ANT. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised: And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it The execution of it shall make known.

Even with the speediest expedition

I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.

PAN. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso, With other gentlemen of good esteem,

Are journeying to salute the emperor,

And to commend their service to his will.

ANT. Good company; with them shall Proteus

go:

And, in good time! now will we break with him.

Enter PROTEUS

PRO. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life!
Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn.
O, that our fathers would applaud our loves,
To seal our happiness with their consents!
O heavenly Julia!

ANT. How now! what letter are

there?

you reading

PRO. May't please your lordship, 't is a word or

two

Of commendations sent from Valentine,

Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.

ANT. Lend me the letter; let me see what news.

PRO. There is no news, my lord; but that he

writes

How happily he lives, how well beloved,

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50

And daily graced by the emperor;

Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
ANT. And how stand you affected to his wish?
PRO. As one relying on your lordship's will,
And not depending on his friendly wish.

ANT. My will is something sorted with his wish.
Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;

For what I will, I will, and there an end.

I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentinus in the emperor's court:

What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
To-morrow be in readiness to go:

Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.

PRO. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided:

Please you, deliberate a day or two.

ANT. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee: No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go.

Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd

To hasten on his expedition.

[Exeunt Ant. and Pan.

PRO. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning, And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.

I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter,

Lest he should take exceptions to my love;
And with the vantage of mine own excuse
Hath he excepted most against my love.

63 will . . . wish] In this contrasted use of "will," wish," which reappears IV, ii, 88–89 infra, will signifies obstinate resolution, and wish inclination. Wish is in effect the diminutive of will.

O, how this spring of love resembleth

The uncertain glory of an April day, Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away!

Re-enter PANTHINO

PAN. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you:
He is in haste; therefore, I pray you, go.
PRO. Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto,
And yet a thousand times it answers "no." [Exeunt.

84-87] Sonnet xxxiii works

up this image with gorgeous effect.

are on.

SPEED. Why, then, this may be yours, for this is but one. VAL. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine:

Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine!

Ah, Silvia, Silvia!

SPEED. Madam Silvia! Madam

Silvia !

VAL. How now, sirrah?

SPEED. She is not within hearing, sir.

VAL. Why, sir, who bade you call her?
SPEED. Your worship, sir; or else I mistook.

VAL. Well, you'll still be too forward.

2 but one] The quibble is on the common Elizabethan pronunciation of

one as on."

Cf. L. L. L., IV, ii, 80.

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SPEED. And yet I was last chidden for being too slow. VAL. Go to, sir: tell me, do you know Madam Silvia? SPEED. She that your worship loves?

VAL. Why, how know you that I am in love?

SPEED. Marry, by these special marks: first, you have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreathe your arms, like a male-content; to relish a love-song, like a robinredbreast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy that had lost his 20 ABC; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master.

VAL. Are all these things perceived in me?

SPEED. They are all perceived without ye.
VAL. Without me? they cannot.

SPEED. Without you? nay, that 's certain, for, without you were so simple, none else would but you are so without these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in an urinal,

22 takes diet] follows a curative regimen.

23 Hallowmas] All Saints' Day, November 1, when beggars were wont to pursue their vocation with conspicuous energy. 25 the lions] i. e., the lions kept in the Tower of London.

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