On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates;
And, fhould fhe thus be ftoln away from
you,
It would be much vexation to your age:
Thus, for my duty's fake, I rather chofe
To cross my friend in his intended drift;
Than, by concealing it, heap on your head
A pack of forrows, which would prefs you down,
Being unprevented, to your timeless grave *.
Duke. Protheus, I thank thee for thine honest care;
Which to requite, command me while I live.
This love of theirs myself have often seen,
Haply when they have judg'd me fast asleep;
And oftentimes have purpos'd to forbid
Sir Valentine her company, and my court:
But, fearing left my jealous aim might err,
And fo unworthily difgrace the man,
(A rafhness that I ever yet have fhun'd)
I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find
That which thyfelf haft now disclos'd to me.
And, that thou may'ft perceive my fear of this,
Knowing that tender youth is foon fuggested,
I nightly lodge her in an upper tower,
The key whereof myself have ever kept;
And thence the cannot be convey'd away.
Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd a mean How he her chamber window will afcend;
And with a corded ladder fetch her down:
"For which the youthful lover now is gone;
"And this way comes he with it presently;
"Where, if it please you, you may intercept him.
"But, good my lord, do it fo cunningly,
"That my difcovery be not aimed at;
For love of you, not hate unto my friend,
Hath made me publisher of this pretence.
Duke. Upon mine honour he fhall never know
That I had any light from thee of this.
* However plaufible this discovery is, it reflects infinite disgrace upon Protheus, who appears not only a changeling in love, but a deliberate villain in friendship; two deteftable points of character.
Pro. Adieu, my lord; Sir Valentine is coming. [Exit Protheus.
Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away fo faft?
Val. Please it your grace, there is a messenger
That ftays to bear my letters to my friends,
And I am going to deliver them.
Duke. Be they of much import?
Val. The tenour of them doth but fignify My health, and happy being at your court.
Duke. Nay, then no matter, ftay with me a while; I am to break with thee of some affairs
That touch me near, wherein thou must be fecret.
"Tis not unknown to thee that I have fought
To match my friend Sir Thurio to my daughter.
Val. I know it well, my lord; and fure the match
Were rich and honourable; befides, the gentleman
Is full of virtue, bounty, worth and qualities.
Befeeming fuch a wife as your fair daughter;
Cannot your grace win her to fancy him?
Duke. No, truft me; fhe is peevish, fullen, froward
Proud, difobedient, ftubborn, lacking duty;
Neither regarding that fhe is my child,
Nor fearing me as if I were her father:
And, may I fay to thee, this pride of hers,
Upon advice hath drawn my love from her;
"And, where I thought the remnant of mine age
"Should have been cherish'd by her child-like duty,
I now am full refolv'd to take a wife,
And turn her out to who will take her in :
Then let her beauty be her wedding-dower;
For me, and my poffeffions fhe esteems not.
Val. What would your grace have me to do in this? Duke. There is a lady, fir, in Milan here, Whom I affect; but fhe is nice and coy, And nought efteems my aged eloquence: Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor, "(For long agone I have forgot to court; "Befides, the fashion of the time is chang'd)
How, and which way, I may beftow myself,
To be regarded in her fun-bright eye.
Val. Win her with gifts, if the refpect not words;
Dumb jewels often, in their filent kind,
More than quick words do move a woman's mind.
Duke. But fhe did fcorn a present that I fent her.
Val. A woman fometimes fcorns what beft contents her: Send her another; never give her o'er;
For fcorn at first makes after-love the more.
If the do frown,. 'tis not in hate of you;
"But, rather, to beget more love in you :
"If the do chide, 'tis not to have you gone;
"For why, the fools are mad, if left alone:.
"Take no repulfe, whatever the doth say ;
"For, Get you gone, the doth not mean, away.
Flatter, and praife, commend, extol their graces ;;
Though ne'er fo black, fay, they have angels' faces..
That man that hath a tongue, I fay, is no man,
If with his tongue he cannot win a woman.
Duke. But the I mean, is promis'd by her friends
Unto a youthful gentleman of worth ;.
And kept feverely from refort of men,.
That no man hath accefs by day to her..
Val. Why, then I would refort to her by night.
Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept fafes
That no man hath recourse to her by night.
Val. What lets, but one may enter at her window? Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground; And built fo fhelving, that one cannot climb it Without apparent hazard of his life.
Val Why, then a ladder, quaintly made of cords, To caft up, with a pair of anchoring hooks,
Would ferve to fcale another Hero's tower,
So bold Leander would adventure it.
Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood, Advise me where I may have fuch a ladder.
Val When would you ufe it? pray, fir, tell me that. Duke. This very night; for love is like a child, That longs for every thing that he can come by. Kal. By feven o'clock I'll get you fuch a ladder. "Duke. But hark thee; I will go to her alone,
How, and which way, I may beftow myself,
To be regarded in her fun-bright eye.
Val. Win her with gifts, if the refpect not words;
Dumb jewels often, in their filent kind,
More than quick words do move a woman's mind.
Duke. But fhe did scorn a present that I fent her.
Val. A woman fometimes fcorns what best contents her:
Send her another; never give her o'er;
For fcorn at first makes after-love the more.
If the do frown,. 'tis not in hate of you;
"But, rather, to beget more love in you:
"If the do chide, 'tis not to have you gone;
"For why, the fools are mad, if left alone:
"Take no repulse, whatever she doth say ;
"For, Get you gone, she doth not mean, away.
Flatter, and praife, commend, extol their graces;
Though ne'er fo black, fay, they have angels' faces.
That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man,
If with his tongue he cannot win a woman.
Duke. But the I mean, is promis'd by her friends
Unto a youthful gentleman of worth ;
And kept feverely from refort of men,.
That no man hath access by day to her..
Val. Why, then I would refort to her by night.
Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept fafey
That no man hath recourse to her by night.
Val. What lets, but one may enter at her window ? Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground; And built fo fhelving, that one cannot climb it Without apparent hazard of his life.
Vali Why, then a ladder, quaintly made of cords,. To caft up, with a pair of anchoring hooks,
Would ferve to fcale another Hero's tower,
So bold Leander would adventure it.
Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood,
Advise me where I may have fuch a ladder.
Val When would you use it? pray, fir, tell me that.
Duke. This very night; for love is like a child,
That longs for every thing that he can come by.
Kal. By feven o'clock I'll get you fuch a ladder.
"Duke. But hark thee; I will
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