Whiles he was hastening, in the chase, it seems, Of this fair couple, meets he on the way Her brother, having both their country quitted With this young prince. Flo. Camillo has betray'd me; Whose honour and whose honesty till now Endured all weathers. Lord. Lay 't so to his charge: Who? Camillo ? He's with the king your father. Leon. Lord. Camillo, sir; I spake with him ; who now Has these poor men in question. Never saw I Wretches so quake: they kneel, they kiss the earth; Forswear themselves as often as they speak: Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them With divers deaths in death. Per. O my poor father! The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have Our contract celebrated. Leon. You are married? Flo. We are not, sir, nor are we like to be; The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first: The odds for high and low 's alike. Leon. That 'once,' I see by your good father's speed, Will come on very slowly. I am sorry, Most sorry, you have broken from his liking Where you were tied in duty, and as sorry Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty, That you might well enjoy her. Flo. Dear, look up: Though Fortune, visible an enemy, Should chase us with my father, power no jot Hath she to change our loves. Beseech you, sir, Remember since you owed no more to time Than I do now: with thought of such affections, Step forth mine advocate; at your request My father will grant precious things as trifles. Leon. Would he do so, I'ld beg your precious mistress, Which he counts but a trifle. Paul. Sir, my liege, Your eye hath too much youth in 't: not a month 'Fore your queen died, she was more worth such gazes Than what you look on now. Leon. I thought of her, Even in these looks I made. [to Florizel] But your petition Is yet unanswer'd. I will to your father: Your honour not o'erthrown by your de sires, I am friend to them and you: upon which errand I now go toward him; therefore follow me And mark what way I make : come, good my lord. [exeunt. SCENE II. Before LEONTES' palace. Enter AUTOLYCUS and a Gentleman. Aut. Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation? First Gent. I was by at the opening of the fardel, heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it: whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all commanded out of the chamber; only this methought I heard the shepherd say, he found the child. Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. First Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business; but the changes I perceived in the king and Camillo were very notes of admiration they seemed almost, with staring on one another, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was speech in their dumbness, language in their very gesture; they looked as they had heard of a world ransomed, or one destroyed: a notable passion of wonder appeared in them; but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing, could not say if the importance were joy or sorrow; but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be. Enter another Gentleman. Here comes a gentleman that haply knows more. The news, Rogero? Sec. Gent. Nothing but bonfires: the oracle is fulfilled; the king's daughter is found : such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour, that ballad-makers cannot be able to express it. Enter a third Gentleman. Here comes the Lady Paulina's steward: he can deliver you more. How goes it now, sir? this news which is called true is so like an old tale, that the verity of it is in strong suspicion has the king found his heir? Third Gent. Most true, if ever truth were pregnant by circumstance: that which you hear you'll swear you see, there is such unity in the proofs. The mantle of Queen Hermione's, her jewel about the neck of it, the letters of Antigonus found with it, which they know to be his character, the majesty of the creature in resemblance of the mother, the affection of nobleness which nature |