Luc. Pardon, dear madam:'tis a passing shame That I, unworthy body as I am,

Should censure* thus on lovely gentlemen. *Criticise. Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?

Luc. Then thus: of many good I think him best. Jul. Your reason?

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so because I think him so.

Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him?

Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.

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.

29

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

Luc. O, they love least that let men know their love.

Jul. I would I knew his mind.

Luc. Peruse this paper, madam.
Jul. 'To Julia.' Say, from whom?
Luc. That the contents will show.
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,

Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault, I pray.

40

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 *Agent.
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 than hate.

Jul. Will ye be gone?
Luc.

That you may ruminate.

[Exit.

Jul. And yet I would I had o'erlooked the letter:

50

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!

60

Luc.

Re-enter LUCETTA.

What would your ladyship?

I would it were,

Jul. Is't near dinner-time?

Luc. That you might kill your stomach* on your meat And not upon your maid.

*Passion.

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.

71

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

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

Jul. As little by such toys* as may be possible. Best sing it to the tune of 'Light o' love.'

some burden *Foolish tricks.

Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune.

Jul. Heavy! belike it hath

then?

Luc. Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.

Jul. And why not you?

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 descant:* There wanteth but a meant to fill your song.

90

Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly bass. *Variation upon a melody. †Tenor. Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble

me.

Here is a coil with protestation! [Tears the letter.
Go get you gone, and let the papers lie:
You would be fingering them, to anger me.

100

Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased

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.
Look, 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.
And 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 Í search* it with a sovereign kiss. *Heal

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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 bear
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.

Luc. Madam,

Re-enter LUCETTA.

Dinner is ready, and your father stays.

Jul. Well, let us go.

†Since.

130

Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell

tales here?

Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up. Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:

Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
Jul. I see you have a month's mind* to them.
Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights

you see;

*Strong desire.

I see things too, although you judge I wink.
Jul. Come, come; will't please you go?

140

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same.

ANTONIO'S house.

Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO.

*Serious.

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

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

ΤΟ

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

*Cause of censure.

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 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.

20

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

There shall he practise 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 dispatch him to the emperor's court.
Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don
Alphonso

With other gentlemen of good esteem

Are journeying to salute the emperor

And to commend their service to his will.

40

Ant. Good company; with them shall Pro

teus go:

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