Sir Valentine her companie, and my Court.
But fearing left my iealous ayme might erre,
And fo (vnworthily) difgrace the man
(A rashnesse that I euer yet haue fhun'd)
I gave him gentle lookes, thereby to finde
That which thy felfe haft now disclos'd to me.
And that thou maift perceiue my feare of this,
Knowing that tender youth is foone suggested,
I nightly lodge her in an vpper Towre,
The key whereof, my felfe haue euer kept:
And thence the cannot be conuay'd away.

Pro. Know (noble Lord) they haue deuis'd a meane

How he her chamber-window will afcend,
And with a Corded-ladder fetch her downe :
For which, the youthfull Louer now is gone,
And this way comes he with it presently.
Where (if it please you) you may intercept him.
But (good my Lord) doe it fo cunningly
That my difcouery be not aimed at :
For, loue of you, not hate vnto my friend,
Hath made me publisher of this pretence.

Duke. Vpon mine Honor, he shall neuer know
That I had any light from thee of this.

Pro. Adiew, my Lord, Sir Valentine is comming.
Duk. Sir Valentine, whether away so fast?
Val. Please it your Grace, there is a Meffenger
That stayes to beare my Letters to my friends,
And I am going to deliuer them.

Duk. Be they of much import?

Val. The tenure of them doth but fignifie
My health, and happy being at your Court.

Duk. Nay then no matter: ftay with me a while,
I am to breake with thee of fome affaires
That touch me neere: wherein thou must be secret.
'Tis not vnknown to thee, that I haue fought
To match my friend Sir Thurio, to my daughter.

Val. I know it well (my Lord) and sure the Match
Were rich and honourable: befides, the gentleman
Is full of Vertue, Bounty, Worth, and Qualities
Befeeming such a Wife, as your faire daughter :
Cannot your Grace win her to fancie him?

Duk. No, trust me, She is peeuifh, fullen, froward,
Prowd, difobedient, ftubborne, lacking duty,
Neither regarding that she is my childe,
Nor fearing me, as if I were her father:
And may I fay to thee, this pride of hers
(Vpon aduice) hath drawne my loue from her,
And where I thought the remnant of mine age
Should haue beene cherish'd by her child-like dutie,
I now am full refolu'd to take a wife,
And turne her out, to who will take her in :
Then let her beauty be her wedding dowre:
For me, and my poffeffions the esteemes not.

Val. What would your Grace haue me to do in this?
Duk. There is a Lady in Verona heere
Whom I affect: but she is nice, and coy,
And naught esteemes my aged eloquence.
Now therefore would I haue thee to my Tutor

(For long agone I haue forgot to court,
Befides the fashion of the time is chang'd)
How, and which way I may bestow my felfe
To be regarded in her fun-bright eye.

Val. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words,
Dumbe Jewels often in their filent kinde

More then quicke words, doe moue a womans minde. Duk. But she did scorne a present that I sent her,

Val. A woman fomtime fcorns what beft côtents her. Send her another : neuer giue her ore,

For fcorne at first, makes after-loue the more.
If the doe frowne, 'tis not in hate of you,
But rather to beget more loue in you.
If the doe chide, 'tis not to haue you gone,
For why, the fooles are mad, if left alone.
Take no repulfe, what euer she doth say,
For, get you gon, she doth not meane away.
Flatter, and praife, commend, extoll their graces:
Though nere fo blacke, say they haue Angells faces,
That man that hath a tongue, I fay is no man,

If with his tongue he cannot win a woman.

Duk. But the I meane, is promis'd by her friends
Vnto a youthfull Gentleman of worth,
And kept feuerely from refort of men,
That no man hath acceffe by day to her.

Val. Why then I would refort to her by night.
Duk. I, but the doores be lockt, and keyes kept safe,

That no man hath recourse to her by night.

Val. What letts but one may enter at her window? Duk. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground, And built so sheluing, that one cannot climbe it Without apparant hazard of his life.

Val. Why then a Ladder quaintly made of Cords To caft vp, with a paire of anchoring hookes, Would ferue to scale another Hero's towre,

So bold Leander would aduenture it.

Duk. Now as thou art a Gentleman of blood Aduife me, where I may haue fuch a Ladder. Val. When would you vfe it? pray fir, tell me that. Duk. This very night; for Loue is like a childe That longs for euery thing that he can come by. Val. By feauen a clock, ile get you fuch a Ladder. Duk. But harke thee: I will goe to her alone, How fhall I beft conuey the Ladder thither?

Val. It will be light (my Lord) that you may beare it Vnder a cloake, that is of any length.

Duk. A cloake as long as thine will ferue the turne?
Val. I my good Lord.

Duk. Then let me fee thy cloake,

Ile get me one of fuch another length.

Val. Why any cloake will ferue the turn (my Lord)
Duk. How fhall I fashion me to weare a cloake?

I pray thee let me feele thy cloake vpon me.
What Letter is this fame? what's here? to Siluia?
And heere an Engine fit for my proceeding,

Ile be fo bold to breake the feale for once.

My thoughts do barbour with my Siluia nightly,
And flaues they are to me, that fend them flying.
Ob, could their Mafter come, and goe as lightly,
Himfelfe would lodge, where (jenceles) they are lying.
My Herald Thoughts, in thy pure bofome reft-them,
While I (their King) that thither them importune
Doe curfe the grace, that with fuch grace hath bleft them,
Because my felfe doe want my feruants fortune.

I curfe my jelfe, for they are fent by me,

That they should barbour where their Lord fhould be.

What's here? Siluia, this night I will enfranchise thee.
'Tis fo : and heere's the Ladder for the purpose.
Why Phaeton (for thou art Merops fonne)
Wilt thou afpire to guide the heauenly Car?
And with thy daring folly burne the world?
Wilt thou reach ftars, because they shine on thee?

C 3

Goe

Goe bafe Intruder, ouer-weening Slaue,
Beftow thy fawning fmiles on equall mates,
And thinke my patience, (more then thy defert)
Is priuiledge for thy departure hence.

Thanke me for this, more then for all the fauors
Which (all too-much) I haue bestowed on thee.
But if thou linger in my Territories
Longer then fwifteft expedition

Will giue thee time to leaue our royall Court,

By heauen, my wrath fhall farre exceed the loue

I euer bore my daughter, or thy felfe.

Be gone, I will not heare thy vaine excufe,
But as thou lou'ft thy life, make speed from hence.

Val. And why not death, rather then liuing torment ?
To die, is to be banisht from my selfe,
And Siluia is my felfe: banish'd from her
Is felfe from felfe. A deadly banishment:
What light, is light, if Siluia be not seene?
What joy is ioy, if Siluia be not by?
Vnleffe it be to thinke that she is by
And feed vpon the fhadow of perfection.
Except I be by Siluia in the night,
There is no muficke in the Nightingale.
Vnleffe I looke on Siluia in the day,
There is no day for me to looke vpon.
Shee is my effence, and I leaue to be;
If I be not by her faire influence

Fofter'd, illumin'd, cherish'd, kept aliue.
I flie not death, to flie his deadly doome,
Tarry I heere, 1 but attend on death,
But flie I hence, I flie away from life.

Pro. Run (boy) run, run, and feeke him out.
Lau. So-hough, Soa hough-

Pro. What feest thou?

Lau. Him we goe to finde,

There's not a haire on's head, but t'is a Valentine.
Pro. Valentine?

(Which vn-reuerst stands in effectuall force)
A Sea of melting pearle, which fome call teares;
Those at her fathers churlish feete she tenderd,
With them vpon her knees, her humble felfe,
Wringing her har. Js, whose whitenes fo became them,
As if but now they waxed pale for woe:

But neither bended knees, pure hands held vp,

Sad fighes, deepe grones, nor filuer-fhedding teares
Could penetrate her vncompaffionate Sire;

But Valentine, if he be tane, muft die.
Befides, her interceffion chaf'd him fo,
When the for thy repeale was fuppliant,
That to close prifon he commanded her,
With many bitter threats of biding there.

Val. No more: vnles the next word that thou speak'st Haue fome malignant power vpon my life:

If fo: I pray thee breath it in mine eare,

As ending Antheme of my endleffe dolor.

Pro. Ceafe to lament for that thou canst not helpe,

And ftudy helpe for that which thou lament'ft,
Time is the Nurfe, and breeder of all good;
Here, if thou stay, thou canst not fee thy loue:
Befides, thy staying will abridge thy life:
Hope is a louers ftaffe, walke hence with that
And manage it, against despairing thoughts:
Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence,
Which, being writ to me, fhall be deliuer'd
Euen in the milke-white bofome of thy Loue.
The time now ferues not to expoftulate,
Come, Ile conuey thee through the City-gate.
And ere I part with thee, confer at large
Of all that may concerne thy Loue-affaires :
As thou lou'ft Siluia (though not for thy felfe)
Regard thy danger, and along with me.

Val. I pray thee Launce, and if thou feeft my Boy Bid him make hafte, and meet me at the North-gate. Pro. Goe firha, finde him out: Come Valentine. Val. Oh my deere Siluia; haplefse Valentine. Launce. I am but a foole, looke you, and yet I haue the wit to thinke my Mafter is a kinde of a knaue : but that's all one, if he be but one knaue : He liues not now that knowes me to be in loue, yet I am in loue, but a Teeme of horse shall not plucke that from me: nor who 'tis I loue and yet 'tis a woman; but what woman, I will not tell my felfe: and yet 'tis a Milke-maid : yet 'tis not a maid for thee hath had Goffips: yet 'tis a maid, for fhe is her Masters maid, and ferues for wages. Shee hath more qualities then a Water-Spaniell, which is much in a bare Chriftian: Heere is the Cate-log of her Condition. Inprimis. Shee can fetch and carry: why a horse can doe no more; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but onely carry, therefore is thee better then a Iade. Item. She can milke, looke you, a sweet vertue in a maid with cleane hands.

Speed. How now Signior Launce? what newes with your Mastership?

La. With my Mastership? why, it is at Sea:

Sp. Well, your old vice ftill: mistake the word: what newes then in your paper?

La. The black'ft newes that euer thou heard'st.

Sp. Why man? how blacke?

La. Why, as blacke as Inke.

Sp. Let me read them?

La. Fie on thee Iolt-head, thou canst not read.

Sp. Here follow her vices.

La. Clofe at the heeles of her vertues.

Sp. Item, fhee is not to be fafting in respect of her breath.

La. Well that fault may be mended with a breakfaft: read on.

Sp. Item, fhe hath a sweet mouth.

La. That makes amends for her foure breath.

Sp. Item, the doth talke in her sleepe.

La. It's no matter for that; fo fhee fleepe not in her talke.

Sp. Item, fhe is flow in words.

La. Oh villaine, that fet this downe among her vices; To be flow in words, is a womans onely vertue:

I pray thee out with't, and place it for her chiefe vertue. Sp. Item, fhe is proud.

La. Out with that too:

Du. Sir Thurio, feare not, but that she will loue you Now Valentine is banish'd from her fight.

Tb. Since his exile fhe hath defpis'd me moft,
Forfworne my company, and rail'd at me,
That I am defperate of obtaining her.

Du. This weake impreffe of Loue, is as a figure
Trenched in ice, which with an houres heate
Diffolues to water, and doth loose his forme.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,
And worthleffe Valentine fhall be forgot.
How now fir Protheus, is your countriman
(According to our Proclamation) gon?

Pro. Gon, my good Lord.

Du. My daughter takes his going grieuously? Pro. A little time (my Lord) will kill that griefe. Du. So I beleeue: but Thurio thinkes not fo: Protheus, the good conceit I hold of thee, (For thou haft showne fome figne of good defert) Makes me the better to confer with thee.

Pro. Longer then I proue loyall to your Grace, Let me not liue, to looke vpon your Grace.

Du. Thou know'ft how willingly, I would effect The match betweene fir Thurio, and my daughter? Pro. I doe my Lord.

Du. And alfo, I thinke, thou art not ignorant How the opposes her against my will?

Pro. She did my Lord, when Valentine was here. Du. I, and peruerfly, she perfeuers so : What might we doe to make the girle forget The loue of Valentine, and loue fir Thurio?

Pro. The best way is, to flander Valentine, With falfehood, cowardize, and poore difcent: Three things, that women highly hold in hate.

Du. I, but she'll thinke, that it is spoke in hate. Pro. I, if his enemy deliuer it. Therefore it muft with circumftance be spoken By one, whom the esteemeth as his friend.

Du. Then you muft vndertake to flander him.

Pro.

Pro. And that (my Lord) I shall be loath to doe: 'Tis an ill office for a Gentleman, Efpecially against his very friend.

Du. Where your good word cannot aduantage him, Your flander neuer can endamage him; Therefore the office is indifferent, Being intreated to it by your friend.

Pro. You haue preuail'd (my Lord) if I can doe it By ought that I can fpeake in his difpraise, She fhall not long continue loue to him: But say this weede her loue from Valentine, It followes not that he will loue fir Thurio.

Th. Therefore, as you vnwinde her loue from him; Leaft it should rauell, and be good to none, You must prouide to bottome it on me : Which must be done, by praifing me as much As you, in worth difpraife, fir Valentine.

Du. And Protheus, we dare truft you in this kinde,
Because we know (on Valentines report)
You are already loues firme votary,

And cannot foone reuolt, and change your minde.
Vpon this warrant, shall you haue acceffe,
Where you, with Siluia, may conferre at large.
For the is lumpifh, heauy, mellancholly,
And (for your friends fake) will be glad of you;
Where you may temper her, by your perfwafion,
To hate yong Valentine, and loue my friend.

Pro. As much as I can doe, I will effect:
But you fir Thurio, are not sharpe enough:
You must lay Lime, to tangle her defires
By walefull Sonnets, whofe composed Rimes
Should be full fraught with feruiceable vowes.

Du. I, much is the force of heauen-bred Poefie.
Pro. Say that vpon the altar of her beauty
You facrifice your teares, your fighes, your heart:
Write till your inke be dry; and with your teares
Moift it againe and frame fome feeling line,
That may difcouer fuch integrity:

For Orpheus Lute, was ftrung with Poets finewes,
Whofe golden touch could foften steele and ftones;
Make Tygers tame, and huge Leuiathans
Forfake vnfounded deepes, to dance on Sands.
After your dire-lamenting Elegies,

Vifit by night your Ladies chamber-window
With fome sweet Confort; To their Inftruments
Tune a deploring dumpe: the nights dead filence
Will well become fuch fweet complaining grieuance:
This, or else nothing, will inherit her.

Du. This difcipline, fhowes thou haft bin in loue.
Th. And thy aduice, this night, ile put in practise:
Therefore, fweet Protheus, my direction-giuer,
Let vs into the City presently

To fort fome Gentlemen, well skil'd in Muficke.
I haue a Sonnet, that will ferue the turne

To giue the on-fet to thy good aduife.

Du. About it Gentlemen.

Pro. We'll wait vpon your Grace, till after Supper,

And afterward determine our proceedings.
Du. Euen now about it, I will pardon you.

Exeunt.

Actus Quartus. Scana Prima.

Enter Valentine, Speed, and certaine Out-lawes. 1.Out-1. Fellowes, ftand faft: I fee a paffenger.

2.Out. If there be ten, fhrinke not, but down with'em. 3.Out. Stand fir, and throw vs that you haue about'ye. If not we'll make you fit, and rifle you.

Sp. Sir we are vndone; thefe are the Villaines

That all the Trauailers doe feare so much.
Val. My friends.

1.Out. That's not fo, fir: we are your enemies.

2.Out. Peace: we'll heare him.

3.Out. I by my beard will we: for he is a proper man. Val. Then know that I haue little wealth to loose; A man I am, crofs'd with aduerfitie : My riches, are these poore habiliments, Of which, if you should here disfurnish me, You take the fum and substance that I haue. 2.Out. Whether trauell you?

Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse;

I kil'd a man, whofe death I much repent,

But yet I flew him manfully, in fight,
Without falfe vantage, or base treachery.

1.Out. Why nere repent it, if it were done fo; But were you banifht for fo fmall a fault?

Val. I was, and held me glad of fuch a doome. 2.Out. Haue you the Tongues?

Val. My youthfull trauaile, therein made me happy, Or elfe I often had beene often miferable.

3.Out. By the bare scalpe of Robin Hoods fat Fryer,
This fellow were a King, for our wilde faction.
1.Out. We'll haue him: Sirs, a word.
Sp. Mafter, be one of them:

It's an honourable kinde of theeuery.
Val. Peace villaine.

2.Out. Tell vs this: haue you any thing to take to? Val. Nothing but my fortune.

3.Out. Know then, that fome of vs are Gentlemen, Such as the fury of vngouern'd youth Thruft from the company of awfull men. My felfe was from Verona banished, For practising to steale away a Lady, And heire and Neece, alide vnto the Duke.

2.Out. And I from Mantua, for a Gentleman, Who, in my moode, I ftab'd vnto the heart.

1.Out. And I, for fuch like petty crimes as thefe.
But to the purpose: for we cite our faults,
That they may hold excus'd our lawleffe liues;
And partly feeing you are beautifide

With goodly fhape; and by your owne report,
A Linguist, and a man of such perfection,

As we doe in our quality much want.

2.Out. Indeede because you are a banish'd man, Therefore, aboue the reft, we parley to you:

Are you content to be our Generall?

To make a vertue of neceffity,

And liue as we doe in this wilderneffe?

3.Out. What faift thou? wilt thou be of our confort? Say I, and be the captaine of vs all:

We'll doe thee homage, and be rul'd by thee, Loue thee, as our Commander, and our King.

1.Out.

Pro. Already haue I bin false to Valentine,

And now I must be as vniuft to Thurio,
Vnder the colour of commending him,

I haue acceffe my owne loue to prefer.
But Siluia is too faire, too true, too holy,
To be corrupted with my worthleffe guifts;
When I proteft true loyalty to her,

She twits me with my falfehood to my friend;
When to her beauty I commend my vowes,
She bids me thinke how I haue bin forfworne
In breaking faith with Iulia, whom I lou'd;
And notwithstanding all her fodaine quips,
The leaft whereof would quell a louers hope:

Yet (Spaniel-like) the more the fpurnes my loue,
The more it growes, and fawneth on her ftill;

But here comes Thurio; now muft we to her window,
And giue fome euening Mufique to her eare.

Tb. How now, fir Protheus, are you crept before vs?
Pro. I gentle Thurio, for you know that loue

Will creepe in feruice, where it cannot goe.

Tb. 1, but I hope, Sir, that you loue not here.

Pro. Sir, but I doe: or elfe I would be hence.
Tb. Who, Siluia?

Pro. I, Siluia, for your fake.

Th. I thanke you for your owne: Now Gentlemen

Let's tune and too it luftily a while.

Ho. Now, my yong gueft; me thinks your' allycholly; I pray you why is it?

I. Marry (mine Hoft) because I cannot be merry. Ho. Come, we'll haue you merry: ile bring you where you fhall heare Musique, and fee the Gentleman that you ask'd for.

Iu. But fhall I heare him fpeake.

Ho. I that you fhall.

Ia. That will be Mufique.

Ho. Harke, harke.

Iu. Is he among these?

Ho. I: but peace, let's heare’m.

Song. Who is Siluia? what is fhe? That all our Swaines commend her? Holy, faire, and wife is fhe, The beauen fuch grace did lend her, that he might admired be. Is fhe kinde as fhe is faire? For beauty liues with kindnesse : Loue doth to her eyes.repaire, To belpe bim of bis blindnesse:

And being help'd, inhabits there. Then to Siluia, let vs fing, That Siluia is excelling ; She excels each mortall thing Vpon the dull earth dwelling.

To ber let vs Garlands bring.

Ho. How now? are you fadder then you were before; How doe you, man? the Muficke likes you not.

Iu. You mistake: the Mufitian likes me not.
Ho. Why, my pretty youth?

Iu. He plaies false (father.)

Ho. How, out of tune on the ftrings.

Iu. Not fo: but yet

So falfe that he grieues my very heart-strings.

Ho. You haue a quicke eare.

(heart.

Iu. I, I would I were deafe: it makes me haue a flow

Ho. I perceiue you delight not in Mufique.

Iu. Not a whit, when it iars fo.

Ho. Harke, what fine change is in the Mufique.

Iu. I that change is the fpight.

Ho. You would haue them alwaies play but one thing.

Iu. I would alwaies haue one play but one thing.

But Hoft, doth this Sir Protheus, that we talke on,
Often refort vnto this Gentlewoman?

Ho. I tell you what Launce his man told me,
He lou'd her out of all nicke.

Pro. Madam: good eu'n to your Ladiship. Sil. I thanke you for your Mufique (Gentlemen) Who is that that spake?

Pro. One (Lady) if you knew his pure hearts truth, You would quickly learne to know him by his voice. Sil. Sir Protheus, as I take it.

Pro. Sir Protheus (gentle Lady) and your Seruant. Sil. What's your will?

Pro. That I may compaffe yours.

Sil. You haue your with my will is euen this,
That presently you hie you home to bed:
Thou fubtile, periur'd, falfe, difloyall man :
Think'st thou I am fo fhallow, fo conceitleffe,
To be feduced by thy flattery,

That has't deceiu'd fo many with thy vowes?
Returne, returne and make thy loue amends:
For me (by this pale queene of night I sweare)
I am fo farre from granting thy request,
That I defpife thee, for thy wrongfull fuite;
And by and by intend to chide my felfe,
Euen for this time I spend in talking to thee.
Pro. I grant (fweet loue) that I did loue a Lady,
But she is dead.

Iu. 'Twere falfe, if I fhould fpeake it;
For I am fure fhe is not buried.

Sil. Say that the be: yet Valentine thy friend
Suruiues; to whom (thy felfe art witnesse)
I am betroth'd; and art thou not asham'd
To wrong him, with thy importunacy?

Pro.