A Room in Polixenes' Palace.
 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, 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.

Polixenes	As thou lov'st me, Camillo, wipe not out the 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 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, 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. Say to me, when 
	saw'st thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Kings are no less 
	unhappy, their issue not being gracious, than they are in 
	losing them when they have approved their virtues.

Camillo	Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince. 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 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 imagination of 
	his neighbours, is grown into an unspeakable estate.

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 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 the shepherd, from whose simplicity I 
	think it not un-easy 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.

Polixenes	My best Camillo! We must disguise ourselves.
													[Exeunt.
