to persuade, my loving Proteus; Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits: Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love, I rather would entreat thy company, To see the wonders of the world abroad, Than living dully sluggardiz'd at home, Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. But, since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein, Even as I would, when I to love begin. Pre. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu ! When thou dost meet good hap; and, in thy danger, Fal. And on a love-book pray for my success. Pre. Upon some book I love, I'll pray for thee. Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love, How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont. Pre. That's a deep story of a deeper love, Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. What? To be In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks, If lost, why then a grievous labour won; Or else a wit by folly vanquished. Pre. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Fel. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll prove. Pra. Tis love you cavil at; I am not Love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Val. And writers say, As the most forward bud Even so by love the young and tender wit Speed. This proves me still a sheep. Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. 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. Pro. The sheep for fodder follows 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. But dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia? Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound, a pin-fold. Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, 'tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. Pro. But what said she? did she nod? [Speed nods. Pro. Nod, I? why, that's noddy. Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod; and I say, I. Pro. And that set together, is-noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains. ter. Pro. No, no, you shall have it for bearing the let Speed. Well, I perceive, I must be fain to bear with you. Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. Open your purse, that the money, and the matter, may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains: What said she? Speed. No, not so much as-take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. SCENE II.-The same. Garden of Julia's house. En- Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew my According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair sir Eglamour? Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing shame, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Proteus, as on all the rest? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so. Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love on Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. Peruse this paper, madam. Jul. To Julia,-Say, from whom? That the contents will shew. Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee? He would have given it you, but I, being in the way, Luc. Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreek; That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse, 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, Receiving them from such a worthless post. [Exeunt. And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod! Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Unless it have a false interpreter. Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Lar. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune: Give me a note: your ladyship can set— Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible: Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love. Lue. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. Jel. You, minion, are too saucy. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harsh a descant: There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. Jl. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with protestation!- [Tears the letter. Ga, get you gone: and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Ler. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, He couples it to his complaining names; Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father stays. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales 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? [Exeunt, SCENE III.-The same. A room in Antonio's house. Enter Antonio and Panthino. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that, Pant. Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to that Whereon this month I have been hammering. I have consider'd well his loss of time; And how he cannot be a perfect man, Not being try'd, and tutor❜d in the world: Experience is by industry achiev'd, And perfected by the swift course of time: Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him. Pant. I think, your lordship is not ignorant, How his companion, youthful Valentine, Attends the emperor in his royal court. Ant. I know it well. Pant. "Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: I will despatch him to the emperor's court. And to commend their service to his will. Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go? And, in good time,-now will we break with him. Enter Proteus. Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Here is her hand, the agent of her heart; Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn! O, that our fathers would applaud our loves, To seal our happiness with their consents! O heavenly Julia! Ant. How now? what letter are you reading there? Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two Of commendation sent from Valentine, Deliver❜d by a friend that came from him. Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes How happily he lives, how well belov❜d, And daily graced by the emperor; Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish? Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish: I am resolv'd, that thou shalt spend some time Excuse it not, for I am peremptory. 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.- ing; And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd: The uncertain glory of an April day; Pant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; He is in haste, therefore, I pray you, go. Pro. Why, this it is! my heart accords thereto; And yet a thousand times it answers, No. w ACT II. [Exeunt. Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too slow. have learned, like sir Proteus, to wreath your arms like a male-content; to relish a love-song, like a robin-redbreast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy 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. Without you? nay, that's certain, for, with out 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 observed that? even she I mean. Speed. Why, sir, I know her not. 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 she is not so fair, as (of you) well favoured. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but her fa vour infinite. 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? 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. Speed. Because love is blind. O, that you had mine eyes; or your own had the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at sir Proteus for going ungar tered! 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. Speed. I would you were set; so, your affection would cease. Val. Last night she enjoin'd me to write some lines to one she loves. Spred. And have you? Tal I have. Speed. Are they not lamely writ? Val. No, boy, but as well as I can do them:-Peace, here she comes. Enter Silvia. Speed. O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet! Now will be interpret to her. Banners. Fel. Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows. But for my duty to your ladyship. Sil. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very clerkly done. Fel. 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? Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel; Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet. [Aside. Fal. Madam, they are for you. Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request; Val. If it please me, madam! what then? [Exit Sil. Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, My master sues to her; and she hath taught her suitor, O excellent device! was there ever heard a better? the letter? Val. How now, yourself? Speed. Nay, I was rhyming; 'tis you that have the reason. Speed. Why, she hath given you a letter. 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, Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her All this I speak in print; for in print I found it.- [Giving a ring. Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, take you this. Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. Pro. Here is my hand for my true constancy; [Exit Julia. Julia, farewell.-What! gone without a word? Pant. 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 weep sir? what are you reasoning withing; 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 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, Val. To do what? Speed. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia. Speed. To yourself; why, she wooes you by a figure, yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear: he is Vel. What figure? Speed. By a letter, I should say, Vel. Why, she hath not writ to me? Speed. No believing you, indeed, sir: But did you perceive her earnest ? Fel. She gave me none, except an angry word. 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 ven |