SCENE.-Sometimes in Verona, sometimes in Milan, and on the frontiers of Mantua. ACT I. SCENE I.- Verona: an open Place. Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus: 10 Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu! Think on thy Proteus, when thou haply seest Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel: Wish me partaker in thy happiness When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, If ever danger do environ thee, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success? 22 Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never swum the Hellespont. What? Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with 50 Even so by love the young and tender wit To Milan let me hear from thee by letters 60 Exit. Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love: He leaves his friends to dignify them more ; I leave myself, my friends and all, for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphos'd me ; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at nought, Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought. Enter SPEED. However, but a folly bought with wit, Or else a wit by folly vanquished, Pro. But now he parted hence to embark for Milan. Speed. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my Speed. Twenty to one then he is shipp'dalready, Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering Speed. You conclude that my master is a your letter. And being so hard to me that shepherd then and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. 80 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? Pro. A silly answer and fitting well a sheep. 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 Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, sheep. 89 Being destin'd to a drier death on shore. 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. Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, 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. But dost thou hear? gavest 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. 101 152 Exit SPEED. I must go send some better messenger: SCENE II.- The Same. JULIA'S Garden. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Exit. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll show According to my shallow simple skill. 11 Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine Luc. Pardon, dear madam: 'tis a passing shame That I, unworthy body as I am, Jul. Your reason? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason: Speed. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear I think him so because I think him so. with you. Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly; having nothing but the word 'noddy' for my pains. Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. 131 Pro. Come, come; open the matter in brief: what said she? 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. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her, 21 : Jul. To Julia.' Say, from whom? Luc. That the contents will show. Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee? 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! There, take the paper: see it be return'd; 40 Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Jul. Will ye be gone? Luc. That you may ruminate. Exit. Jul. And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter. It were a shame to call her back again And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. 50 What fool is she, that knows I am a maid, 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 enforc'd 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. O hateful hands, to tear such loving words ! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, 110 heal'd; GO And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time? Luc. I would it were; 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? Unto a ragged, fearful-hanging rock, Luc. Madam, Re-enter LUCETTA. Dinner is ready, and your father stays, Jul. Well, let us go. 120 Luc. To take a paper up That I let fall. Jul. Luc. Nothing concerning me. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. 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. Jul. Somelove of yours hath writ to you in rime. Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune: Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; Give me a note: your ladyship can set. Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible : I see things too, although you judge I wink. Jul. Come, come; will 't please you go? 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 burthen then? SCENE III. - The Same. A Room in ANTONIO'S Pant. "Twere good, I think, your lordship sent There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, 30 Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: And that thou may'st 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. And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. The uncertain glory of an April day, Re-enter PANTHINO. Pant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you: go. Pro. Why, this it is my heart accords thereto, ACT II. Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Don SCENE I. - Milan. A Room in the DUKE'S Palace. Alphonso With other gentlemen of good esteem And to commend their service to his will. 40 Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. Speed. Sir, your glove. Not mine; my gloves are on. 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! Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being 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 wreathe 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 ABC; 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 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? 50 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? 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. 70 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. 80 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 enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves. Speed. And have you ? Speed. Are they not lamely writ? 90 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. 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. 110 Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off; For being ignorant to whom it goes 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. 122 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. 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. 131 |