The Winters Tale — Act 1 Scene 1

Enter Camillo and Archidamus.

Arch.F you shall chance (Camillo) to visit Bohemia, onthe like occasion whereon my seruices are nowon-foot, you shall see (as I haue said) greatdifference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia.

Cam.I thinke, this comming Summer, the King ofSicilia meanes to pay Bohemia the Visitation, which heeiustly owes him.

Arch.Wherein our Entertainment shall shame vs: wewill be iustified in our Loues: for indeed—

Cam.'Beseech you—

Arch.Verely I speake it in the freedome of my knowledge:we cannot with such magnificence—in so rare—I know not what to say— Wee will giue you sleepieDrinkes, that your Sences (vn-intelligent of ourinsufficience) may, though they cannot prayse vs, aslittle accuse vs.

Cam.You pay a great deale to deare, for what's giuen freely.

Arch.'Beleeue me, I speake as my vnderstanding instructsme, and as mine honestie puts it to vtterance.

Cam.Sicilia cannot shew himselfe ouer-kind to Bohemia:They were trayn'd together in their Child-hoods;and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection,which cannot chuse but braunch now. Since their moremature Dignities, and Royall Necessities, made seperationof their Societie, their Encounters (though not Personall)hath been Royally attornyed with enter-change ofGifts, Letters, louing Embassies, that they haue seem'd tobe together, though absent: shooke hands, as ouer a Vast;and embrac'd as it were from the ends of opposed Winds.The Heauens continue their Loues.

Arch.I thinke there is not in the World, either Maliceor Matter, to alter it. You haue an vnspeakable comfortof your young Prince Mamillius: it is a Gentleman of thegreatest Promise, that euer came into my Note.

Cam.I very well agree with you, in the hopes of him:it is a gallant Child; one, that (indeed) Physicks theSubiect, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on Crutchesere he was borne, desire yet their life, to see him a Man.

Arch.Would they else be content to die?

Cam.Yes; if there were no other excuse, why they shoulddesire to liue.

Arch.If the King had no Sonne, they would desire toExeunt.liue on Crutches till he had one.