man

Only deserve my love, by loving him;

Enter Valentine. And presently go with me to my chamber,

Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away so fast? To take a note of what I stand in need of,

Val. Please it your grace, there is a messenger To furnish me upon my longing! journey. That stays to bear my letters to my friends, All that is mine I leave at thy dispose,

And I am going to deliver them. My goods, my lands, my reputation ;

Duke. Be they of much import? Only in lieu thereof, despatch me hence :

Val. The tenor of them doth but signify Come, answer not, but to it presently ;

My health, and happy being at your court. I am impatient of my tarriance. (Exeunt.

Duke. Nay, then no matter; stay with mo

awhile;
I am to break with thee of some affairs,

That touch me near, wherein thou must be secret.
ACT III.

'Tis not unknown to thee, that I have sought

To match my friend, sir Thurio, to my daughter. SCENE 1.—Milan. An anti-room in the Duke's Val. I know it well, my lord; and, sure, the palace. Enter Duke, Thurio, and Proteus.

match

Were rich and honourable; besides, the gentleDuke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile; We have some secrets to confer about.

Is full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities

(Exit Thurio. Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter: Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me? Cannot your grace win her to fancy him? Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would dis- Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, frocover,

ward,
The law of friendship bids me to conceal : Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty;
But, when I call to mind your gracious favours Neither regarding that she is my child,
Done to me, undeserving as I am,

Nor fearing me as if I were her father;
My duty pricks me on to utter that

And, may I say to thee, this pride of bers
Which else no worldly good should draw from me. Upon advice, hath drawn my love from her ;
Know, worthy prince, Sir Valentine, my friend, And, where I thought the remnant of mine age
This knight intends to steal away your daughter; Should have been cherish'd by her child-like duty,
Myself am one made privy to the plot.

I now am full resolved to take a wife,
I know, you have determin'd to bestow her And turn her out to who will take her in :
On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates ; Then let her beauty be her wedding-dower;
And should she thus be stolen away from you, For me and my possessions she esteems not.
It would be much vexation to your age.

Val. What would your grace have me to do in Thus, for my duty's sake, I rather chose

this? To cross my friend in his intended drift,

Duke. There is a lady, sir, in Milan, here,
Than, by concealing it, heap on your head Whom I affect; but she is nice, and coy,
A pack of sorrows, which would press you down,|| And nought esteems my aged eloquence :
Being unprevented, to your timeless grave. Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor

Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care;|| (For long agone I have forgot to court:
Which to requite, command me while I live. Besides, the fashion of the time is chang'd;)
This love of theirs myself have often seen, How, and which way, I may bestow myself,
Haply, when they have judged me fast asleep; To be regarded in her sun-bright eye.
And oftentimes have purpos'd to forbid

Val. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words;
Sir Valentine her company, and my court : Dumb jewels often, in their silent kind,
But, fearing lest my jealous aim2 might err, More than quick words, do move a woman's mind.
And so, unworthily, disgrace the man

Duke. But she did scorn a present that I sent (A rashness that I ever yet have shunn'd,)

her. I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find

Val. A woman sometimes scorns what best conThat which thyself hast now disclos'd to me.

tents her.
And, that thou may'st perceive my fear of this, Send her another; never give her o'er;
Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested,3 For scorn at first makes after-love the more.
I nightly lodge her in an upper tower,

If she do frown, 'tis not in hate of you,
The key whereof myself have ever kept;

But rather to beget more love in you : And thence she cannot be convey'd away.

If she do chide, 'tis not to have you gone; Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd a For why, the fools are mad, if left alone.

Take no repulse, whatever she doth say ; How he her chamber-window will ascend, For, get you gone, she doth not mean, away: And with a corded ladder fetch her down; Flatter, and praise, commend, extol their graces; For which the youthful lover now is gone, Though ne'er so black, say, they have angels' faces. And this way comes he with it presently;

That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man, Where, if it plcase you, you may intercept him. If with his tongue he cannot win a woman. But, good my lord, do it so cunningly,

Duke. But she, I mean, is promis'd by her That my discovery be not aimed4 at;

friends
For love of you, not hate unto my friend, Unto a youthful gentleman of worth ;
Hath made me publisher of this pretence.5 And kept severely from resort of men,

Duke. Upon mine honour, he shall never know That no man hath access by day to her.
That I had any light from thee of this.

Val. Why then I would resort to her by night. Pro. Adieu, my lord; sir Valentine is coming. Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys

(Exit.

kept safe, (1) Longed for. (2) Guess. (3) Tempted.

(4) Guessed. (5) Design.

mean

a

That no man hath recourse to her by night. Val. And why not death, rather than living Val. What lets,l but one may enter at her win

torment? dow?

To die, is to be banish'd from myself; Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground; || And Silvia is myself: banish'd from her, And built so shelving that one cannot climb it Is self from self; a deadly banishment ! Without apparent hazard of his life.

What light is light, if Silvia be not seen? Val. Why then, a ladder, quaintly made of What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by ? cords,

Unless it be to think that she is by,
To cast up with a pair of anchoring hooks, And feed upon the shadow of perfection.
Would serve to scale another Hero's tower, Except I be by Silvia in the night,
So bold Leander would adventure it.

There is no music in the nightingale ;
Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood, Unless I look on Silvia in the day,
Advise me where I may have such a ladder. There is no day for me to look upon :
Val. When would you use it? pray, sir, tell me She is my essence; and I leave to be,
that.

If I be not by her fair influence
Duke. This very night; for love is like a child, Fosterd, illumin'd, cherish'd, kept alive.
That longs for every thing that he can come by: I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom :
Val. By seven o'clock I'll get you such a ladder. || Tarry I here, I but attend on death;

I
Duke. But, hark thee ; I will go to her alone; But, Hly I hence, I fly away from life.
How shall I best convey the ladder thither?
Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may

Enter Proteus and Launce.
bear it
Under a cloak, that is of any length.

Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out.

Laun. So-ho! so-ho! Duka A cloak as long as thine will serve the

Pro. What seest thou? turn?

Laun. Him we go to find; there's not a hair Val. Ay, my good lord. Duke. Then let me see thy cloak : /On's head, but 'tis a Valentine.

Pro. Valentine ? I'll get me one of such another length.

Val. No. Val. Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my

Pro. Who then ? his spirit ? lord.

l'al. Neither. Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a cloak?-

Pro. What then? I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.

Val. Nothing What letter is this same? What's here—To Silvia?

Laun. Can nothing speak? master, shall I strike? And here an engine fit for my proceeding!

Pro. Whom would'st thou strike? I'll be so bold to break the seal for once. (reads.

Laun. Nothing

Pro. Villain, forbear. My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly ; Laun. Why, sir, I'll strike nothing : I pray And slaves they are to me, that send them flying:

you, 0, could their master come and go as lightly, Pro. Sirrah, I say, forbear: friend Valentine, a Himself would lodge, where senseless they are

word. lying.

Val. My ears are stopp'd, and cannot hear My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them,

good news, While I, their king, that thither them importune, || So much of bad already hath possess'd them. Do curse the grace that with such grace hath Pro. Then in dumb silence will I bury mine, bless'd them,

For they are harsh, untunable, and bad.
Because myself do want my servants' fortune : Val. Is Silvia dead ?
I curse myself, for they are sent by me,

Pro. No, Valentine. That they should harbour where their lord should Val. No Valentine, indeed, for sacred Silvia be.

Hath she forsworn me? What's here?

Pro. No, Valentine. Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee:

Val. No Valentine, if Silvia have forsworn

me ! 'Tis so: and here's the ladder for the purpose.- What is your news ? Why, Phaëton (for thou art Merops' son,)

Laun. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car,

vanish'd. And with thy daring folly burn the world?

Pro. That thou art banish'd, O, that's the Wilt thou reach stars, because they shine on thee?

news; Go, base intruder! over-weening slave!

From hence, from Silvia, and from me thy friend. Bestow thy fawning smiles on equal mates ; Val. O, I have fed upon this wo already, And think, my patience, more than thy desert,

And now excess of it will make me surfeit. Is privilege for thy departure hence :

Doth Silvia know that I am banish'd ? Thank me for this, more than for all the favours,

Pro. Ay, ay; and she bath offer'd to the doom Which, all too much, I have bestow'd on thee.

(Which, unrevers'd, stands in effectual force) But if thou linger in my territories,

A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears : Longer than swiftest expedition

Those at her father's churlish feet she tender'd; Will give thee tinse to leave our royal court, With them, upon her knees, her humble self; By heaven, my wrath shall far exceed the love I ever bore my daughter, or thyself.

Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so became

them, Be gone, I will not hear thy vain excuse,

As if but now they waxed pale for wo: But, as thou lov'st thy life, make speed from||But neither bended knees, pure hands held up, hence.

(Exit Duke. Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears,

Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire; (1) Hinders.

But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die.

38

Besides, her intercession chald him so,

grandmother : this proves, that thou canst not read. When she for thy repeal was suppliant,

Speed. Come, fool, come: try me in thy paper.
That to close prison he commanded her,

Laun. There; and Saint Nicholasz be thy
With many bitter threats of 'biding there. speed!
Val. No more; unless the next word that thou

Speed. Item, She brews good ale.
speak'st,

Laun. And thereof comes the proverb,-
Ilave some malignant power upon my life : Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale.
If so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear,
I

Speed. Item, She can sew.
As ending anthem of my endless dolour. i

Laun. That's as much as to say, Can she so?
Pro. Čease to lament for that thou canst not Speed. Item, She can knit.
help,

Laun. What need a man care for a stock with
And study help for that which thou lament'st. a wench, when she can knit him a stock?
Time is the nurse and breeder of all good.

Speed. Item, She can wash and scour.
Here if thou stay, thou canst not see thy love ; Laun. A special virtue; for then she need not
Besides, thy staying will abridge thy life. be washed and scoured.
Hope is a lover's staff'; walk hence with that, Speed. Item, She can spin.
And manage it against despairing thoughts. Laun. Then may I set the world on wheels,
Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence; when she can spin for her living.
Which, being writ to me, shall be deliver'd Speed. Item, She hath many nameless virtues.
Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love.

Laun. That's as much as to say, bastard virtues; The time now serves not to expostulate : that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore Come, I'll convey thee through the city.gate; have no names. And, ere I part with thee, confer at large

Speed. Here follow her vices. Of all that may concern thy love-affairs :

Laun. Close at the heels of her virtues. As thou lov'st Silvia, though not for thyself, Speed. Item, She is not to be kiss'd fasting, in Regard thy danger, and along with me.

respect of her breath. Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my Laun. Well, that fault may be mended with a boy,

breakfast: read on. Bid him make haste, and meet me at the north gate. Speed. Item, She hath a sweet mouth.

Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Valentine. Laun. That makes amends for her sour breath. Val. O my dear Silvia ! hapless Valentine ! Speed. Item, She doth talk in her sleep.

(Ereunt Valentine and Proteus. Laun. It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in Laun, I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have her talk. the wit to think, my master is a kind of knave : Speed. Item, She is slow in words, but that's all one, it he be but one knave. He Laun. O villain, that set this down among her lives not now, that knows me to be in love : yet Ivices ! To be slow in words, is a woman's only vir. am in love; but a team of horse shall not pluck tue : I pray thee, out with't; and place it for her that from me ; nor who'tis I love, and yet 'uis chief virtue. woman: but that woman, I will not tell myself; Speed. Item, She is proud. and yet 'tis a milk-maid: yet 'tis not a maid, for Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, she hath had gossips : yet'tis a maid, for she is her and cannot be ta’en from her. master's maid, and serves for wages. She hath Speed. Item, She hath no teeth. more qualities than a water-spaniel, --which is Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love much in a bare Christian. Here is the cat-log || crusts. (pulling out a paper) of her conditions. Imprimis, Speed. Item, She is curst. She can fetch and carry. Why, a horse can do Laun. Well; the best is, she hath no teeth to no more ; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only car-bite. ry; therefore, is she better than a jade. Item, Speed. Item, She will often praise her liquor. She can milk ; look you, a sweet virtue in a maid Laun. If her liquor be good, she shall : If she with clean hands.

will not, I will; for good things should be praised.

Speed. Item, She is too liberal.3
Enter Speed.

Laun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ

down she is slow of: of her purse she shall not; for Speed. How now, Signior Launce? what news that I'll keep shut: now, of another thing she may; with your mastership?

and that I cannot help. Well, proceed. Laun. With my master's ship? why, it is at sea. Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit, and

Speed. Well, your old vice still ; mistake the more faults than hairs, and more wealth than word : what news then in your paper ?

faults. Laun. The blackest

that ever thou Laun. Stop there; I'll have her : she was mine, heard'st.

and not mine, twice or thrice in that last article: Speed. Why, man, how black ?

rehearse that once more. Laun. Why, as black as ink.

Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wil,Speed. Let me read them.

Laun. Moré hair than wit,-it may be; I'll Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou canst not prove it: the cover of the salt hides the salt, and read.

therefore it is more than the salt; the hair that Speed. Thou liest, I can.

covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater
Laun. I will try thee : tell me this : who begot hides the less. What's next?
thee?

Speed. And more faults than hairs,
Speed. Marry, the son of my grandfather. Laun. That's monstrous : 0, that that were out!
Laun. O illiterate loiterer ! it was the son of thy Speed. And more wealth than faults.

Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gra.
(1) Grief.
(2) St. Nicholas presided over young scholars.

(3) Licentious in language.

news

kind;

cious :' well, I'll have her: and if it be a match, as || By aught that I can speak in his dispraise, nothing is impossible,

She shall not long continue love to him. Speed. What then?

But say, this weed her love from Valentine, Laun. Why, then I will tell thee,--that thy || It follows not that she will love sir Thurio. master stays for thee at the north gate.

Thu. Therefore, as you unwind her love from Speed. For me?

him, Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath Lest it should ravel, and be good to none, staid for a better man than thee.

You must provide to bottom it on me : Speed. And must I go to him?

Which must be done, by praising me as much Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staid || As you in worth dispraise sir Valentine. so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this

Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? 'pox of your love-letters!

(Exit. Because we know, on Valentine's report, Laun. Now will he be swinged for reading my You are already love's firm votary, letter: an unmannerly slave, that will thrust him-| And cannot soon revolt and change your mind. self into secrets !-I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's upon this warrant shall you have access, correction

[Ecit. Where you with Silvia may confer at large;

For she is lumpish, heavy, melancholy, SCENE II.— The same. A room in the Duke's || And, for your friend's sake, will be glad of you ;

palace. Enter Duke and Thurio; Proteus be- Where you may temper her, by your persuasion, hind.

To hate young Valentine, and love my friend.

Pro. As much as I can do, I will effect:Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that she will love But you, sir Thurio, are not sharp enough; you,

You must lay lime,3 to tangle her desires, Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight.

By wailful sonnets, whose composed rhymes Thu. Since his exíle she hath despisd me most, Should be full fraught with serviceable vows. Forswom my company, and rail'd at me,

Duke. Ay, much the force of heaven-bred poesy. That I am desperate of obtaining her.

Pro. Say, that upon the altar of her beauty Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure You sacrifice your tears, your sighs, your heart: Trenched2 in ice; which with an hour's heat Write till your ink be dry; and with your tears Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form. Moist it again; and frame some feeling line, A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,

That may discover such integrity And worthless Valentine shall be forgot.

For Orpheus' lute was strung with poet's sinews; How now, sir Proteus? Is your countryman, Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones, According to our proclamation, gone?

Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans Pro. Gone, my good lord.

Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands. Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. After your dire-lamenting elegies, Pro. A little time, my lord, will kill that grief. Visit by night your lady's chainber-window

Duke. So I believe; but Thurio thinks not s0.- With some sweet concert: to their instruments Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee Tune a deploring dump;4 the night's dead silence (For thou hast shown some sign of good desert,)

Will well become such sweet complaining grievMakes me the better to confer with thee. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace,

This, or else nothing, will inherit her. Let me not live to look upon your grace

Duke. This discipline shows thou hast been in Duke. Thou know'st, how willingly I would effect

love. 'The match between sír Thurio and my daughter.

Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put

in

pracPro. I do, my lord.

tice: Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver, How she opposes her against my will.

Let us into the city presently Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. || To sorts some gentlemen well skill'd in music: Duke. Ay, and perversely she persevers so.

I have a sonnet, that will serve the turn, What might we do, to make the girl forget

To give the onset to thy good advice. The love of Valentine, and love sir Thurio?

Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. The best way is to slander Valentine

Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper, With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent;

And afterward determine our proceedings. Three things that women highly hold in hate.

Duke. Even now about it; I will pardon you. Duke. Ay, but she'll think, that it is spoke in

(Exeunt. hate. Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it: Therefore it must, with circumstance, be spoken

ACT IV. By one, whom she esteemeth as his friend.

Duke. Then you must undertake to slander him. SCENE I.-A forest, near Mantua. Enter Pro. And that, my lord, I shall be loth to do :

certain Out-laws. Tis an ill office for a gentleman ; Especially, against his very friend.

1 Out. Fellows, stand fast : I see a passenger. Duke. Where your good word can advantage

2 Out. If there be ten, shrink not, but down birn,

with 'em.
Your slander never can endamage him;
Therefore the office is indifferent,

Enter Valentine and Speed.
Being entreated to it by your friend.
Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it,

3 Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you have

ance.

about you;

(1) Graceful.

(2) Cut.

(3) Bird-lime.

(4) Mournful elegy.

(5) Choose out.

If not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you. Love thee as our commander, and our king.

Speed. Sir, we are undone! these are the villains 1 Ouit. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. That all the travellers do fear so much.

2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have Val. My friends,

offer'd. 1 Out. That's not so, sir; we are your enemies. Val. I take your offer, and will live with you ; 2 Out. Peace ; we'll hear him.

Provided that you do no outrages 3 Ort. Ay, by my beard, will we;

On silly women, or poor passengers. For he's a proper man.

3 Out. No, we detest such vile base practices. Val. Then know, that I have little wealth to lose; Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our crews, A man I am, cross'd with adversity :

And show thee all the treasure we have got ; My riches are these poor habilaments,

Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose. of which if you should here disfurnish me,

(Exeunt. You take the sum and substance that I have. 2 Out. Whither travel you?

SCENE II.-Milan. Court of the palace. En. Val. To Verona.

ter Proteus. 1 Out. Whence came you?

Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, Val. From Milan.

And now I must be as unjust to Thurio. 3 Out. Have you long sojourn'd there? Under the colour of commending him, Val. Some sixteen months; and longer might I have access my own love to prefer ; have staid,

But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy, If crooked fortune had not thwarted me.

To be corrupted with my worthless gifts. 1 Out. What, were you banish'd thence ? When I protest true loyalty to her, Val. I was.

She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; 2 Out. For what offence ?

When to her beauty I commend my vows, Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse: She bids me think, how I have been forsworn I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent; In breaking faith with Julia whom I lov'd : But yet I slew him manfully in fight,

And, notwithstanding all her sudden quips, 5 Without false vantage, or base treachery.

The least whereof would quell a lover's hope, 1 Out. Why ne'er repent it, if it were done so : Yet

, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love, But were you banish'd for so small a fault?

The more it grows and fawneth on her still. Val. I was, and held me glad of such a doom. But here comes Thurio: now must we to her win1 Out. Have you the tongues:2

dow, Val. My youthful travel therein made me happy :|| And give some evening music to her ear. Or else I often had been miserable. 3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat

Enter Thurio, and musicians. friar, This fellow were a king for our wild faction.

Thu. How now, sir Proteus? are you crept

before us? 1 Out. We'll have him: sirs, a word. Speed. Master, be one of them;

Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for, you know, that

love It is an honourable kind of thievery. Val. Peace, villain!

Will creep in service where it cannot go. 2 Out. Tell us this: have you any thing to take

Thu. Ay, but, I hope, sir, that you love not here. to?

Pro. Sir, but I do, or else I would be hence. Val. Nothing, but my fortune.

Thu. Whom? Silvia ? 3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentle

Pro. Ay, Silvia-for your sake.

Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen, Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth

men, Thrust from the company of awful men:

Let's tune, and to it lustily awhile. Myself was from Verona banished,

Enter Host, at a distance; and Julia in boy's For practising to steal away a lady,

clothes. An heir, and near allied unto the duke. 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman,

Host. Now, my young guest! methinks you're Whom, in my mood, 4 I stabb'd unto the heart. allycholly; I pray you, why is it? 1 Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as

Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be these.

merry But to the purpose-(for we cite our faults,

Host. Come, we'll have you merry: I'll bring That they may bold excus'd our lawless lives,) you where you shall hear music, and see the genAnd, partly, seeing you are beautified

tleman that you ask'd for. With goodly shape; and by your own report

Jul. But shall I hear him speak? A linguist; and a man of such perfection,

Host. Ay, that you shall. As we do in our quality much want;-

Jul. That will be music. (Music plays. 2 Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man,

Host. Hark! hark ! Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you:

Jul. Is he among these?
Are you content to be our general ?

Host. Ay: .but peace, let's hear 'em.
To make a virtue of necessity,
And live, as we do, in this wilderness ?

SONG. 3 Out. What say'st thou ? wilt thou be of our

Who is Silvia? What is she,
consórt?

That all our swains comunend her?
Say, ay, and be the captain of us all :
We'll do thee homage, and be ruld by thee,

Holy, fair, and wise is she ;

The heavens such grace did lend her,

That she might admired be. (1) Well-looking. (2) Languages. (3) Lawful. (4) Anger, resentment.

(5) Passionate reproaches.