Val. Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman To be of worth, and worthy estimation,

And not without defert fo well reputed.

Duke. Hath he not a fon?

Val. Ay, my good lord; a fon, that well deferves The honour and regard of such a father.

Duke. You know him well?

Val. I knew him, as myself; for from our infancy
We have convers'd, and spent our hours together:
And though myself have been an idle truant,
Omitting the fweet benefit of time,

To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection;
Yet hath fir Proteus, for that's his name,
Made ufe and fair advantage of his days;
His years but young, but his experience old;
His head unmellow'd, but his judgement ripe;
And, in a word, (for far behind his worth
Come all the praises that I now bestow,)
He is complete in feature, and in mind,
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
Duke. Befhrew me, fir, but, if he make this good,
He is as worthy for an emprefs' love,

As meet to be an emperor's counsellor.
Well, fir; this gentleman is come to me,
With commendation from great potentates;
And here he means to spend his time a-while:
I think, 'tis no unwelcome news to you.

Val. Should I have wifh'd a thing, it had been he.
Duke. Welcome him then according to his worth ;
Silvia, I speak to you; and you, fir Thurio:-
For Valentine, I need not 'cite him to it:
I'll fend him hither to you prefently.

[Exit Doke.

Val. This is the gentleman, I told your ladyship,

Had come along with me, but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes lock'd in her crystal looks.

Sil. Belike, that now the hath enfranchis'd them
Upon fome other

pawn for fealty.

Val. Nay, fure, I think, fhe holds them prifoners ftill. Sil. Nay, then he should be blind; and, being blind, How could he fee his way to feek out you?

Val. Why, lady, love hath twenty pair of eyes. Thu. They say, that love hath not an eye at all. Val. To fee fuch lovers, Thurio, as yourself; Upon a homely object love can wink.

Enter PROTEUS.

Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. Val. Welcome, dear Proteus!—Mistress, I beseech you, Confirm his welcome with some special favour.

Sil. His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he you oft have wifh'd to hear from.
Val. Mistress, it is: fweet lady, entertain him
To be my fellow-fervant to your ladyship.

Sil. Too low a mittress for so bigh a servant.
Pro. Not fo, fweet lady; but too mean a servant
To have a look of fuch a worthy mistress.

Val. Leave off difcourfe of difability :

Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
Pro. My duty will I boast of, nothing else.
Sil. And duty never yet did want his meed:
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.
Pro. I'll die on him that fays fo, but yourself.
Sil. That you are welcome!

Pro.

No; that you are worthless,

Enter

Enter Servant.

Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure.

[Exit Servant.

Come, Sir Thurio,

Go with ine-Once more, new fervant, welcome :
I'll leave you to confer of home-affairs;

When you have done, we look to hear from you.
Pro. We'll both attend upon your ladyship.

[Exeunt SILVIA, THURIO, and SPEED. Val. Now, tell me, how do all from whence you came? Pro. Your friends are well, and have them much commended.

Val. And how do yours?

Pro.

I left them all in health.

Val. How does your lady? and how thrives your love? Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you;

I know, you joy not in a love-discourse.

Val. Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now:
I have done penance for contemning love;
Whofe high imperious thoughts have punifh'd me
With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,
With nightly tears, and daily heart-fore fighs;
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,
Love hath chac'd sleep from my enthralled eyes,

And made them watchers of mine own heart's forrow.

O, gentle Proteus, love's a mighty lord;

And hath fo humbled me, as, I confefs,
There is no woe to his correction,

Nor, to his fervice, no fuch joy on earth!
Now, no difcourfe, except it be of love;

Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep,
Upon the very naked name of love.

Pro.

Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye:
Was this the idol that you worship so?

Val. Even fhe; and is the not a heavenly faint?
Pro. No; but she is an earthly paragon.

Val. Call her divine.

Pro.

I will not flatter her.

Val. O, flatter me; for love delights in praises. Pro. When I was fick, you gave me bitter pills; And I must minifter the like to you.

Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, Yet let her be a principality,

Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.

Pro. Except my mistress.

Val.

Sweet, except not any;

Except thou wilt except against my love.

Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own? Val. And I will help thee to prefer her too: She fhall be dignified with this high honour,To bear my lady's train; left the base earth Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss, And, of fo great a favour growing proud, Difdain to root the fummer-fwelling flower, And make rough winter everlastingly.

Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardifm is this? Val. Pardon me, Proteus: all I can, is nothing To her, whose worth makes other worthies nothing; She is alone.

Pro. Then let her alone.

Val. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own ; And I as rich in having such a jewel,

As twenty feas, if all their fand were pearl,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me, that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou feest me dote upon my love.

My

My foolish rival, that her father likes,
Only for his poffeffions are fo huge,

Is gone with her along; and I must after,
For love, thou know'ft, is full of jealousy.
Pro. But the loves you?

Val.

Ay, and we are betroth'd;

Nay, more, our marriage hour,

With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Determin'd of: how I must climb her window;
The ladder made of cords; and all the means
Plotted; and 'greed on, for my happiness.
Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,
In thefe affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
Pro. Go on before; I shall enquire you forth :
I muft unto the road, to difembark

Some neceffaries that I needs must use;

And then I'll presently attend you.
Val. Will you make haste?

Pro. I will.

Even as one heat another heat expels,

Or as one nail by ftrength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
Is it mine eye, or Valentinus' praise,
Her true perfection, or my falfe tranfgreffion,
That makes me, reafonless, to reafon thus ?
She's fair; and fo is Julia, that I love ;—
That I did love, for now my love is thaw'd;
Which, like a waxen image 'gainst a fire,
Bears no impreffion of the thing it was.
Methinks, my zeal to Valentine is cold;
And that I love him not, as I was wont:
O! but I love his lady too, too much;
And that's the reafon I love him fo little.

[Exit VAL.

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