With all good grace to grace a gentleman. Love hath chas'd sleep from my enthralled eyes, Duke. Beshrew' me, sir, but, if he make this And made them watchers of mine own heart's sor good, He is as worthy for an empress' love, Well, sir; this gentleman is come to me, And here he means to spend his time a while: think, 'tis no unwelcome news to you. Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he. Duke. Welcome him then according to his worth. Silvia, I speak to you; and you, Sir Thurio:- Sil. Belike, that now she hath enfranchis'd them Upon some other pawn for fealty. Val. Nay, sure, I think, she holds them prisoners still. Sil. Nay, then he should be blind; and, being blind, How could he see his way to seek out you? Val. Why, lady, love hath twenty pair of eyes. Thu. They say, that love hath not an eye at all. Val. To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself; Upon a homely object love can wink. vant To have a look of such a worthy mistress. No; that you are worthless. Enter Servant. Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure. [Exit Servant. Come, Sir Thurio, Go with me :-Once more, new servant, welcome: I'll leave you to confer of home affairs; When you have done, we look to hear from you. Pro. We'll both attend upon your ladyship. [Exeunt SILVIA, THURIO, and SPEED. Val. Now, tell me, how do all from whence you came? Pro. Your friends are well, and have them much commended. Val. And how do yours? Val. How does your lady? and how thrives your love? Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you; I know you joy not in a love-discourse. Val. Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now: I have done penance for contemning love; Whose high imperious thoughts have punish'd me With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,. With nightly tears, and daily heart-sore sighs; For, in revenge of my contempt of love, 1 A petty mode of adjuration equivalent to ill betide row. O, gentle Proteus, love's a mighty lord; Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye Was this the idol that you worship so? Val. Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint? Pro. I will not flatter her. Val. O, flatter me; for love delights in praises. Pro. When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills; And I must minister the like to you. Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, Yet let her be a principality," Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth. Val. Sweet, except not any, Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own! Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? Pro. Then let her alone. Val. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own; And I as rich in having such a jewel, Val. Nay, more, our marriage hour, Pro. Go on before; I shall inquire you forth. [Exit VAL. Even as one heat another heat expels, 4 No woe, no misery that can be compared to the punishment inflicted by love. 5 A principality is an angel of the first order 6 i. e. the haven where the ships lie at anchor. 7 Alluding to the figures made by witches as representatives of those they meant to destroy or torment V. Macbeth, Act ii Sc 3 And that I love him not, as I was wont: [Exit. SCENE V.-The same. A Street. Enter SPEED and LAUNCE. Milan. I Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Laun, Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for am not welcome. I reckon this always-that a man is never undone, till he be hanged; nor never welcome to a place, till some certain shot be paid, and the hostess say, welcome. SCENE VI.-The same. An Apartment in the Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn; Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear : O sweet suggesting love, if thou hast sinn'd, Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it. At first I did adore a twinkling star, But now I worship a celestial sun. Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken: To learn his wit to exchange the bad for better.And he wants wit, that wants resolved will Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad, With twenty thousand soul-confirming oaths. Whose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferr'd I cannot leave to love, and yet I do; But there I leave to love, where I should love. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the ale-If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; Julia I lose, and Valentine I lose : nouse with you presently; where, for one shot of If I lose them, thus find I by their loss, ive thou shalt have five thousand welcomes. For Valentine, myself; for Julia, Silvia. But, sirrah, how did thy master part with madam to myself am dearer than a friend; And Silvia, witness heaven, that made her fair' For love is still most precious in itself: Shews Julia but a swarthy Ethiope. pence Julia? Lun. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But shall she marry him? Laun. No. me. Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistakest Laun. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master. Speed. I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover. Laun. Why, I tell thee, I care not though he burn himself in love. If thou wilt go with me to the ale-house, so; if not, thou art a Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian. Speed. Why? Laun. Because thou hast not so much charity in thee, as to go to the ale with a Christian. Wilt thou go? Speed. At thy service. [Exeunt. 1 i. e. on further knowledge, on better consideration. ? Proteus means to say, that as yet he had only seen outward form, without having known her long enough to have any acquaintance with her mind. 8 Dazzled is used as a trisyllable. 4 ie what say'st thou to this circumstance. I I will forget that Julia is alive, SCENE VII. Verona. A Room in Julia's House. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me! Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. Luc. Better forbear, till Proteus make return. Pity the dearth that I have pined in, 5 To suggest, in the language of our ancestors, was to tempt. 6 i. e. myself who am his competitor or rival, being admitted to his counsel. Competitor here means confederate, assistant, partner. Thus in Ant. Cleop. Act v. Sc. 1. That thou my brother, my competitor 7 i. e. proposed or intended flight. The verb pre tendre has the same signification in French. 8 The verb to conjure, or earnestly request, was then accented on the first syllable. 1 Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot | And presently go with me to my chamber, fire; But qualify the fire's extreme rage, Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason. The current, that with gentle murmur glides, And so by many winding nooks he strays, Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Jul. That fits as well, as-"tell me, good my "What compass will you wear your farthingale ?" Why, even what fashion thou best lik'st, Lucetta. Luc. You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam. Jul. Out, out, Lucetta; that will be ill favour'd. Luc. A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin, Unless you have a cod-picce to stick pins on. Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'st me, let me have What thou think'st meet, and is most mannerly: But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me, For undertaking so unstaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me scandaliz'd. To take a note of what I stand in need of, ACT III. [Exeunt The law of friendship bids me to conceal: I know you have determin'd to bestow her Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest ca. Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find not. Jul. Nay, that I will not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. Jul. This is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men. Jul. Base men, that use them to so base effect! Jul. Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not that To bear a hard opinion of his truth; 1 Fire as a dissyllable, as if spelt Fier. That which thyself hast now disclos'd to me. Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd a mean Enter VALENTINE. Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away so fast? Val. Please it your grace there is a messenger found "the infinite of thought" in Much Ado About 4 Whoever wishes to be acquainted with that singu. Nothing. The text seems to me sufficiently intelligible, lar appendage to dress, a cod-piece, may consult "Bul-though we are not used to such construction. Malone wer's Artificial Changeling." Ocular instruction may be had from the armour shown as John of Gaunt's in the Tower. However offensive this language may appear to modern cars, it certainly gave none to any of the spectators in Shakspeare's days. He only used the ordinary language of his contemporaries. 5 The second folio reads- as infinite of love," Malone wished to read of the infinite of love, because he has cited an instance of infinite used for an infinity 7 i. e. guess. In Romeo and Juliet we have- That stays to bear my letter to my friends, And I am going to deliver them. Duke. Be they of much import? Val. The tenor of them doth but signify My health, and happy being at your court. Duke. Nay, then no matter; stay with me a while; I am to break with thee cf some affairs, That touch me near, wherein thou must be secret. 'Tis not unknown to thee, that I have sought To match my friend, Sir Thurio, to my daughter. Val. I know it well, my lord; and, sure, the match Were rich and honourable; besides, the gentleman Is full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter: Cannot your grace win her to fancy him? Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, froward, Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty; Then let me see thy cloak; I'll get me one of such another length. Val. Why, my cloak will serve the turn, my lord. Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a cloak?I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.What letter is this same? What's here? -70 Silvia! [reads. And here an engine fit for my proceeding? Himself would lodge where senseless they are lying. My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them; While I, their king, that thither them importune, Do curse the grace that with such grace hath bless'd them, Because myself do want my servants' fortune: I curse myself, for they are sent by me, Val. What would your grace have me to do in That they should harbour where their lord should be. this? Duke. There is a lady, sir, in Milan, here, Whom I affect; but she is nice, and coy, And nought esteems my aged eloquence: Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor, (For long agone I have forgot to court: Besides, the fashion of the time is chang'd;) How, and which way, I may bestow myself, To be regarded in her sun-bright eye. Val. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words; umb jewels often, in their silent kind, More than quick words, do move a woman's mind. Duke. But she did scom a present that I sent her. Val. A woman sometimes scorns what best contents her: Send her another; never give her o'er ; For scorn at first makes after-love the more. friends Unto a youthful gentleman of worth; And kept severely from resort of men, That no man hath access by day to her. What's here? Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee! 'Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose.- Will give thee time to leave our royal court, Be gone, I will not hear thy vain excuse, But, as thou lov'st thy life, make speed from hence. [Exit DUKE. Val. And why not death, rather than living tro ment? And Silvia is myself: banish'd from her, Val. Why then I would resort to her by night. Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept safe, That no man hath recourse to her by night. Val. What lets, but one may enter at her dow? Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground; And built so shelving that one cannot climb it Without apparent hazard of his life. Val. Why then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords, To cast up with a pair of anchoring hooks, Would serve to scale another Hero's tower, So bold Leander would adventure it. Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood, Advise me where I may have such a ladder. Val. When would you use it? pray, sir, tell me that. Foster'd, illumin'd, cherish'd, kept alive. Enter PROTEUS and LAUnce. Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out. Laun. So-ho! so-ho! Pro. What seest thou? Laun. Him we go to find; there's not a hair" on's head, but 'tis a Valentine. 4 And feed upon the shadow of perfection. Animum pictura pascit inani. Virgil. 5 i.e. by flying, or in flying. It is a Gallicism. 6 Launce is still quibbling, he is running down the hare he started when he first entered. Pro. Valentine? Val. No. Pro. Who then? his spirit? Val. Neither. Pro. What then? Val. Nothing. Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love.2 Laun. Can nothing speak? master, shall I strike? Regard thy danger, and along with me. Pro. Whom would'st thou strike? vanish'd. Pro. That thou art banished, O, that's the news: From hence, from Silvia, and from me, thy friend. Val. O, I have fed upon this woe already, And now excess of it will make me surfeit. Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the doom, them, As if but now they waxed pale for woe: But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die. Besides, her intercession chaf'd him so When she for thy repeal was suppliant, Val. No more; unless the next word that thou speak'st, Have some malignant pow'r upon my life: Pro. Cease to lament for that thou can'st not help, And study help for that which thou lament'st. 1 Grief. 2 So in Hamlet: "These to her excellent white bosom." To understand this mode of addressing letters, &c. it should be known that women anciently had a pocket in the forepart of their stays, in which they carried not only love letters and love tokens, but even their money, &c. In many parts of England rustic damsels still continue the practice. A very old lady informed Mr. Steevens, that when it was the fashion to wear very prominent stays it was the custom for stratagem or galJantry to drop its literary favours within the front of them. Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my boy Bid him make haste, and meet me at the north gate Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Valentine. Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine! [Exeunt VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the wit to think, my master is a kind of a knave: but that's all one, if he be but one knave. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but what woman, I will not tell myself: and yet 'tis a milk-maid: yet 'tis not a maid, for she hath had gossips: yet 'tis a maid, for she is her master's maid, and serves for wages. hath more qualities than a water-spaniel,-which is much in a bare christian. Here is the cate-log [Pulling out a paper] of her condition. Imprimis, She can fetch and carry. Why, a horse can do no more; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry ; therefore is she better than a jade. Item, She can milk; look you, a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands. Enter SPEED. She Speed. How now, signior Launce? what news with your mastership? Laun. With my master's ship? why it is at sea. Speed. Well, your old vice still, mistake the word : What news then in your paper? Laun. The blackest news that ever thou heard'st. Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou can'st not read. Speed. Thou liest, I can. Laun. I will try thee: Tell me this; Who be got thee? 6 Speed. Marry, the son of my grandfather. Laun. O illiterate loiterer! it was the son of thy grandmother: this proves that thou canst not readSpeed. Come, fool, come: try me in thy paper. Laun. There and saint Nicholas' be thy speed: Speed. Imprimis, She can milk. Laun. Ay, that she can. Speed. Item, She brews good ale. Laun. And therefore comes the proverb,-Bless ing of your heart, you brew good ale. Speed. Item, She can sew. Laun. That's as much as to say, can she so? Speed. Item, She can knit. Laun. What need a man care for a stock with a wench, when she can knit him a stock." Speed. Item, She can wash and scour. faire." Baret. The old copy reads condition, which was changed to conditions by Rowe. 6 It is undoubtedly true that the mother only knows the legitimacy of the child. Launce infers that if Speed could read, he must have read this well known obser vation. 3 Gossips not only signify those who answer for a child in baptism, but the tattling women who attend ly.lars, more usually termed clerks, were under the paings-in. The quibble is evident. 4 Bare, has two senses, mere and naked. Launce, quibbling on, uses it in both senses, and opposes the naked female to the water-spaniel covered with hairs of remarkable thickness. "Condition, honest behaviour or demeanour in living, a custume or facion. Mos. Moris, facon de 7 St. Nicholas presided over scholars, who were therefore called St. Nicholas' clerks; either because the legend makes this saint to have been a bishop while yet a boy, or from his having restored three young scholars to life. By a quibble between Nicholas and Old Nick highwaymen are called Nicholas' clerks in Henry IV part 1. The parish clerks of London finding that scho tronage of this saint, conceived that clerks of any kind might have the same right, and accordingly took him as their patron, much in the same way as the woolcombers did St. Blaise, who was martyred with an instrument like a carding comb; the nailmakers St. Clou; and the booksellers St. John Port Latin 8 i. e. stocking |