aut is a physician to comment on your malady. Val. Hast thou observ'd that? even she I mean. Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know'st her not? Speed. Is she not hard-favour'd, sir? Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favoured. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but her favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count. Val. How painted? and how out of count? Speed. Marry, sir, so painted, to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty. Val. How esteemest thou me! I account of her beauty. Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed. Val. How long hath she been deformed? Val. I have loved her ever since I saw her, and still I see her beautiful. Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her. Speed. Because love is blind. O, that you had mine eyes; or your own had the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered! Val. What should I see then? Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing deformity: for he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hose. Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. Speed. True, sir; I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you swinged me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. Val. In conclusion, I stand affected to her. Speed. I would you were set; so, your affection would cease. Val. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves. Speed. And have you? Vat. I have. Speed. Are they not lamely writ? Val. No, boy, but as well as I can do them :Peace, here she comes. Enter Silvia. Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much pains? Val. No, madam; so it stead you, I will write, Please you command, a thousand times as muen: And yet, Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel; Val. What means your ladyship? do you not Sil. Yes, yes; the lines are very quaintly writ: Val. Madam, they are for you. Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request: Val. If it please me, madam! what then? My master sues to her; and she hath taught he. He being her pupil, to become her tutor. excellent device! was there ever heard a better? That my master, being scribe, to himself should write the letter? Val. How now, sir? what are you reasoning with yourself? Speed. Nay, I was rhyming; 'tis you that have the reason. Val. To do what? Speed. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia. Speed. To yourself: why, she wooes you by a figure. Val. What figure ? Speed. By a letter, I should say. Val. Why, she hath not writ to me. Speed. What need she, when she hath made you write to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest? Val. No, believe me. perceive her earnest? Val. She gave me none, except an angry word. there an end." Val. I would, it were no worse. For often you have writ to her; and she, in modesty, Or else for want of idle time, could not again reply, (4) There's the conclusion 32 TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. ing; now should not the shoe speak a word for Or fearing else some messenger, that might her so. Now come I to my father; Father, your bless mind discover, Herself hath taught her love himself to write weeping; now should I kiss my father; well, he unto her lover. All this I speak in print; for in print I found weeps on:-now come I to my mother, (0, that she could speak now!) like a wood woman;-well, I up and down: now come I to my sister; mark the it.-kiss her ;—why there 'tis ; here's my mother's breath moan she makes: now the dog all this while sheds Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the came-not a tear, nor speaks a word; but see how I lay leon, Love, can feed on the air, I am one that am the dust with my tears. nourished by my victuals, and would fain have meat: O, be not like your mistress; be moved, be moved. [Exeunt. Enter Panthino. Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard; thy master SCENE II.-Verona. A room in Julia's house. is shipped, and thou art to post after with oars. Enter Proteus and Julia. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. [Giving a ring. Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, take you this. Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. (Exit Julia. Pan. Sir Proteus, you are staid for. Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. [Exeunt. SCENE III-The same. A street. Enter What's the matter? why weepest thou, man? Away, Laun. Why, he that's ty'd here; Crab, my dog. Pan. Tut, man, I mean thoul't lose the flood, jand, in losing the flood, lose thy voyage; and, in losing thy voyage lose hy master; and, in losing thy master, lose thy service; and, in losing thy service,-Why dost thou stop my mouth! Launce, Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done (1) Kindred. this Laun. For fear thou should'st lose thy tongue. Pan. In thy tail? Laun. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, and the service? The tide!-why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the boat with my sighs. Pan. Come, come away, man, I was sent to call thee. Laun. Sir, call me what nou darest. Pan. Wilt thou go? Laun. Well, I will go. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.Milan. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Valentine, Silvia, Thurio, and Speed. Sil. Servant Val. Mistress? Speed. Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you. Val. Of my mistress then. Speed. 'Twere good, you knocked him. Thu. So do counterfeits. Thu. What seem I, that I am not? Thu. What instance of the contrary? Thu. And how quote you my foly? Val. Well, then, I'll doub'e your folly. Sil. What, angry, sir Thurio? do you change colour? Val. Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of cameleon. Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your blood, than live in your air. (5) Observe. Val. You have said, sir. Thu. Ay, sir, and done too, for this time. Val. I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin. Sil. A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off. Val. 'Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver. Sil. Who is that, servant? Val. Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire: Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship's ooks, and spends what he borrows, kindly in your company. Thu. Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt. Val. I know it well, sir: you have an exchequer of words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your followers; for it appears by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words. Sil. No more, gentlemen, no more; here comes my father. serves The honour and regard of such a father. Val. I knew him as myself; for from our in- We have convers'd, and spent our hours together: To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection; He is as worthy for an empress' love, Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been Duke. Welcome him then according to his Silvia, I speak to you; and you, Sir Thurio:- E Sil. Belike, that now she hath enfranchis'd them Upon some other pawn for fealty. Val. Nay, sure, I think, she holds them priso ners still. Sil. Nay, then he should be blind; and, being How could he see his way to seek out you? Enter Proteus. Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. Val. Welcome, dear Proteus!-Mistress, I be Confirm his welcome with some special favour. Sil. Too low a mistress for so high a servant. Pro. My duty will I boast of, nothing else. No; that you are worthless. Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure. [Exit Servant. [Exeunt Silvia, Thurio, and Speed. Val. Now, tell me, how do all from whence you came? Pro. Your friends are well, and have them much commended. Val. And how do yours? Pro. I left them all in health. Val. How does your lady? and how thrives your love? Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you I know, you joy not in a love-discourse. Val. Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now: Was this the idol that you worship so? Pro. I will not flatter her. Val. O, flatter me; for love delights in praises. Pro. When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills; And I must minister the like to you. Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine,! Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth. Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? Pro. Then let her alone. Val. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own; And I as rich in having such a jewel, Val. Will you make haste? Pro. I will. [Exit Val. Even as one heat another heat expels, (1) On further knowledge. 'Tis but her picture I have yet beheld, and Launce. Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome Milan. Laun. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for 1 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 hostess say, welcome. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the alehouse with you presently; where for one shot of five pence, 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. How then? shall he marry her? Speed. What, are they broken? Laun. No, they are both as whole as a fish. Speed. Why then, how stands the matter with them? Laun. Marry, thus; when it stands well with him, it stands well with her. Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee one. Speed. But tell me true, will't be a match? Laun. Ask my dog: if he say, ay, it will; if he say, no, it will; if he shake his tail, and sɛy no thing, it will. Speed. The conclusion is then, that it will. Laun. Thou shalt never get such a secret from me, but by a parable. Speed. 'Tis well that I get it so. But, Lince, how say'st thou, that my master is become a notable lover? Laun. I never knew him otherwise. Laun. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be. Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistakest SCENE VI.-The same. An apartment in the But qualify the fire's extreme rage, palace. Enter Proteus. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn; Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear: But now I worship a celestial sun. Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken; Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire; The current, that with gentle murmur glides, But, when his fair course is not hindered, He overtaketh in his pilgrimage; To learn his wit to exchange the bad for better.-And make a pastime of each weary step, Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad, But there I leave to love, where I should love. And Silvia, witness heaven, that made her fair! I will forget that Julia is alive, Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me ! Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. ; Lac. Better forbear, till Proteus make return. Pity the dearth that I have pined in, (3) Intended. Till the last step have brought me to my love, Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Jul. No, girl; I'll knit it up in silken strings, Of greater time than I shall show to be. Jul. That fits as well, as-'tell me, good m lord, What compass will you wear your farthingale ?' piece, madam. Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd. pin, Unless you have a cod-piece to stick pins on. Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'st me, let me have I fear me, it will make me scandaliz'd. Jul. Nay, that I will not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. Luc. All these are servants to deceitful mer Jul. Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not tha |