Val. Your folly.

Thu. And how quote you my folly ?
Val. I quote it in your jerkin.

Thul My jerkin is a doublet.

Val. Well then, I'll double your folly.
Thu. How?!

Sil. What, angry, Sir Thurio? do you change colour? Val: Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of Cameleon.

Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your blood, than live in your air.

Val. You have faid, 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 volly of words, gentlemen, and quickly

fhot off.

Val. "Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver.

Sil. Who is that, fervant?

Val. Yourfelf, fweet lady, for you gave the fire: Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyfhip's looks and fpends, what he borrows, kindly in your company.

Thu. Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I fhall 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 the Duke.

Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard befet.
Sir Valentine, your father's in good health:
What fay you to a letter from your friends
Of much good news ?

Val. My lord, I will be thankful To any happy meffenger from thence.

Duke, Know you Don Anthonio, your countryman ? Val. Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman To be of worth and worthy eftimation;

And, not without defert, fo well reputed.
Duke. Hath he not a fon?

Val. Ay, my good lord, a fon that well deferves
The honour and regard of fuch a father.
Duke. You know him well?

Val. I knew him, as myfelf;

for from our infancy

We have converft, and fpent our hours together:
And tho' myself have been an idle truant,
Omitting the fweet benefit of time,

To cloath mine age with angel-like perfection;
Yet hath Sir Protheus, for that's his name,
Made ufe 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 praifes, that I now bestow ;)
He is compleat in feature and in mind,
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.

Duke. Befhrew me, Sir, but if he makes this good,
He is as worthy for an emprefs' love,
As meet to be an Emperor's counsellor.
Well, Sir, this gentleman is come to me,'
With commendations from great potentates;
And here he means to fpend his time a while.
I think, 'tis no unwelcome news to you.

Val. Should I have wifh'd a thing, it had been he. Duke. Welcome him then according to his worth: Silvia, I fpeak to you; and you, Sir Thuria;

For Valentine, I need not cite him to it:

I'll fend him hither to you prefently.

[Exit Duke.

Val. This is the gentlegian, I told your ladyfhip,
Had come along with me, but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes lockt in her crystal looks.

Sil. Belike, that now fhe hath enfranchis'd them
Upon fome other pawn for fealty.

Val. Nay, fure, I think, fhe holds them pris'ners ftill. Sil. Nay, then he should be blind; and, being blind, How could he fee his way to feek out you?

Val. Why, lady, love hath twenty-pair of eyes. Thu. They fay, that love hath not an eye at all. Val. To fee fuch lovers, Thurio, as yourself; Upon a homely object love can wink.

Enter Protheus.

Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. Val. Welcome, dear Protheus: mistress, I beseech you, Confirm his welcome with fome 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-fervant to your ladyship.

Sil. Too low a mistress for fo high a fervant.
Pro. Not fo, fweet lady; but too mean a fervant,
To have a look of such a worthy mistress.
Val. Leave off difcourfe of difability:

Sweet lady, entertain him for your fervant.
Pro. My duty will I boast of, nothing else.
Sil. And duty never yet did want his meed:
Servant, you're welcome to a worthless mistress.
Pro. I'll die on him that fays fo, but yourself,
Sil. That you are welcome?

Pro. That you are worthless,

Enter Servant.

Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. (9)

Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure: [Exit Serv.] Come,
Sir Thurio,

Go with me. Once more, my new fervant, welcome:

(9) Thur. Madam, my Lord your Father.] This Speech in all the Editions is affigned improperly to Thurio; but he has been all along upon the Stage, and could not know that the Duke wanted his Daughter. Befides, the firft Line and half of Silvia's Answer is evidently addrefs'd to two Perfons. A Servant, therefore, muft come in and deliver the Meffage; and then Silvia goes out with Thurio.

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.

[Ex. Sil. and Thu. 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-difcourfe.

Val Ay, Protheus, but that life is alter'd now; I have done penance for contemning love; Whofe high imperious thoughts have punish'd me With bitter fafts, with penitential groans; With nightly tears, and daily heart-fore fighs. For, in revenge of my contempt of love, Love hath chac'd fleep from my enthralled eyes, And made them watchers of mine own heart's forrow. O gentle Protheus, love's a mighty lord;

And hath fo humbled me, as, I confefs,

There is no woe to his correction;

Nor to his fervice, no such joy on earth.
Now no discourse, except it be of love;

Now can I break my falt, dine, fup, and fleep
Upon the very naked name of love.

Pro. Enough: I read your fortune in your eye.

Was this the idol, that you worship for

Val. Even fhe; and is the not a heav'nly faint?
Pro. No; but fhe is an earthly paragon.

Val. Call her divine.

Pro. I will not flatter her.

Val. O flatter me: for love delights in praise. Pro. When I was fick, you gave me bitter pills; And I must minifter the like to you.

Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, Yet let her be a principality,

Sov'reign to all the creatures on the earth.

Pre. Except my miftrefs,

Val. Sweet, except not any;
Except thou wilt except againit my love.

Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own?
Val. And I will help thee to prefer her too:
She fhall be dignify'd with this high honour,
To bear my lady's train, left the base earth
Should from her vefture chance to steal a kifs;
And, of fo great a favour growing proud,
Disdain to root the fummer-fwelling flower;
And make rough winter everlastingly.

Pro. Why, Valentine, what bragadism is this? Val. Pardon me Protheus; all I can, is nothing To her, whofe 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 fuch a jewel,

As twenty feas, if all their fand were pearl,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me, that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou feeft me doat upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes,
Only for his poffeffions are fo huge,
Is gone with her along, and I must after;
For love, thou know'it is full of jealoufy.

Pro. But the loves you?

Val. Ay, and we are betroth'd; nay more our marriage-hour,

With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Determin'd of; how I must climb her window,
The ladder made of cords; and all the means
Plotted and 'greed on for my happiness.
Good Protheus, go with me to my chamber,
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
Pro. Go on before; I fhall enquire you forth.
I muft unto the road, to difembark
Some neceffaries that I needs must use;
And then I'll presently attend you.
Val. Will you make haste?

Pro. I will.

[Exit Val.