Love hath chas'd sleep from my enthralled eyes, Nor, to his service, no such joy on earth! Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep, Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye: Val. Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint? Val. O, flatter me; for love delights in praises. And I must minister the like to you. Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, Yet let her be a principality, Pro. Except my mistress. Sweet, except not any; Except thou wilt except against my love. Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own? Val. And I will help thee to prefer her too: She shall be dignified with this high honour,To bear my lady's train lest the base earth Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss, And, of so great a favour growing proud, Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower, And make rough winter everlasting. Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? Val. Pardon me, Proteus all I can, is nothing To her, whose worth makes other worthies nothing; She is alone. Val. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine Pro. But she loves you? Ay, and we are betroth'd; Nay, more, our marriage hour, With all the cunning manner of our flight, Pro. Go on before; I shall inquire you forth: And then I'll presently attend you. Val. Will you make haste? not welcome. I reckon this always that a man is never undone, till he be hanged; nor never welcome to a p'ace, till some certain shot be paid, and the hostess say, welcome. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the alehouse with you presently; where for one shot of five pence thou shalt have five thousand welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy master part with madam Julia? Laun. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But shall she marry him? Speed. How then? Shall he marry her? Speed. What, are they broken? Laun. No, they are both as whole as a fish. Speed. Why then, how stands the matter with them? it stands well with her. Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee not. My staff understands me. Speed. What thou say'st? Laun. Ay, and what i do too: look thee, I'll but lean, and my staff understands me. Speed. It stands under thee, indeed. Laun. Why, stand under and understand is all one. Laun. Ask my dog: if he say, ay, it will; if he say, no, it will; if he shake his tail, and say nothing, it will. Speed. The conclusion is then, that it will. Laun. Thou shalt never get such a secret from me, but by a parable. Speed. 'Tis well that I get it so. But, Launce, how say'st thou, that my master is become a notable lover? Laun. I never knew him otherwise. SCENE VI. The same. An Apartment in the Palace. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn; [Exit Val. Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear: Even as one heat another heat expels, SCENE V. The same. A Street. Enter Speed and Launce. If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; I will forget that Julia is alive, [Exit. And Valentine I'il hold an enemy, Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Milan. Laun. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for I am Now presently I'll give her father notice SCENE VII. Verona. A Room in Julia's House. Enter Julia and Lucetta. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me! Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. Luc. Better forbear, till Proteus make return. Jul. Now as thou lov'st me, do him not that wrong, To bear a hard opinion of his truth: 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 v dispose, My goods, my lands, my reputation; Only in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence: Come, answer, not, but to it presentiy; I am impatient of my tarriance. АСТ Ш. SCENE I. [Exeunt. Milan. An Anti-Room in the Duke's Palace. Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray awhile; [Exit Thurio. Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me! Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would discover, Jul. O, know'st thou not, his looks are my soul's The law of friendship bids me to conceal: Pity the dearth that I have pined in, By longing for that food so long a time. As seek to quench the fire of love with words. [food? But, when I call to mind your gracious favours Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire; This night intends to steal away your daughter; But qualify the fire's extreme rage, Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason. Jul. The more thou dam'st it up, the more it burns; The current that with gentle murmur glides, rage; He makes sweet music with the' enamel'd stones, And so by many winding nooks he strays, And make a pastime of each weary step, Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Luc. Why then your ladyship must cut your hair. With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots: Of greater time than I shall show to be. [breeches? Luc. You must needs have them with a cod-piece, madam. Jul. Out, ont, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd. Luc. A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin, 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 me, For undertaking so unstaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me scandaliz'd. Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go not. Jul. Nay, that I will not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men. Myself am one made privy to the plot. I know, you have determin'd to bestow her Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care; Which to requite, command me while I live. (A rashness that I ever yet have shuan'd,) Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd a mean For love of you, not hate unto my friend, 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. Enter Valentine. [Exit. Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away so fast? Duke. Be they of much import? Val. The tenor of them doth but signify My health, and happy being at your court. Duke. Nay, then no matter; stay with me awhile; I am to break with thee of some affairs, That touch me near, wherein thou must be secret. "Tis not unknown to thee, that I have sought To match my friend, sir Thario, to my daughter. Val. I know it well, my lord; and, sure, the match Were rich and honourable; besides, the gentleman Is full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter: Cannot your grace win her to fancy him? Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, froward, Wilt thou reach stars because they shine on thee? Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty; 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. Go, base intruder! over-weening slave! Thank me for this, more than for all the favours, Longer than swiftest expedition Will give thee time to leave our royal court, Val. What would your grace have me to do in this? Be gone, I will not hear thy vain excuse, Whom I affect; but she is nice and coy, (For long agone I have forgot to court: Val. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words; [her. More than quick words, do move a woman's mind. Duke. But she, I mean, is promis'd by her friends That no man hath access by day to her. Val. Why then I would resort to her by night. That no man hath recourse to her by night. Val. What lets, but one may enter at her window? Val. Why then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords, Duke. Now, as thou art a gent'eman of blood, Val. When would you use it? pray, sir, tell me that. Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may bear it Under a cloak, that is is of any length. Duke. A cloak as long as thine will serve 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. [Reads. But, as thou lov'st thy lite, make speed from hence. [Exit. Val. And why not death, rather than living torment? To die, is to be banish'd from myself; Enter Proteus and Launce. Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out. Pro. What seest thou? As Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the doom Val. No more; unless the next word, that thou As ending anthem of my endless dolour. Pro. Cease to lament for that thou canst not help, And study help for that which thou lament'st. Time is the nurse and breeder of all good. Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my boy, [Exeunt Val. and Pro. Laun. I am but a fool, look you and yet I have the wit to think, my master is a kind of 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 horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but what 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. Imprimis, 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, signior 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. Laun. Why, as black as ink. Speed. Let me read them. Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou canst not read. Laun. I will try thee: tell me this: who begot thee? Laun. Ay, that she can. Speed. Item, She brews good ale. Laun. And thereof 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. Speed. Item, She is curst. Laun. Weil; the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. not, Laun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ down she is slow of: of her purse she shall not; for that l'il 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. it Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit,Laun. More hair than wit, It may be; I'll prove 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 than hairs, Laun. That's monstrous: O, that that were out! Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious: well, I'll have her and if it be a match, as nothing is impossible, Speed. What then? Laun. Why, then I will tell thee, that thy master stays for thee at the north-gate. Speed. For me? Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath staid for a better man than thee. Speed. And must I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staid so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. love-letters! Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? 'pox of your [Exit. Laun. Now will he be swinged for reading my letter: an unmannerly slave, that will thrust himself into secrets!-I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's cor rection. SCENE II. [Exit. The same. A Room in the Duke's Palace. Thu. Since his exile she hath despis'd me most, Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure Pro. Gone, my good lord. Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. Laun. Then may I set the world on wheels, when Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee, 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 kiss'd fasting, in re spect of her breath. 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. 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 ices! 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. (For thou hast shown some sign of good desert), Makes me the better to confer with thee. Pro. Louger 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. Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. Duke. Ay, and perversely she persevers so. Duke. Then you must undertake to slander him. "Tis an ill office for a gentleman; Especially against his very friend. Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage Your slander never can endamage him; Being entreated to it by your friend. [him, Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it, By aught that I can speak in his dispraise, She shall not long continue love to him. But say, this weed her love from Valentine, It follows not that she will love sir Thurio. Val. I was. 2 Out. For what offence? Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse: I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent; 1 Out. Why ne'er repent it, if it were done so: But were you banish'd for so small a fault? Val. I was, and held me glad of such a doom. 1 Out. Have you the tongues? Val. My youthful travel therein made me happy; Thu. Therefore, as you unwind her love from him, Or else I often had been miserable. Lest it should ravei, and be good to none, You must provide to bottom it on me: Which must be done, by praising me as much As you in worth dispraise sir Valentine. Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind; Because we know, on Valentine's report, Pro, As much as I can do, I will effect: For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews; Duke. This discipline shows thou hast been in love. Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver, To give the onset to thy good advice. Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper, And afterwards determine our proceedings. Duke. Even now about it; I will pardon you. ACT IV. [Exeunt. 3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar, This fellow were a king for our wild faction. 1 Out. We'll have him sirs, a word. Speed. Master, be one of them; It is an honourable kind of thievery. al. Peace, villain! 2 Out. Tell us this: have you any thing to take to? Val. Nothing, but my fortune. 3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentlemen, Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth Thrust from the company of awful men: Myself was from Verona banished, For practising to steal away a lady, An heir, and near allied unto the duke. 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, Whom, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart. 1 Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as these. But to the purpose (for we cite our faults, That they may hold exeus'd our lawless lives), And, partly, seeing you are beautified With goodly shape; and by your own report A linguist; and a man of such perfection, As we do in our quality much want; 2 Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you: Are you content to be our general? To make a virtue of necessity, And live, as we do, in this wilderness? [sort? 3 Out. What say'st thou? wilt thou be of our conSay ay, and be the captain of us all: We'll do thee homage, and be rul'd by thee, Love thee as our commander, and our king. 1 Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. 2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd. SCENE II. Milan. Court of the Polace. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, Enter Thurio, and Musicians. Thu. How now, sir Proteus, are you crept before us? Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for, you know, that love Will creep in service where it cannot go. Thu. Ay, but, I hope, sir, that you love not here. Pro. Sir, but I do; or else I would be heace. Thu. Whom? Silvia? Pro. Ay, Silvia for your sake. Thu. I thank you for your own. Let's tune, and to it lustily a while. Now, gentlemen, If crooked fortune had not thwarted me. [staid, Enter Host, at a Distance; and Julia in Boy's Clothes. Host. Now, my young guest! methinks you're allycholly; I pray you, why is it? 1 Out. What were you banish'd thence? Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry. Val. Some sixteen months; and longer might have |