But, were I you, he never should be mine.

Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio?
Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
Jul. What think'st thou of the gentie Proteus?
Luc. Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us!
Jul. How now! what means this passion at his name,
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 away.
Jul. Why he, of all the rest, hath never moved me.
Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.
Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small.
Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all.
Jul. They do not love that do not show their love.
Luc. O, they love least that let men know their love.
Jul. I would I knew his mind.

Luc. Peruse this paper, madam.

Jul. "To Julia." Say, from whom?

Luc. That the contents will show.

Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee?

30

Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.

He would have given it you; but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault, I pray.
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.

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.

Jul. Will ye be gone?

Luc.

40

That you may ruminate. [Exi Jul. And yet I would I had o'erlooked the letter:

It were a shame to call her back again

And pray her to a fault for which I chid her
What a fool is she, that knows I am a mai
And would not force the letter to my view.
Since maids, in modesty, say " no" to that

Which they would have the profferer construe "ay."
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love

That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently all humbled kiss the rod !
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here !
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back

And ask remission for my folly past.
What ho! Lucetta!

Luc.

Re-enter LUCETTA.

What would your ladyship?

Jul. Is't near dinner-time?

I would it were,

Luc.

That you might kill your stomach on your meat

And not upon your maid.

Jul. What is't that you took up so gingerly?

Luc. Nothing.

Jul. Why didst thou stoop, then?

Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall.

Jul. And is that paper nothing?

Luc. Nothing concerning me.

Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns.

Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,

Unless it have a false interpreter.

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
Luc. 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."
Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune.

Jul. Heavy! belike it hath some burden then?
Luc. Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
Jul. And why not you?

Luc.

Jul. Let's see your song.

I cannot reach so high.

How now, minion!

Luc, Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out: And yet methinks I do not like this tune.

80

90

Jul. You do not?

Luc.

No, madam; it is too sharp.

Jul. 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.

Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly bass.

Go get you gone, and let the papers lie:
You would be fingering them, to anger me.

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.

100

Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased To be so anger'd with another letter.

Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words!
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey

And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I'll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ "kind Julia."

As in revenge of thy ingratitute,

[Exit.

Unkind Julia !

I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ "love-wounded Proteus."
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed

Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly heal'd';
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.

But twice or thrice was

Proteus" written down.

Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,

Except mine own name : that some whirlwind ber
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
"Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia :" that I'll tear away.
And yet I will not, sith so prettily

He couples it to his complaining names.

Thus will I fold them one upon another:

Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.

12

Re-enter LUCETTA.

Luc. Madam,

Dinner is ready, and your father stays.

Jul. Well, let us go.

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?

130

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 wonder'd that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home, While other men, of slender reputation. Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: Some to the wars, to try their fortune there ; Some to discover islands far away; Some to the studious universities. For any or for all these exercises

He said that Proteus your son was meet,

And did request me to importune you

To let him spend his time no more at home,

Which would be great impeachment to his age, in having known no travel in his youth.

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 tried and tutor❜d in the world:

Experience is by industry achieved

Then tell me, whither were I best to send him?

And perfected by the swift course of time.

Pan. I think your lordship is not ignorant

Attends the emperor in his royal court.

Ant. I know it well.

How his companion, youthful Valentine,

10

20

Pan. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither, There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,

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:

A hat thou mayst perceive how well I like it

The execution of it shall make known.

Even with the speediest expedition

I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.

With other gentlemen of good esteem

30

Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso

40

Are journeying to talute the emperor

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 commendations 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 beloved

And daily graced by the emperor;

Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.

Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish?

Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will

And not depending on his friendly wish.

Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish. Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;

For what I will, I will, and there an end.

I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentinus in the emperor's court:

What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.

To-morrow be in readiness to go:

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.

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,

And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.

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.
0, 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!

80