: The which shall point you forth, at every sitting, What you must say; that he shall not perceive, But that you have your father's bosom there, And speak his very heart.

Flo.

There is some sap in this.

Cam.

I am bound to you:

A course more promising

Than a wild dedication of yourselves

To unpath'd waters, undream'd shores; most certain,
To miseries enough: no hope to help you;
But, as you shake off one, to take another:
Nothing so certain, as your anchors; who
Do their best office, if they can but stay you
Where you'll be loth to be: Besides, you know,
Prosperity's the very bond of love;

Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together

Affliction alters.

Per.

. One of these is true:

I think, affliction may subdue the cheek,
But not take in the mind.

Cam.

Yea, say you so?

There shall not, at your father's house, these seven

years,

Be born another such.

Flo.

My good Camillo,

She is as forward of her breeding, as

I'the rear of birth.

Cam.

I cannot say, 'tis pity

She lacks instructions; for she seems a mistress

To most that teach.

Per.

I'll blush you. thanks.

Your pardon, sir, for this;

Flo. My prettiest Perdita.

But, O, the thorns we stand upon !-Camillo,-
Preserver of my father, now of me;

The medicin of our house!-how shall we do?

We are not furnish'd like Bohemia's son;

Nor shall appear in Sicily

Cam.

-

My lord,

Fear none of this: I think, you know, my fortunes Do all lie there: it shall be so my care

To have you royally appointed, as if

The scene you play, were mine. For instance, sir, know you shall not want,-one word. [They talk aside.

That you may