King leontes of sicilia begs his childhood friend‎,‎ king polixenes of bohemia‎,‎ to extend his visit to sicilia‎.‎ Polixenes protests that he has been away from his kingdom for nine months‎,‎ but after leontes‎'‎s pregnant wife‎,‎ hermione‎,‎ pleads with him he relents and agrees to stay a little longer‎.‎ Leontes‎,‎ meanwhile‎,‎ has become possessed with jealousy—convinced that polixenes and hermione are lovers‎,‎ he orders his loyal retainer‎,‎ camillo‎,‎ to poison the bohemian king‎.‎ Instead‎,‎ camillo warns polixenes of what is afoot‎,‎ and the two men flee sicilia immediately‎.‎