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The close earth wombs, or the profound seas hides

In unknown fathoms, will I break my oath

To this my fair belov'd. Therefore, I pray you,

As you have ever 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 who here I cannot hold on shore.

And most opportune to her 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.

CAMILLO.

O my lord,

I would your spirit were easier for advice.

Or stronger for your need.

FLORIZEL.

Hark, Perdita. [Takes her aside]

[To CAMILLO] I'll hear you by and by.

CAMILLO.

He's irremovable,

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.

FLORIZEL.

Now, good Camillo,

I am so fraught with curious business that

I leave out ceremony.

CAMILLO.

Sir, I think

You have heard of my poor services i' th' love

That I have borne your father?

FLORIZEL.

Very nobly

Have you deserv'd. It is my father's music

To speak your deeds; not little of his care

To have them recompens'd as thought on.

CAMILLO.

Well, my lord,

If you may please to think I love the King,

And through him what's 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 forfend! your ruin- marry her;

And with my best endeavours in your absence

Your discontenting father strive to qualify,

And bring him up to liking.

FLORIZEL.

How, Camillo,

May this, almost a miracle, be done?

That I may call thee something more than man,

And after that trust to thee.

CAMILLO.

Have you thought on

A place whereto you'll go?

FLORIZEL.

Not any yet;

But as th' 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.

CAMILLO.

Then list to me.

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 there 'Son, forgiveness!'

As 'twere i' th' father's person; kisses the hands

Of your fresh princess; o'er and o'er divides him

'Twixt his unkindness and his kindness- th' one

He chides to hell, and bids the other grow

Faster than thought or time.

FLORIZEL.

Worthy Camillo,

What colour for my visitation shall I

Hold up before him?

CAMILLO.

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.

FLORIZEL.

I am bound to you.

There is some sap in this.

CAMILLO.

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 loath to be. Besides, you know

Prosperity's the very bond of love,

Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together