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, Val. Ay, and we are betroth'd; With all the cunning manner of our flight, Pro. Go on before; I shall inquire you forth: I must unto the road, to disembark Pro. I will. [Exit VAL. Or as one nail by strength drives out another, Even as one heat another heat expels, 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, SCENE V.-The same. A Street. Enter SPEED and LAUNCE. [Exit. Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Milan. Laun. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for I am not welcome. I reckon this always-that a man is never undone, till he be hanged; nor never welcome to a place, till some certain shot be paid, and the ho3tess say, "Welcome." Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the alehouse with you presently; where, for one shot of fivepence, thou shalt have five thousand welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy 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. I tell thee, my master 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, so; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian. Speed. Why? Laun. Because thou hast not so much charity in thee, as to go to the ale with a Christian: wilt thou go? Speed. At thy service. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-The same. An Apartment in the Palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn ; Love bade me swear, and Love bids me for wear: But there I leave to love, where I should love. If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; I to myself am dearer than a friend; I will forget that Julia is alive, Rememb'ring that my love to her is dead; I cannot now prove constant to myself, [Exit. SCENE VII.-VERONA. A Room in JULIA's House. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me! Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. 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 damm'st it up, the more it burns; The current, that with gentle murmur glides, Thou know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage; He makes sweet music with the enamell'd stones, He overtaketh in his pilgrimage, And so by many winding nooks he strays, Till the last step have brought me to my love; Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Luc. Why, then, your ladyship must cut your hair. Of greater time than I shall shew to be. Luc. What fashion, Madam, shall I make your breeches? Jul. That fits as well, as-"tell me, good my lord, "What compass will you wear your farthingale?" Why, even that fashion thou best lik'st, Lucetta. Luc. You must needs have them with a cod-plece, Madam. Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd. Luc. A round hose, Madam, now's not worth a pin, 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: But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me, For undertaking so unstaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me scandalised. Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: Warrant me welcome to my Proteus. 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 come to him! Jul. Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not that wrong, To furnish me upon my longing journey. ACT III. [Exeunt. SCENE I.-MILAN. An Ante-room in the DUKE'S Palace. Enter DUKE, THURIO, and PROTEUS. Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, a while; We have some secrets to confer about.-[Exit THURIO. Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me? Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would discover, 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, Which else no worldly good should draw from me, Know, worthy prince, Sir Valentine, my friend, I know, you have determined to bestow her A pack of sorrows, which would press you down, Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care; 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 purposed 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 shunn'd,) I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find That which thyself hast now disclosed to me. And, that thou mayst perceive my fear of this, Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested, 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 devised a mean 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 know That I had any light from thee of this. Pro. Adieu, my lord; Sir Valentine is coming. Enter VALENTINE. 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? Val. The tenor of them doth but signify My health, and happy being at your court. [Exit. Duke. Nay, then no matter; stay with me a while; I am to break with thee of some affairs, Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, froward, Upon advice, hath drawn my love from her; And, where I thought the remnant of mine age I now am full resolved to take a wife, And turn her out to who will take her in: Val. What would your grace have me to do in this? Val. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words; Dumb jewels often, in their silent kind, More than quick words, do move a woman's mind. Duke. But she did scorn a present that I sent her. Val. A woman sometimes scorns what best contents Send her another; never give her o'er: [her: 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, 'tis not to have you gone; For why, the fools are mad if left alone. Duke. But she I mean is promised by her friends Val. Why, then, I would resort to her by night. Val. Why, then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords, 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 me that. Duke. This very night; for Love is like a child, That longs for everything 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 bear it Under a cloak that is of any length. Duke. A cloak as long as thine will serve the turn? Val. Ay, my good lord. Duke. Then let me see thy cloak; I'll get me one of such another length. Val. Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my lord. I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.- [Reads. "My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly; Because myself do want my servants' fortune: That they should harbour where their lord should be." What's here? "Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee:" Wilt thou reach stars, because they shine on thee? Thank me for this, more than for all the favours, Longer than swiftest expedition Will give thee time to leave our royal court, Be gone! I will not hear thy vain excuse, 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 Siivia 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, illumined, cherish'd, kept alive. Pro. That thou art banish'd, O, that's the news; Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the doom But neither bended knees, pure hands held up, [speak'st Val. No more; unless the next word that thou Have some malignant power upon my life: If so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear, As ending anthem of my endless dolour. Pro. Cease to lament for that thou canst not help, 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 hence with that, And manage it against despairing thoughts. Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence; 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 thou 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, Bid him make haste, and meet me at the north gate Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out.-Come, Valentine. Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine! [Exeunt VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the wit to think, my master is a kind of knave: but that's all one, if he be but one knave. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but what 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 paper] of her conditions. "Imprimis, She can fetch and carry." Why, a horse can do no more; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore, is she better than a jade. "Item, She can milk;" look you, a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands. Enter SPEED. Speed. How now, signior 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. Laun. Why, as black as ink. Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou canst not read. Laun. 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 grandmother: this proves, that thou canst not read. Speed. Come, fool, come: try me in thy paper. 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 thereof comes the proverb,--Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale. Speed. "Item, She can sew." Loun. That's as much as to say, Can she so? 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. Speed. Item, She can spin." Laun. Then may I set the world on wheels, when she can spin for her living. Speed. "Item, She hath many nameless virtues." Laun. That's as much as to say, bastard virtues; that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no names. Speed. "Here follow her vices." Laun. Close at the heels of her virtues. Speed. "Item, She is not to be kissed fasting, in respect of her breath." Laun. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast: read on. Speed. "Item, She hath a sweet mouth." Laun. It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in her talk. Speed. "Item, She is slow in words." Laun. O villain, that set this down among her vices! To be slow in words is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with't; and place it for her chief virtue. Speed. "Item, She is proud." Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta'en from her. Speed. "Item, She hath no teeth." Laun. Icare not for that neither, because I love crusts. Speed. "Item, She is curst." Laun. Well; the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. Speed. "Item, She will often praise her liquor." Laun. If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will not, I will; for good things should be praised. Speed. "Item, She is too liberal." Laun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ down she is slow of: of her purse she shall not; for that I'll keep shut now, of another thing she may, and that I cannot help. Well, proceed. Speed. "Item, She hath more hair than wit, and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults." Laun. Stop there; I'll have her: she was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that last article: rehearse that once more. Speed.Item, She hath more hair than wit," Laun. More hair than wit,-it may be; I'll prove it: the cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more than the salt; the hair, that covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater hides the less. What's next? Speed. "And more faults than hairs,"Laun. That's monstrous: 0, that that were out! Speed. "And more wealth than faults." Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious: well, I'll have her: and if it be a match as nothing is impossible, Speed. What then? Laun. Why, then I will tell thee,-that thy master stays for thee at the north gate. Speed. For me? Laun. For thee: ay; who art thou? he hath stayed for a better man than thee. Speed. And must I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staye so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? 'pox of your love-letters! [Exit. Laun. Now will he be swinged for reading my letter: an unmannerly slave, that will thrust himself into secrets-I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction. [Exit. SCENE II.-The same. A Room in the DUKE's Palace. Enter DUKE and THURIO; PROTEUS behind. Thu. Since his exile she hath despised me most, Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure Pro. Gone, my good lord. Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace, Duke. Thou know'st, how willingly I would effect The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter. Pro. I do, my lord. Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. Pro. The best way is to slander Valentine Duke. Ay, but she'll think, that it is spoke in hate. Therefore it must, with circumstance, be spoken Especially, against his very friend. Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him, Your slander never can endamage him; Therefore the office is indifferent, Being entreated to it by your friend. Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it, Thu. Therefore, as you unwind her love from him, Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind; And cannot soon revolt and change your mind. Pro. As much as I can do, I will effect:- Moist it again; and frame some feeling line, For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews; Visit by night your lady's chamber-window Duke. This discipline shews thou hast been in love. To sort some gentlemen well skill'd in music: I have a sonnet, that will serve the turn, To give the onset to thy good advice. Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper: And afterward determine our proceedings. Duke. Even now about it; I will pardon you. ACT IV. SCENE I.-A Forest near MANTUA. Enter certain Outlaws. [Exeunt. Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse. I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent; But yet I slew him manfully in fight, 1 Out. Why, ne'er repent it, if it were done so: But were you banish'd for so small a fault? Val. I was, and held me glad of such a doom. 1 Out. Have you the tongues? Val. My youthful travel therein made me happy; Or else I often had been miserable. 3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar, This fellow were a king for our wild faction. 1 Out. We'll have him: Sirs, a word. Speed. Master, be one of them; It is an honourable kind of thievery. 2 Out. Tell us this: have you anything to take to? Val. Nothing, but my fortune. 3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentlemen, Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth Thrust from the company of awful men: For practising to steal away a lady, An heir, and near allied unto the duke. 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, Whom, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart. 1 Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as these. But to the purpose-(for we cite our faults, That they may hold excused our lawless lives,) And, partly, seeing you are beautified With goodly shape; and by your own report A linguist; and a man of such perfection, As we do in our quality much want; 2 Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you: Are you content to be our general? To make a virtue of necessity, And live, as we do, in this wilderness? 3 Out. What say'st thou? wilt thou be of our consort? Say ay, and be the captain of us all : We'll do thee homage, and be ruled by thee, Love thee as our commander, and our king. 1 Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. 2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd. Val. I take your offer, and will live with you; Provided that you do no outrages On silly women, or poor passengers. 3 Out. No, we detest such vile base practices. Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our crews, And shew thee all the treasure we have got; Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-MILAN. Court of the Palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, And now I must be as unjust to Thurie Under the colour of commending him, I have access my own love to prefer; But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy, To be corrupted with my worthless gifts. When I protest true loyalty to her, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; When to her beauty I commend my vows, She bids me think, how I have been forsworn In breaking faith with Julia, whom I loved: And, notwithstanding all her sudden quips. The least whereof would quell a lover's hope, Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love, The more it grows, and fawneth on her still. But here comes Thurio: now must we to her window, And give some evening music to her ear. Enter THURIO and Musicians. Thu. How now, Sir Proteus? are you crept before us? Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for you know, that love Will creep in service where it cannot go. Thu. Ay but, I hope, Sir, that you love not here. Thu. Whom? Silvia? Pro. Ay, Silvia,-for your sake. Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen, Let's tune, and to it lustily a while. Enter Host, at a distance; and JULIA in boy's clothes. Host. Now, my young guest! methinks you 're ally. cholly; I pray you, why is it? Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry. Host. Come, we'll have you merry: I'll bring you where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that you asked for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak? Jul. That will be music. Host. Hark! hark! Jul. Is he among these? Host. Ay: but peace! let's hear 'em SONG. "Who is Silvia? What is she, [Music plays. That all our swains commend her? The heavens such grace did lend her, "Is she kind, as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; That Silvia is excelling; Upon the dull earth dwelling: Host. How now? are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? the music likes you not. Host. Why, my pretty youth? Jul. He plays false, father. Host. How? out of tune on the strings? Jul. Not so; but yet so false, that he grieves my very heart-strings. Host. You have a quick car. Jul. Ay, I would I were deaf! it makes me have a slow heart, |