"How fhall I beft convey the ladder thither? "Val. It will be light, my lord; that you may bear it "Under a cloak, that is of any length. "Duke. A cloak as long as thine will serve the turn ? "Val. Ay, my good lord. "Duke. Then let me fee thy cloak ; "I'll get me one of fuch another length. "Val. Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my lord. "Duke. How fhall I fashion me to wear a cloak ?— "I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.— What letter is this fame? What's here? To Silvia? And here an engine fit for my proceeding! I'll be fo bold to break the feal for once. My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly; And flaves they are to me, that fend them flying: O, could their master come and go as lightly, [Reads. Himfelf would lodge where fenfelefs they are lying. My herald thoughts in thy pure bofom reft them; While I, their king, that thither them importune, Do curfe the grace that with fuch grace bath bleft them, Becaufe myself do want my fervants' fortune: I curfe myself, for they are fent by me, That they should barbour where their lord would be. What's here? 'Silvia, this night I will enfranchife thee. ""Tis fo; and here's the ladder for the purpose. Thank me for this, more than for all the favours, Longer than fwifteft expedition Will give thee time to leave our royal court, Be Be gone, I will not hear thy vain excuse; But, as thou lov'ft thy life, make speed from hence. Enter Protheus, and Launce. Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and feek him out. Lau. So-ho! fo-ho! Pro. What fee'st thou ? Lau. Him we go to find; there's not a hair on's head, but 'tis a Valentine. Pro. Valentine? Val. No. Pro. Who then? his spirit? Val. Neither. Pro. What then? Val. Nothing. Lau. Can nothing fpeak -Mafter, fhall I ftrike? Lau. Nothing. Pro. Villain, forbear. Lau. Why, fir, I'll ftrike nothing: I pray you- So So much of bad already hath poffeft them. "Pro. No, Valentine. "Val. No Valentine, indeed, for facred Silvia :• Hath the forfworn me? "Pro. No, Valentine. "Fal. No Falentine, if Sikoin have forfworn me.— "What is your news? Lau. Sir, there is a proclamation, that you are vanish'd. And now excefs of it will make me forfeit. Pro. Ay, ay; and the hath offer'd to the doom, But neither bended knees, pure hands held up, With many bitter threats, of 'biding there. Pro. Ceafe to lament for that thou canst not help, And ftudy help for that which thou lament'ft. “ Time is the nurse and breeder of all good. Here if thou stay, thou canst not fee thy love; "Befides, thy ftaying will abridge thy life: Hope is a lover's ftaff; walk hence with that, "And manage it against despairing thoughts: Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou fee'ft my boy, [Exeunt Valentine, and Protheus. Lau. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the wit to think, my mafter is a kind of a knave: but that's all one, if he be but one knave. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of horse fhall not pluck that from me: nor who 'tis I love; and yet 'tis a woman: but what woman, I will not tell myself; and yet 'tis a milk-maid: yet 'tis not a maid; for the hath had goffips: yet 'tis a maid; for fhe is her master's maid, and ferves for wages. She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel,-which is much in ■ bare christian: here is [pulling out a paper] the catlog of her conditions. Imprimis, She can fetch and carry : Why, a horse can do no more: nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore, is the better than a jade. Item, She can milk, look you; a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands. Enter Speed. Spe. How now, fignior Launce? what news with your maftership? Lau. With my mafter's fhip? why, it is at fea. Spe. Well, your old vice ftill; miftake the word: What news then in your paper ? Las. The blackeft news that ever thou heard'st. Launce here again difplays great originality, and spirit of Spe. Why, man, how black? Lau. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou canft not read. Lau. I will try thee: Tell me this, Who begot thee? Lau. O illiterate loiterer! it was the son of thy grandmother: this proves, that thou canst not read. Spe. Come, fool, come; try me in thy paper. Lau. Ay, that the can. Spe. Item, She brews good ale. [reads Lau. And thereof comes the proverb,-Bleffing o your heart, you brew good ale. Spe. Item, She can forw. Lau. That's as much as to fay, Can fhe fo Spe. Item, She can knit. Lax. What need a man care for a stock with a wench when the can knit him a ftock Spe. Item, She can wash and fcour. Lau. A fpecial virtue; for then she need not to be wash'd and fcour'd. Spe. Item, She can spin. Lau. Then may I fet the world on wheels, when he can fpin for her living. Spe. Item, She bath many nameless virtues. Lau. That's as much as to fay, baftard virtues; that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no names. Spe. Here follow her vices. Lau. Clofe at the heels of her virtues. Spe. Item, She is not to be kiss'd fafting, in respect of ber breath. Lau. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfaft. Read on. Spe. Item, She hath a fweet mouth. Lau. That makes amends for her four breath. Spe. Item, She doth talk in her fleep Lau. It's no matter for that, fo the fleep not in her talke |