We have conversed, and spent our hours together: To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection; Duke. Beshrew me, sir, but, if he make this good He is as worthy for an empress' love, As meet to be an emperor's counsellor. Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he. Sil. Belike, that now she hath enfranchised them Upon some other pawn for fealty. Vai. Nay, sure, I think, she holds them prisoners still. Sil. Nay, then he should be blind; and, being blind, How could he see his way to seek out you? Val. Why, lady, love hath twenty pair of eyes. Thu. They say, that love hath not an eye at all. Val. To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself; Upon a homely object love can wink. Enter PROTeus. Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. Val. Welcome, dear Proteus!-Mistress, I be seech you, Confirm his welcome with some special favor. Sil. His worth is warrant for his welcome hither, If this be he you oft have wish'd to hear from. Val. Mistress, it is: sweet lady, entertain him To be my fellow-servant to your ladyship. Sil. Too low a mistress for so high a servant. Pro. Not so, sweet lady; but too mean a servant To have a look of such a worthy mistress. Val. Leave off discourse of disability : Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant. Pro. My duty will I boast of, nothing else. Sil. And duty never yet did want his meed: Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress. 1 Its reward. Pro. I'll die on him that says so, but yourself. Sil. That you are welcome? Pro. No; that you are worthless. Enter a Servant. Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. Sil. I wait upon his pleasure. [Exit Servant. Come, sir Thurio, Go with me:-Once more, new servant, welcome : I'll leave you to confer of home-affairs; When you have done, we look to hear from you. [Exeunt Silvia, Thurio, and Speed. Val. Now tell me, how do all from whence you came? Pro. Your friends are well, and have them much commended. Val. And how do yours? Pro. I left them all in health. Val. How does your lady? and how thrives your love? Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you: I know, you joy not in a love-discourse. Val. Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now : I have done penance for contemning love; Whose high imperious thoughts have punish'd me With bitter fasts, with penitential groans, With nightly tears, and daily heart-sore sighs; For, in revenge of my contempt of love, Love hath chased sleep from my enthralled eyes, And made them watchers of mine own heart's sor row. O, gentle Proteus, Love 's a mighty lord ; and sleep, Nor, to his service, no such joy on earth! your eye: Val. Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint ? Val. Call her divine. Pro. I will not flatter her. Val. O, flatter me; for love delights in praises. Pro. When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills; And I must minister the like to you. Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, Yet let her be a principality, 2 Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth. Pro. Except my mistress. Val. Sweet, except not any; Except thou wilt except against my love. Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own? No misery that can be compared to the punishment in2 The first or principal of women. flicted by love. She shall be dignified with this high honor,— 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. Pro. Then let her alone. Val. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own; And I as rich in having such a jewel, As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl, Is gone with her along; and I must after, Pro. But she loves you ? Val. Ay, and we are betrothed; nay, more, our marriage hour, With all the cunning manner of our flight, |