Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. me. Here is a coil with protestation! [Tears the letter. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, 'would, I were so anger'd with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, [bear And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. He couples it to his complaining name: Luc. What, shall these papers lie like telltales here? Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up. Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. SCENE III. [Exeunt. The same. A room in Antonio's House. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Pant. He wonder'd, that your lordship Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to Whereon this month I have been hammering. Pant. "Twere good, I think, your lordship sent There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel: well hast thou advised: I will despatch him to the emperor's court. With other gentlemen of good esteem, Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus And, in good time,-now will we break with him. Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Ant. How now? what letter are you reading Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or Of commendations sent from Valentine, Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. How happily he lives, how well belov'd Ant. My will is something sorted with his Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; Ant. Look, what thou want'st, shall be sent No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go.- [Exeunt ANT. and PANT. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd; burning; I fear'd to shew my father Julia's letter, The uncertain glory of an April day; Pant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; Act Second. [Exeunt. Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine! Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Val. Go to, sir; tell me, do you know madam Speed. She that your worship loves? Val. Not so fair, boy, as well favour'd. Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favour'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? Speed. Marry, sir, so painted to make her fair, that 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 deformed. Val. How long hath she been 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 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. 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. Val. Why, how know you that I am in love? 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 had 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 Speed. O excellent motion! O exceeding pupthat fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beg-pet! now will he interpret to her. gar at Hollowmas. You were wont, when you laugh'd, 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 I 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 supper? [mean. Val. Hast thou observed that? even she 1 Speed. Why, sir, I know her not. Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know'st her not?" Speed. Is she not hard-favour'd, sir? Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand goodmorrows. 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. [letter, Val. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your Unto the secret nameless friend of yours; Which I was much unwilling to proceed in, But for my duty to your ladyship. Sil. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off; 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; | 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; Sül. 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? S.Why if it please you, take it for your labour; And so good-morrow, servant. [Exit SILVIA. 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 He being her pupil to become her tutor. 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 the reason. Val. To do what? that have Sneed. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia. Val. To whom? Speed. To yourself: why she woos you by figure. Val. What figure? Speed. By a letter, I should say. a 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. Val. She gave me none, except an angry word. Speed. And that letter hath she deliver'd, and there an end. Val. I would it were no worse. For often have you writ to her; and she, in modesty, Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover. All this I speak in print; for in print I found it Val. I have dined. Pro. When possibly I can, I will return. Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. Julia, farewell.-What! gone without a word! Enter PANTHINO. Pant. Sir Proteus, you are staid for. Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. SCENE III. The same. A Street. Enter LAUNCE, leading a dog. weeping; all the kind of the Launces have this I I Enter PANTHINO. Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir; though the chameleon Love can feed on the air, I am one Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard; thy masthat am nourished by my victuals, and would ter is shipped, and thou art to post after with fain have meat: O, be not like your mistress; oars. What's the matter? why weepest thou, be moved, be moved. man? Away, ass; you will lose the tide, if you tarry any longer. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Verona. A Room in Julia's House. Enter PROTEUS and JULIA. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. Jul. I must, where is no remedy. 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. colour? Val. Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon. 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 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. Sil. No more, gentlemen, no more; here comes my father. Enter DUKE. Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. The honour and regard of such a father. Val. I knew him as myself; for from our infancy We have convers'd, and spent our hours together: Duke. Beshrew me, sir, but, if he make this good, He is as worthy for an empress' love Duke. Welcome him then according to his worth. Silvia, I speak to you; and you, Sir Thurio:- ship, 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 out you? Val. Why, lady, love hath twenty pair of eyes. Thu. They say, that love hath not an eye atall. Val. To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself; Upon a homely object love can wink. Val. Leave off discourse of disability.— Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant. Pro. My duty will I boast of, nothing else. Sil. And duty never yet did want his meed; Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mis tress. Pro. I'll die on him that says so, but yourself. No; that you are worthless. Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure. [Exit Serv. Come, Sir Thurio, Go with me:-Once more, new servant, wel come: 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. 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 With bitter fasts, with penitential groans, [me 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 sorrow. O, gentle Proteus, love's a mighty lord; 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. Pro. Except my mistress. 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-swelling flower, And make rough winter everlastingly. Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggadism is this? Val. Pardon me, Proteus: all I can, is nothing To her, whose worth makes other worthies no thing; She is alone. Pro. Then let her alone. Val. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own; Val. And I as rich in having such a jewel, Val. Will you make haste? [Exit VAL. Even as one heat another heat expels, Laun. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for I 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. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the alchouse 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? Laun. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But shall she marry him? Laun. No. |