Because thou seest me dote upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes,
Only for his possessions are so huge,
Is gone with her along; and I must after,
For love, thou know'st, is full of jealousy.
Pro. But she loves you?
Val.
Ay, and we are betroth'd;
Nay, more, our marriage hour,
With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Determin'd of: how I must climb her window;
The ladder made of cords; and all the means
Plotted; and 'greed on, for my happiness.
Good Protens, go with me to my chamber,
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
Pro. Go on before; I shall inquire you
I must unto the road, to disembark [forth:
Some necessaries that I needs must use;
And then I'll presently attend you.
Val. Will you make haste?
Pre. I will.-
Even as one heat another heat expels,
Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
Is it mine eye, or Valentinus' praise,
Her true perfection, or my false transgression,
That makes me, reasonless, to reason thus?
She's fair; and so is Julia, that I love;-
That I did love, for now my love is thaw'd;
Which, like a waxen image 'gainst a fire,
Bears no impression of the thing it was.
Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold;
And that I love him not, as I was wont:
O! but I love his lady too, too much;
And that's the reason I love him so little.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,
That thus without advice begin to love her?
Tis but her picture I bave yet bebeld,
And that hath dazzled my reason's light;
But when I look on her perfections,
There is no reason but I shall be blind.
If I can check my erring love, I will;
If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. [Exit.
SCENE V. The same. A street.
Enter SPEED and LAUNCE.
Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome
Speed. Why, then, how stands the matter with them?
Laun. Marry, thos; when it stands well with him, it stands well with her.
Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee not.
Laun. What a block art thou, that thou
canst not! My staff understands me.
Speed, What thou sayst?
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.
Speed. But tell me true, will't be a match? Lawn. 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 thy master is be come a notable lover?
Laun. I never knew him otherwise.
Speed. Than how t
Laun. A notable tubber, as thou reportest him to be.
Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistakest me.
Laun. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master.
Speed. I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover.
Laun. Why, I tell thee, I care not though he burn himself in love. It thou wilt go with me to the ale-house, so; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian.
Laun. Because thou hast not so much cha rity in thee, as to go to the ale with a Chris tian: Wilt thou go?
SCENE VI. The same. An Apartment
in the Paluce.
Enter PROTEUS.
Laun. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; for I am not welcome. I reckon this always-To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn; nor never welcome to a place, till some cer. And even that power which gave me first my that a man is never undone, till he be hanged; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn; tain shot be paid, and the hostess say, welcome. Provokes me to this threefold perjury. [oath, Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the Love bade me swear,andlove bids me forswear: alehouse with you presently; where, for one O sweet-suggesting † love, if thou hast sinn'd, shot of five pence, thou shalt have five thou. Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it. sand welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy At first I did adore a twinkling star, But now I worship a celestial sun. Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken; And he wants wit, that wants resolved will To learn his wit to exchangethe bad for better.Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad, Whose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferr'd With twenty thousand soul-confirming oaths Icannot leave to love, and yet I do; But there I leave to love, where I should love
master part with madam Julia?
Laun. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest.
Speed. But shall she marry him?
Laun. No.
Speed. How then? Shall be marry her?
Laun. No, neither.
Speed. What, are they broken?
Laun. No, they are both as whole as a fish.
• On farther knowledge.
Jalia 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 precio"s 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 ↑ fight;
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-
[swift,
ceeding.
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, Lacetta; 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
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. 0, 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 bot 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
[fire;
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;
carreat, that with gentle marmur glides,
a know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth
But, when his fair course is not hindered,
He makes sweet musicwith the enamel'd stones,
Civing a gentle kiss to every sedge
He overtaketh in his pilgrimage;
And so by many winding nooks he strays,
+ Intended.
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 ent
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
[my lord,
your breeches?
Jul. That fits as well, as-" tell me, good
"What compass will you wear your far-
(Lucetta.
thingale ?"
Why, even that fashion that thou best lik'st,
Luc. You must needs have them with a rod-
Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill[a pin, favour'd. 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: (n.e, But tell me, wench, how will the world repute 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.
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 iny Protens.
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.
Luc. Pray heaven he prove so, when you
Jul. Now, as thou 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 bence:
Come, answer not, but to it presently;
I am impatient of my tarriance.
SCENE 1. Milan. An Ante room in the
Duke's palace.
Eater DUKE, THURIO, and PROTEUS.
⚫ Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile;
We have some secrets to confer about.
[Erit THURIO.
Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your wil with
[discover,
Pro. My gracions 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
Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away so fast!
Val. Please it your grace there is a messenger
That stays to bear my letters to my friends,
And I am going to deliver them.
Duke. Be they of much import?
Vat. The tenor of them doth but signify
My health, and happy being at your court.
Duke. Nay, then, no matter; stay with me
a while;
I am to break with thee of some affairs,
That touch me near, wherein thou must be
[me. 'Tis not unknown to thee, that I have sought Which else no worldly good should draw from To match my friend, sir Thurio, to my daughter. Know, worthy prince, sir Valentine,my friend, Val. I know it well, my lord; and, sure, the 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 Thario, 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 yon
[tleman Were rich and honourable; besides, the genIs full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter: Cannot your grace win her to fancy him?
Being unprevented, to your timeless grave.
Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest
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 shunu'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
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
That I had any light from thee of this.
Pro. Adieu,my lord; sir Valentine is coming.
[Bait.
Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, suilen,
Prond, 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
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.
Val. 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
Damb jewels often, in their silent kind,
More than quick words, do move a woman's
mind.
[her.
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
+ Guesse
§ Design
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
[kept safe,
night.
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
[ground;
window?
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
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,
[cloak?-
my lord.
Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a
I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.-
What tetter is this same? What's here?-To
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 [them; are lying.
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.
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 privilège 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,
Longer than swiftest expedition
Will give thee time to leave our royal court,
By heaven, my wrath shali 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
(Elit 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 bát attend on death;
But ily I hence, I fly away from life.
Enter PROTEUS and LAUNCE.
Pro. 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?
Pro. Who then? his spirit?
Val. Neither.
Pro. What then?
Val. Nothing.
Laun. Can nothing speak? master, shall I
Pro. Whom would'st thou strike?
Laun. Nothing.
Pro. Villain, forbear.
Laun. Why, sir, I'll strike nothing: I pray
Pro. Sirrah, I say, forbear: Friend Valen
tine, a word.
Val. My ears are stopp'd, and cannot hear
So much of bad already hath possess'd them.
Pro. Then in dumb silence will i bury mine,
For they are harsh, untunable, and bad,
Val. Is Silvia dead?
Val. No Valentine, if Silvia have forsworn What is your news?
Laun. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are vanish'd. [news; Pro. That thou art banished, O that's the From hence, from Silvia, and from me, thy
Val No Valentine, indeed, for sacred Silvia!] horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who -Hath she fors worn me? 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but that [me!-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 puper] of her conditions. Imprimis, She can fetch and curry. Why, a horse can do no more; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore, is she better than a jade Item, She con milk; look you, a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands. Enter SPEED.
Val. O, I have fed upon this woe already, And now excess of it will make ine surfeit. Doth Silvia know that I am banished?
Pre. Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the
doom,
(Which, unrevers'd, stands in effectual force,)
A sea of melting pe it, which some call tears:
Those at her father's chilish feet she tender'd;
With them, upon her knees, her humble self;
Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so be
Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire;
But Valentine, if he be ta'en, mast die.
Besides, her intercession chaf'd lam so,
When she for thy repeal was suppliant,
That to close prison be commanded her,
With many bitter threats of 'biding there.
Val. No more; unless the next word that
thon 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.
Pre. Cease to lament for that thou canst not
help,
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.
Luun. 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 grandn.other: this proves, that thou canst not read,
Speed. Come, fool, come: try me in thy paper.
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 kence with that,
And manage it against despairing thoughts.
Thy letters may be here, though thou art bence;
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 thon 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 neet marathe
Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Va-
lentine.
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.
Spced. Item, She can spin.
when she can spin for her living
Laun. Then may I set the world on wheels,
Speed. Item, She hath many nameless virtues.
Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine!
Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I and therefore have no names.
[Exeunt VALENTINE and PROTEUS.
Laun. That's as much as to say, bastard
virtues, that; indeed, know not their fathers,
have the wit to think, my master is a kind of 2 knave: but that's all one, if he be but one knave. He lives not now, that knows me to
Speed. Here follow her vices.
Laun. Close at the heels of her virtues.
Speed. Item, She is not to be kissed fast.
be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of ing, in respect of her breath.
St. Nicholas presided over young scholars
|