Know, worthy prince, Sir Valentine, my friend, I know, you have determin'd to beftow her Duke. Protheus, I thank thee for thine honest care; Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd 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; •be not aimed at ;] Be not guessed. JOHNSON. For For love of you, not hate unto my friend, 2 Duke. Upon mine honour, he fhall never know That I had any light from thee of this. Pro. Adieu, my lord: Sir Valentine is coming. Enter Valentine. [Exit Pro. Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away fo faft? Val. Please it your grace, there is a meffenger That stays to bear my letters to my friends, And I am going to deliver them. Duke. Be they of much import ? Val. The tenor of them doth but fignify My health, and happy being at your court. Duke. Nay then, no matter; ftay with me a while; I am to break with thee of fome affairs, That touch me near; wherein thou must be fecret. Duke. No, truft me; fhe is peevish, fullen, froward, age -of this pretence.] Of this claim made to your daughter. K 2 JOHNSON. Then let her beauty be her wedding-dower, Duke. There is a lady, 3 Sir, in Milan, here, 4 Val. Win her with gifts, if the refpects not words; Dumb jewels often in their filent kind, More than quick words, do move a woman's mind. Duke. But he did fcorn a present that I fent her. Vel. A woman fcorns fometimes what beft contents her: Send her another; never give her o'er; For fcorn at firft makes after-love the more. 3-Sir, in Milan, here,] It ought to be thus, inftead of in Verona, here—for the fcene apparently is in Milan, as is clear from feveral paffages in the first act, and in the beginning of the firft fcene of the fourth act. A like miftake has crept into the eighth fcene of act II. where Speed bids his fellowfervant Launce welcome to Padua. POPE. 4 the fashion of the time-] The modes of courtship, the acts by which men recommended them felves to ladies. JOHNSON. Duke. But fhe I mean, is promis'd by her friends Unto a youthful gentleman of worth, And kept feverely from refort of men, That no man hath access by day to her. Val. Why then I would refort to her by night. Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept fafe, That no man hath recourfe 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 fo fhelving, that one cannot climb it Without apparent hazard of his life. Val. Why then a ladder quaintly made of cords, To caft up, with a pair of anchoring hooks, Would ferve to fcale another Hero's tower, So bold Leander would adventure it. Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood, Advise me where I may have fuch 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 feven a clock I'll get you fuch a ladder. Duke. But hark thee: I will go to her alone; How fhall I beft convey the ladder thither? Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may it Under a cloak that is of any length. bear Duke. A cloak as long as thine will ferve the turn? Val. Ay, my good lord. Duke. Then let me fee thy cloak; I'll get me one of fuch another length. I Val. Why, any cloak will ferve the turn, my lord. Duke. How fhall I fafhion me to wear a cloak? pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.What letter is this fame? what's here?-To Silvia? And here an engine fit for my proceeding? I'll be fo bold to break the feal for once. [Duke reads. My thoughts do harbour with my Sylvia nightly, Himfelf would lodge, where fenfeless they are lying: That they should barbour where their lord would be. Thank me for this, more than for all the favours, Will give thee time to leave our royal court, Be gone, I will not hear thy vain excufe, But, as thou lov'ft thy life, make speed from hence. 5 [Exit. Val. And why not death, rather than living tor ment? for they are fent by me,] For is the fame as for that, fince. JOHNSON. 6-Merops' Jon)] Thou art Phaeton in thy rafinefs, but without his pretenfions; thou art not the fon of a divinity, but a terræ filius, a low born wretch; Merops is thy true father, with whom Phaeton was falfely reproached. JOHNSON. Τα |