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Julia I lose, and Valentine I lose :
If I keep them, I needs must lose myself;
If I lose them, thus find I by their loss,
For Valentine, myself; for Julia, Silvia.
I to myself am dearer than a friend;
For love is still more precious in itself:
And Silvia, witness heaven, that made her fair!
Shews Julia but a swarthy Ethiope.
I will forget that Julia is alive,
Rememb'ring that my love to her is dead;
And Valentine I'll hold an enemy,
Aiming at Silvia as a sweeter friend.
I cannot now prove constant to myself,
Without some treachery used to Valentine:→
This night, he meaneth with a corded ladder
To climb celestial Silvia's chamber-window;
Myself in counsel his competitor *:
Now presently I'll give her father notice
Of their disguising, and pretended + flight;
Who, all enrag'd, will banish Valentine;
For Thurio, he intends, shall wed his daughter:
But, Valentine being gone, I'll quickly cross,
By some sly trick, blunt Thurio's dull pro-
ceeding.
[swift
Love, lend me wings to make my purpose
As thou hast lent me wit to plot this drift!
[Exit.
SCENE VII. Verona. A Room in Julia's
House.

Enter JULIA and LUCETTA.

Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me! And, even in kind love, I do conjure thee,Who art the table wherein all my thoughts Are visibly charácter'd and engrav'd,— To lesson me; and tell me some good mean, How, with my honour, I may undertake A journey to my loving Proteus.

Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. Jul. A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; Much less shall she,that hath love's wings to fly; And when the flight is made to one so dear, Of such divine perfection, as sir Proteus. Luc.Better forbear,till Proteus make return. Jul. O, know'st thou not, his looks are my soul's food?

Pity the dearth that I have pined in,
By longing for that food so long a time.
Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou would'st as soon go kindle fire with snow,
As seek to quench the fire of love with words.
Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot
But qualify the fire's extreme rage, [fire;
Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.

Jul. The more thou dam'st ‡ it up, the more

it burns;

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With willing sport, to the wild ocean.
Then let me go, and hinder not my course:
I'll be as patient as a gentle stream,
And make a pastime of each weary step,
Till the last step have brought me to my love;
And there I'll rest, as, after much turmoil,
A blessed soul doth in Elysium.

Luc. But in what habit will you go along?
Jul. Not like a woman; for I would prevent
The loose encounters of lascivious men :
Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds
As may beseem some well-reputed page.
Luc. Why then your ladyship must cut
your hair.

Jul. No, girl; I'll knit it up in silken strings, With twenty odd conceited true-love knots: To be fantastic may become a youth

Of greater time than I shall show to be. Luc. What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches? [my lord, Jul. That fits as well, as-" tell me, good "What compass will you wear your farthingale?" [Lucetta. Why, even that fashion that thou best likʼst, Luc. You must needs have them with a cod

piece, madam.

Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-
favour'd.
[a pin,
Luc. A round hose, madam, now's not worth
Unless you have a cod-piece to stick pins on.
Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'st me, let me have
What thou think'st meet,and is most mannerly:
But tell me, wench, how will the world repute
For undertaking so unstaid a journey? [me,

I fear me, it will make ne scandaliz❜d.
Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and
Jul. Nay, that I will not.
[go not.

Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. If Proteus like your journey, when you come, No matter who's displeas'd,when you are gone: I fear me, he will scarce be pleas'd withal.

Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears, And instances as infinite of love, Warrant me welcome to my Proteus.

Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men. Jul. Base men, that use them to so base effect!

But truer stars did govern Proteus' birth: His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles; His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate; His tears, pure messengers sent from his heart; His heart as far from fraud, as heaven from earth. [come to him!

Luc. Pray heaven he prove so, when you Jul. Now, as thon lov'st me, do him not that To bear a hard opinion of his truth: [wrong, Only deserve my love, by loving him; And presently go with me to my chamber, To take a note of what I stand in need of,' To furnish me upon my longing journey. All that is mine I leave at thy dispose, My goods, my lands, my reputation; Only, in lieu thereof, despatch me hence: Come, answer not, but to it presently;

I am impatient of my tarriance. [Exeunt. Longed for.

Closest.

Trouble.

ACT III.

SCENE I. Milan. An Ante-room in the

Duke's palace.

Enter DUKE, THURIO, and PROTEUS. Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile;

We have some secrets to confer about.

[Exit THURIO. Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me? [discover, Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would The law of friendship bids me to conceal: But, when I call to mind your gracious favours Done to me, undeserving as I am, My duty pricks me on to utter that [me! Which else no worldly good should draw from Know, worthy prince, sir Valentine,my friend, This night intends to steal away your daughter; Myself am one made privy to the plot. I know, you have determin'd to bestow her On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates; And should she thus be stolen away from you, It would be much vexation to your age. Thus, for my duty's sake, I rather chose To cross my friend in his intended drift, Than, by concealing it, heap on your head A pack of sorrows, which would press you down,

Being unprevented, to your timeless grave. Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care;

Which to requite, command me while I live.
This love of theirs myself have often seen,
Haply, when they have judged me fast asleep;
And oftentimes have purpos'd to forbid
Sir Valentine her company, and my court:
But, fearing lest my jealous aim* might err,
And so, unworthily, disgrace the man,
(A rashness that I ever yet have shunn'd,)
I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find
That which thyself hast now disclos'd to me.
And, that thou may'st perceive my fear of this,
knowing that tender youth is soon suggestedt,
I nightly lodge her in an upper tower,
The key whereof myself have ever kept;
And thence she cannot be convey'd away.
Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd

a mean

How he her chamber-window will ascend,
And with a corded ladder fetch her down;
For which the youthful lover now is gone,
And this way comes he with it presently;
Where, if it please you, you may intercept him.
But, good my lord, do it so cunningly,
That my discovery be not aimed at;
For love of you, not hate unto my friend,
Hath made me publisher of this pretence §.
Duke. Upon mine honour, he shall never
know

That I had any light from thee of this.
Pro. Adieu,my lord; sir Valentine is coming.
[Exit.

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Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty;
Neither regarding that she is my child,
Nor fearing me as if I were her father:
And, may I say to thee, this pride of her's,
Upon advice, hath drawn my love from her;
And, where I thought the remnant of mine age
Should have been cherish'd by her child-like
duty,

I now am full resolved to take a wife,
And turn her out to who will take her in:
Then let her beauty be her wedding-dower;
For me and my possessions she esteems not.
Vul. What would your grace have me to do
in this?

Duke. There is a lady, sir, in Milan here,'
Whom I affect; but she is nice and coy,
And nought esteems my aged eloquence:
Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor,
(For long agone I have forgot to court:
Besides, the fashion of the time is chang'd;)
How, and which way, I may bestow myself,
To be regarded in her sun-bright eye.

Val Win her with gifts, if she respect not words;

Dumb jewels often, in their silent kind, More than quick words, do move a woman's mind. [ber.

Duke. But she did scorn a present that I sent Val. A woman sometimes scorns what best contents her:

Send her another; never give her o'er;
For scorn at first makes after-love the more.
If she do frown, 'tis not in hate of you,
But rather to beget more love in you:
If she do chide, 'is not to have you gone;
For why, the fools are mad, if left alone.
Take no repulse, whatever she doth say;
For, get you gone, she doth not mean, away :
Guessed.
§ Design.

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Flatter and praise, commend,extol their graces, Though ne'er so black, say, they have angels' faces.

That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man
If with his tongue he cannot win a woman.
Duke. But she I mean, is promis'd by her
Unto a youthful gentleman of worth; [friends
And kept severely from resort of men,
That no man hath access by day to her.
Val. Why, then, I would resort to her by
night.
[kept safe,
Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys
That no man hath recourse to her by night.
Val. What lets*, but one may enter at her
window?
(ground;
Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the
And built so shelving, that one cannot climb it
Without apparent hazard of his life. (cords,
Val. Why then, a ladder, quaintly made of
To cast up with a pair of anchoring hooks,
Would serve to scale another hero's tower,
So bold Leander would adventure it.

Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood, Advise me where I may have such a ladder. Val. When would you use it? pray, sir, tell me that.

Duke.This very night! for love is like a child, That longs for every thing that he can come by. Val. By seven o'clock I'll get you such a ladder.

Duke. But, hark thee; I will go to her alone; How shall I best convey the ladder thither? Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may Under a cloak, that is of any length. [bear it Duke. A cloak as long as thine will serve Val. Ay, my good lord. [the turn? Duke. Then let me see thy cloak; I'll get me one of such another length. Val. Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my lord. [cloak? Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.What letter is this same? What's here? --To

Silvia?

And here an engine fit for my proceeding! I'll be so bold to break the seal for once. [reads.

My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly;

And slaves they are to me, that send them flying:

O, could their master come and go as lightly, Himself would lodge, where senseless they are lying. [them;

My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest While I, their king, that thither them importune,

Do curse the grace that with such grace hath bless'd them,

Because myself do want my servants' fortune:

I curse myself, for they are sent by me, That they should harbour where their lord should be.

What's here?

Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee:

'Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose.— Why, Phaeton, (for thou art Merops' son) Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car, And with thy daring folly burn the world? Wilt thou reach stars, because they shine on thee?

Go, base intruder! overweening slave!
Bestow thy fawning smiles on equal mates;
And think, my patience, more than thy desert,
Is privilege for thy departure hence:
Thank me for this, more than for all the favours,
Which, all too much, I have bestow'd on thee.
But if thou linger in my territories,

onger than swiftest expedition

Will give thee time to leave our royal court, By heaven, my wrath shall far exceed the love I ever bore my daughter, or thyself. Be gone, I will not hear thy vain excuse, But, as thou lov'st thy life, make speed from hence. (Exit DUKE.

Val. And why not death, rather than living torment?

To die, is to be banish'd from myself;
And Silvia is myself: banish'd from her,
Is self from self; a deadly banishment!
What light is light, if Silvia be not seen?
What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by?
Unless it be to think that she is by,
And feed upon the shadow of perfection.
Except I be by Silvia in the night,
There is no music in the nightingale ;
Unless I look on Silvia in the day,
There is no day for me to look upon:
She is my essence; and I leave to be,
If I be not by her fair influence
Foster'd, illumin'd, cherish'd, kept alive.
I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom:
Tarry I here, I but attend on death;
But fly I hence, I fly away from life.

Enter PROTEUS and LAUNCE.

Pre. Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out. Laun. So-ho! so ho!

Pro. What seest thou?

Laun. Him we go to find: there's not a hair on's head, but 'tis a Valentine.

Pro. Valentine?

Val. No.

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* Hinders.

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Val. O, I have fed upon this woe already, And now excess of it will make me surfeit. Doth Silvia know that I am banished?

Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath otter'd to the doom,

(Which, unrevers'd, stands in effectual force,)
A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears:
Those at her father's churlish feet she tender'd;
With them, upon her knees, her humble self;
Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so be
came them,

As if but now they waxed pale for woe:
Bat neither bended knees, pure hands held up,
Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding

tears,

Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire;
But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die.
Besides, her intercession chaf'd him so,
When she for thy repeal was suppliant,
That to close prison he commanded her,
With many bitter threats of 'biding there.
Val. No more; unless the next word that
thou speak'st

Have some malignant power upon my life:
If so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear,
As ending anthem of my endless dolour.*

Pro. Cease to lament for that thou canst not
help,

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And study help for that which thou lament'st,
Time is the nurse and breeder of all good.
Here if thou stay, thou canst not see thy love;
Besides, thy staying will abridge thy life.
Hope is a lover's staff; walk hence with that,
And manage it against despairing thoughts.
Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence;
Which, being writ to me, shall be deliver'd,
Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love.
The time now serves not to expostulate:
Come, I'll convey thee through the city gate;
And, ere I part with thee, confer at large
Of all that may concern thy love-affairs:
As thou lov'st Silvia, though not for thyself,
Regard thy danger, and along with me.
Val. I pray thee, Launce, an' if thou seest
my boy,
[north-gate.
Bid him make haste, and meet me at the
Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Va-
lentine.
Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine!
[Exeunt VALENTINE and PROTEUS.
Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I
have the wit to think, my master is a kind of
a knave: but that's all one, if he be but one
knave. He lives not now, that knows me to
be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of

* Grief.

horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who
'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but that
woman I will not tell myself; and yet 'tis a
milk-maid: yet 'tis not a maid, for she hath
had gossips: yet 'tis a maid, for she is her
master's maid, and serves for wages. She hath
more qualities than a water-spaniel,-which is
much in a bare christian. Here is the cat-log
[pulling out a paper] of her conditions. Im-
primis, She can fetch and carry. Why, a
horse can do no more; nay, a horse cannot
fetch, but only carry; therefore, is she better
than a jade. Item, She can milk; look you,
a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands.
Enter SPEED.

Speed. How now, signor Launce? what
news with your mastership?
Laun. With my master's ship? why, it is
at sea.

Speed. Well, your old vice still; mistake the word: What news then in your paper? Laun. The blackest news that ever thou heard'st.

Speed. Why, man, how black?
Laun. Why, as black as ink.
Speed. Let me read them.

Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou can'st not

read.

Speed. Thou liest, I can.

Laun. I will try thee: Tell me this: Who begot thee?

Speed. Marry, the son of my grandfather. Laun. O illiterate loiterer! it was the son of thy grandmother: this proves, that thou canst not read,

Speed. Come, fool, come: try me in thy paper.

Laun. There; and saint Nicholas + be thy
speed!

Speed. Imprimis, She can milk.
Laun. Ay, that she can.

Speed. Item, She brews good ale.

Laun. And therefore comes the proverb,-
Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale.
Speed. Item, She can sew.

Laun. That's as much as to say, Can she so?
Speed. Item, She can knit.

Laun. What need a man care for a stock with a wench, when she can knit him a stock? Speed. Item, She can wash and scour. Laun. A special virtue; for then she need not be washed and scoured.

Speed. Item, She can spin.

Laun. Then may 1 set the world on wheels, when she can spin for her living.

Speed. Item, She hath many nameless virtues.

Laun. That's as much as to say, bastard virtues; that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no names.

Speed. Here follow her vices.

Laun. Close at the heels of her virtues.

Speed. Item, She is not to be kissed fasting, in respect of her breath.

+ St. Nicholas presided over young scholars.

Laun. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast: Read on.

Speed. Item, She hath a sweet mouth. Laun. That makes amends for her sour breath.

Speed. Item, She doth talk in her sleep. Laun. It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in her talk.

Speed. Item, She is slow in words.

Laun. O villain, that set this down among her vices! To be slow in words, is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with't; and place it for her chief virtue.

Speed. Item, She is proud.

my letter: An unmannerly slave, that will
thrust himself into secrets!-I'll after, to re-
joice in the boy's correction.
[Exit.

SCENE II.

The same. A Room in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE and THURIO; PROTEUS behind.

Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not but that she will
love you,

Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight.
Thu. Since his exile she hath despis'd me

most,

Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's le- Forsworn my company, and rail'd at me, gacy, and cannot be ta'en from her.

Speed. Item, She hath no te th. Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love crusts.

Speed. Item, She is curst.

Laun. Well; the best is, she hath no teeth to bite.

Speed. Item, She will often praise her liquor.

Laun. If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will not, I will; for good things should be praised.

Speed. Item, She is too liberal*.

Laun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ down she is slow of: of her purse she shall not; for that I'll keep shut: now, of another thing she may; and that I cannot help. Well, proceed.

Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit, and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults.

Laun. Stop there; I'll have her: she was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that last article: Rehearse that once more.

Speed.Item, She hath more hair than wit,— Laun. More hair than wit, it may be; I' prove it: The cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more than the salt; the hair that covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater hides the less. What's next?

Speed. And more faults thun hairs,—
Laun. That's monstrous: O that that were

out!

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That I am desperate of obtaining her.

Duke. This weak impress of love is as a

figure

Trench'd in ice; which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,
And worthless Valentine shall be forgot.-
How now, sir Proteus? Is your countryman,
According to our proclamation, gone?
Pro. Gone, my good lord.
[ly.
Duke. My daughter takes his going grievous-
Pro. A little time, my lord, will kill that
grief.

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Duke. So I believe; but Thurio thinks not
Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee,
(For thou hast shown some sign of good desert,)
Makes me the better to confer with thee.

Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace,
Let me not live to look upon your grace.
Duke. Thou know'st how willingly I would
effect

The match between sir Thurio and my daughter.
Pro. I do, my lord.

Duke. And also, I think,thon art not ignoraut
How she opposes her against my will.
Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was
here.

Duke. Ay, and perversely she persévers so.
What might we do, to make the girl forget
The love of Valentine, and love sir Thurio?

Pro. The best way is to slander Valentine With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent; Three things that women highly hold in hate.

Duke. Ay, but she'll think that it is spoke Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it: [in hate. Therefore it must, with circumstance,be spoken By one whom she esteemeth as his friend.

Duke. Then you must undertake to slander

him.
[du:
Pro. And that, my lord, I shall be loth to
'Tis an ill office for a gentleman;
Especially against his very friend.
Duke. Where your good word cannot ad-
vantage him,

Your slander never can endamage him;
Therefore the office is indifferent,
Being entreated to it by your friend.
Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can
do it,
By aught that I can speak in his dispraise,
Cut.

↑ Graceful.

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