And drench'd me in the fea, where I am drown'da The uncertain glory of an April day; Pant. Sir Protheus, your father calls for you; Pro. Why, this it is; my heart accords thereto: And yet a thousand times it anfwers, no. [Exeunin ACT An apartment in the duke's palace. S Val. Not mine; my gloves are on. Speed. Why then this may be yours; for this is but one. Val. Ha! let me fee: ay, give it me, it's mine: Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia! Speed. She's not within hearing, fir. Pal. Why, fir, who bad you call her? Silvia? Speed. She that your worship loves? [flow. II. phos'd with a mistress, that, when I look on you, Val. Are all these things perceiv'd in me? Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain; for, without you were so simple, none else would: but you are fo without these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in an urinal; that not an eye, that fees you but is a phyfician to comment on your malady. Silvia? Val. But, tell me, dost thou know my lady. Val. Doft thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know'ft her not ? Speed. Is the not hard-favour'd, fir? Val. Not fo fair, boy, as well-favour'd. Speed. That the is not fo fair, as (of you) well favour'd. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquifite, but her favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count. Val. Why, how know you that I am in love? Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you have learn'd, like fir Protheus, to wreath your arms like a male-content; to relish a love-fong, like a Robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one that had the peftilence; to figh, like a school-boy that had loft his A. B. C; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet2; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas 3. You were wont, when you laugh'd, to crow like a cock; when you walk'd, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was pre-form'd, sently after dinner; when you look'd fadly, it was for want of money: and now you are metamor Val. How painted and how out of count? Speed. Marry, fir, so painted, to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty... Val. How esteemit thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed. You never faw, her fince the was de Val. How long hath the been deform'd? That is, allowance. 2 To take diet was the phrafe for being under a regimen. 3 That is, about the feaft of All Saints, when the poor people in Staffordshire, and probably in Warwickjure, go from parish to parish a fouling as they call it; i. e. begging and puling (or finging smali) for foulcakes, or any good thing to make them merry. This custom fecins a remnant of Popish superstnion to pray for departed fouls, particularly those of friends. Val. I have lov'd her, ever since I saw her; But fince unwillingly, take them again and ftill I fee her beautiful. Speed. Your own present folly, and her paffing deformity for he, being in love, could not fee to garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot fee to put on your hofe. Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last morning you could not fee to wipe my shoes. Speed. True, fir; I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you swing'd me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. Val. In conclufion, I stand affected to her. would ceafe. Val. Last night she enjoin'd me to write fome lines to one she loves. Speed. And have you? Val. I have. Speed. Are they not lamely writ? Val. No, boy, but as well as I can do them : Peace, here she comes. Enter Silvia. Speed. Oh excellent motion! Oh, exceeding puppet! now will he interpret to her. Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good morrows. Speed. Oh! 'give ye good even! here's a million of manners. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thoufand. Speed. He should give her interest; and the gives it him. Val. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter Unto the fecret nameless friend of yours; Which I was much unwilling to proceed in, Sil. I thank you, gentle fervant: 'tis very - Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly Sil. Perchance you think too much of fo much pains ? 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; Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet. [Abide like it? Nay, take them. Sil. Yes, yes! the lines are very quaintly writ: Val. Madam, they are for you. Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, fir, at my requeft; But I will none of them; they are for you: Val. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another. over: And, if it please you, fo; if not, why, fo. And fo good-morrow, fervant. [Exit. Speed. O jest unfeen, infcrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple! [fuitor, 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 the fcribe, to himself should write the letter? Val. How now, for? what are you reasoning 4 with yourself? Speed. Nay, I was rhiming; 'tis you that have the reafon. [Exenet. Motion, in Shakspeare's time, fignified puppet, or a puppet-shew. 2 This was the language of ladies to their lovers in Shakfpeare's time, 3 That is, like a fcholar 4 That is, deflourfing, calling. $ i, e. there's the conclusion of the matter. • In print means with exactness. SCENE [Giving a ring Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, take you this. Ful. And feal the bargain with a holy kifs. Pro. Here is my hand for my true conftancy; And when that hour o'erflips me in the day, Wherein I figh not, Julia, for thy fake, The next enfuing hour fome foul mischance Torment me for my love's forgetfulness! My father stays my coming; answer not; The tide is now: nay, not thy tide of tears; That tide will ftay me longer than I should : [Exit Julia, Julia, farewell. What! gone without a word? Pan. Sir Protheus, you are staid for. Pro. Go; I come, I come: Pan, Launce, away, away, aboard; thy mafter is shipp'd, and thou art to poft after with oars. What's the matter? why weep'it thou, man? Away, afs; you will lofe the tide, if you tarry any longer. Laun. It is no matter if the tide were loft; for it is the unkindest ty'd that ever any man ty'd. Pan. What's the unkindeft tide? Laun. Why, he that's ty'd here; Crab, my dog. Pan. Tut, man, I mean thou'lt lose the flood and, in lofing the flood, lose thy voyage; and, in lofing thy voyage, lose thy matter; and, in lofing thy mafter, lose thy service; and, in lofing thy fervice, Why dost thou stop my mouth? Laun. For fear thou should'ft lofe thy tongue. Laun. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the maiter, and the service, and the tide? Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. [Exeunt. tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the 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 receiv'd my proportion, like the prodigious fon, and am going with fir Protheus to the imperial's court. I think, Crab my dog be the fourest natur'd dog that lives; my mother weeping, my father wailing, my fifter crying, our maid howling, our cat wringing her hands, and all our house in a great perplexity, yet did not this cruelhearted cur shed one tear; he is a ftone, a very pebble-ftone, 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 fhoe is my mother; nay, that cannot be so neither;-yes, it is so, it is fo; it hath the worfer fole: This shoe with the hole in it, is my mother, and this my father; A vengeance on't! there 'tis: now, fir, this staff is my fister; for, look you, she is as white as a lilly, and as small as a wand: this hat is Nan, our maid, I am the dog :-no, the dog is himself, and I am the dog, oh, the dog is me, and I am myself; ay, fo, fo. Now come I to my father; Father, your bleffing; now should not the shoe speak a word for weeping; now should I kiss my father; well, he weeps on; now come I to Enter Valentine, Silvia, Thurio, and Speed. Speed. Master, fir Thurio frowns on you. Val. Of my mistress then. Thu. What feem I, that I am not ? Thu. What inftance of the contrary? Thu. And how quote you my folly? Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. I That is, crazy, frantic with grief; or distracted, from any other caufe. The word is very frequently used in Chaucer; and fometimes writ wood, fometimes wode. Wood, or crazy women, were anciently supposed to be able to tell fortunes, 2 To quote is to obferue, Thu. Thu. How? Sil. What, angry, fir Thurio? do you change colour? Val. Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of cameleon. Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your blood, than live in your air. Val. You have faid, fir. Thu. Ay, fir, and done too, for this time. Val. I know it well, fir; 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. Val. Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire; fir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship's looks, and spends what he borrows, kindly in your company. Thu. Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I hall make your, wit bankrupt. Val. I know it well, fir: you have an exchequer of words, and, I think, no other treafure to give your followers; for it appears by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words. Sil. No more, gentlemen, no more, here comes my father, Enter the Duke. Silvia, I speak to you; and you, fir Thurio: Val. This is the gentleman, I told your ladyship, Sil. Belike, that now the hath enfranchis'd thene Val. Nay, fure, I think, she holds them pri- Sil. Nay, then he should be blind; and, being Val. Why, lady, love hath twenty pair of eyes. Upon a homely object love can wink. Enter Protheus. Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. Val. Welcome, dear Protheus !-Mistress, I be- Confirm his welcome with some special favour. Val. Mistress, it is: fweet lady, entertain him Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. To have a look of fuch a worthy mistress. Val. Ay, my good lord; a fon, that weil de The honour and regard of fuch a father. Duke. You know him well? Val. I knew him, as myself; for from our infancy Duke. Beshrew me, fir, but, if he make this good, Fal. Should I have wish'dathing, it had been he. Val. Leave off difcourse of difability :- Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure. [Exit Serv.] Come, Go with me:-Once more, new fervant, welcome; 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. Val. How does your lady? and how thrives your love? Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you; Val. Ay, Protheus, but that life is alter'd now. Ac ! Now, no difcourse, except it be of love: Now can I break my faft, dine, fup, and sleep, Upon the very naked name of love. Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye: Was this the idol that you worship fo Val. Even she; and is the not a heavenly faint? Pro. No; but she is an earthly paragon. Val. Call her divine. Pro. I will not flatter her. Val. O flatter me; for love delights in praife. Pro. When I was fick, you gave me bitter pills; And I must minifter the like to you. Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, Pre. Except my mistress. She shall be dignified with this high honour, Is it mine eye, or Valentino's praise, SCENE A Street. Enter Speed and Laurce. Eziz Spred. Launce! by mine honefty, welcome to Milan. Laun. Forfwear not thyself, sweet youth; for I Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? am not welcome. I reckon this always that a To her, whole worth makes other worthies nothing; Pro. Then let her alone. [own; Vai. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine And I as rich in having fuch a jewel, As twenty feas, if all their fand were pearl, Pro. But she loves you? Val. Ay, and we are betroth'd; nay more, our marriage hour, With all the cunning manner of our flight, Pro. Go on before; I shall enquire you forth : I must unto the road, to disembark Some neceffaries that I needs must use; And then I'll presently attend you, fal. Will you make hatte? welcome to a place, till fome certain shot be paid, and the hoftess say, Welcome. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the ale houfe with you presently; where, for one shot of five pence, thou shalt have five thousand welcomes, But, firrah, how did thy master part with madam Julia? Laun. Marry, after they clos'd in earnest, they parted very fairly in jeft. Speed. But shall the marry him? The first or principal of women. That is, there is none to be compar'd to her. 3 This alludes to the figures made by witches, as representatives of those whom they designed to torment or destroy. + With more prudence, with more difcretion. Speed. |