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And deal in her command without her power;
These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil
(For he's a bastard one) had plotted with them
To take my life: two of these fellows, you
Must know, and own; this thing of darkness, I
Acknowledge mine.

Cal. I shall be pinch'd to death,

5

Alon. Is not this Stephano my drunken butler? Seb. He's drunk now: Where had he wine? [they] Alon. And Trinculo isreeling ripe: Whereshouid 10 Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them?— How cam'st thou in this pickle?

Trin. I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing.

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano?

[a cramp'.

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Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train,
To my poor cell; where you shall take your rest
For this one night; which (part of it) I'll waste
With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall make it
Go quick away; the story of my life,
And the particular accidents, gone by,
Since I came to this isle: and in the morn,
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptials

15 Of these our dear beloved solemniz'd;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.
Alon. I long

Ste. O, touch me not: I am not Stephano, but
Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah?
Ste. I should have been a sore one then.
Alon. This is a strange thing as e'er I look'd on. 20 Take the ear strangely.

[Pointing to Caliban.

Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners,
As in his shape:-Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Cal. Ay that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter,
And seek for grace: What a thrice-double ass
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,

25

To hear the story of your life, which must

Pro. I'll deliver all:

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1 That is, I am all over a cramp. Prospero had ordered Ariel to shorten up their sinews with aged cramps. Touch me not alludes to the soreness occasioned by them. In the next line, the speaker confirms this meaning by a quibble on the word sore.

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SCENE, sometimes in Verona; sometimes in Milan; and on the frontiers of Mantua.

SCENE I.

An open place in Verona.

A C T I.

Enter Valentine and Protheus.

Fal. CEASE to persuade, my loving Protheus;
Home-keeping youth have ever homely 5
Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days [wits:
To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love,

I rather would intreat thy company,

To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Than, living dully sluggardiz'd at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.
But, since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein,
Even as I would, when I to love begin.

10

Pro.Wilt thou begone? Sweet Valentine, adieu!
Think on thy Protheus, when thou, haply, seest 15
Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel:
Wish me partaker in thy happiness, [ger,
When thou dost meet good hap; and, in thy dan-
If ever danger do environ thee,
Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,
For I will be thy bead's-man, Valentine.

Val. And on a love book pray for my success.

20

Pro. Upon some book I love, I'll pray for thee.
Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love,
How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont.
Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love,
For he was more than over shoes in love.
Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love,
And yet you never swom the Hellespont.
Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots',
Val. No, I will not; for it boots thee not.
Pro. What?

Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with

groans:

Coy looks, with heart-sore sighs; one fading mo-
ment's mirth,

With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights;
if haply won, perhaps a hapless gain;
If lost, why then a grievous labour won;
However, but a folly bought with wit,
Or else a wit by folly vanquished.

Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.
Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll
Pro."Tislove you'llcavil at; I am not love.[prove.

'Theobald pronounces this to be a proverbial expression, though now disused, signifying, Don't. make a laughing-stock of me; don't play upon me. Mr. Steevens, however, is of opinion, that it might take its origin from a sport the country-people in Warwickshire use at their harvest home, where one sits as judge to try misdemeanors committed in harvest, and the punishment for the men is, to be laid on a bench, and slapped on the breech with a pair of boots. This they call giving them the boots. He also adds, that the boots were an ancient engine of torture,

Vals

Fal. Love is your master, for he masters you; And he that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks should not be chronicled for wise.

Pro. Yet writers say, As in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

l'al. And writers say, As the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud, Losing his verdure even in the prime, And all the fair effects of future hopes, But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee, That art a votary to fond desire? Once more adieu: my father at the road Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd. Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Protheus, no; now let us take our At Mutan, let me hear from thee by letters [leave. 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!

Pro. But dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia?

Speed. Ay, sir: I a lost mutton'; gave your letter to her, a lac'd mutton; and she, a lac'd mutton2, 5 gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons.

10

15

20

[Exit. 25

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.

1301

[master?
Speed. Sir Protheus, save you: saw you my 35
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,
And if the shepherd be a while away.
Speed. You conclude, that my master is a shep-
herd then, and I a sheep?

Pro. I do.

Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whee ther I wake or sleep.

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.

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over,

'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover.

Pro. But what said she? did she nod?[Speed nods.
Speed. I.

Pro. Nod, I? why that's noddy'.

Speed. You mistook, sir; I said she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod; and I said I. Pro. And that set together, is-noddy.

Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.

[ter. Pro. No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letSpeed. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.

Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, sir, the letter very orderly; having nothing but the word noddy for my pains. Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse, Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief : What said she?

Speed. Open your purse; that the money, and the matter, may be both at once deliver'd. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains: What 40 said she?

Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? couldst thou perceive so much from her?

Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from 45 her: no, not so much as a ducket for delivering your letter; And being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel.

50

Pro. The sheep for fodder follows the shepherd, the shepherd for the food tollows not the sheep: 55 theu for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry baa.

2

Pro. What, said she nothing?

Speed. No, not so much as-take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. [wreck;

Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, Being destin'd to a drier death on shore:

1 Speed calls himself a lost mutton, because he had lost his master, and because Protheus had been proving him a sheep. Cotgrave, in his English-French Dictionary, explains lac'd mutton by a girl of pleasure. A lac'd mutton was so established a name for a courtezan, that a street in Clerkenwell, which was much frequented by women of the town, was formerly called Mutton-lane. 3 Noddy was a game at cards. That is, you have gratified me with a tester, testern, or testen, that is, with

a xpence.

I must

11

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5

Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love?
Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheed-10
Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, [fully.
That every day with parle encounter me,
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew
my mind

According to my shallow simple skill.

Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
Luc. As of a knight well spoken, neat and fine;
But, were I you, he never should be mine.

Jul. What thinks't thou of the rich Mercatio?
Luc. Well, of his wealth; but of himself, so, so.
Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Protheus?
Luc. Lord, lord! to see what folly reigns in us!
Jul. How now? what means this passion at

his name?

Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing shame,
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.

[hate.

Or else return no more into my sight.
Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than
Jul. Will ye begone?

Luc. That you may ruminate.

[Exit.

Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the let-
It were a shame, to call her back again, [ter.
And pray her to a fault for which Ichid her.
What fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view?
Since maids, in modesty, say No, to that
Which they would have the profferer construe Ay.
Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
15 How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,
And ask remission for my folly past:-
What ho! Lucetta!

20

25

Jul. Why not on Protheus, as of all the rest?
Luc. Then thus,-of many good, I think him 30
Jul. Your reason?

[best.

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason;
I think him so, because I think him so.
Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love
on him?

35

Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
Jul. Why, he of all the rest hath never mov'd me.
Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.
Jul. His little speaking shews his love but smali.
Luc. Fire, that is closest kept, burns most of all. 40
Jul.Theydo not love,that do not shewtheir love.
Luc. Oh, they love least, that let men know
their love.

45

Jul. I would I knew his mind.
Luc. Peruse this paper, madam.
Jul. To Julia,—Say from whom?
Luc. That the contents will shew.
Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee?
Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think,
from Protheus:
[way, 50

He would have given it you, but I. being in the
Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault Ipray.
Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker'!
Dare you presune to harbour wanton lines?
To whisper and conspire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place.
There, take the paper, see it be return'd;

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Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lye where it concerns, Unless it have a false interpreter.

[rhime.

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in
Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune :
Give me a note; your ladyship can set.
Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible:
Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love.
Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune.
Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath some burden then.
Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you sing
Jul. And why not you?

Luc. I cannot reach so high.

[it.

Jul. Let's see your song:-How now, minion?
Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out:
And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune.
Jul. You do not.

Luc. No, madam, it is too sharp.

Jul. You, minion, are too saucy.
Luc. Nay, now you are too flat,

55 And mar the concord with too harsh a descant*:
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.
Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base.
Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Protheus.

4

1 To censure means, in this place, to pass sentence. 2 A broker was used for matchmaker, sometimes for procuress. Stomach was used for passion or obstinacy. * Descant is a term in music. "The mean is the tenor in music. The speaker here turns the allusion (which her mistress employed) from the base in music to a country exercise, Bid the base; in which some pursue, and others are made prisoners.

Jul.

Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me.
Here is a coil with protestation!-- [Tears it.
Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie:
You would be fingering them to anger me.

Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
Some to the wars, to try their fortune there;
Some, to discover islands far away;
Some, to the studious universities.

Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be 5 For any, or for all of these exercises,

best pleas'd

To be so anger'd with another letter.

[Exit.

Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the

same!

Oh hateful hands, to tear such loving words!
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey,
And kill the bees that yield it, with your stings!
I'll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ-kind Julia;—unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude,

He said, that Protheus, your son, was meet;
And did request me to importune you,
To let him spend his time no more at home,
Which would be great impeachment' to his age,
10 In having known no travel in his youth. [that
Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to
Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have consider'd well his loss of time;
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
15 Not being try'd, and tutor'd in the world:
Experience is by industry atchiev'd,

I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
Look, here is writ-love-wounded Protheus:-
Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed, [heal'd;}
Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be thoroughly 20
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice, or thrice, was Protheus written down:
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,
Till I have found each letter in the letter, [bear
Except mine own name; that some whirlwind 25
Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock,
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,-
Poor forlorn Protheus, passionate Protheus,
To the sweet Julia;-that I'll tear away;
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names;
Thus will I fold them one upon another;
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
Re-enter Lucetta.

Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father
Jul. Well, let us go.
[stays.
Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales

here?

And perfected by the swift course of time:
Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him?
Pant. I think, your lordship is not ignorant,
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the emperor in his royal court.

Ant. I know it well.
[him thither:
Pant. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent
There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,
Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen;
And be in eye of every exercise,

Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.

Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd:
And, that thou may'st perceive how well I like it,
30 The execution of it shall make known;
Even with the speediest expedition

35

Jul. If thou respect them, best to take them
140
up.
Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them
down;

Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
Jul. I see, you have a month's mind to them'.
Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you 45

see;

I see things too, although you judge I wink.
Jul. Come, come, will't please you go? [Exeunt.

SCENE III.
Anthonio's House.

Enter Antonio and Panthino. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad2 talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister Pant. 'Twas of his nephew Protheus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him?

Pant. He wonder'd, that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home; While other men, of slender reputation,

50

55

I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. [phonso.
Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Al-
With other gentlemen of good esteem,

Are journeying to salute the emperor,

And to commend their service to his will. [go:

Ant. Good company; with them shall Protheus |And, in good time,—now will we break with him. Enter Protheus.

Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life!
Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn:
Oh! that our fathers would applaud our loves,
To seal our happiness with their consents!
Oh heavenly Julia!

[there?

Ant. How now? what letter are you reading Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or Of commendation sent from Valentine, [two Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.

Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news.
Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he
writes

How happily he lives, how well belov'd,
And daily graced by the emperor;
Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish?
Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will,
And not depending on his friendly wish.

Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish; 60 Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;

A month's mind was an anniversary in times of popery; or, as Mr. Ray calls it, a less solemnity directed by the will of the deceased. There was also a year's mind, and a week's mind. See Proverbial Phrases. Sad is the same as grace or serious. Impeachment is hindrance. 4 The old expres sion when something happened which suited the thing in hand, similar to the French à propos.

For

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