With Valentinus in the emperor's court;

What maintenance he from his friends receives,

Like exhibition thou fhalt have from me.

To-morrow be in readiness to go:

Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.

Pro. My lord, I cannot be fo foon provided; Please you, deliberate a day or two.

Ant. Look, what thou want'ft, fhall be fent after thee: No more of stay; to-morrow thou must

go.

Come on, Panthino; you shall be employ'd

To hasten on his expedition. [Exeunt ANT. and PANT.
Pro. Thus have I fhunn'd the fire, for fear of burning;
And drench'd me in the fea, where I am drown'd:

I fear'd to fhew my father Julia's letter,
Left he should take exceptions to my love;
And with the vantage of mine own excufe
Hath he excepted most against my love.
O, how this fpring of love resembleth

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

Re-enter PANTHINO.

Pan. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you;

He is in hafte, therefore, I pray you, go.

Pro. Why, this it is! my heart accords thereto;

And yet a thousand times it answers, no.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT II. SCENE I.

Milan. An Apartment in the Duke's Palace.

Enter VALENTINE and SPEED,

Speed. Sir, your glove.

Val. Not mine; my gloves are on.

Speed. Why then this may be yours, for this is but one. Val. Ha! let me fee: 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, firrah?

Speed. She is not within hearing, fir.
Val. Why, fir, who bade you call her?
Speed. Your worship, fir; or else I mistook.
Val. Well, you'll ftill be too forward.

Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too flow.
Val. Go to, fir; 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 learn'd, like fir Proteus, to wreath your arms like a malecontent; to relifh a love-fong, like a Robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one that had the peftilence; to figh, like a school-boy that had loft 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 laugh'd, to crow like a cock; when you

3

walk'd,

walk'd, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you look'd fadly, it was for want of money: and now you are metamorphos'd with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my mafter.

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 an 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 fo, as the fits at fupper?
Val. Haft thou observed that? even the I mean.
Speed. Why, fir, I know her not.

Val. Doft thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know'ft her not?

Speed. Is the not hard-favour'd, fir?

Val. Not fo fair, boy, as well-favour'd.
Speed. Sir, I know that well enough.

Val. What doft thou know?

Speed. That he is not fo fair, as (of you) well favoured. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquifite, but her favour infinite.

Speed. I hat's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count.

Val. How painted? and how out of count?

Speed. Marry, fir, fo 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 faw her fince fhe was deformed.

Val. How long hath she been deformed?

Speed. Ever fince you loved her.

Val. I have loved her ever fince I faw her; and still I fee her beautiful.

Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her.

Val. Why?

Speed. Becaufe love is blind. O, that you had mine eyes; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at fir Proteus for going ungartered! Val. What should I fee then?

Speed. Your own prefent folly, and her paffing deformity: for he, being in love, could not fee to garter his hofe; and you, being in love, cannot fee to put on your hofe.

Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last morning you could not fee to wipe my shoes.

Speed. True, fir; 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 conclufion, I ftand affected to her.

Speed. I would you were fet; fo, your affection would cease.

Val. Laft night the enjoin'd me to write fome lines to one fhe loves.

Speed. And have you?

Val. I have.

Speed. Are they not lamely writ?

Val. No, boy, but as well as I can do them :Peace, here fhe comes.

Enter SILVIA.

Speed. O excellent motion! O exceeding pùppet! now

will he interpret to her.

Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows. Speed. O, 'give you good even! here's a million of man[Afide.

ners.

Sil. Sir Valentine and fervant, to you two thousand. Speed. He fhould give her intereft; and she gives it him. Val. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter, Unto the secret nameless friend of yours;

Which I was much unwilling to proceed in,

But for my duty to your ladyship.

Sil. I thank you, gentle fervant: 'tis very clerkly done. Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off; For, being ignorant to whom it goes,

I writ at random, very doubtfully.

Sil. Perchance you think too much of fo much pains? Val. No, madam; so it ftead you, I will write, Please you command, a thousand times as much : And yet,

Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the fequel; And yet I will not name it :-and yet I care not ;And yet take this again;—and yet I thank you; Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more.

Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet. [Afide. Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like it? Sil. Yes, yes; the lines are very quaintly writ: But fince unwillingly, take them again;

Nay, take them.

Val. Madam, they are for you.

Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, fir, at my request; But I will none of them; they are for you :

I would have had them writ more movingly.

Val. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another.
Sil. And, when it's writ, for my fake read it over :

And, if it please you, fo; if not, why, fo.
Val. If it please me, madam! what then?