Attends the emperor in his royal court. Ant. I know it well. Pant. 'T were good, I think, your lordship sent him There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Worthy his youth, and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel: well hast thou advis'd; I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso, Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go: 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 wish. I am resolv'd, that thou shalt spend some time Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided: Ant. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee : [Exeunt ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning, And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. [Kissing a letter. I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter, Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn. Ant. How now! what letter are you reading there? Ant. Lend me the letter: let me see what news. Lest he should take exceptions to my love; The uncertain glory of an April day, Ant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you: ACT II. SCENE I-Milan. A Room in the DUKE's Palace. that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. Speed. Sir, your glove. one, Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine.- Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia ! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Val. Why, sir, who bade you call her? Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too slow. Val. Why, how know you that I am in love? Hallowmas. You were wont, when you laugh'd, to Val. Are all these things perceived in me? Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain; for, without you were so simple, none else would be': 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 ? Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know'st her not? Speed. Is she not hard-favour'd, sir? 1 The rest of this direction is not in f. e. 2 Not in f. e. 3 Valentinus in f. e. 4 maintenance, still in use in this sense in English Universities. 5 had in f. e. 6 7 Not in f. e. Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) wellfavour'd. 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? Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request, But I will none of them: they are for you. Speed. Marry, sir, so painted to make her fair, that I would have had them writ more movingly. no man 'counts of her beauty. Val. How esteem'st thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed. You never saw her since she was deform'd. 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 eyes 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. cease. Val. Last night she enjoin'd me to write some 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. O excellent motion !1 O exceeding puppet ! Now will he interpret to her. Val. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another. Sil. And, when it's writ, for my sake read it 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. [Exit. Speed. O jest! unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple. My master sues to her, and she hath taught her suitor, 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: 't is you that have the reason. Val. To do what? Speed. By a letter, I should say. Val. Why, she hath not writ to me? 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. Val. That's the letter I writ to her friend. Speed. And that letter hath she deliver'd, and there an end. Val. I would it were no worse! Speed. I'll warrant you, 't is as well: Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good morrows. For often have you writ to her, and she, in modesty, Speed. O! 'give ye good even: here's a million of Or else for want of idle time, could not again reply; Or fearing else some messenger, that might her mind discover, manners. 2 [Aside. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant,3 to you two thousand. Speed. He should give her interest, and she gives it him. 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. [Giving a paper.* Sil. I thank you, gentle servant. T is very clerkly done. Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off;. For, being ignorant to whom it goes, I writ at random, very doubtfully. Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much pains? Val. No, madam: so it stead you, I will write, Please you command, a thousand times as much. And yet Her self hath taught her love himself to write unto her Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the cameleon love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourish'd by my victuals, and would fain have meat. O! be not like your mistress: be moved, be moved. [Exeunt. SCENE II-Verona. A Room in JULIA's House. Enter PROTEUS and JULIA. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. 7 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.5 1 A puppet show. 2 Not in f. e. 3 An old term for lover. 4 5 6 Not in f. e. 7 giving a ring is added in f. e. 8 Not in f. e. Jul. If you turn not, you will return the sooner. Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake." Pro. Why then, we'll make exchange: here, take you this. [Exchange rings. Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. Pro. Here is my hand for my true constancy; Pant. Sir Proteus, you are stay'd for. Enter LAUNCE, leading his1 Dog. Launce. Nay, 't will 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 sourestnatured 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, neither: -yes, it is so, it is so; it hath the worser sole. This shoe, with the hole in it, is my mother, and this my father. A vengeance on 't! there 't is now, sir, this staff is my sister; for, look you, she is as white as a lily, 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,-0 the dog is me, and I am myself: ay, so, so. Now come I to my father; "Father, your blessing:" now should not the shoe speak a word for weeping: now should I kiss my father; well, he weeps on. Now come I to my mother, (O, that she could speak now!) like a wild woman:-well, I kiss her; why there 't is ; 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. 37 Enter PANTHINO. ! Pant. Launce, away, away, aboard: thy master is shipped, and thou art to post after with oars. What's the matter? why weep'st thou, man? Away, ass; you'll lose the tide, if you tarry any longer. Launce. It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied. Pant. What's the unkindest tide? Launce. Why, he that's tied here; Crab, my dog. Pant. 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? Launce. For fear thou should'st lose thy tongue. Launce. In thy tale. Pant. In thy tail? Speed. Not of you. Val. Of my mistress, then. Speed. 'T were good you knock'd him. Val. Indeed, madam, I seem so. Thu. So do counterfeits. Val. So do you. Thu. What seem I that I am not? Thu. What instance of the contrary? Thu. And how quote3 you my folly ? Val. Well, then, 't will double your folly. Sil. What, angry, sir Thurio? do you change colour? 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. 'T is indeed, madam; we thank the giver. 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 in your company. Thu. Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt. Val. I know it well, sir: you have an exchequer of words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your followers; for it appears by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words. Here comes my Sil. No more, gentlemen, no more. Enter the DUKE. My lord, I will be thankful Duke. Know you Don Antonio, your countryman? Launce. Lose the tied, and the voyage, and the And not without desert so well reputed. 1a Dog: in f. e. 2 in f.e: wood (i. e. mad). 3 Note or observe. 4 I'll in f. e. 5 worth in f. e. Duke. Hath he not a son? Val. Ay, my good lord; a son, that well deserves The honour and regard of such a father. Duke. You know him well? Val. I knew him, as myself; for from our infancy We 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, Duke. Beshrew me, sir, but, if he make this good, He is as worthy for an empress' love, Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he. [Exit DUKE. Val. This is the gentleman, I told your ladyship, Had come along with me, but that his mistress Did hold his eyes lock'd in her crystal looks. 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 you out? 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. Enter PROTEUS. Sil. Have done, have done. Here comes the gentleman. [Exit THURIO. Val. Welcome, dear Proteus!—Mistress, I beseech you, 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. Not so, sweet lady; but too mean a servant To have a look of such a worthy mistress. Val. Leave off discourse of disability. That you are worthless. 1Re-enter THURIO. Thu. Madam, my lord, your father, would speak with you. Sil. I wait upon his pleasure: come, sir Thurio, 1 Enter: in f. e. 2 swelling in f. e. 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? I know, you joy not in a love-discourse. Val. Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now: 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 sorrow. Nor, to his service, no such joy on earth! Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep, Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye. 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, Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth. Val. Sweet, except not any, Except thou wilt except against my love. Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own? Val. And I will help thee to prefer her, too: She shall be dignified with this high honour,To bear my lady's train, lest the base earth Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss, And, of so great a favour growing proud, Disdain to root the summer-smelling flower, And make rough winter everlastingly. Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? Val. Pardon me, Proteus: all I can, is nothing To her, whose worth makes other worthies nothing. She is alone. 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, As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl, Val. Ay, and we are betroth'd; nay, more, our marriage hour, With all the cunning manner of our flight Plotted, and 'greed on for my happiness. Pro. Go on before; I shall enquire you forth. I must unto the road, to disembark Even as one heat another heat expels, [Exit VALENTINE. Or as one nail by strength drives out another, 4 And that's the reason I love him so little. SCENE V.The Same. A Street. Enter SPEED and LAUNCE. Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Milan. Launce. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth, for I am not welcome. I reckon this always-that a man is never undone, till he be hang'd; nor never welcome to a place, till some certain shot be paid, and the hostess say, welcome. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn; Love bad me swear, and love bids me forswear. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the alehouse with you presently; where for one shot of five pence thou shalt have five thousand welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy master part with madam Julia? Launce. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But shall she marry him? Launce. No. Speed. How then? Shall he marry her? Speed. What, are they broken? Launce. No, they are both as whole as a fish. Speed. What an ass art thou? I understand thee not. Speed. What thou say'st? I will forget that Julia is alive, Launce. Ay, and what I do too: look thee; I'll but Now, presently I'll give her father notice lean, and my staff understands me. 1 Not in f. e. * Intended. Of their disguising, and pretended' flight; 4 Not in f. e. [Exit. 5 thou hast : in f. e. 6 in: in f. e. |