Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed; Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; Please you, deliberate a day or two. [thee: Ant. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go.Come on, Panthino; you shall be employ'd To hasten on his expedition. [Exeunt ANT. and PAN. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning; And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd: Pan. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; Speed. Why then this may be yours, for this is Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine:Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine! Ah! Silvia! Silvia! Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia! Val. How now, sirrah? Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Val. Why, sir, who bade you call her? [slow. Speed. Your worship, sir; or else I mistook. Speed. She that your worship loves? 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 malecontent: to relish a love song, line a robin redbreast; 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 that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when you laughed, 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 perceiv'd in me? 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? Val. Hast thou observ'd that? even she I mean. Speed. Why, sir, I know her not. Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and vet know'st her not. [Exeunt. Speed. Is she not hard favoured, sir? her favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other out 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. [beauty. Val. How esteem'st thou me? I account of her 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. mine eyes; or your own had the lights they were Val. What should I see then? deformity: for he, being in love, could not see to Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing see to put on your hose. garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last Speed. True, sir; I was in love with my bed: makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. I thank you, you swinged me for my love, which 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? Peace, here she comes. Enter SILVIA. Speed. O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet; now will he interpret to her. [morrows. Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand goodSpeed. O give you good even! Here's a million of manners. [Aside. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you twę thousand. Speed. He should give her interest; and she | Or fearing else some messenger, that might her 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. Sil. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very clerkly done. [off; Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly For, being ignorant to whom it goes, I writ at random, very doubtfully. [pains. 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; Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more. Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet. [Aside. Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like it? Sil. Yes, yes; the lines are very quaintly writ: But since unwillingly, take them again! Nay take them. Val. Madam, they are for you. Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request: But I will none of them, they are for you. I would have had them writ more movingly. 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? And so good-morrow, servant. [Exit SILVIA. 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; 'tis you that have the reason. Val. To do what? Speed. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia. Val. To whom? Speed. To yourself; why, she woos you by a figure. Val. What figure? 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. Speed. Why, she hath given you a letter. 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, 'tis as well: "For often you have writ to her; and she, in modesty, Or else for want of idle time, could not again reply; mind discover, Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover."-_ All this I speak in print; for in print I found it.Why muse you, sir? 'tis dinner time. Val. I have dined. Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the came leon Love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourishd by my victuals, and would fain have meat Oh! be not like your mistress, be moved, be moved. [Exeunt SCENE II.-Verona.-A Room in Julia's House. Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. [Exit JULIA Pan. Sir Proteus, you are staid for. Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. [Exeunt SCENE III.-The same.-A Street. 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 received my proportion, like the prodigious son, and am going with Sir Proteus to the Imperial's court. I think Crab my dog to be the sourest-natured 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 'tis 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.-Oh! the dog is me, and I am myself: ay, so, so. come 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 now come I to my mother, (Oh! that she could speak now!) like a wood woman:-well, I kiss her-why there 'tis: 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. Enter PANTHINO. Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard; thy master is shipped, and thou art to post after with oars. What's the matter? why weepest thou, man? Away, ass; you will lose the tide, if you tarry any longer. Laun. It is no matter if the tide were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied. Pan. What's the unkindest tide? Laun. Why, he that's tied here; Crab, my dog. Pun. 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? Laun. For fear thou should'st lose thy tongue. Fun. In thy tail? Laun. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, and the service, and the tied!--Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the boat with my sighs. [thee. Pan. Come, come away, man; I was sent to call Laun. Sir, call me what thou darest. Pan. Wilt thou go? Laun. Well, I will go. [Exeunt. Thu. What seem I, that I am not? Thu. What instance of the contrary? Thu. And how quote you my folly? Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. [colour? Sil. What, angry, Sir Thurio? do you change Val. Give him leave, madam: he is a kind of cameleon. [blood than live in your air. Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your Val. You have said, sir. Thu. Ay, sir, and done too, for this time. Va'. I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin. [quickly shot off. Sil. A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and Val. "Tis indeed, inadam; 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 lady. | ship'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 reasure to give your followers; for it appears by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words. [my father. Sil. No more, gentlemen, no more; here comes Enter DUKE. Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. Val. My lord, I will be thankful [man. Duke. Know you Don Antonio, your countryVal. Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman To be of worth, and worthy estimation, And not without desert so well reputed. 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, Yet hath Sir Proteus, for that's his name, Made use and fair advantage of his days: His years but young, but his experience old; His head unmellow'd, but his judgment ripe And, in a word, (for far behind his worth Come all the praises that I now bestow,) He is complete in feature, and in mind, With all good grace to grace a gentleman. Duke. Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good He is as worthy for an empress' love, As meet to be an emperor's counsellor. I think 'tis no unwelcome news to you. [he. Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been Duke. Welcome him then according to his worth; Silvia, I speak to you; and you, Sir Thurio:For Valentine, I need not 'cite him to it: I'll send him hither to you presently. To be my fellow-servant to your ladyship. Val. Leave off discourse of disability:- Pro. My duty will I boast of, nothing else. Pro. No That you are worthless. Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure. Come, Sir Thurio, [Exit SER. Go with me:--Once more, new servant, welcome: 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? [commended. Pro. Your friends are well, and have them much [love? Val. How does your lady? and how thrives your 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 me With bitter fasts, with penitential groans, 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; Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye: Was this the idol that you worship so? 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, Val. Sweet, except not any; Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own? 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. [own; Val. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine 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; With all the cunning manner of our flight, [Exit VAL Even as one heat another heat expels, [Exit. SCENE V.-The same.-A Street. Enter SPEED and LAUNCE. Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Milan. 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 sho be paid, and the hostess say, Welcome. Speed. Come on, you madcap, I'll to the ale house with you presently: where, for one shot of fivepence, 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. Speed. How then? Shall he marry her? Speed. What, are they broken? Laun. No; they are both as whole as a fish. Speed. Why then, how stands the matter with them? Laun. Marry, thus; when it stands well with him, it stands well with her. Speed. What an ass ar: thou! I understand thee not. Laun. What a block art thou, that thou canst not! My staff understands me. Speed. What thou say'st? Laun. Ay, and what I do too: look thee, I'll but lean, and my staff understands me. Speed. It stands under thee, indeed. [one. Laun. Why, stand under and understand is all Speed. But tell me true, will't be a match? Laun. Ask my dog: if he say ay, it will; if he say no, it will; if he shake his tail, and say nothing, it will. Speed. The conclusion is then, that it will. Laun. Thou shalt never get such a secret from me but by a parable. Speed. 'Tis well that I get it so. But, Launce, how say'st thou, that my master is become a notable lover? Laun. I never knew him otherwise. me. [to be. Laun. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistakest [master. Laun. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy Speed. I tell thee, my master 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 ale-house, so; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian. Speed. Why? Laun. Because thou hast not so much charity in thee, as to go to the ale with a Christian: Wilt thou go? Speed. At thy service. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-The same.-An Apartment in the Pulace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear; But there I leave to love, where I should love. If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; I will forget that Julia is alive, Aiming at Silvia as a sweeter friend. I cannot now prove constant to myself, SCENE VII.-Verona.- A Room in Julia's Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. Luc. Better forbear, till Proteus make return. Pity the dearth that I have pined in, Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire; Jul. The more thou dam'st it up, the more it burns; And so by many winding nooks he strays, Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Luc. You must needs have them with a cod-piece madam. Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd |