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Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;

My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all.

He makes a July's day short as December,

And with his varying childness cures in me

Thoughts that would thick my blood.

LEONTES.

So stands this squire

Offic'd with me. We two will walk, my lord,

And leave you to your graver steps. Hermione,

How thou lov'st us show in our brother's welcome;

Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap;

Next to thyself and my young rover, he's

Apparent to my heart.

HERMIONE.

If you would seek us,

We are yours i' th' garden. Shall's attend you there?

LEONTES.

To your own bents dispose you; you'll be found,

Be you beneath the sky. [Aside] I am angling now,

Though you perceive me not how I give line.

Go to, go to!

How she holds up the neb, the bill to him!

And arms her with the boldness of a wife

To her allowing husband!

Exeunt POLIXENES, HERMIONE, and ATTENDANTS

Gone already!

Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one!

Go, play, boy, play; thy mother plays, and I

Play too; but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue

Will hiss me to my grave. Contempt and clamour

Will be my knell. Go, play, boy, play. There have been,

Or I am much deceiv'd, cuckolds ere now;

And many a man there is, even at this present,

Now while I speak this, holds his wife by th' arm

That little thinks she has been sluic'd in's absence,

And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by

Sir Smile, his neighbour. Nay, there's comfort in't,

Whiles other men have gates and those gates open'd,

As mine, against their will. Should all despair

That hath revolted wives, the tenth of mankind

Would hang themselves. Physic for't there's none;

It is a bawdy planet, that will strike

Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis pow'rfull, think it,

From east, west, north, and south. Be it concluded,

No barricado for a belly. Know't,

It will let in and out the enemy

With bag and baggage. Many thousand on's

Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy!

MAMILLIUS.

I am like you, they say.

LEONTES.

Why, that's some comfort.

What! Camillo there?

CAMILLO.

Ay, my good lord.

LEONTES.

Go play, Mamillius; thou'rt an honest man.

Exit MAMILLIUS

Camillo, this great sir will yet stay longer.

CAMILLO.

You had much ado to make his anchor hold;

When you cast out, it still came home.

LEONTES.

Didst note it?

CAMILLO.

He would not stay at your petitions; made

His business more material.

LEONTES.

Didst perceive it?

[Aside] They're here with me already; whisp'ring, rounding,

'Sicilia is a so-forth.' 'Tis far gone

When I shall gust it last.- How came't, Camillo,

That he did stay?

CAMILLO.

At the good Queen's entreaty.

LEONTES.

'At the Queen's' be't. 'Good' should be pertinent;

But so it is, it is not. Was this taken

By any understanding pate but thine?

For thy conceit is soaking, will draw in

More than the common blocks. Not noted, is't,

But of the finer natures, by some severals

Of head-piece extraordinary? Lower messes

Perchance are to this business purblind? Say.

CAMILLO.

Business, my lord? I think most understand

Bohemia stays here longer.

LEONTES.

Ha?

CAMILLO.

Stays here longer.

LEONTES.

Ay, but why?

CAMILLO.

To satisfy your Highness, and the entreaties

Of our most gracious mistress.

LEONTES.

Satisfy

Th' entreaties of your mistress! Satisfy!

Let that suffice. I have trusted thee, Camillo,

With all the nearest things to my heart, as well

My chamber-councils, wherein, priest-like, thou

Hast cleans'd my bosom- I from thee departed

Thy penitent reform'd; but we have been

Deceiv'd in thy integrity, deceiv'd

In that which seems so.

CAMILLO.

Be it forbid, my lord!

LEONTES.

To bide upon't: thou art not honest; or,

If thou inclin'st that way, thou art a coward,

Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining

From course requir'd; or else thou must be counted

A servant grafted in my serious trust,

And therein negligent; or else a fool

That seest a game play'd home, the rich stake drawn,

And tak'st it all for jest.

CAMILLO.

My gracious lord,

I