SCENE I. An open place in Verona.

Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS.
Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus;
Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits;
Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days
To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love,
I rather would entreat thy company,
To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Than living dully sluggardiz'd at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.
Bat, since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive
therein,

Even as I would, when I to love begin.
Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine,

adieu !

Think on thy Proteus, when thou, haply, seest
Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel:
Wish me partaker in thy happiness,
When thou dost meet good hap; and, in thy
If ever danger do environ thee, [danger,
Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,
For I will be thy bead's-man, Valentine.
Val. And on a love-book pray for my success.
Pro. Upon some book I love, I'll pray for
thee.
[love,

Val. That's on some shallow story of deep
How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont.
Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love;
For he was more than over shoes in love.
Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love,
yet you never swam the Hellespont.
Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the
boots *.

And

Val. No, I'll not, for it boots thee not.

Pro. Val.

prove.

[you:

Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not Love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters And he that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Pro. Yet writers say, As in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

Val. And writers say, As the most forward Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, [bud Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud, Losing his verdure even in the prime, And all the fair effects of future hopes. But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee, That art a votary to fond desire?

Once more adieu: my father at the road
Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd.
Pro, And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.
Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take
our leave.

At Milan let me hear from thee by letters,
Of thy success in love, and what news else
Betideth here in absence of thy friend;
And I likewise will visit thee with mine.

Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!
Val. As much to you at home! and so fare-
well!
[Exit VALENTINE.

If haply won, perhaps, a hapless gain;

thought.

Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me: therefore, I am no sheep.

Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore, thou art a sheep.

Sp.Such another proof will make me cry baa. Pro. But dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia?

Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour.

Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons.

Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.

Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound you.

Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter.

Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound, a pinfold.

Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, [your lover. 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to Pro. But what said she? did she nod? [SPEED nods.

Speed. I.

Pro. Nod, I? why, that's noddy t. Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod; and I say, I. Pro. And that set together, is-noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.

Pro. No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter.

Speed. Well, I perceive, I must be fain to bear with you.

Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, sir, the letter very orderly; having nothing but the word, noddy, for my pains.

A term for a courtezan. Give me a six-pence.

Pr. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.

Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: What said she?

Speed. Open your purse, that the money, and the matter, may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains: What said she?

Sp. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? Could'st thou perceive so much from her?

Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: And being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel.

Pro. What, said she nothing?

Speed. No, not so much as-take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; "in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master.

Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck;

Which cannot perish, having thee aboard,
Being destined to a drier death on shore:-
I must go send some better messenger;
I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same. Garden of Julia's house.

Enter JULIA and LUCETTA.

Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not un

heedfully,

Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion, which is worthiest love?

Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll

shew my mind According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?

[fine; Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and But, were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc.Well of his wealth; but of himself, so, 80. Jul.What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus! Luc. Lord, lord! to see what folly reigns in us!

Jul. How now! what means this passion at his name?

Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing That I, unworthy body as I am, [shame, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest Luc. Then thus, of many good I think [him best Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason I think him so, because I think him so.

Jul. Your reason?

me.

Jul. And wonld'st thou have me cast my
love on him?
[away.
Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast
Jul. Why he of all the rest hath never mov'd
[loves ye.
Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think, best
Jul. His little speaking shews his love but
small.
[of all.
Luc. Fire, that is closest kept burns most
Jul. They do not love, that do not shew
their love.

Luc. O, they love least, that let men know
Jul. I would, I knew his mind. [their love.
Luc.
Peruse this paper, madam.
Jul. To Julia,-Say, from whom?
Luc.

That the contents will shew.
Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee?
Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think,
from Proteus:

He would have given it you, but I being in the
way,
(I pray.
Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault,
Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!
Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines?
To whisper and conspire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place.
There, take the paper, see it be return'd;
Or else return no more into my sight.
Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee
Jul. Will you be gone? [than hate.
Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit.
Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the
letter.

It were a shame to call her back again,
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view?
Since maids, in modesty, say No, to that
Which they would have the profferer construe,
Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love, [Ay.
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly Ichid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angrily I tanght my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,
And ask remission for my folly past:-
What ho! Lucetta!

Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it conUnless it have a false interpreter. [cerns, Jul. Some love of your's hath writ to you

in rhyme.

Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune:
Give me a note: your ladyship can set.
Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible:
Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love.
Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune.
Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath some burden then.
Luc. Ay, and melodious were it, would you
Jul. And why not you?
[sing it.
Luc.
I cannot reach so high.
Jul. Let's see your song:-How now,minion?
Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing
it out:

And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune.
Jul. You do not?

Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp.
Jul. You, minion, are too saucy.
Luc. Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descantţ:
There warteth but a means to fill your song.
Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly
base.

Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble Here is a coil with protestation!— [me.

[Tears the letter. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd

To be so anger'd with another letter.

[Exit.

Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the

same

O hateful hands, to tear such loving words!
Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey,
And kill the bees, that yield it, with your stings!
I'll kiss each several paper for amends.
And here is writ-kind Julia ;-unkind Julia !
As in revenge of thy ingratitude,

I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
Look, here is writ-love-wounded Proteus:-
Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed,
Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be throughly
heal'd;

And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice, was Proteus written down?
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name; that some whirlwind
Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock, [bear
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,--
Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia;—that I'll tear away;
And yet I will not, sith** so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names:
Thus will I fold them one upon another;
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
Re-enter LUCETTA.
Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your fa-
ther stays.
M

A term in music. ** Since.

Bustle, stir.

D

SCENE III.

The same. A Room in Antonio's House.

Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that

Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?

Pan. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, yourson. Ant. Why, what of him? Pan. He wonder'd, that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home; While other men, of slender reputation +, Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: Some, to the wars, to try their fortune there; Some, to discover islands far away;, Some, to the studious universities. For any, or for all these exercises, He said, that Proteus, your son, was meet; And did request me, to impórtune you, To let him spend his time no more at home, Which would be great impeachment to his age, In having known no travel in his youth.

Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me
to that

Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have consider'd well his loss of time;
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
Not being try'd and tutor❜d in the world:
Experience is by industry achiev'd,
And perfected by the swift course of time:
Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him!
Pan. I think, your lordship is not ignorant
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the emperor in his royal court.
Ant. I know it well.

Pan. Twere good, I think, your lordship
sent him thither:

There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,
Hear sweet discourse,converse with noblemen;
And be in eye of every exercise,
Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.

Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd:
And, that thou may'st perceive how well I like
The execution of it shall make known; [it,
Even with the speediest execution
I will despatch him to the emperor's court.
Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don
Alphonso,

With other gentlemen of good esteem,

.99

* Serious.

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!

news.

Ant. How now ? what letter are you reading there? [or two Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word Of commendation sent from Valentine, Delivered by a friend that came from him. Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what [writes Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he And daily graced by the emperor; How happily he lives, how well belov❜d, Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. Aut. 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 resolv'd, 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

drown'd:

Lest he should take exceptions to my love;
I fear'd to shew my father Julia's letter,
And with the vantage of mine own excuse
Hath he excepted most against my love.
O, how this spring of love resembleth

The uncertain glory of an April day; Which now shews 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.

in Break the matter to him. Jan 12

Wonder.

o Reproach. Allowance.

[Exeunt.