(SCENE II. VAL. No, madam; so it stead you, I will write, ! . SPEED. Xo believing som Please you command, a thousand times so much: you perceive her earnest ? And yet,

TAL She gave me none, except an angry word. Sn. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel;

SPEED. Why, she hath giren you a letter. And yet-I will not name it; -and yet-] care TAL. That's the letter I writ to her friend. not ;

SPEED. And that letter hath she delivered, and And yet—take this again;- and yet-I thank yoa; ! there an end. Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more.

VAL I would it were no worse. SPEED. And yet you will ; and yet-another SPEED. I'll warrant you 't is as well. yet.

Aside.

Por often have you writ to her, and she, in VAL. What means your ladyship? do you not

modesty, like it?

Or else for want of idle time, could not again Sil. Yes, yes; the lines are very quaintly writ:

reply; But since unwillingly, take them again;

Or fearing else some messenger, that might her Nay, take them.

mind discover, VAL. Madam, they are for you.

Herself hath taught her love himself, to write unto SIL. Ay, ay, you writ them, sir, at my request;

her lover.But I will none of them ; they are for you:

All this I speak in print,' for in print I found it.I would have had them writ more movingly.

Why muse you, sir? 't is dinner-time. VAL. Please you, I'll write your ladyship

VAL. I have dined. another.

SPEED. Ay, but hearken, sir; though the SIL. And when it's writ, for my sake read it

cameleon Love can feed on the air, over:

I am one

that am nourished by my victuals, and would fain And if it please you, so; if not, why, so.

have meat. O, be not like your mistress ; be VAL. If it please me, madam! what then ?

se it for your moved, be moved. SIL. Why, if it please you, take it for your

[Exeunt. labour. And so good morrow, servant. [Erit SILVIA.

SPEED. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible,
As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on SCENE II.–Verona. A Room in

a steeple !
My master sues to her; and she hath taught

Enter PROTEUS and JULIA. her suitor, He being her pupil, to become her tutor.

Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. () excellent device! was there ever heard a better,

JUL. I must, where is no remedy. That my master, being scribe, to himself should

Pro. When possibly I can, I will return. write the letter ?

JUL. If you turn not, you will return the Val. How now, sir ? what are you reasoning with yourself?

Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake. SPEED. Nay, I was rhyming ; 't is you that

[Giving a ring have the reason.

Pro. Why, then we 'll make exchange ; here, VAL. To do what?

take you this. SPEED. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia.

Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss.(3) VAL. To whom ?

Pro. Here is my hand for my true constancy; SPEED. To yourself: why, she wooes you by a And when that hour o'erslips me in the day. figure.

Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake, VAL. What figure ?

The next ensuing hour some foul mischance SPEED. By a letter, I should say.

Torment me for my love's forgetfulness ! VAL. Why, she hath not writ to me?

My father stays my coming; answer not; SPEED. What needs she, when she hath made The tide is now: nay, not thy tide of tears : you write to yourself? Why, do you not per | That tide will stay me longer than I should : ceive the jest?

[Exit Julia. VAL. No, believe me.

Julia, farewell.— What! gone without a word ?

sooner:

À Very quaintly writ:) Quaint formerly meant clover, adroit, skilful, not ag now, pleasant, odd, fanciful. *

this I speak in print.] In print, meant precisely, exactly. tothaletter. OIA Burton, in his “Anatomy of Melancholy," says

He must speak in print, walke in print, eat and drink in print. and that which is all in all, he must be mad in print."

12

e The cameleon Love can feed on the air.l "Oh Palmerin, Palmerin, how cheaply dost thou furnish out thy table of love! Canst feed upon a thought! live upon hopes ! feast upon a look! fatten upon a smile! and surfeit and die upon a kiss! What a Cameleon lover is a Platonick!"-The World in the Moon, 1691.

d If you turn not,-) If you remain constant to your love.

Ay, so true love should do: it cannot speak;

Enter PANTHINO. For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it. | Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard ; thy master

is shipped, and thou art to post after with oare. Enter PANTHINO.

What's the matter? why weep'st thou, man? Pan. Sir Proteus, you are stay'd fôr.

Away, ass; you 'll lose the tide if you tarry any PRO. Go; I come, I come:

longer. Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb.

Laun. It is no matter if the tied were lost ; [Exeunt.

for it is the unkindest tied that ever man tied.

Pan. What's the unkindest tide ?

LAUN. Why, he that's tied here; Crab, my dog.

Pan. Tut, man, I mean thou 'lt lose the flood; SCENE III.— The same. A Street.

and, in losing the flood, lose thy voyage; and, in

losing thy voyage, lose thy master; and, in losing Enter LAUNCR, leading a Dog.

thy master, lose thy service; and, in losing thy Laun. Nay, 't will be this hour ere I have done

service,- Why dost thou stop my mouth ?

LAUN. For fear thou shouldst lose thy tongue. weeping; all the kind of the Launces have this very fault: I have received my proportion, like

Pan. Where should I lose my tongue ?

LAUN. In thy tale. the prodigious son, and am going with sir Proteus

Pan. In thy tail ? to the imperial's court. I think Crab my dog be the sourest-natured dog that lives : my mother

LAUN. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the weeping, my father wailing, my sister crying, our

master, and the service, and the tied ! Why,

man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it maid howling, our cat wringing her hands, and all our house in a great perplexity, yet did not

with my tears; if the wind were down, I could this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear: he is a

| drive the boat with my sighs. stone, a very pebble-stone, and has no more pity

Pan. Come, come away, man; I was sent to in him than a dog : a Jew would have wept to

call thee.

LAUN. Sir, call me what thou darest. have seen our parting ; why, my grandam, having no eyes, look you, wept herself blind at my

Pan. Wilt thou go?

parting.

Laun. Well, I will go.

[Exeunt. 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;

SCENE IV.-Milan. A Room in the Duke's it hath the worser sole. This shoe, with the hole

Palace. in it, is my mother, and this my father. A ven

Enter VALENTINE, SILVIA, THURIo, and SPEED. geance on 't! there 't is : now, sir, this staff is my sister; for, look you, she is as white as a lily, and SIL. Servant ! as small as a wand: this hat is Nan, our maid ; Val. Mistress. I am the dog :-no, the dog is himself, and I am SPEED. Master, sir Thurio frowns on you. the dog,-0, the dog is me, and I am myself ; VAL. Ay, boy, it's for love. ay, so, so. Now come I to my father; Father, SPEED. Not of you. your blessing ; now should not the shoe speak a VAL. Of my mistress then. word for weeping ; now should I kiss my father ; SPEED. T were good you knocked him. well, he weeps on:-now come I to my mother, Sil. Servant, you are sad. (O, that shoe could speak now, like a wood VAL. Indeed, madam, I seem so. woman ;-)—well, I kiss her ;-why, there 't is ; Thu. Seem you that you are not? here 's my mother's breath up and down ;now VAL. Haply I do. come I to my sister; mark the moan she THU. So do counterfeits. makes : now the dog all this while sheds not a VAL. So do you. tear, nor speaks a word; but see how I lay the Thu. What seem I that I am not? dust with my tears.

VAL. Wise.

· Like a wood woman ;) The folio, 1623, reads_"like a would woman." Theobald suggested the reading in the text. Wood means mad, crazed, wild.

The alteration of she to shoe in the same line was proposed by Blackstone, and after "now should not the shoe speak a word for weeping," seems a legitimate correction.

Up and down ;) An expression of the time, implying exactly, as we say " for all the worl I," or "all the world over." It occurs

Thu. What instance of the contrary?

Val. I know* him, as myself ; for from our Val. Your folly.

infancy Thu. And how quote you my folly ?

We have convers’d and spent our hours together : Val. I quote it in your jerkin.

And though myself have been an idle truant, Thu. My jerkin is a doublet.

Omitting the sweet benefit of time Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection, THU. How ? .

Yet hath sir Proteus, for that's his name, Sul. What, angry, sir Thurio ? do you change | Made use and fair advantage of his days; colour?

His years but young, but his experience old; VAL. Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of His head unmellow'd, but his judgment ripe · cameleon.

And, in a word, (for far behind his worth Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your Come all the praises that I now bestow,) blood, than live in your air.

He is complete in feature and in mind, VAL. You have said, sir.

With all good grace, to grace a gentleman Thu, Ay, sir, and done too, for this time. DUKE. Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this Val. I know it well, sir; you always end ere

good, you begin.

He is as worthy for an empress' love, Sil. A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and As meet to be an emperor's counsellor. quickly shot off.

Well, sir ; this gentleman is come to me, Val. ’T is indeed, madam ; we thank the giver. With commendation from great potentates ; SIL. Who is that, servant ?

And here he means to spend his time awhile : Val. Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire: I think 't is no unwelcome news to you. Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship’s VAL. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had looks, and spends what he borrows, kindly, in

been he. your company.

DUKE. Welcome him then according to his Tou. Sir, if you spend word for word with me,

worth; I shall make your wit bankrupt.

Silvia, I speak to you : and you, sir Thurio:Val. I know it well, sir ; you have an ex For Valentine, I need not 'cite him to it: chequer of words, and, I think, no other treasure | I will send him hither to you presently. to give your followers ; for it appears, by their

[Exit DUKE. bare liveries, that they live by your bare words. Val. This is the gentleman I told your ladyship,

• No more, gentlemen, no more; here Had come along with me, but that his mistress comes my father.

Did hold his eyes lock'd in her crystal looks.

SIL. Belike, that now she hath enfranchis'd Enter DUKE.

them, DUKE. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard Upon some other pawn for fealty. beset.

VAL. Nay, sure I think she holds them Sir Valentine, your father's in good health :

prisoners still. What say you to a letter from your friends,

SIL. Nay, then he should be blind; and, being Of much good news?

blind, My lord, I will be thankful How could he see his way to seek out you? To any happy messenger from thence.

Val. Why, lady, love hath twenty pair of eyes. DUKE. Know you don Antonio, your country- || Tuu. They say that love hath not an eye at allman ?

VAL. To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself ; VAL. Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman Upon a homely object love can wink. To be of worth, and worthy estination, And not without desert so well reputed.

Enter PROTEUS. DUKE. Hath he not a son ?

Sil. Have done, have done ; here comes the Val. Ay, my good lord; a son that well de

gentleman. serves

VAL. Welcome, dear Proteus !—Mistress, I The honour and regard of such a father.

beseech you, DUKE. You know him well ?

Confirm his welcome with some special favour.

VAL.

& I quote it in your jerkin.] A quibble springing from quote and coat; the former being pronounced and often spelt cole, in the time of our author. b He is complete in feature and in mind,

With all good grace, to grace a gentleman.] Feature of old expressed both beauty of countenance and comeliness of person. Thus Spenser:-

“ Which the fair feature of her limbs did hide."

(*) First folio, knew. The punctuation I have adopted in this passage, though at variance with that of all the Editors, is fully authorized by the following one in " Henry VIII.,” Act III. Sc. 2:

"She is a gallant creature, and complete

In mind and feature."

PRO.

Sil. His worth is warrant for his welcome | And hath so humbled me, as, I confess,
hither,

There is no woe to his correction,
If this be he you oft have wish'd to hear from. Nor to his service no such joy on earth!

VAL. Mistress, it is : sweet lady, entertain him Now, no discourse, except it be of love;
To be my fellow servant to your ladyship. Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep,

Su. Too low a mistress for so high a servant. Upon the very naked name of love. PRO. Not so, sweet lady; but too mean a Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye; servant

Was this the idol that you worship so ? To have a look of such a worthy mistress.

VAL. Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint? VAL. Leave off discourse of disability:

Pro. No; but she is an earthly paragon. Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.

VAL. Call her divine. Pro. My duty will I boast of, nothing else.

I will not flatter her.
SIL. And duty never yet did want his meed; VAL. O, flatter me, for love delights in praises.
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress. Pro. When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills;

Pro. I'll die on him that says so, but yourself. And I must minister the like to you.
SIL. That you are welcome ?

VAL. Then speak the truth by her ; if not divine,
PRO.
That you are worthless. Yet let her be a principality,

Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.
Enter SERVANT.

Pro. Except my mistress.
Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak
wld speak VAL.

Sweet, except not any; with you."

Except thou wilt except against my love. Sil. I wait upon his pleasure. [Exit SERVANT. Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own?

Come, sir Thurio, VAL. And I will help thee to prefer her too : Go with me :-once more, new servant, welcome : She shall be dignified with this high honour: I 'll leave you to confer of home affairs ;

To bear my lady's train ; lest the base earth When you have done, we look to hear from you. Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss, Pro. We'll both attend upon your ladyship. And, of so great a favour growing proud,

Exeunt SILVIA, THURIO, and SPEED. | Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower, Val. Now, tell me, how do all from whence And make rough winter everlastingly. you came ?

Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? Pro. Your friends are well, and have them Val. Pardon me, Proteus: all I can is nothing much commended.

To her, whose worth makes other worthies nothing; VAL. And how do yours?

She is alone. I left them all in health. Pro. Then let her alone. VAL. How does your lady? and how thrives | Val. Not for the world: why, man, she is your love?

mine own; Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you; And I as rich in having such a jewel I know you joy not in a love-discourse.

As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,
VAL. Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now : The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
I have done penance for contemning love; Forgive me, that I do not dream on thee,
Whose high imperious thoughts have punish'd me | Because thou seest me dote upon my love.
With bitter fasts, with penitential groans, My foolish rival, that her father likes,
With nightly tears, and daily heart-sore sighs ; Only for his possessions are so huge,
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,

Is gone with her along; and I must after,
Love hath chas'd sleep from my enthralld eyes, I For love, thou know'st, is full of jealousy.
And made them watchers of mine own heart's Pro. But she loves you?
sorrow,

VAL. Ay, and we are betroth’d: Nay, more, O, gentle Proteus, Love 's a mighty lord ;

our marriage hour,

PRO.

With all the cunning manner of our flight, | house with you presently; where, for one shot of Determin'd of: how I must climb her window; fivepence, thou shalt have five thousand welcomes. The ladder made of cords; and all the means But, sirrah, how did thy master part with madam Plotted and 'greed on, for my happiness.

Julia ? Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,

Laun. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel. parted very fairly in jest.

Pro. Go on before ; I shall inquire you forth : SPEED. But shall she marry him? I must unto the road, to disembark

LAUN. No. Some necessaries that I needs must use ;

SPEED. How then ? shall he marry her ? And then I 'll presently attend you.

Laun. No, neither. VAL. Will you make haste ?

SPEED. What, are they broken? Pro. I will.

[Exit Val. Laun. No, they are both as whole as a fish. Even as one heat another heat expels,

SPEED. Why then, how stands the matter with Or as one nail by strength drives out another, them? So the remembrance of my former love

LAUN. Marry, thus; when it stands well with Is by a newer object quite forgotten.

him, it stands well with her. Is it her mien, or Valentinus' praise,

SPEED. What an ass art thou ! I understand Her true perfection, or my false transgression,

thee not. That makes me, reasonless, to reason thus ?

Laun. What a block art thou, that thou canst She is fair; and so is Julia, that I love ;

not! My staff understands me. That I did love, for now my love is thaw'd;

SPEED. What thou say'st ? Which, like a waxen image 'gainst a fire,(4)

Laun. Ay, and what I do, too : look thee, I'll Bears no impression of the thing it was.

but lean, and my staff understands me. Methinks, my zeal to Valentine is cold;

SPEED. It stands under thee, indeed. And that I love him not, as I was wont:

LAUN. Why, stand under and understand is all O! but I love his lady too-tooo much ;

one. And that's the reason I love him so little.

SPEED. But tell me true, will 't be a match ? How shall I dote on her with more advice,

LAUN. Ask my dog: if he say ay, it will; if That thus without advice begin to love her!

he say no, it will ; if he shake his tail, and say 'T is but her pictured I have yet Leheld,

nothing, it will. And that hath dazzledo my reason's light;

SPEED. The conclusion is then, that it will. But when I look on her perfections,

LAUN. Thou shalt never get such a secret from There is no reason but I shall be blind.

me but by a parable, If I can check my erring love, I will ;

SPEED. 'Tis well that I get it so. But, If not, to compass her I 'll use my skill. [Exit. Launce, how say'st thou, that my master has

become a notable lover ?

Laun. I never knew him otherwise.
SCENE V.—The same. A Street.

SPEED. Than how?
Enter SPEED and LAUNCE.

Laun. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him

to be SPEED. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to SPEED. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou misMilan.*

takest me. LAUN. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for LAUN. Why, fool, I meant not thee, I meant I am not welcome. I reckon this always—that a thy master, man is never undone till he be banged; nor never SPEED. I tell thee, my master is become a hot welcome to a place till some certain shot be paid, lover. and the hostess say, Welcome.

Laun. Why, I tell thee, I care not though he SPEED. Come on, you madcap, I 'll to the ale- burn himself in love. If thou wilt, go with me to

(*) First folio, Padua. A Unto the road,-1 Roadstead. haven. Place where vessels ride at anchor. . b Is it her mien,-) The original has

“It is mine or Valentine's praise." Steevens proposed

genuine compound Archaism, used both as an adjective and an adverb, meaning excessive or excessively."

d'Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,-] He has seen but her exterior yet, and that has dazzled his "reason's light;" when he looks upon her intellectual endowments, they will blind him quite. So in "Cymbeline," Act I. Sc. 7: