Laun. More hair than wit,-it may be; I'll prove it: The cover of the falt hides the falt, and therefore it is more than the falt: the hair, that covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater hides the lefs. What's next? Speed. And more faults than bairs,—

Laun. That's monstrous: O, that that were out!

Speed.

-And more wealth than faults.

Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious: Well, I'll have her: And if it be a match, as nothing is impoffible,

Speed. What then?

Laun. Why, then will I tell thee,-that thy master stays for thee at the north gate.

Speed. For me?

Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath staid for a better man than thee.

Speed. And must I go to him?

Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou haft ftaid so long, that going will scarce ferve the turn.

Speed. Why didft not tell me fooner? 'pox of your loveletters! [Exit.

Laun. Now will he be fwing'd for reading my letter: An unmannerly flave, that will thruft himself into fecrets! I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

The fame. A Room in the Duke's Palace.

Enter DUKE and THURIO; PROTEUS behind.

Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that she will love you, Now Valentine is banish'd from her fight.

Thu. Since his exíle the hath despis'd me most,

Forfworn

Forfworn my company, and rail'd at me,
That I am defperate of obtaining her.

Duke. This weak imprefs of love is as a figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Diffolves to water, and doth lose his form.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,
And worthless Valentine shall be forgot.-
How now,
fir Proteus? Is your countryman,
According to our proclamation, gone?
Pro. Gone, my good lord.

Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. Pro. A little time, my lord, will kill that grief. Duke. So I believe; but Thurio thinks not so.Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee,

(For thou haft fhown fome fign of good defert,) Makes me the better to confer with thee.

Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace,
Let me not live to look upon your grace.

Duke. Thou know'ft, how willingly I would effect
The match between fir Thurio and my daughter.
Pro. I do, my lord.

Duke. And alfo, I think, thou art not ignorant
How the opposes her against my will.

Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here.
Duke. Ay, and perverfely the perfévers fo.
What might we do, to make the girl forget
The love of Valentine, and love fir Thurio?

Pro. The best way is, to flander Valentine
With falfhood, cowardice, and poor descent;
Three things that women highly hold in hate.

Duke. Ay, but she'll think, that it is spoke in hate.
Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it:

Therefore it must, with circumstance, be spoken
By one, whom the esteemeth as his friend.

Duke.

Duke. Then you must undertake to flander him. Prɔ. And that, my lord, I shall be loth to do: 'Tis an ill office for a gentleman;

Efpecially, against his very friend.

Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him, Your flander never can endamage him;

Therefore the office is indifferent,

Being entreated to it by your friend.

Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it,
By aught that I can speak in his dispraise,
She shall not long continue love to him.
But fay, this weed her love from Valentine,
It follows not that he will love fir Thurio.
Thu. Therefore as you unwind her love from him,
Left it should ravel, and be good to none,

You must provide to bottom it on me:

Which must be done, by praising me as much

As you in worth difpraise fir Valentine.

Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind ;Because we know, on Valentine's report,

You are already love's firm votary,

And cannot foon revolt and change your mind.

Upon this warrant shall you have access,
Where you with Silvia may confer at large;
For fhe is lumpish, heavy, melancholy,

And, for your friend's fake, will be glad of you;
Where you may temper her, by your persuasion,
To hate young Valentine, and love my friend,
Pro. As much as I can do, I will effect:-
But you, fir Thurio, are not sharp enough;
You must lay lime, to tangle her desires,
By wailful fonnets, whose composed rhimes
Should be full fraught with serviceable vows.

Duke. Ay, much the force of heaven-bred poefy.
Pro. Say, that upon the altar of her beauty
You facrifice your tears, your fighs, your heart:
Write, till your ink be dry; and with your tears
Moift it again; and frame fome feeling line,
That may discover fuch integrity :-

For Orpheus' lute was ftrung with poets' finews;
Whofe golden touch could foften steel and stones,
Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans

Forfake unfounded deeps to dance on fands.
After your dire-lamenting elegies,

Vifit by night your lady's chamber-window
With fome sweet concert: to their inftruments
Tune a deploring dump; the night's dead filence
Will well become fuch fweet complaining grievance.
This, or else nothing, will inherit her.

Duke. This difcipline fhows thou hast been in love.
Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put in practice:
Therefore, fweet Proteus, my direction-giver,
Let us into the city presently

To fort fome gentlemen well skill'd in musick

I have a fonnet, that will ferve the turn,

To give the onset to thy good advice.

Duke. About it, gentlemen.

Pro. We'll wait upon your grace, till after fupper;

And afterward determine our proceedings.

Duke. Even now about it; I will pardon you, [Exeunt.

ACT

ACT IV. SCENE I.

A Foreft, near Mantua.

Enter certain Out-laws.

1 Out. Fellows, stand fast; I see a passenger.

2 Out. If there be ten, fhrink not, but down with 'em.

Enter VALENTINE and SPEED.

3 Out. Stand, fir, and throw us that you have about you;

If not, we'll make you fit, and rifle you.

Speed. Sir, we are undone! these are the villains

That all the travellers do fear fo much.

Val. My friends,

1 Out. That's not fo, fir; we are your enemies. 2 Out. Peace; we'll hear him.

3 Out. Ay, by my beard, will we;

For he's a proper man.

Val. Then know, that I have little wealth to lofe; A man I am, crofs'd with adversity:

My riches are thefe poor habiliments,

Of which if you should here disfurnish me, You take the fum and fubftance that I have. 2 Out. Whither travel you?

Val. To Verona.

1 Out. Whençe came you?

Val. From Milan.

3 Out. Have you long fojourn'd there?

E 2

Val.