EPILOGUE.-Spoken by PROSPERO. Now my charms are all o'erthrown, And what strength I have's mine own; Which is most faint: now, 'tis true, I must be here confined by you, Or sent to Naples: Let me not, Since I have my dukedom got, And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell In this bare island, by your spell; But release me from my bands, With the help of your good hands. Applause; noise was supposed to dissolve a spell. Gentle breath of yours my sails As you from crimes would pardon'd be, Let your indulgence set me free. SCENE, sometimes in Verona; sometimes in Milan; and on the Frontiers of Mantua. SCENE I-An open Place in Verona. ACT I. 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 horor'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. But, since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein, Even as I would, when I to love begin. Pro. Wilt thou begone? 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 danger, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success. Pro. Val. What? To be In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks, With heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth, A humorous punishment at harvest-home feasts, &c. If lost, why then a grievous labor won; Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll prove. 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 its 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 farewell! [Exit VALENTINE. 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 metamorphos'd 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. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Speed. This proves me still a sheep. Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. 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. Speed. 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;2 and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labor. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons. Speed. I. [SPEED nods. Pro. Nod, I? why, that's noddy.3 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. 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? Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. 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, begone, to save your ship from wreck; Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. Garden of Julia's house. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love? Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, In thy opinion, which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll show According to my shallow simple skill. my mind Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a knight well spoken, neat and fine; But were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? That I, unworthy body as I am, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. 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. I would I knew his mind. Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!" Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: 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! Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey, hate. Jul. Will you begone? That you may ruminate. [Exit. And would not force the letter to my view? And kill the bees, that yield it, with your stings! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Which they would have the profferer construe, Ay. And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love, That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse, Luc. Nothing. What is't you took up Jul. Luc. Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in 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; Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Jul. And why not you? Luc. I cannot reach so high. Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. Jul. You, minion, are too saucy. And mar the concord with too harsh a descant; • Matchmaker. [Tears the letter. Passion or obstinacy. But twice, or thrice, was Proteus written down? I see things too, although you judge I wink. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad3 talk was that, Pant. Ant. Nor need'st thou much impórtune me to Whereon this month I have been hammering. A term in music. 2 The tenor in music. * Serious. 'A challenge. Not being try'd and tutor❜d in the world: And perfected by the swift course of time: Ant. I know it well. Pant. '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 mayst perceive how well I like it, The execution of it shall make known; Even with the speediest execution I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. With other gentlemen of good esteem, Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go; And, in good time,-now will we break with him." Enter PROTEUS. Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Ant. How now? what letter are you reading there? Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two Of commendation sent from Valentine, Deliver'd by a friend that came from him. Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes How happily he lives, how well belov'd, Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish: 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 after thee: No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go.- [Exeunt ANT. and PANT. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning; And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd: The uncertain glory of an April day; Re-enter PANTHINO. Pant. 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; Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. And yet a thousand times it answers, no. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.-Milan. An Apartment in the Duke's robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one that had Val. Ha! let me see: ay give it me, it's mine :- Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. slow. 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, you have learned, like sir Proteus, to wreath your arms like a male-content; to relish a love-song, like a Break the matter to him. the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy that had lost his A, B, C; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money; and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master. Val. Are all these things perceived in me? Speed. They are all perceived without you. Val. Without me? They cannot. Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain, for without you were so simple, none else would: but you are so without these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in a urinal; that not an eye, that sees you, but is a physician to comment on your malady. Val. But, tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia? Speed. She, that you gaze on so, as she sits at supper? Val. Hast thou observed that? even she I mean. Allowance. * Wonder. Under a regimen. 1 Allhallowmas. |