Speed. The conclufion is then, that it will. Laun. Thou shalt never get fuch a fecret from me, but by a parable.
Speed. 'Tis well that I get it fo. But, Launce, how fay'st thou, that my master is become a notable lover?
Laun. I never knew him otherwife. Speed. Than how?
Lawn. A notable lubber, as thou reporteft him to be.
Speed. Why, thou whorfon afs, thou mistakest me. Laun. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master.
Speed. I tell thee, my mafter 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 alehouse, so; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian.
Laur. Because thou haft not fo much charity in thee, as to go to the alehouse with a Chriftian: wilt thou go?
Without fome treachery us'd to Valentine: This night, he meaneth with a corded ladder To climb celeftial Silvia's chamber-window; Myfelf in counfel, his competitor 2:
Now presently I'll give her father notice Of their difguifing, and pretended 3 flight; Who, all enrag'd, will banish Valentine; For Thurio, he intends, shall wed his daughter: But, Valentine being gone, I'll quickly cross By fome fly trick, blunt Thurio's dull proceeding. Love, lend me wings to make my purpose swift. As thou haft lent me wit to plot this drift!
SCENE VII.
Julia's house in Verona.
Enter Julia and Lucetta,
Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me! And, even in kind love, 1 do conjure thee,- Who art the table wherein all my thoughts Are visibly character'd and engrav'd, To lesson me; and tell me fome good mean, How, with my honour, I may undertake A journey to my loving Protheus.
Luc. Alas! the way is wearifome and long. Jul. A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; [Exeunt. Much less shall the, that hath love's wings to fly; And when the flight is made to one fo dear, Of fuch divine perfection, as fir Protheus.
Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To love fair Silvia, shall I be forfworn; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forfworn; And even that power which gave me first my oath, Provokes me to this threefold perjury.
Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear: O fweet-fuggesting love, if thou haft finn'd, Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it! At first I did adore a twinkling star, But now I worship a celeftial fun. Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken; And he wants wit, that wants refolved will To learn his wit to exchange the bad for better Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad, Whose fovereignty fo oft thou haft preferr'd With twenty thousand foul-confirming oaths. I cannot leave to love, and yet I do;
But there I leave to love, where I should love. Julia I lofe, and Valentine I lose:
If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; If I lose them, this find I by their lois, For Valentine, myself; for Julia, Silvia. I to myself am dearer than a friend; For love is ftill more precious in itself; And Silvia, witness heaven, that made her fair! Shews Julia but a fwarthy Ethiope. I'will forget that Julia is alive,
Remembring that my love to her is dead; And Valentine I'll hold an enemy, Aiming at Silvia as a sweeter friend.
I cannot now prove constant to myfelf,
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Luc. Better forbear, till Protheus make return. Jul. Oh, know'it thou not, his looks are my foul's -
Pity the dearth that I have pined in, By longing for that food fo long a time. Didft thou but know the inly touch of love, Thou would'st as foon go kindle fire with fnow, As seek to quench the fire of love with words.
Luc. I do not feek to quench your love's hot fire But qualify the fire's extreme rage, Left it should burn above the bounds of reafon. [burns; Jul. The more thou damm'st it up, the more it The current, that with gentle murmur glides, Thou know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage; But, when his fair course is not hindered,
He makes sweet music with the enamel'd ftones, Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge He overtaketh in his pilgrimage; And fo by many winding nooks he strays, With willing sport, to the wild ocean. Then let me go, and hinder not my course; I'll be as patient as a gentle stream,
And make a pastime of each weary step, Till the last step have brought me to my love;
And there I'll reft, as, after much turmoil,
A blessed foul doth in Elyfium.
Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Jul. Not like a woman, for I would prevent
The loofe encounters of laffvious men: Gentle Lucetta, fit me with fuch weeds As may befeem fome weffreputed page.
- To furgeft is to tempt, in our author's language, 3 Pretended flight is proposed or intended flight,
Luc. Why then your ladyfhip muft cut your hair. Jul. No, girl; I'll knit it up in filken ftrings,
* Competitor is confederate, affiftant, panther.
With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots: To be fantastic, may become a youth Of greater time than I small thew to be. Luc. What fathion, madam, thall I make your breeches?
Jui. That fits as well, as "tell me. good ny lord, What compafs will you wear your farthingale?" Why, even that fashion thou beft lik'it, Lucetta. Lue. You must needs have them with a cod- piece, madam.
Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd. Luc. A round hofe, madam, now's not worth a Unless you have a cod-piece to stick pins on. [pin,
Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'ft me, let me have What thou think it meet, and is moft mannerly: But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me, For undertaking so unftaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me fcandaliz'd.
Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: A thoufand oaths, an ocean of his tears, And instances as infinite of love, Warrant me welcome to my Protheus.
Luc. All these are fervants to deceitful men. Jul. Base men, that use them to fo bafe citect But truer stars did govern Protheus' birth: His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles; His love fincere, his thoughts immaculate; His tears, pure meffengers fent from his heart; His heart as far from fraud, as heaven from earth,
Luc. Pray heaven, he prove so, when you come to him!
Jul. Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not that wrong, To bear a hard opinion of his truth; Only deferve my love, by loving him; And presently go with me to my chamber, To take a note of what I ftand in need of,
Luc. If you think fo, then stay at home, and go not. To furnish me upon my longing 2 journey. Jul. Nay, that I will not.
Lur. Then never dream on infamy, but go. If Prutheus like your journcy, when you come, No matter who's difpleas'd, when you are gone: I fear me, he will scarce be pleas'd withal.
All that is mine I leave at thy dispose, My goods, my lands, my reputation; Only, in lieu thereof, difpatch me hence. Come, anfwer not, but to it presently; I am impatient of my tarriance,
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The duke's palace in Milan. Erter Duke, Thurio, and Protheus. S IR Thurio, give us leave, I pray, a while; We have fome fecrets to confer about. [Evit Thur. Now, tell me, Protheus, what's your will with me? Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would discover, The law of friendship bids me to conceal:
But, when I call to mind your gracious favours Done to me, undeferving as I am,
My duty pricks me on to utter that Which ale no worldly good should draw from me. Know, worthy prince, fir Valentine, my friend, This night intends to fteal away your daughter; Myfelf am one made privy to the plot.
I know, you have determin'd to bestow her On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates; And should the thus be stolen away from you, It would be much vexation to your age, Thus, for my duty's fake, I rather chofe To cross my friend in his intended drift, Than, by concealing it, heap on your head A pack of forrows, which would press you down, Being unprevented, to your timeless grave.
Dake. Protheus, I thank thee for thine honeft care; Which to requite, command me while I live. This love of theirs myself have often seen, Haply, when they have judg'd me fast asleep; And oftentimes have purpos'd to forbid
This interjection is still used in the North. means guess, in this instance. 4 That is, be not daughter. Pretence implies defign.
Sir Valentine her company, and my court: But, fearing left my jealous aim 3 might err, And fo, unworthily, disgrace the man, (A rafhness that I ever yet have shunn'd) I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find That which thyfelf haft now difclos'd to me. And, that thou may'st perceive my fear of this, Knowing that tender youth is foon fuggested, I nightly lodge her in an upper tower, The key whereof myself have ever kept; And thence the cannot be convey'd away.
Pro. Know, noble lord, thay have devis'd a mean How he her chamber-window will afcend, And with a corded ladder fetch her down; For which the youthful lover now is gone, And this way comes he with it presently; Where, if it please you, you may intercept him. But, good my lord, do it fo cunningly, That my difcovery be not aimed at 4; For love of you, not hate unto my friend, Hath made me publisher of this pretence 5.
Duke. Upon mine honour, he shall never know That I had any light from thee of this.
Pro. Adieu, my lord; fir Valentine is coming. [Exit Pro
Enter Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away fo faft? Val. Please it your grace, there is a messenger That stays to bear my letters to my friends, And I am going to deliver them.
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Duke. Be they of much import?
Val. The tenor of them doth but fignify
My health, and happy being at your court. Duke. Nay, then no matter; stay with me a while; I am to break with thee of some affairs, That touch me near, wherein thou must be fecret. 'Tis not unknown to thee, that I have fought To match my friend, fir Thurio, to my daughter.
Val. I know it well, my lord; and, fure, the match Were rich and honourable; befides, the gentleman Is full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities Befeeming fuch a wife as your fair daughter; Cannot your grace win her to fancy him
Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, fullen, froward, Proud, difobedient, stubborn, lacking duty; Neither regarding that she is my child, Nor fearing me as if I were her father: And, may I say to thee, this pride of her's, Upon advice, hath drawn my love from her; And, where I thought the remnant of mine age Should have been cherish'd by her child-like duty, I now am full refolv'd to take a wife, And turn her out to who will take her in: Then let her beauty be her wedding-dower; For me, and my poffeffions, she esteems not.
Val. What would your grace have me to do in this? Duke. There is a lady, fir, in Milan, here,
Whom I arrect; but the is nice and coy, And nought efteems my aged eloquence: Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor, (For long agone I have forgot to court; Befides, the fashion of the time is chang'd) How, and which way, I may bestow myself, To be regarded in her fun-bright eye.
Val. Win her with gifts, if the respect not words; Dumb jewels often, in their filent kind, More than quick words, do move a woman's mind. Duke. But she did fcorn a present that I fent her. Val. A woman fcorns fometimes what beft contents Send her another; never give her o'er; [her: For fcorn at firft makes after-love the more. If the do frown, 'tis not in hate of you, But rather to beget more love in you: If the do chide, 'tis not to have you gone; For why, the fools are mad if left alone. Take no repulfe, whatever the doth fay; For, get you gone, the doth not mean, away: Flatter, and praife, commend, extol their graces; Though ne'er fo black, fay, they have angels' faces. That man that hath a tongue, I fay, is no man, If with his tongue he cannot win a woman.
Duke. But the I mean, is promis'd by her friends Unto a youthful gentleman of worth; And kept feverely from refort of men, That no man hath access by day to her.
Val. Why then I would refort to her by night. Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept fafe, That no man hath recourse to her by night.
Val. What lets 4, but one may enter at her window? 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 ferve 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 fuch a ladder. Val. When would you use it? pray, fir, tell me that, Duke. This very night; for love is like a child, That longs for every thing that he can come by. Val. By feven o'clock I'll get you fuch a ladder. Duke. But hark thee.; I will go to her alone; How shall I beft convey the ladder thither? Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may bear it Under a cloak, that is of any length.
Duke. A cloak as long as thine will ferve the turn? Val. Ay, my good lord. Duke. Then let me fee thy cloak; I'll get me one of fuch another length.
Val. Why, any cloak will ferve 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 fame? what's here? -To Silvia& And here an engine fit for my proceeding! I'll be fo bold to break the feal for once. [Duke reads. My thoughts de barbour with my Silvia nightly;
And flaves they are to me, that fend them flying 2 Ob, could their mafter come and go as lightly, Himself would lodge, wbere fenfeless they are lying My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom reft them;
While I, their king, that thither them importune, Do curfe the grace that with fuch grace bath bless' dihem, Because myself do want my fervant's fortune : I curse myself, 2 for they are fent by me, That they should barbour where their lord would be. What's here? Silvia, this night will I enfranchise theez 'Tis fo; and here's the ladder for the purpose. Why, Phaëton, (for thou art Merops' fon) Wilt thou afpire to guide the heavenly car, And with thy daring folly burn the world? Wilt thou reach stars, because they thine on thee Go, base intruder! over-weening flave! Beftow thy fawning smiles on equal mates; And think, my patience, more than thy defert, Is privilege for thy departure hence: Thank me for this, more than for all the favours, Which, all too much, I have bestow'd on thee. But if thou linger in my territories, Longer than fwifteft expedition
Will give thee time to leave our royal court, By heaven, my wrath fhall far exceed the love I ever bore my daughter, or thyfelf. Begone, I will not hear thy vain excufe, But, as thou lov'st thy life, make speed from hence. [Exit.
Val. And why not death, rather than living torment? To die, is to be banish'd from myfelf! And Silvia is myself; banish'd from her, Is felf from felf; a deadly banishment! What light is light, if Silvia be not seen? What joy is joy, if Silvia he not by ? Unlefs it be, to think that the is by, And feed upon the shadow of perfection.
2 For is the fame as for that, fince,
Except I be by Silvia in the night, There is no musick in the nightingale; Unless I look on Silvia in the day, There is no day for me to look upon; She is my effence; and I leave to be, If I be not by her fair influence Fofter'd, illumin'd, cherish'd, kept alive. I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom1: Tarry I here, I but attend on death; But fly I hence, I fly away from life.
Enter Protbeus and Launce.
Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and feek him out. Laun. So-ho! fo-ho!
Pro. What feeft thou?
Laur. Him we go to find; there's not an hair
On 's head, but 'tis a Valentine.
Pro. Who then? his spirit?
But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die. Befides, her intercellion chaf'd him fo, When the for thy repeal was fuppliant, That to close prifon he commanded her, With many bitter threats of 'biding there. [speak'ist, Val. No more, unless the next word that thou
Have fome malignant power upon my life; If fo, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear, As ending anthem of my endless dolour.
Pro. Cease to lament for that thou can'st not help, And study help for that which thou lament'st. Time is the nurse and breeder of all good. Here if thou stay, thou can'st not fee thy love: Befides, thy staying will abridge thy life. Hope is a lover's staff; walk hence with that, And manage it against despairing thoughts. Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence, Which, being writ to me, shall be deliver'd Even in the milk-white bosom2 of thy love. The time now ferves not to expoftulate: Come, I'll convey thee through the city-gate And, ere I part with thee, confer at large
Lawn. Can nothing speak? Master, shall Istrike? Of all that may concern thy love-affairs: Pro. Whom would'it thou ftrike?
Laun. Nothing.
Pro. Villain, forbear.
Laun. Why, fir, I'll ftrike nothing: I pray you,Pro. Sirrah, I fay, forbear. Friend Valentine, a word. Val. My ears are stopp'd, and cannot hear good news, So much of bad already hath poffefs'd them.
Pro. Then in dumb filence will I bury mine, For they are harsh, untuneable, and bad.
Val. Is Silvia dead?
Pro. No, Valentine.
As thou lov'it Silvia, though not for thyself, Regard thy danger, and along with me.
Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seeft my boy, Bid him make hafte, and meet me at the north-gate. Pro. Go, firrah, find him out. Come, Valentine. Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine!
[Exeunt Valentine and Protheus.
Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the wit to think, my mafter is a kind of a knave: but that's all one, if he be but one knave 3. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love:
Val. No Valentine, indeed, for facred Sylvia! yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not
Hath the forfworn me? Pro. No, Valentine.
pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman; but what woman, I will not tell myfelf, and yet 'tis a milk-maid: yet 'tis not a [vanith'd. maid, for the hath had goilips 4: yet 'tis a maid, for
Val. No Valentine, if Silvia have forfworn me!
What is your news? Lavon. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are the is her mafter's maid, and ferves for wages- Pro. That thou art banifh'd, oh, that is the news, She hath more qualities than a water-fpaniel-
From hence, from Silvia, and from me thy friend, Val. Oh, I have fed upon this woe already, And now excess of it will make me furfeit. Doth Silvia know that I am banish'd?
Pro. Ay, ay; and the hath offer'd to the doom, (Which unrevers'd, stands in effectual force) A fea of melting pearl, which fome call tears; Thofe at her father's churlith feet the tender'd; With them, upon her knees, her humble self; Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so became As if but now they waxed pale for woe: [them, But neither bended knees, pure hands held up, Sad fighs, deep groans, nor filver-shedding tears, Could penetrate her uncompatfionate fire;
which is much in a bare christian 5. Here is the cat-log [pulling out a paper] of her conditions. Imprimis, She can fetch and carry. Why, a horfe can do no more: nay, a horfe cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore, is the better than a jade. Item, She can milk, look you; a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands.
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I The phrase of, to fly his doom, used here for by flying, or in flying, is a gallicifm. The sense is.. By avoiding the execution of his fentence I thall not efcape death. 2 Before the meaning of this address of letters to the bosom of a mistress can be understood, it should be known that women anciently had a pocket in the fore part of their itays, in which they not only carried love-letters and lovetokens, but even their money and materials for needle-work. In many parts of England the countty girls still observe the fame practice, 3 One knave may fignify a knave on only one occafion, a fingle knwe. We ftill use a double villain for a villain beyond the common rate of guilt, 4 Gufpps not only fignify those who are fponfers for a child in baptifm, but the tattling women who attend lyings-in. 5 Bare has two fenfes, mere and naked. Launce ufes it in both, and opposes the naked female to the water-fpaniel cover'd with hairs of remarkable thickness.
Speed. Come, fool, come; try me in thy paper. Laun. There; and St. Nicholas be thy speed! Speed. Imprimis, Sbe can milk. Laun. Ay, that the can.
Speed. Item, She brews good ale.
will not, I will; for good things should be praised. Speed. Item, She is too liberal 5.
Laun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ down, she is flow of: of her purse she shall not; for that I'll keep fhut: now of another thing the may; and that I cannot help. Well, proceed.
Speed. Item, She bath more hair than wit, and more faults than bairs, and more wealth than faults. Laun Stop there; I'll have her: she was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that last article: Rehearse that once more.
Speed. Item, She bath more hair than wit, Laun. More hair than wit, it may be; ІҢ
Laun. And therefore comes the proverb, - prove it: The cover of the falt hides the falt, and
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 3.
Speed. Item, She can wash and fcour.
Laun. A fpecial virtue; for then the need not to be wafh'd and scour'd.
Speed. Item, She can spin.
Laun. Then may I fet the world on wheels, when the can spin for her living.
Speed. Item, She hath many nameless virtues.
Laun. That's as much as to say, Bastard virtues; that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no names.
Speed. Here follow ber vicess
Laun. Clofe at the heels of her virtues.
Speed. Item, She is not to be kiss'd fafting, in ro
Laun. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast: Read on.
Speed. Item, She bath a sweet mouth 4.
Laun. That makes amends for her four breath. Speed. Item, She doth talk in ber fleep.
Laun. It's no matter for that, so she fleep not in her talk.
Speed. Item, She is flow in words.
Laun. O villain ! that fet down among her vices! To be flow in words, is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with't; and place it for her chief virtue.
Speed. Item, She is proud.
Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath staid for a better man than thee.
Speed. And must I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staid fo long, that going will scarce ferve the turn.
Speed. Why didst not tell me fooner? pox on your love-letters!
Laun. Now will he be swing'd for reading my letter; an unmannerly flave, that will thruft him felf into fecrets!-I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction, [Excunt.
Enter Duke and Thurio, and Protheus behind. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that the will love you,
Now Valentine is banish'd from her fight. Thu. Since his exile the hath defpis'd me most, Forfworn my company, and rail'd at me,
Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, That I am defperate of obtaining her. and cannot be taken from her.
Speed. Item, She bath no teeth.
Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure Trenched in ice; which with an hour's heat
Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love Diffolves to water, and doth lose his form. crufts.
Speed, Item, She is curft.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts, And worthless Valentine shall be forgot.
Laun. Well; the best is, she hath no teeth to How now, fir Protheus? Is your countryman,
According to our proclamation, gone?
It is undoubtedly true that the mother only knows the legitimacy of the child. Launce probably infers, that if he could read, he must have read this well known observation. 2 St. Nicholas presided over scholars, who were therefore call'd St. Nicholas's clerks. 3 That is, a flocking. 4 Dr. Johnson is of opinion that fweet mouth implies the fame with what is now vulgarly called a Sweet tooth, a luxurious defire of dainties and sweetmeats; while Mr. Steevens believes, that by a Sweet mouth is meant that the fings fweetly. 5 Liberal, is licentious and gross in language. Gracious, in old language, means graceful, 1 That is, cut, carv'd in ice,
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