And mair them watchers of mine own heart's for- There's no wue to his correction, [row. Ns, to his fervice, no fuch joy on earth! Fa. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye: We the the idol that you worthip fo Fal. Even the; and is the not a heavenly faint? Pra No; but the is an earthly paragon. 2. Call her divine.. Pra I will not flatter her. Ta. O fatter me; for love delight: in praise. P. When I was fick, you gave me bitter pills; Art 1 muft minifter the like to you, F. Then peak the truth by her; if not divine, Tela her be a principality, Sverage to all the creatures on the earth. Pal Sweet, except not any; Pr. Have I not reafon to prefer mine own? d from her velture chance to iteal a kifs, And, of fu grest a favour growing proud, Dials to root the fummer-fwelling flower, And make rough winter everlastingly. Prs Why, Valentine, what braggardifm is this? Fa. Parcon me, Protheus; all I can, is nothing Toler, whole worth makes other worthies nothing; F. Nut for the world; why, man, fhe is mine At 1s rich in having fuch a jewel, As twenty feas, if all their fand were pearl, F. Ay, and we are betroth'd; nay more, our marriage hour, the cunning manner of our flight, Sent of: how I must climb her window; zter male of cords; and all the means Ass, and greed on for my happiness. tes to aid me with thy counsel. ? Go on before; I fhall enquire you forth; tnto the road, to difembark the neotries that I needs muft ufe ; An I'll prolently attend you, F4 Will you make hafte? Pro. I will. [Exit Val, Even as one heat another heat expels, Is it mine eye, or Valentino's praise, [Exis Speed. Launce! by mine honefty, welcome to Milan. Laun. Porfwear not thyfelf, fweet youth; for I am not welcome. I reckon this always-that a man is never undone till he be hang'd; nor never welcome to a place, till fome certain fhot be paid, and the hoftefs fay, Welcome. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the lehoufe with you prefently; where, for one shot of five pence, thou fhalt have five thoufund welcomes. But, firrah, how did, thy mafter part with madam Julia? Laun. Marry, after they clos'd in earnest, they parted very fairly in jeft. Speed. But fhall she marry him? 1The firft or principal of women. 2 That is, there is none to be compar'd to her. 3 This allodes - tenures made by witches, as reprefentatives of thofe whom they defigned to torment or destroy. •Amore prudence, with more difcretion. Speed Speed. But tell me true, will 't be a match? Laun. Afk my dog; if he fay, ay, it will; if he fay, no, it will; if he thake his tail, and say nothing, it will. Speed. The conclufion is then, that it will. Laun. Thou shalt never get fuch a fecret from me, but by a parable. Speed. 'Tis well that I get it fo. But, Launce, how fay'st thou, that my master is become a notable lover? Laun. I never knew him otherwife. Laun. A notable lubber, as thou reporteft him to be. Speed. Why, thou whorfon afs, thou mistakest me. Laun. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy mafter. Speed. I tell thee, my mafter is become a hot lover. Laun. Why, I tell thee, I care not though he burn himself in love. If thou wilt go with me to the alehouse, fo; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Chriftian. Speed. Why? Laun. Because thou haft not fo much charity in thee, as to go to the alehoufe with a Chriftian: wilt thou go? Speed. At thy fervice. SCENE VI. Without fome treachery us'd to Valentine:- [Exit. SCENE VII. Luc. Alas! the way is wearifome and long. Pro. To leave my Julia, fhall I be forfworn; Love bade me fwear, and love bids me forfwear: But there I leave to love, where I fhould love. If I keep them, I needs must lofe myself; [food? Luc. Better forbear, till Protheus make return. Luc. I do not feek to quench your love's hot fire He makes sweet mufic with the enamel'd ftones, Lu. But in what habit will you go along? 1 To fuggeft is to tempt, in our author's language, 3 Pretended flight is propofed or intended flight, Luc. Why then your ladyship must cut your hair, 2 Competitor is confederate, affiftant, partner. With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots: To be fantastic, may become a youth Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: Lar. What fashion, madam, fhall I make your Warrant me welcome to my Protheus. All That fits as well, as-"tell me, good ny lord, 4 What comports will you wear your farthingale?" Wy, even that fashion thou beft lik'it, Lucetta. L. You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam Ja! Or, cut, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd. Luc. All thefe are fervants to deceitful men. ful. Now, as thou lov'ft me, do him not that wrong, Lac. If you think fo, then stay at home, and go not. To furnish me upon my longing 2 journey. Nay, that I will not. L. Then never dream on infamy, but go. Protheus like your journey, when you come, No matter who's difpleas'd, when you are gone: me, he will fçarce be pleas'd withal. All that is mine I leave at thy dispose, [Exeunt. SCENE A CT I. The duke's palace in Mutar. Erior Duke, Thurio, and Protheus. Ivé- SIR Tinurio, give us leave, I pray, a while; III. Sir Valentine her company, and my court: [Exit Thur. Which die no worldly good should draw from me. I sow, you have determin'd to bestow her by concealing it, heap on your head Da Protheus, I thank thee for thine honest care; when they have judg'd me fast asleep; And oftentimes have purpos'd to forbid Pro. Know, noble lord, thay have devis'd a mean Enter Valentine. * This interjection is ftill ufed in the North. 2 That is, wifh'd or defired journey. 34m s That is, of this claim made to your Duke D Duke. Be they of much import? Val. The tenor of them doth but fignify My health, and happy being at your court. Duke. Nay, then no matter; ftay with me a while; I am to break with thee of fome affairs, That touch me near, wherein thou must be fecret. 'Tis not unknown to thee, that I have fought To match my friend, fir Thurio, to my daughter. Val. I know it well, my lord; and, fure, the match Were rich and honourable; befides, the gentleman Is full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities Befeeming fuch a wife as your fair daughter: Cannot your grace win her to fancy him? Duke. No, truft me; fhe is peevish, fullen, froward, Proud, difobedient, ftubborn, lacking duty; Neither regarding that he is my child, Nor fearing me as if I were her father: And, may I fay 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 refolv'd 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 poffeffions, the esteems not. Val. What would your grace have me to do in this? Duke. There is a lady, fir, in Milan, here, Whom I affect; but she is nice and coy, And nought efteems my aged eloquence: Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor, (For long agone I have forgot to court; Befides, the fashion of the time is chang'd) How, and which way, I may bestow myself, To be regarded in her fun-bright eye. Val. Why, then, a ladder, quaintly made of cor To caft up, with a pair of anchoring hooks, Would ferve to fcale 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 fuch a ladder. Val. When would you use it? pray, fir, tell me th Duke. This very night; for love is like a child That longs for every thing that he can come by. Val. By leven o'clock I'll get you such a ladd Duke. But hark thee; I will go to her alone; How fhall I beft convey the ladder thither? Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may bear Under a cloak, that is of any length, Duke. A cloak as long as thine will ferve the tur Val. Ay, my good lord. Duke. Then let me fee thy cloak; I'll get me one of fuch another length. Val. Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my lor Duke. How fhall I fashion me to wear a cloak?I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.What letter is this fame? what's here?-To Siloid And here an engine fit for my proceeding! I'll be fo bold to break the feal for once. [Duke read My thoughts do barbour with my Silvia nightly; And laves they are to me, that fend them flying: Ob, could their mafter come and go as lightly, Himfelf would lodge, where fenfelefs they are lyin My herald thoughts in thy pure bofom reft them; 2 While I, their king, that thither them importune, Do curfe the grace that with fuch grace bath blefs'diher Becaufe myfelf do want my fervant's fortune; I curfe myself, for they are fent by me, That they should barbour where their lord would be What's here? Silvia, this night will I enfranchife the 'Tis fo; and here's the ladder for the purpose.Why, Phaëton, (for thou art Merops' fon) Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car, And with thy daring folly burn the world? [her; Wilt thou reach stars, because they fhine on thee? Go, bafe intruder! over-weening flave! Beftow thy fawning fmiles on equal mates; And think, my patience, more than thy defert, Is privilege for thy departure hence: Val. Win her with gifts, if the refpect not words; For fcorn at firft makes after-love the more, Dukr, But the I mean, is promis'd by her friends Val. What lets, but one may enter at her window? Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground; And built fo fhelving, that one cannot climb it Without apparent hazard of his life. Thank me for this, more than for all the favours, [Ex Val. And why not death, rather than living torment To die, is to be banish'd from myself! And Silvia is myfelf; banish'd from her, Is felf from felf; a deadly banishment! What light is light, if Silvia be not feen? What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by ? Unlefs it be, to think that the is by, And feed upon the fhadow of perfection, Extent I be by Silvia in the night, Enter Protheus and Launce. Pra Run, boy, run, run, and feek him out. Fr. What feest thou? Lam. Him we go to find: there's not an hair On's head, but 'tis a Valentine. Pra Valentine? Jal. No. Pr. Who then? his spirit? Val Neither. Pro. What then? F. Nothing. But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die. If fo, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear, Pro. Ceafe to lament for that thou can'ft not help Lee. Can nothing speak? Master, shall I ftrike? Of all that may concern thy love-affairs: L. Nothing. Pra Villain, forbear. Lt. Why, fir, I'll ftrike nothing: I pray you, Prs. Then in dumb filence will I bury mine, Pra No, Valentine. As thou lov't Silvia, though not for thyself, Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou feeft my bow, [Exeunt Valentine and Protheus. Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the wit to think, my mafter is a kind of a knave: but that's all one, if he be but one knave 3. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love: Val. No Valentine, indeed, for facred Sylvia! yet I am in love; but a team of horfe fhall not Heh the fortworn me? Pra. No, Valentine. pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but what woman, I will not tell Fal. No Valentine, if Silvia have forfworn me!-myself, and yet 'tis a milk-maid: yet 'tis not a What is your news? [vanish'd. maid, for the hath had goffips4 yet 'tis a maid, for La. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are the is her master's maid, and ferves for wages. Pra. That thou art banish'd, oh, that is the news, She hath more qualities than a water-fpanielFrom hence, from Silvia, and from me thy friend. Pal. Oh, I have fed upon this woe already, And now excels of it will make me furfeit. Doth Silvia know that I am banish'd? Pr. Ay, ay; and the hath offer'd to the doom, which is much in a bare chriftian 5. Here is the cat-log [pulling out a paper] of her conditions. Enter Speed. Speed. How now, fignior Launce what news with your maftership? Laun. With my master's fhip? why, it is at sea. Speed. Well, your old vice ftil!; mistake the word: What news then in your paper? Laun. The blackest news that ever thou heard'sta The phrafe of, to fly his doom, ufed here for by flying, or in flying, is a gallicifm. The fenfe is. Bravo.ding the execution of his fentence I fhall not efcape death. 2 Before the meaning of this refs of letters to the bofom of a mistress can be understood, it should be known that women anciently had a pocket in the fore part of their itays, in which they not only carried love-letters and love takes, but even their money and materials for needle-work. In many parts of England the coumy girls ftill obferve the fame practice, 3 One knave may fignify a knave on only one occafion, a Jale have. We ftill ufe a double villain for a villain beyond the common rate of guilt. 4 Gops not only fignify those who are fponfers for a child in baptifm, but the tattling women who attend ringsin. Bare has two fenfes ; mere and naked, Launce ufes it in both, and opposes the naked icmale to the water-spaniel cover'd with hairs of remarkable thickness. D Speed |