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; Jul. And why not you? I cannot reach so high. 84 Jul. Let's see your song. [Taking the letter.] How now, minion! Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing And yet methinks, I do not like this tune. Luc. Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. Here is a coil with protestation!— 96 [Tears the letter. Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! ΙΟΙ O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, 112 Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pant. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him? Pant. He wonder'd that your lordship 4 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; 8 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, 12 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. 16 Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to that 20 Whereon this month I have been hammering. 26 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, 48 SCENE I.-Milan. A Room in the DUKE'S 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, 52 Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what Palace. Val. Go to, sir. Tell me, do you know 64 Madam Silvia? Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed; 69 Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided: Please you, deliberate a day or two. 73 16 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 lovesong, like a robin-redbreast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a schoolboy 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 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? 36 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. 45 Val. But tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia? Speed. She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper? 49 Val. Hast thou observed that? even she, I Speed. [Aside.] O! give ye good even: here's a million of manners. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two 56 thousand. Speed. That she is not so fair, as, of you, wellfavoured. 60 Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed. Val. How long hath she been deformed? 72 Speed. Ever since you loved her. 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. 76 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? 81 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 116 But for my duty to your ladyship. [Gives a letter. 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 120 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 126 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. 130 Speed. [Aside.] And yet you will; and yet another yet. Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like it? 132 Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple! My master sues to her, and she hath taught her He being her pupil, to become her tutor. 148 write the letter? Val. How now, sir! what are you reasoning with yourself? Speed. Nay, I was riming: 'tis you that have the reason. Val. To do what? 152 Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the SCENE II.-Verona. A Room in JULIA's House. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake. Pro. Why, then, we'll make exchange: here, 9 Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. Speed. To be a spokesman from Madam The tide is now: nay, not thy tide of tears; Silvia. Val. To whom? 12 [Exit JULIA. What! gone without a word? 16 Ay, so true love should do: it cannot speak; For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it. Enter PANTHINO. Pant. Sir Proteus, you are stay'd for. Go; I come, I come. Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. 20 [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The Same. A Street. Enter LAUNCE, leading a dog. Launce. Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done weeping: 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 Palace. Enter VALENTINE, SILVIA, THURIO, and SPEED. Val. Mistress? Speed. Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you. Var. Of my mistress, then. 8 in him than a dog; a Jew would have wept to SCENE IV.-Milan. A Room in the DUKE's 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, 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 my. self: ay, so, so. 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. Enter PANTHINO. 36 Pant. Launce, away, away, aboard! thy master is shipped, and thou art to post after with oars. What's the matter? why weepest thou, man? Away, ass! you'll lose the tide if you tarry any longer. Launce. It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied. Pant. What's the unkindest tide? Launce. Why, he that's tied here, Crab, my dog. 41 44 Launce. For fear thou shouldst lose thy tongue. Pant. Where should I lose my tongue? 56 Pant. In thy tail! Launce. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, and the service, and the tied! Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the boat with my sighs. Pant. Come, come away, man; I was sent to call thee. Launce. Sir, call me what thou darest. Launce. Well, I will go. 64 Thu. So do counterfeits. Thu. What seem I that I am not? Thu. What instance of the contrary Thu. And how quote you my folly? Thu. My jerkin is a doublet. Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. 12 16 20 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. 32 Sil. A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off. Val. 'Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver. Sil. Who is that, servant? 36 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. 4I 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. 49 Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. [Exeunt. Sir Valentine, your fatl er's in good health: |