DUKE OF MILAN, father to Silvia.

VALENTINE,

PROTEUS,

the two Gentlemen.

ANTONIO, father to Proteus.

THURIO, a foolish rival to Valentine.

EGLAMOUR, Agent for Silvia in her escape. HOST, where Julia lodges.

OUTLAWS, with Valentine.

SPEED, a clownish servant to Valentine. LAUNCE, the like to Proteus.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Verona. An open place.

Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus: Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. Were't not affection chains thy tender days To the sweet glances of thy honor'd love, I rather would entreat thy company To see the wonders of the world abroad Than, living dully sluggardized at home, Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. But since thou lovest, 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

ΙΟ

When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger,

If ever danger do environ thee,
Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,
For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.

Val. And on a love-book pray for my success?
Pro. Upon some book I love I'll pray for thee.
Val. That's on some shallow story of deep
love:

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How young Leander crossed 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,
And yet you never swum the Hellespont.
Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the
boots.

Val. No, I will not, for it boots thee not.
Pro.
What?
Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought
with groans;

Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth

30

Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.

Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear you'il prove.

40

Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: 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 bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, 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.

50

Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave.

60

To 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.

Pro. He after honor hunts, I after love:
He leaves his friends, to dignify them more;
I leave myself, my friends and all, for love.
Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me,
Made me neglect my studies, lose my time,
War with good counsel, set the world at nought:
Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with
thought.

for Milan. [ready, Speed. Twenty to one then he is shipp'd alAnd I have play'd the sheep in losing him.

100

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 labor.

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

Speed, If the ground be overcharged, you were best to 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.

'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover.

Pro. But what said she?
Speed. [First nodding] Ay.

Pro. Nod-Ay-why, that's noddy. Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod; and you ask me if she did nod; and I say 'Ay." Pro. And that set together is noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.

122

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. Pro. 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?

14C

Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.

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 show my mind

According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Egla[fine;

mour?

Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and But were I you, he never should be mine. II Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so, so. Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus? Luc. Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us! [his name? Jul. How now! what means this passion at Luc. Pardon, dear madam, 'tis a passing shame

That I, unworthy body as I am,
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
Jul. Your reason?
[best.

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so because I think him so. Ful. And wouldst 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 moved me.

Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.

Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small.

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Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. [love. Jul. They do not love that do not show their

It were a shame to call her back again,
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a 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
'ay.'

Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently all humbled kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back,
And ask remission for my folly past.
What ho! Lucetta!

Luc.

Re-enter LUCETTA.

60

What would your ladyship? Jul. Is't near dinner-time? Luc. I would it were, That you might kill your stomach on your meat And not upon your maid.

Jul. What is't that you took up so gingerly?
Luc. Nothing,

Jul. Why didst thou stoop, then?
Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall.
Jul. And is that paper nothing?

Luc.

Nothing concerning me.

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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. [bear
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock,
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.

71

Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it conUnless it have a false interpreter.

[cerns,

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.

Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. Give me a note: your ladyship can set.

81

Ful. 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 sing it.

Luc. What, shall these papers lie like telltales here? [up. Jul. If you respect them, best to take them Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them

down:

SCENE III. The same.

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, your son.
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

IO

He said that Proteus your son was meet,
And did request me to importune 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

20

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 tried and tutor'd in the world:
Experience is by industry achieved
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 practice tilts and tournaments, 30
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 advised:

And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it
The execution of it shall make known.
Even with the speediest expedition

I will despatch him to the emperor's court.
Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don
Alphonso

40

With other gentlemen of good esteem
Are journeying to salute the emperor,
And to commend their service to his will.
Ant. Good company; with them shall Pro-
teus go:

And, in good time! now will we break with him.

Pro. There is no news, my lord, but that he writes

How happily he lives, how well beloved
And daily graced by the emperor
Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. 59
Ant. 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
Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed; [wish.
For what I will, I will, and there an end.

I am resolved 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.

70

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

No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go.
after thee:
Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd
To hasten on his expedition.

[Exeunt Ant. and Pan. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning,

And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.
I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter, 80
Lest he should take exceptions to my love;
And with the vantage of mine own excuse
Hath he excepted most against my love.
O, how this spring of love resembleth

Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
The uncertain glory of an April day,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!

this is but one.

Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine:
Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine!
Ah, Silvia, Silvia!

Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia!
Val. How now, sirrah?

Speed. She is not within hearing, sir.
Val. Why, sir, who bade you call her?
Speed. Your worship, sir; or else I mistook.
Val. Well, you'll still be too forward.
Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being

too slow.

II

Val. Go to, sir: tell me, do you know
Madam Silvia?

Speed. She that your worship loves?
Val. Why, how know you that I am in love?
Speed. Marry, by these special marks: first,