Sil. Sir Valentine, and feruant, to you two thousand. Speed. He fhould giue her interest: & fhe giues it him. Val. As you inioynd me; I haue writ your Letter Vnto the fecret, nameles friend of yours: Which I was much vnwilling to proceed in, But for my duty to your Ladiship.

(done.

Sil. I thanke you (gentle Seruant) 'tis very ClerklyVal. Now truft me (Madam) it came hardly-off:

For being ignorant to whom it goes,

I writ at randome, very doubtfully.

Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much pains? Val. No (Madam) fo it fteed you, I will write (Please you command) a thousand times as much : And yet

Sil. A pretty period: well: I gheffe the fequell;
And yet I will not name it: and yet I care not.
And yet, take this againe: and yet I thanke you:
Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more.

Speed. And yet you will: and yet, another yet.
Val. What meanes your Ladiship?

Doe you not like it?

Sil. Yes, yes the lines are very queintly writ,
But (fince vnwillingly) take them againe.
Nay, take them.

Val. Madam, they are for you.

Silu. I, I you writ them Sir, at my request,
But I will none of them: they are for you:

I would haue had them writ more mouingly:
Val. Please you, Ile write your Ladiship another.
Sil. And when it's writ: for my fake read it ouer,

And if it please you, fo: if not: why so:

Val. If it please me, (Madam?) what then? Sil. Why if it please you, take it for your labour; And fo good-morrow Seruant.

Exit. Sil.

Speed. Oh left vnfeene: infcrutible: inuifible, As a nofe on a mans face, or a Wethercocke on a steeple: My Mafter fues to her: and the hath taught her Sutor,

He being her Pupill, to become her Tutor.

Oh excellent deuife, was there euer heard a better?

That my mafter being scribe,

To himfelfe fhould write the Letter?

Val. How now Sir?

What are you reasoning with your felfe?

Speed. Nay: I was riming: 'tis you y haue the reason.

Val. To doe what?

Val. Why the hath not writ to me?
Speed. What need the,

When thee hath made you write to your felfe?
Why, doe you not perceiue the ieft?

Val. No, beleeue me.

Speed. No beleeuing you indeed fir:

But did you perceiue her earnest?

Val. She gaue me none, except an angry word.

Speed. Why the hath giuen you a Letter.

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

Speed. And ý letter hath the deliuer'd, & there an end. Val. I would it were no worse.

Speed. Ile warrant you, 'tis as well:

For often haue you writ to her: and she in modesty,
Or elfe for want of idle time, could not againe reply,

Or fearing els fome meffeger, y might her mind discouer
Her felf hath taught her Loue himself, to write vnto her
All this I fpeak in print, for in print I found it. (louer.
Why mufe you fir, 'tis dinner time.

Val. I haue dyn'd.

Speed. I, but hearken fir: though the Cameleon Loue can feed on the ayre, I am one that am nourish'd by my victuals; and would faine haue meate: oh bee not like your Miftreffe, be moued, be moued. Exeunt.

Scana fecunda.

Enter Protheus, Iulia, Panthion.

Pro. Haue patience, gentle Iulia:
Iul I muft where is no remedy.

Pro. When poffibly I can, I will returne.
Iul. If you turne not: you will return the fooner:
Keepe this remembrance for thy Iulia's fake.
Pro. Why then wee'll make exchange;
Here, take you this.

Iul. And feale the bargaine with a holy kiffe. Pro. Here my hand, for my true conftancie: And when that howre ore-flips me in the day, Wherein I figh not (Iulia) for thy fake, The next enfuing howre, fome foule mifchance Torment me for my Loues forgetfulneffe : My father staies my comming: answere not: The tide is now; nay, not thy tide of teares, That tide will stay me longer then I should, Iulia, farewell: what, gon without a word? I, so true loue should doe: it cannot speake, For truth hath better deeds, then words to grace it. Panth. Sir Protheus: you are staid for. Pro. Goe: I come, I come :

Alas, this parting ftrikes poore Louers dumbe.

Scana Tertia.

Enter Launce, Panthion.

Exeunt.

Sonne, and am going with Sir Protheus to the Imperialls Court I thinke Crab my dog, be the fowreft natured dogge that liues: My Mother weeping my Father wayling my Sifter crying our Maid howling : our Catte wringing her hands, and all our house in a great perplexitie, yet did not this cruell-hearted Curre shedde one teare: he is a stone, a very pibble ftone, and has no more pitty in him then a dogge: a Iew would haue wept to haue feene our parting why my Grandam hauing no eyes, looke you, wept her felfe blinde at my parting: nay, Ile fhew you the manner of it. This fhooe is my father no, this left fhooe is my father; no, no, this left hooe is my mother: nay, that cannot bee fo neyther: yes; it is fo, it is fo: it hath the worfer fole: this fhooe with the hole in it, is my mother: and this father: my a veng'ance on't, there 'tis : Now fir, this staffe is my fifter for, looke you, fhe is as white as a lilly, and as fmall as a wand this hat is Nan our maid: I am the dogge: no, the dogge is himselfe, and I am the dogge : oh, the dogge is me, and I am my felfe: I; fo, so now come I to my Father; Father, your bleffing: now fhould not the fhooe fpeake a word for weeping : now should I kiffe my Father; well, hee weepes on: Now come I to my Mother: Oh that he could speake now, like a would-woman: well, I kiffe her there 'tis; heere's my mothers breath vp and downe: Now come I to my fifter; marke the moane fhe makes: now the dogge all this while fheds not a teare fpeakes a word: but fee how I lay the duft with my

teares.

why

: nor

Panth. Launce, away, away: a Boord: thy Mafter is fhip'd, and thou art to poft after with oares; what's the matter? why weep'st thou man? away affe, you'l loose the Tide, if you tarry any longer.

Laun. It is no matter if the tide were loft, for it is the vnkindeft Tide, that euer any man tide.

Panth. What's the vnkindeft tide?

Lau. Why, he that's tide here, Crab my dog.

Pant. Tut, man: I meane thou'lt loofe the flood, and in loofing the flood, loose thy voyage, and in loofing thy voyage, loofe thy Mafter, and in loofing thy Master, loofe thy feruice, and in loofing thy feruice: doft thou ftop my mouth?

Laun. For feare thou shouldft loose thy tongue.
Panth. Where should I loose my tongue?
Laun. In thy Tale.

Pauth. In thy Taile.

why

Spee. Mafter, Sir Thurio frownes on you.
Val. I Boy, it's for loue.
Spee. Not of you.

Val. Of my Mistresse then.

Spee. 'Twere good you knockt him.
Sil. Seruant, you are fad.
Val. Indeed, Madam, I feeme fo.
Thu. Seeme you that you are not?
Val. Hap❜ly I doe.

Thu. So doe Counterfeyts.
Val. So doe you.

Thu. What feeme I that I am not?
Val. Wife.

Thu. What inftance of the contrary?
Val. Your folly.

Thu. And how quoat you my folly?
Val. I quoat it in your Ierkin.
Thu. My Ierkin is a doublet.

Val. Well then, Ile double your folly.
Thu. How?

Sil. What, angry, Sir Thurio, do you change colour? Val. Giue him leaue, Madam, he is a kind of Camelion. Thu. That hath more minde to feed on your bloud, then liue in your ayre.

Val. You haue faid Sir.

Thu. I Sir, and done too for this time.

Val. I know it wel fir, you alwaies end ere you begin.
Sil. A fine volly of words, gentleme, & quickly shot off
Val. 'Tis indeed, Madam, we thank the giuer.
Sil. Who is that Seruant?

Val. Your felfe (fweet Lady) for you gaue the fire,
Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your Ladiships lookes,
And spends what he borrowes kindly in your company.
Thu. Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall
make your wit bankrupt.

(words, Val. I know it well fir: you haue an Exchequer of And I thinke, no other treasure to giue your followers : For it appeares by their bare Liueries That they liue by your bare words.

Sil. No more, gentlemen, no more: Here comes my father.

Duk. Now, daughter Siluia, you are hard befet. Sir Valentine, your father is in good health,

What fay you to a Letter from your friends

Of much good newes?

Val. My Lord, I will be thankfull,

To any happy messenger from thence.

Duk. Know ye, Don Antonio, your Countriman?
Val. I, my good Lord, I know the Gentleman
To be of worth, and worthy eftimation,
And not without defert fo well reputed.
Duk. Hath he not a Sonne?

Val. I, my good Lord, a Son, that well deferues
The honor, and regard of fuch a father.

Duk. You know him well?

Val. I knew him as my selfe: for from our Infancie
We haue conuerft, and spent our howres together,
And though my felfe haue beene an idle Trewant,
Omitting the fweet benefit of time

To cloath mine age with Angel-like perfection:
Yet hath Sir Protheus (for that's his name)
Made vfe, and faire aduantage of his daies:
His yeares but yong, but his experience old :
His head vn-mellowed, but his Iudgement ripe;
And in a word (for far behinde his worth
Comes all the praises that I now bestow.)

C

He

He is compleat in feature, and in minde,
With all good grace, to grace a Gentleman.

Duk. Befhrew me fir, but if he make this good
He is as worthy for an Empreffe loue,
As meet to be an Emperors Councellor :
Well, Sir this Gentleman is come to me
With Commendation from great Potentates,
And heere he meanes to spend his time a while,
I thinke 'tis no vn-welcome newes to you.

Val. Should I haue wish'd a thing, it had beene he.
Duk. Welcome him then according to his worth:
Siluia, I fpeake to you, and you Sir Thurio,
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it,
I will fend him hither to you presently.

Val. This is the Gentleman I told your Ladiship Had come along with me, but that his Miftreffe Did hold his eyes, lockt in her Christall lookes.

Sil. Be-like that now the hath enfranchis'd them Vpon fome other pawne for fealty.

Val. Nay fure, I thinke she holds them prisoners ftil. Sil. Nay then he should be blind, and being blind How could he fee his way to feeke out you?

Val. Why Lady, Loue hath twenty paire of eyes. Thur. They fay that Loue hath not an eye at all. Val. To fee fuch Louers, Thurio, as your felfe, Vpon a homely obiect, Loue can winke.

Sil. Haue done, haue done: here comes y gentleman. Val. Welcome, deer Protheus: Miftris, I beseech you Confirme his welcome, with fome speciall fauor.

Sil. His worth is warrant for his welcome hether,
If this be he you oft haue wifh'd to heare from.
Val. Miftris, it is: fweet Lady, entertaine him
To be my fellow-feruant to your Ladifhip.

Sil. Too low a Miftres for fo high a feruant.
Pro. Not fo, fweet Lady, but too meane a feruant
To haue a looke of fuch a worthy a Miitreffe.
Val. Leaue off difcourfe of difabilitie :
Sweet Lady, entertaine him for your Seruant.
Pro. My dutie will I boaft of, nothing else.
Sil. And dutie neuer yet did want his meed.
Seruant, you are welcome to a worthleffe Mistresse.
Pro. Ile die on him that faies fo but your felfe.
Sil. That you are welcome?

Pro. That you are worthleffe.

(you.

Thur. Madam, my Lord your father wold speak with Sil. I wait vpon his pleasure : Come Sir Thurio, Goe with me once more, new Seruant welcome; Ile leaue you to confer of home affaires, When you haue done, we looke too heare from you. Pro. Wee'll both attend vpon your Ladiship.

Val. Now tell me how do al from whence you came? Pro. Your frends are wel, & haue the much cōmended. Val. And how doe yours?

Pro. I left them all in health.

your loue?

Val. How does your Lady? & how thriues
Pro. My tales of Loue were wont to weary you,
I know you ioy not in a Loue-difcourse.

Val. I Protheus, but that life is alter'd now,

I haue done pennance for contemning Loue,
Whofe high emperious thoughts haue punish'd me
With bitter fafts, with penitentiall grones,
With nightly teares, and daily hart-fore fighes,
For in reuenge of my contempt of loue,
Loue hath chas'd fleepe from my enthralled eyes,
And made them watchers of mine owne hearts forrow.
O gentle Protheus, Loue's a mighty Lord,

And hath fo humbled me, as I confeffe
There is no woe to his correction,
Nor to his Seruice, no fuch ioy on earth:
Now, no difcourfe, except it be of loue:
Now can I breake my faft, dine, sup, and sleepe,
Vpon the very naked name of Loue.

Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye : Was this the Idoll, that you worship fo?

Val. Euen She; and is the not a heauenly Saint? Pro. No; But he is an earthly Paragon.

Val. Call her diuine.

Pro. I will not flatter her.

Val. O flatter me: for Loue delights in praises. Pro. When I was fick, you gaue me bitter pils, And I must minifter the like to you.

Val. Then speake the truth by her; if not diuine, Yet let her be a principalitie,

Soueraigne to all the Creatures on the earth.
Pro. Except my Mistresse.

Val. Sweet: except not any,
Except thou wilt except against my Loue.

Pro. Haue I not reason to prefer mine owne?
Val. And I will help thee to prefer her to:
Shee fhall be dignified with this high honour,
To beare my Ladies traine, left the base earth
Should from her vefture chance to fteale a kiffe,
And of fo great a fauor growing proud,
Difdaine to roote the Sommer-fwelling flowre,
And make rough winter euerlaftingly.

Pro. Why Valentine, what Bragadisme is this?
Val. Pardon me (Protheus) all I can is nothing,
To her, whofe worth, make other worthies nothing;
Shee is alone.

Pro. Then let her alone.

Val. Not for the world: why man, fhe is mine owne, And I as rich in hauing fuch a lewell

As twenty Seas, if all their fand were pearle,
The water, Nectar, and the Rocks pure gold.
Forgiue me that I doe not dreame on thee,
Because thou feeft me doate vpon my loue:
My foolish Riuall that her Father likes
(Onely for his poffeffions are fo huge)

Is gone with her along, and I must after,
For Loue (thou know'ft is full of iealoufie.)

Pro. But the loues you?

(howre,

Val. I, and we are betroathd: nay more, our mariage With all the cunning manner of our flight Determin'd of: how I must climbe her window, The Ladder made of Cords, and all the means Plotted, and 'greed on for my happineffe. Good Protheus goe with me to my chamber, In thefe affaires to aid me with thy counfaile. Pro. Goe on before: I fhall enquire you forth: I muft vnto the Road, to dif-embarque Some neceffaries, that I needs must vse, And then Ile presently attend you.

Val. Will you make hafte ?

Pro. I will.

Euen as one heate, another heate expels,

Or as one naile, by ftrength driues out another.
So the remembrance of my former Loue
Is by a newer obiect quite forgotten,

It is mine, or Valentines praife?

Her true perfection, or my falfe tranfgreffion? That makes me reafonleffe, to reafon thus ? Shee is faire and fo is Iulia that I loue,

Exit.

(That

(That I did loue, for now my loue is thaw'd,
Which like a waxen Image 'gainst a fire
Beares no impreffion of the thing it was.)
Me thinkes my zeale to Valentine is cold,
And that I loue him not as I was wont:
O, but I loue his Lady too-too much,
And that's the reason I loue him fo little.
How fhall I doate on her with more aduice,
That thus without aduice begin to loue her?
Tis but her picture I haue yet beheld,
And that hath dazel'd my reasons light:
But when I looke on her perfections,
There is no reason, but I fhall be blinde.
If I can checke my erring loue, I will,
If not, to compaffe her Ile vse my skill.

Loue bad mee fweare, and Loue bids me for-fweare;
O fweet-suggesting Loue, if thou haft fin'd,
Teach me (thy tempted fubiect) to excuse it.
At first I did adore a twinkling Starre,
But now I worship a celeftiall Sunne :
Vn-heedfull vowes may heedfully be broken,
And he wants wit, that wants refolued will,
To learne his wit, t'exchange the bad for better;
Fie, fie, vnreuerend tongue, to call her bad,
Whofe foueraignty so oft thou haft preferd,
With twenty thousand foule-confirming oathes.
I cannot leaue to loue; and yet I doe:
But there I leaue to loue, where I fhould loue.
Iulia I loose, and Valentine I loose,

If I keepe them, I needs muft loose my felfe:
If I loofe them, thus finde I by their loffe,
For Valentine, my felfe: for Iulia, Siluia.

I to my felfe am deerer then a friend,
For Loue is still most precious in it felfe,
And Siluia (witnesse heauen that made her faire)
Shewes Iulia but a fwarthy Ethiope.

I will forget that Iulia is aliue,
Remembring that my Loue to her is dead.
And Valentine Ile hold an Enemie,
Ayming at Siluia as a fweeter friend.

I cannot now proue conftant to my felfe,
Without fome treachery vs'd to Valentine.
This night he meaneth with a Corded-ladder
To climbe celeftiall Siluia's chamber window,
My felfe in counfaile his competitor.
Now presently Ile giue her father notice
Of their difguifing and pretended flight:
Who (all inrag'd) will banish Valentine:
For Thurio he intends fhall wed his daughter,
But Valentine being gon, Ile quickely crosse
By fome flie tricke, blunt Thurio's dull proceeding.
Loue lend me wings, to make my purpose swift
As thou haft lent me wit, to plot this drift.

Scana feptima.

Enter Iulia and Lucetta.

Iul. Counfaile, Lucetta, gentle girle affift me,
And eu'n in kinde loue, I doe coniure thee,
Who art the Table wherein all my thoughts
Are visibly Character'd, and engrau'd,
To leffon me, and tell me fome good meane
How with my honour I may vndertake
A journey to my louing Protheus.

Luc. Alas, the way is wearifome and long.
Iul. A true-deuoted Pilgrime is not weary
To measure Kingdomes with his feeble steps,
Much leffe fhall the that hath Loues wings to flie,
And when the flight is made to one fo deere,
Of fuch diuine perfection as Sir Protheus.

Luc. Better forbeare, till Protheus make returne.
Iul: Oh, know'ft y not, his looks are my foules food?
Pitty the dearth that I haue pined in,

By longing for that food fo long a time.
Didft thou but know the inly touch of Loue,
Thou wouldst as foone goe kindle fire with fnow
As feeke to quench the fire of Loue with words.

Luc. I doe not feeke to quench your Loues hot fire, But qualifie the fires extreame rage,

Left it should burne aboue the bounds of reafon.

Iul. The more thou dam'ft it vp, the more it burnes : The Current that with gentle murmure glides

(Thou know'ft) being ftop'd, impatiently doth rage:
But when his faire courfe is not hindered,

He makes fweet muficke with th'enameld ftones,
Giuing a gentle kiffe to euery fedge

He ouer-taketh in his pilgrimage.

And fo by many winding nookes he straies
With willing fport to the wilde Ocean.

Then let me goe, and hinder not my course:
Ile be as patient as a gentle streame,
And make a pastime of each weary step,
Till the laft ftep haue brought me to my Loue,
And there Ile reft, as after much turmoile
A blessed foule doth in Elixium.

Luc. But in what habit will you goe along?
Iul. Not like a woman, for I would preuent
The loose encounters of lafciuious men :
Gentle Lucetta, fit me with fuch weedes
As may befeeme fome well reputed Page.

Luc. Why then your Ladiship must cut your haire.
Iul. No girle, Ile knit it vp in filken ftrings,
With twentie od-conceited true-loue knots:
To be fantastique, may become a youth
Of greater time then I fhall fhew to be.

(ches?

Luc. What fashion (Madam) fhall I make your breeIul. That fits as well, as tell me (good my Lord) What compaffe will you weare your Farthingale? Why eu'n what fashion thou beft likes (Lucetta.) Luc. You must needs haue the with a cod peece (MaIul. Out, out, (Lucetta) that wilbe illfauourd. (dam) Luc. A round hofe (Madam) now's not worth a pin Vnleffe you haue a cod peece to stick pins on. Iul. Lucetta, as thou lou'st me let me haue What thou think'ft meet, and is moft mannerly. But tell me (wench) how will the world repute me For vndertaking fo vnftaid a journey?

I feare me it will make me fcandaliz'd.

Luc. If you thinke fo, then stay at home, and go not. Iul. Nay, that I will not.

Luc. Then neuer dreame on Infamy, but go:
If Protheus like your iourney, when you come,
No matter who's displeas'd, when you are gone:
I feare me he will scarce be pleas'd with all.

Iul. That is the leaft (Lucetta) of my feare:
A thousand oathes, an Ocean of his teares,
And inftances of infinite of Loue,
Warrant me welcome to my Protheus.

Luc. All these are feruants to deceitfull men.
Iul. Bafe men, that vse them to fo bafe effect;
But truer starres did gouerne Protheus birth,
His words are bonds, his oathes are oracles,
His loue fincere, his thoughts immaculate,
His teares, pure meffengers, fent from his heart,
His heart, as far from fraud, as heauen from earth.

Luc. Pray heau'n he proue fo when you come to him.
Iul. Now, as thou lou'ft me, do him not that wrong,
To beare a hard opinion of his truth:
Onely deferue my loue, by louing him,
And presently goe with me to my chamber
To take a note of what I ftand in need of,
To furnish me vpon my longing journey:
All that is mine I leaue at thy difpofe,
My goods, my Lands, my reputation,
Onely, in lieu thereof, difpatch me hence:
Come; anfwere not: but to it presently,
I am impatient of my tarriance.

Actus Tertius, Scena Prima.

Enter Duke, Thurio, Protheus, Valentine,
Launce, Speed.

Duke. Sir Thurio, giue vs leaue (I pray) a while, We haue fome fecrets to confer about.

Exeunt.

Now tell me Protheus, what's your will with me?
Pro. My gracious Lord, that which I wold difcouer,
The Law of friendship bids me to conceale,
But when I call to minde yonr gracious fauours
Done to me (vndeferuing as I am)

My dutie pricks me on to vtter that
Which elfe, no worldly good should draw from me:
Know (worthy Prince) Sir Valentine my friend
This night intends to fteale away your daughter:
My felfe am one made priuy to the plot.

I know you haue determin'd to bestow her
On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates,
And should the thus be ftolne away from you,
It would be much vexation to your age.
Thus (for my duties fake) I rather chofe
To croffe my friend in his intended drift,
Then (by concealing it) heap on your head
A pack of forrowes, which would presse you downe
(Being vnpreuented) to your timeleffe graue.

Duke. Protheus, I thank thee for thine honest care,
Which to requite, command me while I liue.
This loue of theirs, my felfe haue often feene,
Haply when they haue iudg'd me fast asleepe,
And oftentimes haue purpos'd to forbid

Sir