DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Duke of Milan, Father to Silvia. Proteus, Antonio, Father to Proteus. Thurio, a foolish Rival to Valentine. Panthino, Servant to Antonio. Julia, a Lady of Verona, beloved by Proteus. Servants, Musicians. SCENE, sometimes in Verona; sometimes in Milan; and on the Frontiers of Mantua. SCENE I. An open Place in VERONA. Val. CEASE to persuade, my loving Proteus; Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu! Think on thy Proteus, when thou, haply, seest Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel: Wish me partaker in thy happiness, When thou dost meet good hap; and, in thy danger, If ever danger do environ thee, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. Pro. What? To be In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks, If lost, why then a grievous labour won; Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Val. And writers say, As the most forward bud Even so by love the young and tender wit Once more adieu: my father at the road Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. At Milan, let me hear from thee by letters, Of thy success in love, and what news else Betideth here in absence of thy friend; And I likewise will visit thee with mine. Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewell! [Exit Valentine. Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love: He leaves his friends, to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at nought; Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought. Enter SPEED. Speed. Sir Proteus, save you: saw you my master? Pro. But now he parted hence, to embark for Milan. Speed. Twenty to one then, he is shipp'd already; And I have play'd 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. [wake or sleep. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I 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 not me: 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. |