I think this coming summer the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him . Beseech you- You pay a great deal too dear for what 's given freely . Sicilia cannot show himself overkind to Bohemia . They were train 'd together in their childhoods ; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection which cannot choose but branch now . Since their more mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their society , their encounters , though not personal , have been royally attorneyed with interchange of gifts , letters , loving embassies ; that they have seem 'd to be together , though absent ; shook hands , as over a vast ; and embrac 'd as it were from the ends of opposed winds . The heavens continue their loves ! I very well agree with you in the hopes of him . It is a gallant child ; one that indeed physics the subject , makes old hearts fresh ; they that went on crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to see him a man . Yes ; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live . Ay , my good lord . You had much ado to make his anchor hold ; When you cast out , it still came home . He would not stay at your petitions ; made His business more material . At the good Queen 's entreaty . Business , my lord ? I think most understand Bohemia stays here longer . Stays here longer . To satisfy your Highness , and the entreaties Of our most gracious mistress . Be it forbid , my lord ! My gracious lord , I may be negligent , foolish , and fearful : In every one of these no man is free But that his negligence , his folly , fear , Among the infinite doings of the world , Sometime puts forth . In your affairs , my lord , If ever I were wilfull-negligent , It was my folly ; if industriously I play 'd the fool , it was my negligence , Not weighing well the end ; if ever fearful To do a thing where I the issue doubted , Whereof the execution did cry out Against the non-performance , ‘ twas a fear Which oft infects the wisest . These , my lord , Are such allow 'd infirmities that honesty Is never free of . But , beseech your Grace , Be plainer with me ; let me know my trespass By its own visage ; if I then deny it , ‘ Tis none of mine . I would not be a stander-by to hear My sovereign mistress clouded so , without My present vengeance taken . Shrew my heart ! You never spoke what did become you less Than this ; which to reiterate were sin As deep as that , though true . Good my lord , be cur 'd Of this diseas 'd opinion , and betimes ; For ‘ tis most dangerous . No , no , my lord . Who does infect her ? Sir , my lord , I could do this ; and that with no rash potion , But with a ling'ring dram that should not work Maliciously like poison . But I cannot Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress , So sovereignly being honourable . I have lov 'd thee- I must 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 son 's sake ; and thereby for sealing The injury of tongues in courts and kingdoms Known and allied to yours . My lord , Go then ; and with a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts , keep with Bohemia And with your queen . I am his cupbearer ; If from me he have wholesome beverage , Account me not your servant . I 'll do't , my lord . O miserable lady ! But , for me , What case stand I in ? I must be the poisoner Of good Polixenes ; and my ground to do't Is the obedience to a master ; one Who , in rebellion with himself , will have All that are his so too . To do this deed , Hail , most royal sir ! None rare , my lord . I dare not know , my lord . There is a sickness Which puts some of us in distemper ; but I cannot name the disease ; and it is caught Of you that yet are well . I may not answer . Sir , I will tell you ; Since I am charg 'd in honour , and by him That I think honourable . Therefore mark my counsel , Which must be ev'n as swiftly followed as I mean to utter it , or both yourself and me Cry lost , and so goodnight . I am appointed him to murder you . By the King . He thinks , nay , with all confidence he swears , As he had seen ‘ t or been an instrument To vice you to't , that you have touch 'd his queen Forbiddenly . Swear his thought over By each particular star in heaven and By all their influences , you may as well Forbid the sea for to obey the moon As or by oath remove or counsel shake The fabric of his folly , whose foundation Is pil 'd upon his faith and will continue The standing of his body . I know not ; but I am sure ‘ tis safer to Avoid what 's grown than question how ‘ tis born . If therefore you dare trust my honesty , That lies enclosed in this trunk which you Shall bear along impawn 'd , away to-night . Your followers I will whisper to the business ; And will , by twos and threes , at several posterns , Clear them o ’ th ’ city . For myself , I 'll put My fortunes to your service , which are here By this discovery lost . Be not uncertain , For , by the honour of my parents , I Have utt'red truth ; which if you seek to prove , I dare not stand by ; nor shall you be safer Than one condemn 'd by the King 's own mouth , thereon His execution sworn . It is in mine authority to command The keys of all the posterns . Please your Highness To take the urgent hour . Come , sir , away . Exeunt 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 . 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 . 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 . I willingly obey your command . I should leave grazing , were I of your flock , And only live by gazing . He tells her something That makes her blood look out . Good sooth , she is The queen of curds and cream . This shows a sound affection . Why , how now , father ! Speak ere thou diest . Gracious , my lord , You know your father 's temper . At this time He will allow no speech - which I do guess You do not purpose to him - and as hardly Will he endure your sight as yet , I fear ; Then , till the fury of his Highness settle , Come not before him . Even he , my lord . Be advis 'd . This is desperate , sir . O my lord , I would your spirit were easier for advice . Or stronger for your need . 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 . Sir , I think You have heard of my poor services i ’ th ’ love That I have borne your father ? 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 . Have you thought on A place whereto you 'll go ? 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 . 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 . 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 Affliction alters . Yea , say you so ? There shall not at your father 's house these seven years Be born another such . I cannot say ‘ tis pity She lacks instructions , for she seems a mistress To most that teach . My lord , Fear none of this . I think you know my fortunes Do all lie there . It shall be so my care To have you royally appointed as if The scene you play were mine . For instance , sir , That you may know you shall not want - one word . Re-enter AUTOLYCUS Nay , but my letters , by this means being there So soon as you arrive , shall clear that doubt . Shall satisfy your father . Who have we here ? We 'll make an instrument of this ; omit Nothing may give us aid . How now , good fellow ! Why shak'st thou so ? Fear not , man ; here 's no harm intended to thee . Why , be so still ; here 's nobody will steal that from thee . Yet for the outside of thy poverty we must make an exchange ; therefore discase thee instantly - thou must think there 's a necessity in'thYpppHeN and change garments with this gentleman . Though the pennyworth on his side be the worst , yet hold thee , there 's some boot . Nay , prithee dispatch . The gentleman is half flay 'd already . Unbuckle , unbuckle . FLORIZEL and AUTOLYCUS exchange garments Fortunate mistress - let my prophecy Come home to ye ! -  you must retire yourself Into some covert ; take your sweetheart 's hat And pluck it o'er your brows , muffle your face , Dismantle you , and , as you can , disliken The truth of your own seeming , that you may- For I do fear eyes over - to shipboard Get undescried . No remedy . Have you done there ? Nay , you shall have no hat . Come , lady , come . Farewell , my friend . What I do next shall be to tell the King Of this escape , and whither they are bound ; Wherein my hope is I shall so prevail To force him after ; in whose company I shall re-view Sicilia , for whose sight I have a woman 's longing . The swifter speed the better . My lord , your sorrow was too sore laid on , Which sixteen winters cannot blow away , So many summers dry . Scarce any joy Did ever so long live ; no sorrow But kill 'd itself much sooner . She hangs about his neck . If she pertain to life , let her speak too .