The current that with gentle murmur glides, Thou know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage;

But when his fair course is not hindered,

He makes sweet music with the enamell'd

stones,

30

Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge
He overtaketh in his pilgrimage;
And so by many winding nooks he strays,
With willing sport, to the wild ocean.
Then let me go, and hinder not my course:
I'll be as patient as a gentle stream,
And make a pastime of each weary step,
Till the last step have brought me to my love;
And there I'll rest, as after much turmoil
A blessed soul doth in Elysium.

40

Luc. But in what habit will you go along?
Jul. Not like a woman; for I would prevent
The loose encounters of lascivious men:
Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds
As may beseem some well-reputed page.
Luc. Why, then, your ladyship must cut your
hair.

Jul. No, girl; I'll knit it up in silken strings
With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots.
To be fantastic may become a youth

Of greater time than I shall show to be. Luc. What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches?

Jul. That fits as well as, "Tell me, good my lord, What compass will you wear your farthingale?'

Why even what fashion thou best likest, Lu

cetta.

Luc. You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam.

Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favor'd. Luc. A round hose, madam, now 's not worth a pin,

Unless you have a codpiece to stick pins on.
Jul. Lucetta, as thou lovest me, let me have

What thou think'st meet, and is most mannerly.
But tell me, wench, how will the world repute

me

For undertaking so unstaid a journey?

60

I fear me, it will make me scandalized. Luc. If you think So, then stay at home, and go

not.

Jul. Nay, that I will not.

Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go.

If Proteus like your journey when you come, No matter who's displeased when you are gone: I fear me, he will scarce be pleased withal. Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears, And instances of infinite of love, Warrant me welcome to my Proteus. Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men. Jul. Base men, that use them to so base effect!

But truer stars did govern Proteus' birth:

70

70. “Infinite” is here used for infinity. So in Much Ado About Nothing we find "the infinite of thought"; and Chaucer has "although the life of it be stretched with infinite of time." The reading is that of the first folio: the second has "instances as infinite of love," which is adopted by Mr. Collier. But the former, besides having better authority, seems better in itself.-H. N. H.

His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles;
His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate;
His tears pure messengers sent from his heart;
His heart as far from fraud as heaven from
earth.

Luc. Pray heaven he prove so, when you come to him!

l. Now, as thou lovest me, do him. not that

wrong,

To bear a hard opinion of his truth:
Only deserve my love by loving him;

And presently go with me to my chamber,
To take a note of what I stand in need of,
To furnish me upon my longing journey.
All that is mine I leave at thy dispose,
My goods, my lands, my reputation;
Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence.
Come, answer not, but to it presently!
I am impatient of my tarriance.

80

[Exeunt. 90

85. That is, the journey that I long to be making; or, it may be, the journey that I shall make with continual longing to reach the end of it.-H. N. H.

ACT THIRD

SCENE I

Milan. Ante-room in the Duke's palace.
Enter Duke, Thurio, and Proteus.

Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, İ pray, awhile;
We have some secrets to confer about.

[Exit Thu. Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with

me?

Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would dis

cover

The law of friendship bids me to conceal;
But when I call to mind your gracious favors
Done to me, undeserving as I am,

My duty pricks me on to utter that

Which else no worldly good should draw from

me.

Know, worthy prince, Sir Valentine, my friend,

10

This night intends to steal away your daugh

ter:

Myself am one made privy to the plot.

I know you have determined to bestow her
On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates;
And should she thus be stol'n away from you,

obvious

It would be much vexation to your age.
Thus, for my duty's sake, I rather chose
To cross my friend in his intended drift
Than, by concealing it, heap on your head
A pack of sorrows, which would press you
down,

20

Being unprevented, to your timeless grave.
Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care;
Which to requite, command me while I live.
This love of theirs myself have often seen,
Haply when they have judged me fast asleep;
And oftentimes have purposed to forbid
Sir Valentine her company and my court:
But, fearing lest my jealous aim might err,
And so, unworthily disgrace the man,
A rashness that I ever yet have shunn'd,
I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find
That which thyself hast now disclosed to me.
And, that thou mayst perceive my fear of this,
Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested,
I nightly lodge her in an upper tower,

30

The key whereof myself have ever kept;
And thence she cannot be convey'd away.
Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devised a mean
How he her chamber-window will ascend,

And with a corded ladder fetch her down; 40
For which the youthful lover now is gone,

And this way comes he with it presently;
Where, if it please you, you may intercept him.
But, good my Lord, do it so cunningly

That my discovery be not aimed at;

For, love of you, not hate unto my friend,