Could man fo blench? Cam. 1 muft believe you, Sir, I do, and will fetch off Bohemia for't: Provided that, when he's remov'd, your Highness Will take again your Queen, as yours at first, Even for your fon's fake, and thereby for fealing The injury of tongues, in Courts and Kingdoms Known and ally'd to yours. Leo. Thou doft advise me, Even fo as I mine own course have fet down: Cam. My Lord, Go then; and with a countenance as clear Leo. I will feem friendly, as thou haft advis'd me. [Exit. Cam. O miferable lady!-But, for me, What cafe stand I in? I must be the poifoner Of good Polixenes, and my ground to do't Is the obedience of a mafter; one, Who, in rebellion with himself, will have All that are his, fo too. To do this deed, Promotion follows. If I could find example Of thousands, that had struck anointed Kings, And flourish'd after, I'd not do't: but fince Nor brafs, nor ftone, nor parchment, bears not one; Let villany itself forfwear't, I must Forfake the Court; to do't, or no, is certain To me a break-neck.-Happy ftar reign now! SCENE Pol. This is ftrange! methinks, My favour here begins to warp. Not speak?-Good day, Camillo. Cam. Hail, most royal Sir! Pol. What is the news i'th' court? Pol. The King hath on him fuch a countenance, Cam. I dare not know, my Lord. Pol. How, dare not? do not? do you know, and dare not? Be intelligent to me, 'tis thereabouts : For to yourself, what you do know, you must; Cam. There is a fickness, Which puts fome of us in diftemper; but Pol. How caught of me? Make me not fighted like the bafilifk. I've look'd on thousands, who have sped the better By my regard, but kill'd none fa. Camillo, As you are certainly a gentleman, Clerk Clerk-like experienc'd (which no less adorns In ignorant concealment. Cam. I may not answer. 5 Pol. A ficknefs caught of me, and yet I well? Which honour does acknowledge (whereof the leaft Is creeping towards me; how far off, how near If not, how best to bear it. Cam. Sir, I'll tell you. Since I am charg'd in honour, and by him I mean to utter it; or both yourself and me Cry loft, and fo good night. Pol. On, good Camillo. Cam. I am appointed Him to murder you. Cam. By the King. Pol. For what? Cam. He thinks, nay, with all confidence he fwears, As he had feen't, or been an inftrument To vice you to't', that you have toucht his Queen Forbiddenly. Pol. Oh, then, my best blood turn To an infected gelly, and my name 5 In whofe fuccefs awe are gentle; I know not whether fuccefs here does not mean fucceffion. 6 To vice you to't,-1 i. e. to draw, perfuade you. The character called the Vice, in the old plays, was the Tempter to evil. WARBURTON. Be Be yok'd with his, that did betray the best! A favour, that may ftrike the dulleft noftril Cam. Swear this though over 7, By each particular star in heaven, and Pol. How fhall this grow? Cam. I know not; but, I'm fure, 'tis fafer to Have utter'd truth; which if you seek to prove, Thereon his execution fworn. Pol. I do believe thee: I saw his heart in's face. Give me thy hand; Be pilot to me, and thy places fhall Still neighbour mine. My fhips are ready, and Is for a precious creature; as fhe's rare, Fear o'er-fhades me: Good expedition be my friend, and comfort The gracious Queen's; part of his theam, but nothingOf his ill-ta'en fufpicion! Come, Camillo, I will refpect thee as a father, if Thou bear'ft my life off hence. Let us avoid. The keys of all the pofterns: please your Highness, |