Sir Valentine her company, and my court: 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 honor, 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? 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, That touch me near, wherein thou must be secret. Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, froward, Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty; Neither regarding that she is my child, And turn her out to who will take her in: Val. What would your grace have me to do in this? Duke. There is a lady, sir, in Milan, here, Whom I affect; but she is nice, and coy, And nought esteems my aged eloquence: Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor, (For long agone I have forgot to court: Besides, the fashion of the time is changed:) How, and which way, I may bestow myself, To be regarded in her sun-bright eye. 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. Send her another; never give her o'er; For scorn at first makes after-love the more. Duke But she I mean, is promised by her friends And kept severely from resort of men, That no man hath access by day to her. Val. Why then I would resort to her by night. That no man hath recourse to her by night. Val. What lets, but one may enter at her window? Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground; And built so shelving that one cannot climb it Without apparent hazard of his life. 1 Val. Why then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords, 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 every thing 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. Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a cloak?— I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.What letter is this same? What's here?-To Silvia! And here an engine fit for my proceeding? I'll be so bold to break the seal for once. [Reads. My thoughts do harbor with my Silvia nightly; Himself would lodge where senseless they are lying. My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them; While I, their king, that thither them impórtune, Do curse the grace that with such grace hath blessed them, Because myself do want my servants' fortune: I curse myself, for they are sent by me, That they should harbor where their lord should be. Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee! 'Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose.- Is privilege for thy departure hence: Thank me for this, more than for all the favors Longer than swiftest expedition Will give thee time to leave our royal court, Be gone, I will not hear thy vain excuse; But, as thou lov'st thy life, make speed from hence. Enter PROTEUS and LAUNCE. Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out. Pro. What seest thou? Laun. Him we go to find! there's not a hair on's head, but 'tis a Valentine. Pro. Valentine? Val. No. Pro. Who then? his spirit? Val. Neither. Pro. What then? Val. Nothing. Laun. Can nothing speak? master, shall I strike Pro. Whom would'st thou strike? Laun. Nothing. Pro. Villain, forbear. Laun. Why, sir, I'll strike nothing: I pray you Pro. Sirrah, I say, forbear: Friend Valentine, a word. Val. My ears are stopped, and cannot hear good news, So much of bad already hath possessed them. Pro. Then in dumb silence will I bury mine, For they are harsh, untunable, and bad. Val. Is Silvia dead? Pro. No, Valentine. Val. No Valentine, indeed, for sacred Silvia!Hath she forsworn me? Pro. No, Valentine. Val. No Valentine, if Silvia have forsworn me!— What is your news? Laun. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are vanished. And now excess of it will make me surfeit. Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offered to the doom, But neither bended knees, pure hands held up, But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die. Val. No more; unless the next word that thou speak'st, Have some malignant power upon my life: If so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear, As ending anthem of my endless dolor. Pro, Cease to lament for that thou can'st 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; |