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. 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.
Speed. Than how?

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.
Enter Protheus.

Without fome treachery us'd to Valentine:-
This night, he meaneth with a corded ladder
To climb celestial Silvia's chamber -window;
Myfelf in counfel, his competitor2:
Now presently I'll give her father notice
Of their difguifing, and pretended 3 flight;
Who, all enrag'd, will banifh Valentine;
For Thurio, he intends, fhall wed his daughter:
But, Valentine being gone, I'll quickly cross
By fome fly trick, blunt Thurio's dull proceeding-
Love, lend me wings to make my purpose swift,
As thou haft lent me wit to plot this drift!

[Exit.

SCENE VII.
Julia's boufe in Verona.
Enter Julia and Lucetta.
Jul. Counfel, Lucetta; gentle girl, affist me!
And, even in kind love, I do conjure thee,-
Who art the table wherein all my thoughts
Are vifibly character'd and engray'd,-
To letion me; and tell me fome good mean,
How, with my honour, I may undertake
A journey to my loving Protheus.

Luc. Alas! the way is wearifome and long.
ful. A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary
To meafure kingdoms with his feeble steps;
[Exeunt. Much lefs fhall the, that hath love's wings to fly
And when the flight is made to one fo dear,
Of fuch divine perfection, as fir Protheus,

Pro. To leave my Julia, fhall I be forfworn;
To love fair Silvia, fhall I be forfworn;
To wrong my friend, I fhall be much forfworn;
And even that power which gave me first my oath,
Provokes me to this threefold perjury.

Love bade me fwear, and love bids me forfwear:
1O fweet-fuggefting love, if thou hast finn'd,
Teach me, thy tempted fubject, to excufe it!
At first I did adore a twinkling ftar,
But now I worship a celeftial fun.
Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken;
And he wants wit, that wants refolved will
To learn his wit to exchange the bad for better.—
Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad,
Whole fovereignty fo oft thou haft preferr'd
With twenty thousand foul-confirming oaths,
I cannot leave to love, and yet I do;

But there I leave to love, where I fhould love.
Julia I lofe, and Valentine I lofe:

If I keep them, I needs must lofe myself;
If I lose them, this find I by their lofs,
For Valentine, myfelf; for Julia, Silvia.
I to myself am dearer than a friend;
For love is ftill more precious in itself;
And Silvia, witnefs heaven, that made her fair!
Shews Julia but a swarthy Ethiope.
I will forget that Julia is alive,
Remembring that my love to her is dead;
And Valentine I'll hold an enemy,
Aiming at Silvia as a fweeter friend.
I cannot now prove conftant to myself,

[food?

Luc. Better forbear, till Protheus make return.
fui. Oh, know'st thou not, his looks are my foul's
Pity the dearth that I have pined in,
By longing for that food fo long a time.
'Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou would'ft as foon go kindle fire with fnow,
As feek to quench the fire of love with words.

Luc. I do not feek to quench your love's hot fire
But qualify the fire's extreme rage,
Left it fhould burn above the bounds of reafon.[burns;
ful. The more thou damm'ft it up, the more it
The current, that with gentle murmur glides,
Thou know'ft, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage;
But, when his fair courfe is not hindered,

He makes sweet mufic with the enamel'd ftones,
Giving a gentle kifs to every fedge
He overtaketh in his pilgrimage;
And fo by many winding nooks he ftrays,
With willing port, to the wild ocean.
Then let me go, and hinder not my course;
I'll be as patient as a gentle ftream,
And make a paftime of each weary step,
Till the laft ftep have brought me to my love;
And there I'll reft, as, after much turmoil,
A bleffed foul doth in Elyfium.

Lu. But in what habit will you go along?
Jul. Not like a woman; for I would prevent
The loofe encounters of lafcivious men;
Gentle Lucetta, fit me with fuch weeds
As may befeem fome well-reputed page.

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,
Jul. No, girl: I'll knit it up in filken ftrings,

2 Competitor is confederate, affiftant, partner.

With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots:

To be fantastic, may become a youth
Of greater time than I shall fhew to be.

Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear:
A thoufand oaths, an ocean of his tears,
And inftances as infinite of love,

Lar. What fashion, madam, fhall I make your Warrant me welcome to my Protheus.
breeches ?

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.
L. A round hofe, madam, now 's not worth`a
Call you have a cod-piece to stick pins on. [pin,|
Ja. Lucetta, as thou lov'it me, let me have
Whatou think it meet, and is moft mannerly:
Bet tell me, wench, how will the world repute me,
Frwalertaking fo ur.ftaid a journey?
Ifer me, it will make me fcandaliz`d.

Luc. All thefe are fervants to deceitful men.
Jul. Bafe men, that use them to fo base effect!
But truer ftars did govern Protheus' birth:
His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles;
His love fincere, his thoughts immaculate;
His tears, pure meffengers fent from his heart;
His heart as far from fraud, as heaven from earth.
Luc. Pray heaven, he prove fo, when you come
to him!

ful. Now, as thou lov'ft me, do him not that wrong,
To bear a hard opinion of his truth:
Only deferve my love, by loving him;
And presently go with me to my el amber,
To take a note of what I stand in need of,

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,
My goods, my lands, my reputation;
Only, in lieu thereof, difpatch me hence.
Come, anfwer not, but to it presently;
I am impatient of my tarriance,

[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:
But, fearing left my jealous aim 3 might err,
And fo, unworthily, difgrace the man,
(A rathness that I ever yet have fhunn'd)
We have fome fecrets to confer about.I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find
That which thyself haft now disclos'd to me.
And, that thou may'it perceive my fear of this,
Knowing that tender youth is foon faggested,
1 nightly lodge her in an upper tower,
The key whereof myself have ever kept;
And thence the cannot be convey'd away.

[Exit Thur.
Now, tell me, Protheus, what's your will with me.
Frs. My gracious lord, that which I would difcover,
The law of friendship bids me to conceal;
B2, when I call to mind your gracious favours
Dune to me, undeferving as I am,
My day pricks me on to utter that

Which die no worldly good should draw from me.
Kow, worthy prince, fir Valentine, my friend,
The night intends to iteal away your daughter;
Myief am one made privy to the plot.

I sow, you have determin'd to bestow her
Or Thurin, whom your gentle daughter hates;
And thould the thus be ftolen away from you,
hd be much vexation to your age.
The for my duty's fake, I rather chofe
To crois my friend in his intended drift,

by concealing it, heap on your head
Anck of forrows, which would prefs you down,
Seng unprevented, to your timeless grave.

Da Protheus, I thank thee for thine honest care;
Which to requite, command me while I live,
The love of theirs myfelf have often seen,

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
How he her chamber-window will afcend,
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 fo cunningly,
That my difcovery be not aimed at 4;
For love of you, not hate unto my friend,
Hath made me publifher of this pretence 5.
Duke. Upon mine honour, he shall never know
That I had any light from thee of this.
Pro, Adieu, my lord; fir Valentine is coming.
[Exit Pre.

Enter Valentine.
Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away so fast?
Val. Please it your grace, there is a meffenger
That stays to bear my letters to my friends,
And I am going to deliver them,

* This interjection is ftill ufed in the North.
ar, in this inflamee. That is, be not gueffed.
ger. Pretence implies defign.

2 That is, wifh'd or defired journey. 34m s That is, of this claim made to your Duke

D

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:

Extent I be by Silvia in the night,
There is no mufick in the nightingale;
Unies I look on Silvia in the day,
There is no day for me to look upon;
She is my effence; and I leave to be,
If I be not by her fair influence
Forter'd, illumin'd, cherish'd, kept alive.
If not death, to fly his deadly doom 1:
Tarry I here, I but attend on death;
But By I hence, 1 fly away from life.

Enter Protheus and Launce.

Pra Run, boy, run, run, and feek him out.
La So-ho! fo-ho!

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.
Befides, her interceflion chaf'd him fo,
When the for thy repeal was fuppliant,
That to clofe prifon he commanded her,
With many bitter threats of 'biding there. [fpeak'ft,
Val. No more; unless the next word that thou
Have fome malignant power upon my life:

If fo, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear,
As ending anthem of my endless dolour.

Pro. Ceafe to lament for that thou can'ft not help
And study help for that which thou lamentʼit.
Time is the nurfe and breeder of all good.
Here if thou ftay, thou can'ft not fee thy love;
Befides, thy ftaying 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, fhall be deliver'd
Even in the milk-white bosom 2 of thy love.
The time now ferves not to expoftulate :
Come, I'll convey thee through the city-gate;
And, ere I part with thee, confer at large

Lee. Can nothing speak? Master, shall I ftrike? Of all that may concern thy love-affairs:
Pr. Whom would't thou strike?

L. Nothing.

Pra Villain, forbear.

Lt. Why, fir, I'll ftrike nothing: I pray you,
Fr Sirrah, I fay, forbear. Friend Valentine,a word.
Fal. My ears are topp'd,and cannot hear good news,
So much of bad already hath poffefs'd them.

Prs. Then in dumb filence will I bury mine,
For they are harth, untuneable, and bad,
Fat Is Silvia dead?

Pra No, Valentine.

As thou lov't Silvia, though not for thyself,
Regard thy danger, and along with me.

Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou feeft my bow,
Bid him make hafte, and meet me at the north-gate.
Pro. Go, firrah, find him out. Come, Valentine.
Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine!

[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,
(Wach unrevers'd, ftands in effectual force)
A fea of melting pearl, which fome call tears;
The at her father's churlish feet the tender'd;
With them, upon her knees, her humble felf;
Winging her hands, whofe whitenefs fo became
As if but now they waxed pale for woe: [them,
But neither Bended knees, pure hands held up,
Sa fats, deep groans, nor filver-fhedding tears,
Could penetrate her uncompaffionate fire;

which is much in a bare chriftian 5. Here is the

cat-log [pulling out a paper] of her conditions.
Imprimis, She can fetch and carry. Why, a horfe
can do no more; nay, a horfe cannot fetch, but
'only carry; therefore, is she better than a jade.→→→→
Item, She can milk, look you; a fweet virtue in a
maid with clean hands.

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