Enter Protheus.

Pro. Sweet love, sweet lines, sweet life! Here is her hand, the agent of her heart; Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn. O that our fathers would applaud our loves, To seal our happiness with their consents. Oh heav'nly Julia!

Ant. How now? what letter are you reading there? Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two Of commendation fent from Valentine; Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.

Ant. Lend me the letter; let me fee what news. Pro. There is no news, my lord, but that he writes) How happily he lives, how well belov'd, And daily graced by the Emperor; Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish? Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will,

And not depending on his friendly wish.

Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish :
Muse not, that I thus fuddenly proceed;
For what I will, I will; and there's an end.
I am resolv'd, that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentino in the Emp'ror's court :
What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from me:
To morrow be in readiness to go.
Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.

Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided;
Please to 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. Come on, Panthion; you shall be imploy'd

[Exe. Ant. and Pant.

Pro. Thus have I shun'd the fire, for fear of burning;

To haften on his expedition.

And drench'd me in the fea, where I am drown'd:

I fear'd to shew my father Julia's letter,

Lest he should take exceptions to my love;

And with the vantage of mine own excuse,

Hath

Hath he excepted most against my love.
Oh, how this spring of love resembleth (8)
Th' uncertain glory of an April day;
Which now shews all the beauty of the fun,
And, by and by, a cloud takes all away!

Enter Panthion.

Pant. Sir Protheus, your father calls for you;

He is in haste, therefore, I pray you, go.
Pro. Why, this it is! my heart accords thereto;

And yet a thousand times it answers, no.

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE changes to Milan.

An Apartment in the Duke's Palace.

Enter Valentine and Speed.

IR, your glove

STR

SPEED.

--

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, Sirrah?

(8) Oh, how this Spring of Love resembleth well] This Monosyllable was foisted in by Mr. Pope, to support, as he thought, the Verfification in the Close. But it was done for Want of observing ShakeSpeare's Licences in his Measures: which 'tis proper, once for all, to take notice of. Resembleth, he design'd here should in pronunciation make four Syllables; as witnesse, afterwards in this Play, and as Fidler, (in the Taming a Shrew) and angry (twice in Timon of Athens) are made Trifyllables; and as fire and hour are almost for ever protracted by him to two Syllables.

M 3

Speed.

Speed. She is not within hearing, Sir.
Val. Why, Sir, who bad you call her?
Speed. Your worship, Sir, or else I mistook.
Val. Well, you'll still be too forward.
Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too flow.
Val. Go to, Sir; 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 Sir Protheus, to wreath your arms like a male-content; to relish a love-song, like a Robinred-breast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to figh, 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 Hallowmass. You were wont, when you laugh'd, to crow like a cock; when you walk'd, to walk like one of the lions; when you fafted, it was presently after dinner; when you look'd fadly, it was for want of mony: and now you are metamorphos'd with a miftress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master.

Val. Are all these things perceiv'd in me?
Speed. They are all perceiv'd without ye.
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 fees 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 observ'd that? ev'n the I mean.

Speed. Why, Sir, 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, Sir?

Val. Not fo fair, boy, as well-favour'd.

1

Speed.

Speed. Sir, I know that well enough.

Val. What dost thou know?

Speed. That she is not so fair, as of you well favour'd. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquifite,

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 esteem'st thou me? I account of her beauty.

Speed. You never saw her fince she was deform'd.
Val. How long hath she been deform'd?

Speed. Ever since you lov'd her.

Val. I have lov'd her, ever since I saw her;

And still I see her beautiful.

Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her.
Val. Why?

Speed. Because 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 Sir Protheus for going ungarter'd!

Val. What should I see then?

Speed. Your own present folly, and her paffing deformity: For he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hofe.

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

Speed. True, Sir, I was in love with my bed; I thank you, you fwing'd me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours.

Val. In conclufion, I stand affected to her. • Speed. I would you were fet, so your affection would

ceafe.

Val. Last night she enjoin'd me to write fome lines to one she loves.

Speed. And have you?
Val. I have.

M 4

Speed.

Speed. Are they not lamely writ?

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

Enter Silvia.

Speed. Oh excellent motion! oh exceeding puppet! Now will he interpret to her.

Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good morrows. Speed. Oh! 'give ye good ev'n; here's a million of

manners.

Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand. Speed. He should give her interest; and she gives it him.

Val. As you injoin'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 servant; '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 so much pains?
Val. No, Madam, so it steed you, I will write,
Please you command, a thousand times as much.
And yet

Sil. A pretty period; well, I guess the sequel; 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 since unwillingly, take them again;
Nay, take them.

Val. Madam, they are for you.

Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, Sir, 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.