Luc. That the contents will show. way, Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee? [from Proteus: [hate. And mar the concord with too harsh a descant: Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. [me. To be so anger'd with another letter. [exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Which they would have the profferer construe, Ay. Look, here is writ-love-wounded Proteus ; Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love, Re-enter Lucetta. Luc. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time? Luc. I would it were; Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed, And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,— That you might kill your stomach on your meat, He couples it to his complaining names: And not upon your maid. Jul. Why did'st thou stoop, then? Luc. To take a paper up, that I let fall. Luc. Nothing concerning me. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns, Unless it have a false interpreter. [rhyme. Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune: Give me a note: your ladyship can set. Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible: Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Jul. Let's see your song:- How now, minion? Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. Thus will I fold them one upon another, Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father Luc. What? shall these papers lie like tell-tales Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up. down: Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. SCENE III. THE SAME. A ROOM IN ANTONIO'S Enter Antonio and Panthino. Pan. He wonder'd, that your lordship Some, to discover islands, far away; Some, to the studious universities. For any, or for all these exercises, [that He said, that Proteus, your son, was meet; And perfected by the swift course of time: Ant. I know it well. [him thither: Pan. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen; And be in eye of every exercise, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel: well hast thou advis'd: And, that thou may'st perceive how well I like it, The execution of it shall make known; Even with the speediest execution I will despatch him to the emperor's court. Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Al- Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or Of commendation sent from Valentine, ¡two Deliver'd by a friend that came from him. Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he How happily he lives, how well belov'd, [writes And daily graced by the emperor; Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish? Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will And not depending on his friendly wish. Ant. My will is something sorted with his Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed; [wish: For what I will, I will, and there an end. I am resolv'd, that thou shalt spend some time With Valentinus in the emperor's court; What maintenance he from his friends receives, Like exhibition thou shalt have from me. To-morrow be in readiness to go: Excuse it not, for I am peremptory. Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; Please you, deliberate a day or two. Ant. Look, what thou want'st, shall be sent after thee: No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go.— [exeunt Ant. and Pan. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning; And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. The uncertain glory of an April day; Pan. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; He is in haste, therefore, I pray you, go. [to; Pro. Why, this it is! my heart accords thereAnt. How now? what letter are you reading | And yet a thousand times it answers no. [exeunt. [there? ACT II. SCENE I. MILAN. AN APARTMENT AT THE DUKE'S. Enter Valentine and Speed. Speed. Sir, your glove. Val. Not mine; my gloves are on. [is but one. Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine! Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreath your arms like a male-content; to relish a lovesong, like a robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one that hath the pestilence; to sigh, like a schoolboy that had lost his A, B, C.; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowinas. You were wont, when you laughed to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money: and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when 1 look on you, I can hardly think you my master. Val. Are all these things perceived in me? Speed. They are all perceived without you. Val. Without me? They cannot. Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain, for, without you were so simple, none else would: but you are so without these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in an urinal; that not an eye, that sees you, but is a physician to comment on your malady. Val. But, tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia ? Speed. She, that you gaze on so, as she sits at. Val. Hast thou observ'd that? even she I Speed. O, 'give you good even! here's a million of manners. [aside. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand. Speed. He should give her interest; and she gives it him. [aside. Val. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter Unto the secret nameless friend of yours; Which I was much unwilling to proceed in, But for my duty to your ladyship. [done. Sil. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very clerkly Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off; Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, For, being ignorant to whom it goes, and yet knowest her not? Speed. Is she not hard-favoured, sir? Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favoured. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but her favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count. Val. How painted? and how out of count? Speed. Marry, sir, so painted, to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty. Val. How esteemest thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed. Val. How long hath she been deformed? Val. I have loved her ever since I saw her, and still I see her beautiful. Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her. Speed. Because love is blind. O, that you had mine eyes; or your own had the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered! Val. What should I see then? Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing deformity for he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hose. Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. Speed. True, sir, I was in love with my bed; I thank you, you swinged me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. Val. In conclusion, I stand affected to her. Speed. I would you were set; so, your affection would cease. Val. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves. I writ at random, very doubtfully. [pains? Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much Val. No, madam; so it stead you, I will write, Please you command, a thousand times as much: And yet, Sil. A pretty period! well, I guess the sequel; And yet I will not name it :—and yet I care not;And yet take this again ;-and yet I thank you; Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more. Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet. [aside. Val. What means your ladyship? do you not Sil. Yes, yes; the lines are very quaintly writ: Val. Madam, they are for you. Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request: Val. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another. over: And, if it please you, so; if not, why, so. Val. If it please me, madam! what then? Sil. Why, if it please you, take it for your labour, And so good morrow, servant. [erit. Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple! [suitor, My master sues to her; and she hath taught her He being her pupil, to become her tutor. O excellent device! was there ever heard a better? That my master, being scribe, to himself should write the letter? Val. How now, sir? what are you reasoning with yourself? Speed. Nay, I was rhyming; 'tis you that have the reason. Val. To do what? Speed. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia. Speed. To yourself: why, she wooes you by a Speed. By a letter, I should say. Val. Why, she hath not writ to me. [figure. Speed. What need she, when she hath made you write to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest? Val. No, believe me. Speed. No believing you indeed, sir: but did you perceive her earnest ? Val. She gave me none, except an angry word. Speed. Why, she hath given you a letter. there an end. Val. I would, it were no worse. sole: this shoe, with the hole in it, is my mother, father; Father, your blessing; nov should not the shoe speak a word for weeping; now should I kiss [her lover.my father; well, he weeps on :-now come I to my mother, (O, that she could speak now!) like Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto And all this I speak in print; for in print I found a wood woman ;-Well, I kiss her;-why there Why muse you, sir? 'tis dinner-time. [it.'tis; here's my mother's breath up and down: now come I to my sister: mark the moan she makes: now the dog all this while sheds not a tear, nor speaks a word; but see how I lay the dust with my tears. Enter Panthino. Val. I have dined. Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the came- SCENE II. VERONA. A ROOM IN JULIA'S HOUSE. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. Pro. When possibly I can, I will return. [giving a ring. Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, take you this. Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. Pan. Sir Proteus, you are staid for. Pro. Go; I come, I come: Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard; thy master is shipped, and thou art to post after with oars. What's the matter? why weepest thou, man? Away, ass; you will lose the tide, if you tarry any longer. Laun. It is no matter if the ty'd were lost; for it is the unkindest ty'd, that ever any man ty’d. Pan. What's the unkindest tide? Laun. Why, he that's ty'd here; Crab, my dog. Pan. Tut, man, I mean thou'lt lose the flood; and, in losing the flood, lose thy voyage; and, in losing thy voyage, lose thy master; and, in losing thy master, lose thy service; and, in losing thy service,- Why dost thou stop my mouth? Laun. For fear thou should'st lose thy tongue. Pan. In thy tail? Laun. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, and the service? The tide !-Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the boat with my sighs. Pan. Come, come away, man; I was sent to call thee. Laun. Sir, call me what thou darest. Enter Valentine, Silvia, Thurio, and Speed. Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. [exit. SCENE IV. MILAN. AN APARTMENT AT THE DUKE'S SCENE III. THE SAME. A STREET. Enter Launce, leading a dog. Laun. Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done weeping: all the kind of the Launces have this very fault: I have received my proportion like the prodigious son, and am going with Sir Proteus to the Imperial's court. I think, Crab my dog be the sourest-natured dog that lives: my mother weeping, my father wailing, my sister crying, our maid howling, our cat wringing her hands, and all our house in a great perplexity, yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear: he is a stone, a very pebble-stone, and has no more pity in him than a dog a Jew would have wept to have seen our parting; why, my grandam, having no eyes, look you, wept herself blind at my parting. Nay, I'll show you the manner of it: This shoe is my father;-no, this left shoe is my father ;-no, no, this left shoe is my mother; nay, that cannot be so mother;-yes, it is So, it is so; it hath the worser Val. Mistress? Speed. Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you. Speed. Not of you. Val. Of my mistress then. Speed. 'Twere good, you knocked him. Val. Indeed, madam, I seem so. Thu. So do counterfeits. Thu. What seem I, that I am not? Thu. What instance of the contrary? Thu. And how quote you my folly? Thu. My jerkin is a doublet. Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. Thu. How? Sil. What, angry, Sir Thurio? do you change colour. Silvia, I speak to you; and you, Sir Thurio:- Val. Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of Had come along with me, but that his mistress cameleon. Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your blood, than live in your air. Val. You have said, sir. Thu. Ay, sir, and done too, for this time. Val. I know it well, sir: you always end ere you begin. Sil. A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off. Val. 'Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver. Sil. Who is that, servant? Val. Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire: Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship's looks, and spends what he borrows, kindly Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. Sir Valentine, your father's in good health: What say you to a letter from your friends Of much good news. Val. My lord, I will be thankful To any happy messenger from thence. [man? Duke. Know you Don Antonio, your country- To be of worth, and worthy estimation, Val. Ay, my good lord; a son, that well deserves The honour and regard of such a father. Duke. You know him well? [fancy, Val. I knew him, as myself; for from our inWe have convers'd, and spent our hours together: And though myself have been an idle truant, Omitting the sweet benefit of time, To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection; (good, [he. Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been Duke. Welcome him then according to his worth; Did hold his eyes lock'd in her crystal looks. Val. Nay, sure, I think, she holds them pri- Enter Proteus. Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. [beseech you, Val. Welcome, dear Proteus!-Mistress, I Confirm his welcome with some special favour. Sil. His worth is warrant for his welcome hither, If this be he, you oft have wish'd to hear from. Val. Mistress, it is: sweet lady, entertain him To be my fellow-servant to your ladyship. Sil. Too low a mistress for so high a servant. Pro. No! that you are worthless. 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? Pro. I left them all in health. [your love? Val. How does your lady? and how thrives 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, Love hath chas'd sleep from my enthralled eyes, And made them watchers of mine own heart's |