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 Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pan. He wonder'd, that your lordship Whereon this month I have been hammering. Pan. "Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, I will despatch him to the emperor's court. Alphonso, With other gentlemen of good esteem, Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go: [him. And, in good time,-now will we break with 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 honours 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, Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he How happily he lives, how well belov'd, Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will, And not depending on his friendly wish. Ant. My will is something sorted with his Muse* not that I thus suddenly proceed; 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.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; [drown'd: And drench'd me in the sea, where I am I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter, Lest he should take exceptions to my love; And with the vantage of mine own excuse Hath he excepted most against my love. O, how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day; Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away! 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? 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 male-content; to relish a love song, like a robin-red-breast; 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 hath 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.t You were wont, when you laugh'd, 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 you. 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. 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. T Speed. Why, Sir, I know her not. Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on Please you command, a thousand times as her, and yet know'st her not? Speed. Is she not hard favoured, Sir? Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favoured. Val. I mean that her beauty is exquisite, but her favour 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 de formed. 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. * Under a regimen. † Allhallowmas Whipped. And yet, [much: Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel; And yet I will not name it:—and yet I care not ; Speed. To yourself: why, she wooes you by with Sir Proteus to the Imperial's court. I a figure. Val. What figure? Speed. By a letter, I should say. 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 ringing her hands, and all our house in a great perplexity, yet did not this cruel Val. Why she hath not writ to me? Speed. What need she, when she hath made you write to yourself? Why, do you not per-hearted cur shed one tear: he is a stone, a very ceive 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, Or fearing else some messenger, that might her mind discover, Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover.[it.All this I speak in print; for in print I found Why muse you, Sir? 'tis dinner time. Val. I have dined. Speed. Ay, but hearken, Sir: though the cameleon Love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourished by my victuals, and would fain have meat: O, be not like your mistress, be moved, be moved. [Exeunt. SCENE II-Verona.-A Room in JULIA'S House. Enter PROTEUS and JULIA. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. Jul. If you turn not, you will return the sooner: Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake. [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's my hand for my true constancy; And when that hour o'er-slips me in the day, Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake, The next ensuing hour some foul mischance Torment me for my love's forgetfulness! My father stays my coming; answer not; The tide is now: nay not the tide of tears; That tide will stay me longer than I should; [Exit JULIA. Julia, farewell.-What! gone without a word? Ay, so true love should do: it cannot speak; For truth hath better deeds than words, to grace it. 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,-O, the dog is me, and I am myself: ay, so, 90. Now come I 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 come I to my mother, (O, 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. Val. Your folly. Thu. And how quote‡ you my folly? Thu. My jerkin is a doublet. Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. 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 said, 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 volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off. Val. 'Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver. Val. Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire: Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship'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 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 DUKE. Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. Sir Valentine, your father's in good health: Val. My lord, I will be thankful Duke. Know you Don Antonio, your countryman? Val. Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman To be of worth, and worthy estimation, And not withou 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. Val. I knew him as myself; for from our infancy [gether: We have convers'd, and spent our hours to- * Serious. Observe. Come all the praises that I now bestow,) He is as worthy for an empress' love, Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he. Duke. Welcome him then according to his worth; Silvia, I speak to you; and you, Sir Thurio:- [Exit DUKE. Val. This is the gentleman, I told your lady Pro. No; but she is an earthly paragon. Pro. I will not flatter her. Val. O,flatter me; for love delights in praises. Pro. When I was sick, you gave me bitter And I must minister the like to you. [pills; Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not Yet let her be a principality, [divine, Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth. Pro. Except my mistress. Val. Sweet, except not any; Except thou wilt except against my love. Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own? Val. And I will help thee to prefer her too: She shall be dignified with this high honour,To bear my lady's train; lest the base earth Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss, And, of so great a favour growing proud, Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower, And make rough winter everlastingly. Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? Val. Pardon me, Proteus: all I can, is nothing To her, whose worth makes other worthies noShe is alone. [thing; Pro. Then let her alone. And I as rich in having such a jewel, Val. Ay, and we are betroth'd; With all the cunning manner of our flight, Pro. Go on before; I shall inquire you forth: I must unto the road, to disembark Some necessaries that I needs must use; And then I'll presently attend you. Val. Will you make haste? Pro. I will. [Exit VAL. Even as one heat another heat expels, Laun. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for I am not welcome. I reckon this alwaysthat a man is never undone, till he be hanged; nor never welcome to a place, till some certain shot be paid, and the hostess say, welcome. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap. 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? 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 art 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. Laun. Why, stand under and understand is all one. 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, * On further knowledge. |