Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love; For he was more than over shoes in love. Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never swam the Hellespont. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth, With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: If lost, why then a grievous labour won; Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: And he that is so yokéd 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 Once more adieu: my father at the road Pro. But now he parted hence, to embark for Milan. Speed. Twenty to one, then, he is shipped already; And I have played the sheep, in losing him. Pro. Indeed a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be awhile away. Speed. You conclude that my master is a shepherd then, and I a sheep? Pro. I do. 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 me not: 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; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 't were best pound you. Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound, a pinfold. Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and 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. Pro. Why? Couldst thou perceive so much 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 you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones: for she's as hard as steel. to Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, │That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion, which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew my mind According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? me. Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think, best loves ye. Jul. His little speaking shews his love but small. Luc. Fire that's closest kept, burns most of all. Jul. They do not love that do not show their love. Luc. O, they love least that let men know their love. Jul. I would I knew his mind. Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee? Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus : He would have given it you, but I, being in the way, Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I pray. Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? To whisper and conspire against my youth? Now, trust me, 't is an office of great worth, And you an officer fit for the place. There, take the paper, see it be returned; Or else return no more into my sight. Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlooked the letter. It were a shame to call her back again, Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love, Luc. I cannot reach so high. Jul. Let's see your song:-How now, minion? Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out: And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune. Luc. No, madam, 't is too sharp. And mar the concord with too harsh a descant : There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. Jul. The mean is drowned with your unruly base. Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with protestation!— [Tears the letter. papers lie: Go, get you gone; and let the To be so angered with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so angered with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words? I'll kiss each several paper for amends. As in revenge of thy ingratitude, I throw thy name against the bruising stones, And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. down: Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away, bear Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock, will. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pan. "T was of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him? Pan. He wondered that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home; While other men, of slender reputation, Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: He said that Proteus, your son, was meet; Ant. Nor need'st thou much impórtune me to Whereon this month I have been hammering. Ant. I know it well. Pan. "T were good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised: And, that thou mayst perceive how well I like it, I will despatch 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, 't is a word or two Of commendation sent from Valentine, Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes How happily he lives, how well-beloved, Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish: I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time 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 ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Pro. Thus have I shunned the fire, for fear of burning; And drenched me in the sea, where I am drowned: I feared to shew my father Julia's letter, SCENE I.-Milan. A Room 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 see : ay, give it me, it's mine:- Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Val. Go to, sir; tell me, do you know Madam 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 Robin-redbreast; to walk alone, like one that hath 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 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 so, as she sits at supper? Val. Hast thou observed that? even she I mean. Speed. Why, sir, I know her not. Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know'st her not? Speed. Is she not hard-favoured, sir? Val. Not so fair, boy, as well-favoured. Speed. Sir, I know that well enough. Val. What dost thou know? Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) wellfavoured. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but her favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count. Val. How painted? and how out of count? Speed. Marry, sir, so painted to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty. Val. How esteemest thou me? I account of her beauty. |