Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Polixenes and Camillo. POLIXENES I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more
importunate. ’Tis a sickness denying thee anything,
a death to grant this. CAMILLO It is fifteen years since I saw my country.
Though I have for the most part been aired abroad, 5
I desire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent
king, my master, hath sent for me, to whose feeling
sorrows I might be some allay—or I o’erween to
think so—which is another spur to my departure. | At the Bohemian palace, Camillo tells Polixenes that he’s homesick and
wants to return to his hometown, Sicily, which should be a safe thing to
do since Leontes has apparently repented for his bad behavior.
(Remember, Camillo fled Sicily with Polixenes when Leontes flipped out
sixteen years ago.) |
POLIXENES As thou lov’st me, Camillo, wipe not out the 10
rest of thy services by leaving me now. The need I
have of thee thine own goodness hath made. Better
not to have had thee than thus to want thee. Thou,
having made me businesses which none without
thee can sufficiently manage, must either stay to 15
execute them thyself or take away with thee the very
services thou hast done, which if I have not enough
considered, as too much I cannot, to be more
thankful to thee shall be my study, and my profit
therein the heaping friendships. Of that fatal country 20
Sicilia, prithee speak no more, whose very
naming punishes me with the remembrance of that
penitent, as thou call’st him, and reconciled king
my brother, whose loss of his most precious queen
and children are even now to be afresh lamented. 25
Say to me, when sawst thou the Prince Florizell, my
son? Kings are no less unhappy, their issue not
being gracious, than they are in losing them when
they have approved their virtues. | Polixenes begs Camillo not to go – Camillo’s been a great friend and an
invaluable right hand man to the king over the years. If Camillo leaves,
it will put an end to their bro-mance. |
CAMILLO Sir, it is three days since I saw the Prince. 30
What his happier affairs may be are to me unknown,
but I have missingly noted he is of late
much retired from court and is less frequent to his
princely exercises than formerly he hath appeared. POLIXENES I have considered so much, Camillo, and 35
with some care, so far that I have eyes under my
service which look upon his removedness, from
whom I have this intelligence: that he is seldom
from the house of a most homely shepherd, a man,
they say, that from very nothing, and beyond the 40
imagination of his neighbors, is grown into an
unspeakable estate. | Then Polixenes and Camillo talk about how Prince Florizel has been AWOL
from the palace lately. Polixenes has had some spies follow his son and
has learned that Florizel has been hanging out at the home of the Old
Shepherd, a guy who used to be poor but become wealthy overnight. [Hmm.
Polixenes sounds like Polonius (from Hamlet), who also spied on his son.] |
CAMILLO I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a
daughter of most rare note. The report of her is
extended more than can be thought to begin from 45
such a cottage. POLIXENES That’s likewise part of my intelligence, but,
I fear, the angle that plucks our son thither. Thou
shalt accompany us to the place, where we will, not
appearing what we are, have some question with 50
the shepherd, from whose simplicity I think it not
uneasy to get the cause of my son’s resort thither.
Prithee be my present partner in this business, and
lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia. CAMILLO I willingly obey your command. 55 POLIXENES My best Camillo. We must disguise
ourselves. They exit. | Camillo chimes in that the Old Shepherd has a smokin’ hot daughter, which is probably why Florizel is always hanging out over there. Camillo and Polixenes decide to take a little trip out to the country to see what Florizel and the Old Shepherd are up to. First, however, they’ll need some disguises. |