Page 804 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

And what to her adheres, which follows after,
Is th’ argument of Time. Of this allow,
If ever you have spent time worse ere now; [30]
If never, yet that Time himself doth say,

He wishes earnestly you never may.
Exit.

Scene II IT

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 [5] 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 [10] 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 [15] 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 [20] 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 sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Kings are no less unhappy,
their issue [25] not being gracious, than they are in losing them when they
have approved their virtues.