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 knowest 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, well favoured.
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.

Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed.
Val. How long hath she been deformed?

Speed. Ever since you loved her.

Val. I have loved her ever since I saw her; and still I

see her beautiful.

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

Val. Why?

50

60

Speed. Because Love is blind. O, that you had 70 mine eyes; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to have when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered!

Val. What should I see then?

Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing deformity for he, being in love, could not

see to garter his hose; and you, being in love,
cannot see to put on your hose.

Val. Belike, boy, then, you are in love; for last

morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. 80 Speed. True, sir; 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 conclusion, I stand affected to her.

Speed. I would you were set, so your affection would

cease.

Val. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she 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 she comes.

Speed. [Aside] O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet! Now will he interpret to her.

Enter Silvia.

Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows.
Speed. [Aside] O, give ye good even! here's a million

of manners.

90

Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand. Speed. [Aside] He should give her interest, and she 100 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 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? 110
Val. No, madam; so it stead 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. [Aside] And yet you will; and yet another

'yet.'

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.
Sil. And when it's writ, for my sake read it over,
And if it please you, so; if not, why, so.

120

Val. If it please me, madam, what then?

130

Sil. Why, if it please you, take it for your labour:

And so, good morrow, servant.

[Exit.

Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible,

As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a

steeple !

My master sues to her; and she hath taught her suitor,
He being her pupil, to become her tutor,

O excellent device! was there ever heard a better,
That my master, being scribe, to himself should write

the letter?

Val. How now, sir? what are you reasoning with

yourself?

Speed. Nay, I was rhyming: 'tis you that have the

reason.

Val. To do what?

Speed. To be a spokesman from Madam Silvia.

Val. To whom?

Speed. To yourself: why, she wooes you by a figure.
Val. What figure?

Speed. By a letter, I should say.

Val. Why, she hath not writ to me?

140

Speed. What need she, when she hath made you write 150 to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest ?

Val. No, believe me.

Speed. No believing you, indeed, sir. But did you
perceive her earnest ?

Val. She gave me none, except an angry word.
Speed. Why, she hath given you a letter.

Val. That's the letter I writ to her friend.

Speed. And that letter hath she delivered, and there an end.

Val. I would it were no worse.

Speed. I'll warrant you, 'tis as well:

160

For often have you writ to her, and she, in modesty,
Or else for want of idle time, could not again reply;
Or fearing else some messenger, that might her mind
discover,

Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her
lover.

All this I speak in print, for in print I found it.
Why muse you, sir? 'tis dinner-time.

Val. I have dined.

Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir; though the chameleon Love can feed on the air, I am one that am 170 nourished by my victuals, and would fain have meat. O, be not like your mistress; be moved, be moved.

[Exeunt.

Scene II.

Verona. Julia's house.

Enter Proteus and Julia.

Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia.

Jul. I must, where is no remedy.

Pro. When possibly I can, I will return.

Jul. If you turn not, you will return the sooner.

Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake.

[Giving a ring. Pro. Why, then, we'll make exchange; here, take you

this.

Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss.
Pro. Here is my hand for my true constancy;

And when that hour o'erslips me in the day
Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake,
The next ensuing hour some foul mischance
Torment me for my love's forgetfulness!
My father stays my coming; answer not;
The tide is now :-nay, not thy tide of tears;
That tide will stay me longer than I should.
Julia, farewell!

ΙΟ

[Exit Julia.