That to close prison he commanded her,
With many bitter threats of 'biding there.
Val. No more ; unless the next word that thor

speak'st,
Have some malignant power upon my life.
If so, I pray thee breathe it in mine ear,
As ending anthem of my endless dolour.

Pro Cease to lament for that thou canst 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 canst not see thy love ;
Besides, 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
Ev'n in the milk-white bosom of thy love.
The time now serves not to expostulate.
Come, I'll convey thee through the city-gate;
And, ere I part with thee, confer at large
Of all that may concern thy love-affairs.
As thou lov'lt Silvia, tho' not for thyself,
Regard thy danger, and along with me.
Val. I

prav thee, Launce, an if thou seest my boy, Bid him make haste, 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.

S CE N E Laun. " I ám but a fool, look you, and yet I have “ the wit to think my master is a kind of a knave : but " that's all one, if he be but one kind. He lives not

now that knows me to be in love, yet I am in love; - but a team of horse Thall not pluck that from me.

por who 'tis I love, and yet ’tis a woman; but what

woman, I will not tell myself, and yet ’tis a milk“ maid ; yet ’tis not a maid, for she hath had gossips; yet 'tis a maid, for she is her master's maid, and serves

She hath more qualities than a water“ spaniel, which is much in a bare Christian. Here “ is the cat.log (pulling out a paper] of her conditions.

“ Imprimis,

IV.

“ for wages.

« Imprimis, She can fetch and carry; why, a horse can “ do no more ; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry;

; therefore she is better than a jade. Item, She can milk; look you, a sweet virtue in a maid with « clean hands.

Enter Speed. Speed. How now, Signior Launce? what news with your mastership?

Laun. With my master's ship! why, it is at sea.

Speed. Well, your old vice itill; mistake the word : what news then in your paper ?

Laun. The blackest news that ever thou heard'st.
Speed. Why, man, how black?
Laun, Why, as black as ink.
Speed. Let me read them.
Laun. Fy on thee, jolt-head, thou can'ít not read.
Speed. Thou lyest, I can.
Laun. I will try thee; tell me this, who begot thee?
Speed. Marry, the son of my grandfather.

Laun. O illiterate loiterer, it was the fon of thy grandmother; this proves that thou can'st not read.

Speed. Come, fool, come, try me in thy paper.
Laun. There, and St. Nicholas be thy speed !
Speed. Imprimis, She can milk.
Laun. Ay, that she can.
Speed. Item, She brews good ale.

Laun. And thereof comes the proverb, Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale.

Speed. Item, She can sowe.
Laun. That's as much as to say, Can me fo?
Speed. Item, She can knit.

Laun. What need a man care for a stock with a wench, when she can knit him a stock!

Speed. Item, She can wash and scour.

Laun. special virtue, for then she need not to be wash'd and scour’d.

Speed. Item, She can spin.
Laun. Then

may

I set the world on wheels, when she can fpin for her living.

Speed. Item, She hath many nameless virtues.
Laun. That's as much as to say, bastard virtues, that

indeed

U 2

indeed know not their fathers, and therefore have na names

Speed. Here follow her vices. Laun. Close at the heels of her virtues. Speed Item, She is not to be kiss’d fafting, in respect of her breath.

Laun. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast. Read on.

Speed. Item, She hath a sweet mouth.
Laun. That makes amends for her four breath.
Speed Item, she doth talk in her sleep.

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 set down among her vices! To be slow 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. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta'en from her.

Speed. Item, She hath no teeth.

Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love crusts.

Speed. Item, She is curs'd.
Laun. Well, the best is, the hath no teeth to bite.
Speed. Item, She will often praise her liquor.

Laun. If her liquor be good, the fhall; if the will pot, I will; for good things should be praised.

Speed. Item, She is too liberal.

Laun. Of her tongue she cannot, for that's writ down, she's flow of; of her purse she shall not, for that I'll keep fhut; now of another thing she may, and that cannot I help. Well, proceed.

Speed, Item, She hath more hairs than wit, and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults.

Laun." Stop here; I'll have her ; she was mine, and

not mine, twice or thrice in that article. Rehearse " that once more.

Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit.

Laun. More hair than wit, it may be. I'll prove it: The cover of the falt hides the falt, and therefore it is more than the salt. The hair that covers the wit, is

more

more than the wit; for the greater hides the less. What's next?

Speed. And more faults than hairs.
Laun. That's monstrous ; oh that that were out!
Speed. And more wealth than faults.

Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious ! well, I'll have her; and if it be a match, as nothing is impoflible

Speed. What then?

Laun. Why then will I tell thee, that thy master stays for thee at the north-gate.

Speed. For me?

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 so long, that going will scarce serve the turn.

Speed. Why didit not tell me sooner ? pox on your love-letters!

Laun. Now will he be swinge’d for reading my letter: an unmannerly flave, that will thrust himself into fecrets.-I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction.

[Exeunt. SCENE V. Enter Duke and Thurio. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not but that she will love you, Now Valentine is banish'd from her fight.

Thu. Since his exile she hath defpis’t me most,
Forsworn my company, and rail'd at me,
That I am desperate of obtaining her.

Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Diffolves to water, and doth lose his form.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,
And worthless Valentine thall be forgot.

Enter Protheus.
How now, Sir Protheus? Is your countryman,
According to our proclamation, gone?

Prc. Gone, my good Lord.
Duke. My daughter takes his going heavily.
Pro. A little time, my Lord, will kill that grief,

Duke.

Duke. So I believe; but Thurio thinks not fo.
Protheus, the good conceit I hold of thee,
(For thou hait fhown fome sign of good defert),
M.kes me the better to confer with theé.

Pro. longer than I prove loyal to your Grace,
Let me noi live to look upon your Grace.

Duke. I hou know it how willingly I would effe& The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter.

Pro. I do, my Lord.

Duke. And also, I do think, thou art not ignorant How she opposes her against my will

Pro. She did, my Lord, when Valentine was here.

Duke. Ay, and pervertely she perfeveres fo. What might we do to make the girl forget The love of Valentine, and love Sir Thurio ?

Pro The best way is, to flander Valentine With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent; Three things that women highly hold in hate.

Duke. Ay, but she'll think that it is spoke in hate.

Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it:
Therefore it must with circumstance be spoken
By one whom she esteemeth as his friend

Duke Then you must undertake to slander him.

Pro. And that, my Lord, I shall be loth to do; 'Tis an ill office for a gentleman ; Especially against his very friend.

Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage Your flander never can endamage him; [him, Therefore the office is indifferent, Being intreated to it by your friend.

Pro. You have prevail'd, my Lord: if I can do it, By aught that I can fpeak in his difpraise, She shall not long continue love to him. But fay, this weed her love from Valentine, It follows not that she will love Sir Thurio.

Thu Therefore as you unwind her love from him, Left it should ravel, and be good to none, You must provide to bottom it on me : Which must be done by praising me as much As you in worth diłpraide Sir Valentine.

Duke. And, Protheus, we dare trust you in this kind, Because we know, on Valentine's report,

You