LAUNCE, the like to Proteus. SCENE, Verona; Milan; the frontiers of Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear you'll prove. 50 Val. And writers say, as the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turn'd to folly, blasting in the bud, Losing his verdure even in the prime And all the fair effects of future hopes. But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee That art a votary to fond desire? Once more adieu! my father at the road Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd. Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. 60 To Milan let me hear from thee by letters Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love: Or else a wit by folly vanquished. Pro. Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be a while away. Speed. You conclude that my master is a shep- her? herd then and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. 80 Pro. A silly answer and fitting well a sheep. stance. Pro. It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me: therefore I am no sheep. 91 Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the shepherd for food follows not the sheep: thou for wages followest thy master; thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry 'baa.' Pro. Why, couldst thou perceive so much from Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: and being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What said she? nothing? Speed. No, not so much as Take this for thy pains.' To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. 150 [Exit Speed. Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, Which cannot perish having thee aboard, Being destined to a drier death on shore. I must go send some better messenger: . I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, 160 Receiving them from such a worthless post. [Exit. SCENE II. The same. Garden of JULIA's house. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; But, were I you, he never should be mine. II Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Pardon, dear madam: tis a passing shame That I, unworthy body as I am, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? Luc. Then thus: of many good I think him best. Jul. Your reason? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so because I think him so. Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? To whisper and conspire against my youth? Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth And you an officer fit for the place. There, take the paper: see it be return'd; Or else return no more into my sight. me. Here is a coil with protestation! [Tears the letter. Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than Go get you gone, and let the papers lie: hate. Jul. Will ye be gone? Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. ful. And yet I would I had o'erlooked the letter: 50 It were a shame to call her back again 60 100 You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased 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, heal'd; And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. 121 He couples it to his complaining names. Re-enter Lucetta. Luc. Madam, Dinner is ready, and your father stays. Jul. Well, let us go. 130 Luc. What, shall these papers lie like telltales here? Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up. Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down: Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. Jul. I see you have a month's mind to them. Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. Jul. Come, come; will't please you go? 140 [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. ANTONIO'S house. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pan. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him? Pan. He said that Proteus your son was meet, ΙΟ Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to that Whereon this month I have been hammering. Ant. I know it well. 20 Pan. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, 30 Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen, And be in eye of every exercise Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised: And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don With other gentlemen of good esteem 40 Pro. There is no news, my lord, but that he writes How happily he lives, how well beloved Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish. 70 Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided: Please you, deliberate a day or two. Ant. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee: No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go. [Exeunt Ant. and Pan. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning, 80 And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. The uncertain glory of an April day, SCENE I. Milan. The DUKE's palace. Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. Val. Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine: Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Val. Go to, sir: tell me, do you know Madam Silvia? Speed. She that your worship loves? you have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreathe your arms, like a malecontent; to relish a lovesong, like 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 perceived in me? Speed. They are all perceived without ye. 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. Silvia? But tell me, dost thou know my lady Speed. She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper? Val. mean. Hast thou observed that? even she, I Speed. Why, sir, I know her not. 50 Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet knowest her not? Speed. Is she not hard-favoured, sir? Val. What dost thou know? 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 esteemest thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed. Val. How long hath she been deformed? 70 Speed. Ever since you loved 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. Val. Why? 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. 90 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. Speed. [Aside] O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet! Now will he interpret to her. Enter SILVIA. Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good morrows. Speed. [Aside] O, give ye good even! here's a million of manners. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand. Speed. [Aside] He should give her interest, and she 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. Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off; For being ignorant to whom it goes I writ at random, very doubtfully. Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much pains? 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. [Aside] And yet you will; and yet another 'yet.' 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. 130 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 |