1    I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate:
2    'tis a sickness denying thee any thing; a death to
3    grant this.

4    It is fifteen years since I saw my country: though
5    I have for the most part been aired abroad, I
6    desire to lay my bones there. Besides, the penitent
7    king, my master, hath sent for me; to whose feeling
8    sorrows I might be some allay, or I o'erween to
9    think so, which is another spur to my departure.

10   As thou lovest me, Camillo, wipe not out the rest of
11   thy services by leaving me now: the need I have of
12   thee thine own goodness hath made; better not to
13   have had thee than thus to want thee: thou, having
14   made me businesses which none without thee can
15   sufficiently manage, must either stay to execute
16   them thyself or take away with thee the very
17   services thou hast done; which if I have not enough
18   considered, as too much I cannot, to be more
19   thankful to thee shall be my study, and my profit
20   therein the heaping friendships. Of that fatal
21   country, Sicilia, prithee speak no more; whose very
22   naming punishes me with the remembrance of that
23   penitent, as thou callest him, and reconciled king,
24   my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen
25   and children are even now to be afresh lamented.
26   Say to me, when sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my
27   son? Kings are no less unhappy, their issue not
28   being gracious, than they are in losing them when
29   they have approved their virtues.

30   Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince. What
31   his happier affairs may be, are to me unknown: but I
32   have missingly noted, he is of late much retired
33   from court and is less frequent to his princely
34   exercises than formerly he hath appeared.

35   I have considered so much, Camillo, and with some
36   care; so far that I have eyes under my service which
37   look upon his removedness; from whom I have this
38   intelligence, that he is seldom from the house of a
39   most homely shepherd; a man, they say, that from
40   very nothing, and beyond the imagination of his
41   neighbours, is grown into an unspeakable estate.

42   I have heard, sir, of such a man, who hath a
43   daughter of most rare note: the report of her is
44   extended more than can be thought to begin from such a cottage.

45   That's likewise part of my intelligence; but, I
46   fear, the angle that plucks our son thither. Thou
47   shalt accompany us to the place; where we will, not
48   appearing what we are, have some question with the
49   shepherd; from whose simplicity I think it not
50   uneasy to get the cause of my son's resort thither.
51   Prithee, be my present partner in this business, and
52   lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia.

53   I willingly obey your command.

54   My best Camillo! We must disguise ourselves.