Re-enter PANTHINO. Pan. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you: ACT II. SCENE I. Milan. The DUKE's palace. Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. 90 [Exeunt. Speed. Sir, your glove. Not mine; my gloves are on. Val. Speed. Why, then, this may be yours, for this is but one. Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine: Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine ! Ah, Silvia, Silvia ! Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia ! Val. How now, sirrah? Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Val. Why, sir, who bade you call her? Speed. Your worship, sir; or else I mistook. Val. Well, you'll still be too forward. Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too slow. Val. Why, how know you that I am in love? 10 Speed. Marry, by these special marks: first, you have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreath your arms, like a malecontent; 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 present.. ly 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. 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. 50 Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet knowest 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 exquiste, but her favour infinite. 60 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 esteenest thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed. Ever since you loved her. 70 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 eyes had the lights they were wont to have when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered! Val. What should I see then? 80 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 pue 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? Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel; Speed. [Aside] And yet you will; and yet another "yet." But since unwillingly, take them again. Nay, take them. Val. Madam, they are for you. 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. And if it please you, so; if not, why, so. Val. If it please me, madam, what then? Sil. Why, if it please you, take it for your labour : And so, good morrow, servant. [Exit. Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, 130 140 As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple ! My master sues to her, and she hath taught her suitor, He being her pupil, to become her tutor. O excellent device! was there ever heard a better, That my master, being scribe, to himself should write the letter? Val. How now, sir? what are you reasoning with yourself? Speed. Nay, I was rhyming: 'tis you that have the reason. Val. To do what? Speed. To be a spokesman for Madam Silvia. Val. To whom? Speed. To yourself: why, she wooes you by a figure. Speed. By a letter, I should say. Val. Why, she hath not writ to me? 150 Speed. What need she, when she hath made you write to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest? Val. No, believe me. 160 Speed. No believing you, indeed, sir. But did you per ceive 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 delivered, and there an end. Val.. I would it were no worse. Speed. I'll warrant you, 'tis as well: 170 For often have you writ to her, and she, in modesty, cover, Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover. Val. I have dined. Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir; though the chameleon 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. SCENE II. Verona. JULIA's house, Enter PROTEUS and JULIA. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. Jul. I must, where is no remedy. Pro. When possibly I can, I will return. Jul. If you turn not, you will return the sooner. [Exeunt. 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. 10 [Exit Julia. What, gone without a word? Enter PANTHINO. Pan. Sir Proteus, you are stay'd for. Pro. Go; I come, I come. Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. SCENE III. The same. A street. Enter LAUNCE, leading a dog. 20 [Exeunt. Launce. Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done weep. ing; 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, yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear he is 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 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-Oh! the dog is me, and I am myself; ay, so, so. Now |