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[Transcriber's Note:

This text of _Two Gentlemen of Verona_ is from Volume I of the
nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare. The Preface
(e-text 23041) and the other plays from this volume are each
available as separate e-texts.

General Notes are in their original location at the end of the play.
Text-critical notes are grouped at the end of each Scene. All line
numbers are from the original text; line breaks in dialogue--including
prose passages--are unchanged. Brackets are also unchanged; to avoid
ambiguity, footnotes and linenotes are given without added brackets.
In the notes, numerals printed as subscripts are shown inline as
F1, F2, Q1....

Texts cited in the Notes are listed at the end of the e-text.]




  THE WORKS

  of

  WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE


  Edited by

  WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK, M.A.
  Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College, and Public Orator
  in the University of Cambridge;

  and JOHN GLOVER, M.A.
  Librarian Of Trinity College, Cambridge.


  _VOLUME I._


  Cambridge and London:
  MACMILLAN AND CO.
  1863.




THE

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.




DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[1].


  DUKE OF MILAN[2], Father to Silvia.
  VALENTINE,  }
  PROTEUS[3], } the two Gentlemen.
  ANTONIO[4], Father to Proteus.
  THURIO, a foolish rival to Valentine.
  EGLAMOUR, Agent for Silvia in her escape.
  HOST, where Julia lodges.
  OUTLAWS, with Valentine.
  SPEED, a clownish Servant to Valentine.
  LAUNCE, the like to Proteus.
  PANTHINO[5], Servant to Antonio.

  JULIA, beloved of Proteus.
  SILVIA, beloved of Valentine.
  LUCETTA, waiting-woman to Julia.

  Servants, Musicians[6].

SCENE, _Verona; Milan; the frontiers of Mantua[7]_.


  Footnotes:

  1: DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.] THE NAMES OF ALL THE ACTORS F1, at the end
    of the play.
  2: OF MILAN] added by Pope.
  3: PROTEUS] Steevens. PROTHEUS Ff. See note (I).
  4: ANTONIO] Capell. ANTHONIO Ff.
  5: PANTHINO] Capell. PANTHION Ff. See note (I).
  6: _Servants, Musicians_] Theobald.
  7: SCENE ...] Pope and Hanmer.




THE

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.




ACT I.


SCENE I. _Verona. An open place._

  _Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS._

_Val._ Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus:
Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits.
Were't not affection chains thy tender days
To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love,
I rather would entreat thy company                                   5
To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Than, living dully sluggardized at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.
But since thou lovest, love still, and thrive therein,
Even as I would, when I to love begin.                              10

_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,                    15
If ever danger do environ thee,
Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,
For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.

_Val._ And on a love-book pray for my success?

_Pro._ Upon some book I love I'll pray for thee.                    20

_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,                   25
And yet you never swum 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 moment's mirth          30
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.                                  35

_Pro._ So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.

_Val._ So, by your circumstance, I fear you'll prove.

_Pro._ 'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love.

_Val._ Love is your master, for he masters you:
And he that is so yoked by a fool,                                  40
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.

_Val._ And writers say, as the most forward bud                     45
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.                           50
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.                    55

_Val._ Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave.
To 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.                           60

_Pro._ All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!

_Val._ As much to you at home! and so, farewell.    [_Exit._

_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.                      65
Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed 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?                  70

_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.                                  75

_Speed._ You conclude that my master is a shepherd,
then, and I a sheep?

_Pro._ I do.

_Speed._ Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I
wake or sleep.                                                      80

_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.               85

_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             90
followest thy master; thy master for wages follows not
thee: therefore thou art a sheep.

_Speed._ Such another proof will make me cry 'baa.'

_Pro._ But, dost thou hear? gavest thou my letter to
Julia?                                                              95

_Speed._ Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her,
a laced mutton, and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost
mutton, nothing for my labour.

_Pro._ Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.

_Speed._ If the ground be overcharged, you were best               100
stick her.

_Pro._ Nay: in that you are astray, 'twere best pound you.

_Speed._ Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for
carrying your letter.

_Pro._ You mistake; I mean the pound,--a pinfold.                  105

_Speed._ From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over,
'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover.

_Pro._ But what said she?

_Speed._ [_First nodding_] Ay.

_Pro._ Nod--Ay--why, that's noddy.                                 110

_Speed._ You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you
ask me if she did nod; and I say, 'Ay.'

_Pro._ And that set together is noddy.

_Speed._ Now you have taken the pains to set it together,
take it for your pains.                                            115

_Pro._ No, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter.

_Speed._ 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.                                 120

_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            125
may be both at once delivered.

_Pro._ Well, sir, here is for your pains. What 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 her;            130
no, not so much as a ducat 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 your mind. Give her no
token but stones; for she's as hard as steel.

_Pro._ What said she? nothing?                                     135

_Speed._ No, not so much as 'Take this for thy pains.'
To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned
me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself:
and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master.

_Pro._ Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck,              140
Which cannot perish having thee aboard,
Being destined to a drier death on shore.    [_Exit Speed._
I must go send some better messenger:
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post.    [_Exit._             145


  Notes: I, 1.

  8: _with_] _in_ Capell.
  19: _my_] F1. _thy_ F2 F3 F4.
  21-28: Put in the margin as spurious by Pope.
  25: _for_] _but_ Collier MS.
  28: _thee_] om. S. Walker conj. See note (II).
  30: _fading_] om. Hanmer.
  48: _blasting_] _blasted_ Collier MS.
  57: _To_] F1. _At_ F2 F3 F4. _To Milan!--let me hear_ Malone conj.
  65: _leave_] Pope. _love_ Ff.
  69: _Made_] _Make_ Johnson conj.
  70: SCENE II. Pope.
  70-144: Put in the margin by Pope.
  77: _a_] F2 F3 F4. om. F1.
  89: _follow_] _follows_ Pope.
  102: _astray_] _a stray_ Theobald (Thirlby conj.)
  _Nay: ... astray,_] Edd. _Nay, ... astray:_ Ff.
  105: _a_] _the_ Delius (Capell conj.).
  108, 109: Pro. _But what said she?_ Speed. [First nodding] _Ay._]
    Edd.
    Pro. _But what said she?_ Sp. _I._ Ff. Pro. _But what said she?_
    Speed. _She nodded and said I._ Pope.
    Pro. _But what said she? Did she nod?_ [Speed nods] Speed. _I._
    Theobald.
    Pro. _But what said she?_ [Speed _nods_] _Did she nod?_ Speed.
    _I._ Capell.
  110: _Nod--Ay--_] _Nod--I,_ Ff.
  111, 112: _say ... say_] F1. _said ... said_ F2 F3 F4.
  126: _at once_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.
  130-134: Printed as verse in Ff.
  130: _from her_] _from her better_ Collier MS. to rhyme with
    _letter_ in the next line.
  132: _brought_] _brought to her_ Collier MS.
  133: _your_] F1. _her_ F2 F3 F4. _you her_ Collier MS.
  135: _What said she? nothing?_] _What said she, nothing?_ Ff.
    _What, said she nothing?_ Pope.
  137: _as 'Take ... I thank you_] _as 'I thank you; take ..._
    Edd. conj.
  _testerned_] F2 F3 F4. _cestern'd_ F1.
  138: _henceforth_] F1 F3 F4. _hencefore_ F2.
  _letters_] F1. _letter_ F2 F3 F4.


SCENE II. _The same. Garden of JULIA'S house._

  _Enter JULIA and LUCETTA._

_Jul._ But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou, then, counsel me to fall in love?

_Luc._ Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully.

_Jul._ Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me,                              5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

_Luc._ Please you repeat their names, I'll show 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;                   10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.

_Jul._ What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio?

_Luc._ Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.

_Jul._ What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus?

_Luc._ Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us!                  15

_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.

_Jul._ Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?                      20

_Luc._ Then thus,--of many good I think him best.

_Jul._ Your reason?

_Luc._ I have no other but a woman's reason;
I think him so, because I think him so.

_Jul._ And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him?                25

_Luc._ Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.

_Jul._ Why, he, of all the rest, hath never moved me.

_Luc._ Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.

_Jul._ His little speaking shows his love but small.

_Luc._ Fire that's closest kept burns most of all.                  30

_Jul._ They do not love that do not show their love.

_Luc._ O, they love least that let men know their love.

_Jul._ I would I knew his mind.

_Luc._ Peruse this paper, madam.

_Jul._ 'To Julia.'--Say, from whom?                                 35

_Luc._ That the contents will show.

_Jul._ Say, say, who gave it thee?

_Luc._ Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you; but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault, I pray.              40

_Jul._ Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!
Dare you presume 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.                               45
There, take the paper: see it be return'd;
Or else return no more into my sight.

_Luc._ To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.

_Jul._ Will ye be gone?

_Luc._                That you may ruminate.    [_Exit._

_Jul._ And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter:                 50
It were a shame to call her back again,
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a 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                           55
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!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,                                60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,
And ask remission for my folly past.                                65
What, ho! Lucetta!

  _Re-enter LUCETTA._

_Luc._           What would your ladyship?

_Jul._ Is't near dinner-time?

_Luc._                      I would it were;
That you might kill your stomach on your meat,
And not upon your maid.

_Jul._ What is't that you took up so gingerly?                      70

_Luc._ Nothing.

_Jul._ Why didst thou stoop, then?

_Luc._ To take a paper up that I let fall.

_Jul._ And is that paper nothing?

_Luc._ Nothing concerning me.                                       75

_Jul._ Then let it lie for those that it concerns.

_Luc._ Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.

_Jul._ Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.

_Luc._ That I might sing it, madam, to a tune.                      80
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?                     85

_Luc._ Ay; and melodious were it, would you sing it.

_Jul._ And why not you?

_Luc._                I cannot reach so high.

_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.                           90

_Jul._ You do not?

_Luc._           No, madam; it is too sharp.

_Jul._ You, minion, are too saucy.

_Luc._ Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant:
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.                         95

_Jul._ The mean is drown'd with your unruly bass.

_Luc._ Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.

_Jul._ This babble shall not henceforth trouble me.
Here is a coil with protestation!     [_Tears the letter._
Go get you gone, and let the papers lie:                           100
You would be fingering them, to anger me.

_Luc._ She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger'd with another letter.    [_Exit._

_Jul._ Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words!                        105
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,                                  110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ 'love-wounded Proteus.'
Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed,
Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be throughly heal'd;              115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was 'Proteus' written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear                     120
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 Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia':--that I'll tear away.--                       125
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,                                                      130
Dinner is ready, and your father stays.

_Jul._ Well, let us go.

_Luc._ What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?

_Jul._ If you respect them, best to take them up.

_Luc._ Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:                   135
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 see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.

_Jul._ Come, come; will't please you go?    [_Exeunt._             140


  Notes: I, 2.

  SCENE II.] SCENE III. Pope.
  Garden &c.] Malone. Changes to Julia's chamber. Pope.
  1: _now we are_] F1. _now are we_ F2 F3 F4.
  5: _parle_] _par'le_ Ff.
  15: _reigns_] _feigns_ Anon. conj.
  18: _am_] _can_ Collier MS.
  19: _censure ... gentlemen_] _censure on a lovely gentleman_
    S. Verges conj. _censure on this lovely gentleman_ Edd. conj.
  _thus_] _pass_ Hanmer.
  _on lovely gentlemen_] _a lovely gentleman_ Pope. _a loving
    gentleman_ Collier MS.
  20: _of_] _on_ S. Verges conj.
  30: _Fire_] Ff. _The fire_ Pope.
  _that's_] _that is_ Johnson.
  39: _being in the way_] _being by_ Pope.
  40: _pardon the fault, I pray_] _pardon me_ Pope.
  53: _What a fool_] _What 'foole_ F1 F2 F3. _What fool_ F4.
    See note (III).
  67: _Is't_] _Is it_ Capell.
  _near_] om. Boswell.
  81: F1 omits the stop after _set_.
  83: _o' Love_] Theobald. _O, Love_ F1 F2. _O Love_ F3 F4.
  88: _How now_] _Why, how now_ Hanmer. After this line Hanmer adds
    a stage direction [Gives her a box on the ear].
  96: _your_] _you_ F1.
  99: [Tears the letter.] [Tears it. Pope.
  102: _best pleased_] _pleased better_ Collier MS.
  103: [Exit] F2.
  121: _fearful-hanging_] Delius. _fearful, hanging_ Ff.
  130, 131: _Madam, Dinner is_] _Madam, dinner's_ Capell conj.
  137: _to_] _unto_ Collier MS.
  _them._] _them, minion._ Hanmer.
  138: _say what sights you see_] _see what sights you think_
    Collier MS.


SCENE III. _The same. ANTONIO'S house._

  _Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO._

_Ant._ Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that
Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?

_Pan._ 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.

_Ant._ Why, what of him?

_Pan._                 He wonder'd that your lordship
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home,                         5
While other men, of slender reputation,
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.                                  10
For any, or for all these exercises,
He said that Proteus 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,                        15
In having known no travel in his youth.

_Ant._ Nor need'st thou much importune me to that
Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have consider'd well his loss of time,
And how he cannot be a perfect man,                                 20
Not being tried and tutor'd in the world:
Experience is by industry achieved,
And perfected by the swift course of time.
Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him?

_Pan._ I think your lordship is not ignorant                        25
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the emperor in his royal court.

_Ant._ I know it well.

_Pan._ 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither:
There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,                      30
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 advised:
And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it                     35
The execution of it shall make known.
Even with the speediest expedition
I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.

_Pan._ To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,
With other gentlemen of good esteem,                                40
Are journeying to salute the emperor,
And to commend their service to his will.

_Ant._ Good company; with them shall Proteus go:
And, in good time! now will we break with him.

  _Enter PROTEUS._

_Pro._ Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life!                         45
Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn.
O, that our fathers would applaud our loves,
To seal our happiness with their consents!
O heavenly Julia!                                                   50

_Ant._ How now! what letter are you reading there?

_Pro._ May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two
Of commendations sent from Valentine,
Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.

_Ant._ Lend me the letter; let me see what news.                    55

_Pro._ There is no news, my lord; but that he writes
How happily he lives, how well beloved,
And daily graced by the emperor;
Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.

_Ant._ And how stand you affected to his wish?                      60

_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.
Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;
For what I will, I will, and there an end.                          65
I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentinus in the emperor's court:
What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
To-morrow be in readiness to go:                                    70
Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.

_Pro._ My lord, I cannot be so soon provided:
Please you, deliberate a day or two.

_Ant._ Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee:
No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go.                            75
Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd
To hasten on his expedition.    [_Exeunt Ant. and Pan._

_Pro._ Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning,
And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.
I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter,                          80
Lest he should take exceptions to my love;
And with the vantage of mine own excuse
Hath he excepted most against my love.
O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day,                                85
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!

  _Re-enter PANTHINO._

_Pan._ Sir Proteus, your father calls for you:
He is in haste; therefore, I pray you, go.

_Pro._ Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto,                   90
And yet a thousand times it answers 'no.'    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: I, 3.

  SCENE III.] SCENE IV. Pope. Antonio's House.] Theobald.
  1: _Panthino_] F1 F2. _Panthion_ F3 F4.
  21: _and_] F1. _nor_ F2 F3 F4.
  24: _whither_] F2 F3 F4. _whether_ F1.
  44: _And, in good time!_] _And in good time:_ F1. _And in good
    time,_ F2 F3 F4. _And,--in good time:_--Dyce.
  44: Enter Proteus] F2.
  45: _sweet life_] _sweet life! sweet Julia_ Capell.
  49: _To_] _And_ Collier MS.
  65: _there_] F1 F2. _there's_ F3 F4.
  67: _Valentinus_] F1. _Valentino_ F2 F3 F4. _Valentine_ Warburton.
  77: [Exeunt Ant. and Pan.]. Rowe.
  84: _resembleth_] _resembleth well_ Pope. _resembleth right_
    Johnson conj.
  86: _sun_] _light_ Johnson conj.
  88: Re-enter Panthino.] om. F1. Enter. F2.
  _father_] _fathers_ F1.
  91: [Exeunt.] Exeunt. Finis. Ff.




ACT II.


SCENE I. _Milan. The DUKE'S Palace._

  _Enter VALENTINE and SPEED._

_Speed._ Sir, your glove.

_Val._                  Not mine; my gloves are on.

_Speed._ Why, then, this may be yours, for this is but one.

_Val._ Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine:
Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine!
Ah, Silvia, Silvia!                                                  5

_Speed._ Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia!

_Val._ How now, sirrah?

_Speed._ She is not within hearing, sir.

_Val._ Why, sir, who bade you call her?

_Speed._ Your worship, sir; or else I mistook.                      10

_Val._ Well, you'll still be too forward.

_Speed._ And yet I was last chidden for being too slow.

_Val._ Go to, sir: tell me, do you know Madam Silvia?

_Speed._ She that your worship loves?

_Val._ Why, how know you that I am in love?                         15

_Speed._ Marry, by these special marks: first, you have
learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreathe your arms, like a malecontent;
to relish a love-song, like a robin-redbreast; to
walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a
school-boy that had lost his A B C; to weep, like a young           20
wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that
takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak
puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when
you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk
like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after      25
dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money:
and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when
I look on you, I can hardly think you my master.

_Val._ Are all these things perceived in me?

_Speed._ They are all perceived without ye.                         30

_Val._ Without me? they cannot.

_Speed._ Without you? nay, that's certain, for, without
you were so simple, none else would: but you are so without
these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine
through you like the water in an urinal, that not an eye that       35
sees you but is a physician to comment on your malady.

_Val._ But tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia?

_Speed._ She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper?

_Val._ Hast thou observed that? even she, I mean.

_Speed._ Why, sir, I know her not.                                  40

_Val._ Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and
yet knowest her not?

_Speed._ Is she not hard-favoured, sir?

_Val._ Not so fair, boy, as well-favoured.

_Speed._ Sir, I know that well enough.                              45

_Val._ What dost thou know?

_Speed._ That she is not so fair as, of you, well favoured.

_Val._ I mean that her beauty is exquisite, but her
favour infinite.

_Speed._ That's because the one is painted, and the other           50
out of all count.

_Val._ How painted? and how out of count?

_Speed._ Marry, sir, so painted, to make her fair, that no
man counts of her beauty.

_Val._ How esteemest thou me? I account of her beauty.              55

_Speed._ You never saw her since she was deformed.

_Val._ How long hath she been deformed?

_Speed._ Ever since you loved her.

_Val._ I have loved her ever since I saw her; and still I
see her beautiful.                                                  60

_Speed._ If you love her, you cannot see her.

_Val._ Why?

_Speed._ Because Love is blind. O, that you had mine
eyes; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to
have when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered!             65

_Val._ What should I see then?

_Speed._ Your own present folly, and her passing deformity:
for he, being in love, could not see to garter his
hose; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hose.

_Val._ Belike, boy, then, you are in love; for last morning         70
you could not see to wipe my shoes.

_Speed._ True, sir; I was in love with my bed: I thank
you, you swinged me for my love, which makes me the
bolder to chide you for yours.

_Val._ In conclusion, I stand affected to her.                      75

_Speed._ I would you were set, so your affection would
cease.

_Val._ Last night she enjoined me to write some lines
to one she loves.

_Speed._ And have you?                                              80

_Val._ I have.

_Speed._ Are they not lamely writ?

_Val._ No, boy, but as well as I can do them. Peace!
here she comes.

_Speed._ [_Aside_] O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet!          85
Now will he interpret to her.


  _Enter SILVIA._

_Val._ Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows.

_Speed._ [_Aside_] O, give ye good even! here's a million
of manners.

_Sil._ Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand.              90

_Speed._ [_Aside_] He should give her interest, and she
gives it him.

_Val._ As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter
Unto the secret nameless friend of yours;
Which I was much unwilling to proceed in,                           95
But for my duty to your ladyship.

_Sil._ I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very clerkly done.

_Val._ Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off;
For, being ignorant to whom it goes,
I writ at random, very doubtfully.                                 100

_Sil._ Perchance you think too much of so much pains?

_Val._ No, madam; so it stead you, I will write,
Please you command, a thousand times as much;
And yet--

_Sil._ A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel;                  105
And yet I will not name it;--and yet I care not;--
And yet take this again:--and yet I thank you;
Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more.

_Speed._ [_Aside_] And yet you will; and yet another 'yet.'

_Val._ What means your ladyship? do you not like it?               110

_Sil._ Yes, yes: the lines are very quaintly writ;
But since unwillingly, take them again.
Nay, take them.

_Val._ Madam, they are for you.

_Sil._ Ay, ay: you writ them, sir, at my request;                  115
But I will none of them; they are for you;
I would have had them writ more movingly.

_Val._ Please you, I'll write your ladyship another.

_Sil._ And when it's writ, for my sake read it over,
And if it please you, so; if not, why, so.                         120

_Val._ If it please me, madam, what then?

_Sil._ Why, if it please you, take it for your labour:
And so, good morrow, servant.    [_Exit._

_Speed._ O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible,
As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple!          125
My master sues to her; and she hath taught her suitor,
He being her pupil, to become her tutor.
O excellent device! was there ever heard a better,
That my master, being scribe, to himself should write the letter?

_Val._ How now, sir? what are you reasoning with                   130
yourself?

_Speed._ Nay. I was rhyming: 'tis you that have the reason.

_Val._ To do what?

_Speed._ To be a spokesman for Madam Silvia.                       135

_Val._ To whom?

_Speed._ To yourself: why, she wooes you by a figure.

_Val._ What figure?

_Speed._ By a letter, I should say.

_Val._ Why, she hath not writ to me?                               140

_Speed._ What need she, when she hath made you write
to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest?

_Val._ No, believe me.

_Speed._ No believing you, indeed, sir. But did you perceive
her earnest?                                                       145

_Val._ She gave me none, except an angry word.

_Speed._ Why, she hath given you a letter.

_Val._ That's the letter I writ to her friend.

_Speed._ And that letter hath she delivered, and there
an end.                                                            150

_Val._ I would it were no worse.

_Speed._ I'll warrant you, 'tis as well:
For often have you writ to her; and she, in modesty,
Or else for want of idle time, could not again reply;
Or fearing else some messenger, that might her mind discover,      155
Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover.
All this I speak in print, for in print I found it. Why muse
you, sir? 'tis dinner-time.

_Val._ I have dined.

_Speed._ Ay, but hearken, sir; though the chameleon                160
Love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourished by
my victuals, and would fain have meat. O, be not like
your mistress; be moved, be moved.    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: II, 1.

  19: _had_] _hath_ Collier MS.
  21: _buried_] F1. _lost_ F2 F3 F4.
  27: _you are_] _you are so_ Collier MS.
  32: _Without you?_] _Without you!_ Dyce.
  33: _would_] _would be_ Collier MS.
  41: _my_] F1 F2. om. F3 F4.
  68, 69: See note (IV).
  76: _set,_] _set;_ Malone.
  85, 88, 91: [Aside] Capell.
  91: Speed.] F1 F4. Sil. F2 F3.
  96: _for_] om. F3 F4.
  102: _stead_] _steed_ Ff.
  106: _name it_] _name 't_ Capell. _and yet_] _yet_ Pope.
  109: [Aside] Rowe.
  114: _for_] _writ for_ Anon. conj.
  124, 125: Printed as prose by Pope.
  129: _scribe_] _the scribe_ Pope.
  137: _wooes_] _woes_ Ff. (IV. ii. 138. _woe_ F1. _wooe_ F2 F3 F4.)
  149: _there_] F1. _there's_ F2 F3 F4.


SCENE II. _Verona. JULIA'S house._

  _Enter PROTEUS and JULIA._

_Pro._ Have patience, gentle Julia.

_Jul._ I must, where is no remedy.

_Pro._ When possibly I can, I will return.

_Jul._ If you turn not, you will return the sooner.
Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake.                          5
                                            [_Giving a ring._

_Pro._ Why, then, we'll make exchange; here, take you this.

_Jul._ And seal the bargain with a holy kiss.

_Pro._ Here is my hand for my true constancy;
And when that hour o'erslips me in the day
Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake,                            10
The next ensuing hour some foul mischance
Torment me for my love's forgetfulness!
My father stays my coming; answer not;
The tide is now:--nay, not thy tide of tears;
That tide will stay me longer than I should.                        15
Julia, farewell!    [_Exit Julia._
                  What, gone without a word?
Ay, so true love should do: it cannot speak;
For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it.

  _Enter PANTHINO._

_Pan._ Sir Proteus, you are stay'd for.

_Pro._ Go; I come, I come.                                          20
Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb.    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: II, 2.

  5: [Giving a ring] Rowe.
  16: [Exit Julia] Rowe.
  20: _I come, I come_] _I come_ Pope.


SCENE III. _The same. A street._

  _Enter LAUNCE, leading a dog._

_Launce._ Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done weeping;
all the kind of the Launces have this very fault. I have
received my proportion, like the prodigious son, and am
going with Sir Proteus to the Imperial's court. I think Crab
my dog be the sourest-natured dog that lives: my mother              5
weeping, my father wailing, my sister crying, our maid
howling, our cat wringing her hands, and all our house in a
great perplexity, yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one
tear: he is a stone, a very pebble stone, and has no more
pity in him than a dog: a Jew would have wept to have               10
seen our parting; why, my grandam, having no eyes, look
you, wept herself blind at my parting. Nay, I'll shew you
the manner of it. This shoe is my father: no, this left shoe
is my father: no, no, this left shoe is my mother: nay, that
cannot be so neither: yes, it is so, it is so, it hath the worser   15
sole. This shoe, with the hole in it, is my mother, and this
my father; a vengeance on't! there 'tis: now, sir, this staff is
my sister, for, look you, she is as white as a lily, and as
small as a wand: this hat is Nan, our maid: I am the dog:
no, the dog is himself, and I am the dog,--Oh! the dog is           20
me, and I am myself; ay, so, so. Now come I to my
father; Father, your blessing: now should not the shoe
speak a word for weeping: now should I kiss my father;
well, he weeps on. Now come I to my mother: O, that
she could speak now like a wood woman! Well, I kiss her;            25
why, there 'tis; here's my mother's breath up and down.
Now come I to my sister; mark the moan she makes. Now
the dog all this while sheds not a tear, nor speaks a word;
but see how I lay the dust with my tears.

  _Enter PANTHINO._

_Pan._ Launce, away, away, aboard! thy master is shipped,           30
and thou art to post after with oars. What's the matter?
why weepest thou, man? Away, ass! you'll lose the
tide, if you tarry any longer.

_Launce._ It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is
the unkindest tied that ever any man tied.                          35

_Pan._ What's the unkindest tide?

_Launce._ Why, he that's tied here, Crab, my dog.

_Pan._ Tut, man, I mean thou'lt lose the flood: and, in
losing the flood, lose thy voyage, and, in losing thy voyage,
lose thy master, and, in losing thy master, lose thy service,       40
and, in losing thy service,--Why dost thou stop my mouth?

_Launce._ For fear thou shouldst lose thy tongue.

_Pan._ Where should I lose my tongue?

_Launce._ In thy tale.

_Pan._ In thy tail!                                                 45

_Launce._ Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master,
and the service, and the tied! Why, man, if the river were
dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the wind were
down, I could drive the boat with my sighs.

_Pan._ Come, come away, man; I was sent to call thee.               50

_Launce._ Sir, call me what thou darest.

_Pan._ Wilt thou go?

_Launce._ Well, I will go.    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: II, 3.

  9: _pebble_] _pibble_ Ff.
  20: _I am the dog_] _I am me_ Hanmer.
  _Oh, the dog is me_] _Ay, the dog is the dog_ Hanmer.
  25: _she_] _the shoe_ Hanmer.
  _a wood woman_] Theobald. _a would woman_ Ff. _an ould woman_ Pope.
    _a wild woman_ Collier MS.
  Malone (Blackstone conj.) punctuates (_O that she could speak now!_)
  35: _tied ... tied_] _Tide ... tide_ F1. _Tide ... tyde_ F2 F3 F4.
  45: _thy tail!_] _my tail?_ Hanmer.
  [Kicking him. Anon. conj.
  46: _tide_] _Tide_ F1 F4. _Tyde_ F2 F3. _flood_ Pope. _tied_
    Collier.
  47: _and the tied_] Singer. _and the tide_ Ff. om. Capell.
    _The tide!_ Steevens. _indeed!_ S. Verges conj.


SCENE IV. _Milan. The DUKE'S palace._

  _Enter SILVIA, VALENTINE, THURIO, and SPEED._

_Sil._ Servant!

_Val._ Mistress?

_Speed._ Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.

_Val._ Ay, boy, it's for love.

_Speed._ Not of you.                                                 5

_Val._ Of my mistress, then.

_Speed._ 'Twere good you knocked him.    [_Exit._

_Sil._ Servant, you are sad.

_Val._ Indeed, madam, I seem so.

_Thu._ Seem you that you are not?                                   10

_Val._ Haply I do.

_Thu._ So do counterfeits.

_Val._ So do you.

_Thu._ What seem I that I am not?

_Val._ Wise.                                                        15

_Thu._ What instance of the contrary?

_Val._ Your folly.

_Thu._ And how quote you my folly?

_Val._ I quote it in your jerkin.

_Thu._ My jerkin is a doublet.                                      20

_Val._ Well, then, I'll double your folly.

_Thu._ How?

_Sil._ What, angry, Sir Thurio! do you change colour?

_Val._ Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.

_Thu._ That hath more mind to feed on your blood than               25
live in your air.

_Val._ You have said, sir.

_Thu._ Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.

_Val._ I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.

_Sil._ A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly               30
shot off.

_Val._ 'Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver.

_Sil._ Who is that, servant?

_Val._ Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire. Sir
Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship's looks, and              35
spends what he borrows kindly in your company.

_Thu._ Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall
make your wit bankrupt.

_Val._ I know it well, sir; you have an exchequer of
words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your followers,      40
for it appears, by their bare liveries, that they live by
your bare words.

_Sil._ No more, gentlemen, no more:--here comes my father.

  _Enter DUKE._

_Duke._ Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset.                   45
Sir Valentine, your father's in good health:
What say you to a letter from your friends
Of much good news?

_Val._           My lord, I will be thankful
To any happy messenger from thence.

_Duke._ Know ye Don Antonio, your countryman?                       50

_Val._ Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman
To be of worth, and worthy estimation,
And not without desert so well reputed.

_Duke._ Hath he not a son?

_Val._ Ay, my good lord; a son that well deserves                   55
The honour and regard of such a father.

_Duke._ You know him well?

_Val._ I know him as myself; for from our infancy
We have conversed and spent our hours together:
And though myself have been an idle truant,                         60
Omitting the sweet benefit of time
To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection,
Yet hath Sir Proteus, for that's his name,
Made use and fair advantage of his days;
His years but young, but his experience old;                        65
His head unmellow'd, but his judgment ripe;
And, in a word, for far behind his worth
Comes all the praises that I now bestow,
He is complete in feature and in mind
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.                           70

_Duke._ Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good,
He is as worthy for an empress' love
As meet to be an emperor's counsellor.
Well, sir, this gentleman is come to me,
With commendation from great potentates;                            75
And here he means to spend his time awhile:
I think 'tis no unwelcome news to you.

_Val._ Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he.

_Duke._ Welcome him, then, according to his worth.
Silvia, I speak to you, and you, Sir Thurio,                        80
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it:
I will send him hither to you presently.    [_Exit._

_Val._ This is the gentleman I told your ladyship
Had come along with me, but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes lock'd in her crystal looks.                      85

_Sil._ Belike that now she hath enfranchised them,
Upon some other pawn for fealty.

_Val._ Nay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.

_Sil._ Nay, then, he should be blind; and, being blind,
How could he see his way to seek out you?                           90

_Val._ Why, lady, Love hath twenty pair of eyes.

_Thu._ They say that Love hath not an eye at all.

_Val._ To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself:
Upon a homely object Love can wink.

_Sil._ Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman.              95

  _Enter PROTEUS.    [Exit THURIO._

_Val._ Welcome, dear Proteus! Mistress, I beseech you,
Confirm his welcome with some special favour.

_Sil._ His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he you oft have wish'd to hear from.

_Val._ Mistress, it is: sweet lady, entertain him                  100
To be my fellow-servant to your ladyship.

_Sil._ Too low a mistress for so high a servant.

_Pro._ Not so, sweet lady: but too mean a servant
To have a look of such a worthy mistress.

_Val._ Leave off discourse of disability:                          105
Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.

_Pro._ My duty will I boast of; nothing else.

_Sil._ And duty never yet did want his meed:
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.

_Pro._ I'll die on him that says so but yourself.                  110

_Sil._ That you are welcome?

_Pro._                     That you are worthless.

  _Re-enter THURIO._

_Thu._ Madam, my lord your father would speak with you.

_Sil._ I wait upon his pleasure. Come, Sir Thurio,
Go with me. Once more, new servant, welcome:
I'll leave you to confer of home affairs;                          115
When you have done, we look to hear from you.

_Pro._ We'll both attend upon your ladyship.
    [_Exeunt Silvia and Thurio._

_Val._ Now, tell me, how do all from whence you came?

_Pro._ Your friends are well, and have them much commended.

_Val._ And how do yours?

_Pro._                 I left them all in health.                  120

_Val._ How does your lady? and how thrives your love?

_Pro._ My tales of love were wont to weary you;
I know you joy not in a love-discourse.

_Val._ Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now:
I have done penance for contemning Love,                           125
Whose high imperious thoughts have punish'd me
With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,
With nightly tears, and daily heart-sore sighs;
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,
Love hath chased sleep from my enthralled eyes,                    130
And made them watchers of mine own heart's sorrow.
O gentle Proteus, Love's a mighty lord,
And hath so humbled me; as I confess
There is no woe to his correction,
Nor to his service no such joy on earth.                           135
Now no discourse, except it be of love;
Now can I break my fast, dine, sup and sleep,
Upon the very naked name of love.

_Pro._ Enough; I read your fortune in your eye.
Was this the idol that you worship so?                             140

_Val._ Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint?

_Pro._ No; but she is an earthly paragon.

_Val._ Call her divine.

_Pro._                I will not flatter her.

_Val._ O, flatter me; for love delights in praises.

_Pro._ When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills;                  145
And I must minister the like to you.

_Val._ Then speak the truth by her; if not divine,
Yet let her be a principality,
Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.

_Pro._ Except my mistress.

_Val._                   Sweet, except not any;                    150
Except thou wilt except against my love.

_Pro._ Have I not reason to prefer mine own?

_Val._ And I will help thee to prefer her too:
She shall be dignified with this high honour,--
To bear my lady's train, lest the base earth                       155
Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss,
And, of so great a favour growing proud,
Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower,
And make rough winter everlastingly.

_Pro._ Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this?                   160

_Val._ Pardon me, Proteus: all I can is nothing
To her, whose worth makes other worthies nothing;
She is alone.

_Pro._      Then let her alone.

_Val._ Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own;
And I as rich in having such a jewel                               165
As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me, that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou see'st me dote upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes                            170
Only for his possessions are so huge,
Is gone with her along; and I must after,
For love, thou know'st, is full of jealousy.

_Pro._ But she loves you?

_Val._ Ay, and we are betroth'd: nay, more, our marriage-hour,     175
With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Determined of; how I must climb her window;
The ladder made of cords; and all the means
Plotted and 'greed on for my happiness.
Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,                            180
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.

_Pro._ Go on before; I shall inquire you forth:
I must unto the road, to disembark
Some necessaries that I needs must use;
And then I'll presently attend you.                                185

_Val._ Will you make haste?

_Pro._ I will.    [_Exit Valentine._
Even as one heat another heat expels,
Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love                               190
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
Is it mine, or Valentine's praise,
Her true perfection, or my false transgression,
That makes me reasonless to reason thus?
She is fair; and so is Julia, that I love.--                       195
That I did love, for now my love is thaw'd;
Which, like a waxen image 'gainst a fire,
Bears no impression of the thing it was.
Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,
And that I love him not as I was wont.                             200
O, but I love his lady too too much!
And that's the reason I love him so little.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,
That thus without advice begin to love her!
'Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,                            205
And that hath dazzled my reason's light;
But when I look on her perfections,
There is no reason but I shall be blind.
If I can check my erring love, I will;
If not, to compass her I'll use my skill.    [_Exit._              210


  Notes: II, 4.

  2: [They converse apart] Capell.
  7: [Exit] Edd. See note (V).
  21: _I'll_] _Ile_ Ff. _'twill_ Collier MS.
  45: SCENE V. Pope.
  Enter DUKE.] Enter DUKE attended. Capell.
  49: _happy_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.
  50: _ye_] F1. _you_ F2 F3 F4.
  52: _worth_] _wealth_ Collier MS. and S. Walker conj.
  58: _Know_] Hanmer. _Knew_ Ff.
  68: _comes_] Ff. _come_ Rowe.
  77: _unwelcome_] F1. _welcome_ F2 F3 F4.
  81: _cite_] _'cite_ Malone.
  82: _I will_] _I'll_ Pope.
  [Exit] Rowe.
  95: SCENE VI. Pope. Enter PROTEUS.] Enter. F2.
  Exit THURIO.] Collier. See note (V).
  97: _his_] F1. _this_ F2 F3 F4.
  104: _a worthy_] _a worthy a_ F1.
  111: _welcome_] _welcome, sir_ Capell.
  _That you are worthless_] _No, that you are worthless_ Johnson.
  Re-enter THURIO.] om. Ff. Enter THURIO. Collier. Enter a Servant.
    Theobald.
  112: Thu.] Ff. Serv. Theobald.
  113: [Exit servant. Theobald.
  114: _Go_] _Go you_ Capell.
  _new servant_] _my new servant_ Pope.
  117: [Exeunt S. and T.] Rowe.
  118: SCENE VII. Pope.
  126: _Whose_] _Those_ Johnson conj.
  133: _as I confess_] _as, I confess,_ Warburton.
  135: _no such_] _any_ Hanmer.
  144: _praises_] F1. _praise_ F2 F3 F4.
  158: _summer-swelling_] _summer-smelling_ Steevens conj.
    (withdrawn).
  160: _braggardism_] Steevens. _bragadism_ Ff.
  162: _makes_] _make_ F1.
  _worthies_] _worth as_ Grant White.
  163: _Then_] _Why, then_ Hanmer.
  167: _rocks_] F1. _rocke_ F2. _rock_ F3 F4.
  175: _Ay, and we are_] _Ay, And we're_ Edd. conj.
  _nay, more_] _Nay, more, my Protheus_ Capell.
  _marriage-hour_] _marriage_ Pope.
  185: _you_] _upon you_ Hanmer. _on you_ Capell.
  187: [Exit Val.] [Exit. F1. om. F2 F3 F4. [Exeunt Valentine and
    Speed. Dyce. See note (V).
  192: _Is it ... praise,_] _It is mine, or Valentine's praise?_ F1.
    _Is it mine then, or Valentineans praise?_ F2 F3 F4. _Is it mine
    then or Valentino's praise,_ Rowe, Pope. _Is it mine eye or
    Valentine's praise,_ Theobald (Warburton). _Is it mine eyne, or
    Valentino's praise,_ Hanmer. _Is it mine own, or Valentino's
    praise,_ Capell. _Is it her mien, or Valentinus' praise,_
    Malone (Blakeway conj.). See note (VI).
  206: _dazzled_] _dazel'd_ F1. _dazel'd so_ F2 F3 F4.
  210: [Exit.] F2. [Exeunt. F1.


SCENE V. _The same. A street._

  _Enter SPEED and LAUNCE severally._

_Speed._ Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Padua!

_Launce._ Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for I am not
welcome. I reckon this always--that a man is never undone
till he be hanged; nor never welcome to a place till
some certain shot be paid, and the hostess say 'Welcome!'            5

_Speed._ Come on, you madcap, I'll to the alehouse with
you presently; where, for one shot of five pence, thou shalt
have five thousand welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy
master part with Madam Julia?

_Launce._ Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted          10
very fairly in jest.

_Speed._ But shall she marry him?

_Launce._ No.

_Speed._ How, then? shall he marry her?

_Launce._ No, neither.                                              15

_Speed._ What, are they broken?

_Launce._ No, they are both as whole as a fish.

_Speed._ Why, then, how stands the matter with them?

_Launce._ Marry, thus; when it stands well with him, it
stands well with her.                                               20

_Speed._ What an ass art thou! I understand thee not.

_Launce._ What a block art thou, that thou canst not!
My staff understands me.

_Speed._ What thou sayest?

_Launce._ Ay, and what I do too: look thee, I'll but                25
lean, and my staff understands me.

_Speed._ It stands under thee, indeed.

_Launce._ Why, stand-under and under-stand is all one.

_Speed._ But tell me true, will't be a match?

_Launce._ Ask my dog: if he say ay, it will; if he say,             30
no, it will; if he shake his tail and say nothing, it will.

_Speed._ The conclusion is, then, that it will.

_Launce._ Thou shalt never get such a secret from me
but by a parable.

_Speed._ 'Tis well that I get it so. But, Launce, how               35
sayest thou, that my master is become a notable lover?

_Launce._ I never knew him otherwise.

_Speed._ Than how?

_Launce._ A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be.

_Speed._ Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistakest me.                 40

_Launce._ Why fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master.

_Speed._ I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover.

_Launce._ Why, I tell thee, I care not though he burn
himself in love. If thou wilt, go with me to the alehouse;
if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name           45
of a Christian.

_Speed._ Why?

_Launce._ Because thou hast not so much charity in thee
as to go to the ale with a Christian. Wilt thou go?

_Speed._ At thy service.    [_Exeunt._                              50


  Notes: II, 5.

  SCENE V.] SCENA QUINTA F1. SCENA QUARTA F2 F3 F4. SCENE VIII. Pope.
  1: _Padua_] Ff. _Milan_ Pope. See note (VII).
  4: _be_] _is_ Rowe.
  21-28: Put in the margin as spurious by Pope.
  36: _that_] F2 F3 F4. _that that_ F1.
  44: _in love. If thou wilt, go_] Knight. _in love. If thou wilt go_
    Ff. _in love, if thou wilt go_ Collier (Malone conj.).
  _alehouse_] F1. _alehouse, so_ F2 F3 F4.
  49: _ale_] _ale-house_ Rowe.


SCENE VI. _The same. The DUKE'S palace._

  _Enter PROTEUS._

_Pro._ To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn;
To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn;
To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn;
And even that power, which gave me first my oath,
Provokes me to this threefold perjury;                               5
Love bade me swear, and Love bids me forswear.
O sweet-suggesting Love, if thou hast sinn'd,
Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it!
At first I did adore a twinkling star,
But now I worship a celestial sun.                                  10
Unheedful vows may needfully be broken;
And he wants wit that wants resolved will
To learn his wit to exchange the bad for better.
Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad,
Whose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferr'd                        15
With twenty thousand soul-confirming oaths.
I cannot leave to love, and yet I do;
But there I leave to love where I should love.
Julia I lose, and Valentine I lose:
If I keep them, I needs must lose myself;                           20
If I lose them, thus find I by their loss
For Valentine, myself, for Julia, Silvia.
I to myself am dearer than a friend,
For love is still most precious in itself;
And Silvia--witness Heaven, that made her fair!--                   25
Shows Julia but a swarthy Ethiope.
I will forget that Julia is alive,
Remembering that my love to her is dead;
And Valentine I'll hold an enemy,
Aiming at Silvia as a sweeter friend.                               30
I cannot now prove constant to myself,
Without some treachery used to Valentine.
This night he meaneth with a corded ladder
To climb celestial Silvia's chamber-window;
Myself in counsel, his competitor.                                  35
Now presently I'll give her father notice
Of their disguising and pretended flight;
Who, all enraged, will banish Valentine;
For Thurio, he intends, shall wed his daughter;
But, Valentine being gone, I'll quickly cross                       40
By some sly trick blunt Thurio's dull proceeding.
Love, lend me wings to make my purpose swift,
As thou hast lent me wit to plot this drift!    [_Exit._


  Notes: II, 6.

  SCENE VI.] SCENE IX. Pope.
  Enter PROTEUS.] Enter PROTHEUS solus. Ff.
  1, 2: _forsworn; ... forsworn;_] Theobald. _forsworn? ... forsworn?_
    Ff.
  7: _sweet-suggesting_] _sweet suggestion,_ Pope.
  _if thou hast_] _if I have_ Warburton.
  16: _soul-confirming_] _soul-confirmed_ Pope.
  21: _thus_] _this_ Theobald.
  _by_] F1. _but_ F2 F3 F4.
  24: _most_] _more_ Steevens.
  _in_] _to_ Collier MS.
  35: _counsel_] _counsaile_ F1 F2. _councel_ F3. _council_ F4.
  37: _pretended_] _intended_ Johnson conj.
  43: _this_] F1. _his_ F2 F3 F4.


SCENE VII. _Verona. JULIA'S house._

  _Enter JULIA and LUCETTA._

_Jul._ Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me;
And, even in kind love, I do conjure thee,
Who art the table wherein all my thoughts
Are visibly character'd and engraved,
To lesson me; and tell me some good mean,                            5
How, with my honour, I may undertake
A journey to my loving Proteus.

_Luc._ Alas, the way is wearisome and long!

_Jul._ A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary
To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps;                          10
Much less shall she that hath Love's wings to fly,
And when the flight is made to one so dear,
Of such divine perfection, as Sir Proteus.

_Luc._ Better forbear till Proteus make return.

_Jul._ O, know'st thou not, his looks are my soul's food?           15
Pity the dearth that I have pined in,
By longing for that food so long a time.
Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow
As seek to quench the fire of love with words.                      20

_Luc._ I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire,
But qualify the fire's extreme rage,
Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.

_Jul._ The more thou damm'st it up, the more it burns.
The current that with gentle murmur glides,                         25
Thou know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage;
But when his fair course is not hindered,
He makes sweet music with the enamell'd stones,
Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge
He overtaketh in his pilgrimage;                                    30
And so by many winding nooks he strays,
With willing sport, to the wild ocean.
Then let me go, and hinder not my course:
I'll be as patient as a gentle stream,
And make a pastime of each weary step,                              35
Till the last step have brought me to my love;
And there I'll rest, as after much turmoil
A blessed soul doth in Elysium.

_Luc._ But in what habit will you go along?

_Jul._ Not like a woman; for I would prevent                        40
The loose encounters of lascivious men:
Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds
As may beseem some well-reputed page.

_Luc._ Why, then, your ladyship must cut your hair.

_Jul._ No, girl; I'll knit it up in silken strings                  45
With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots.
To be fantastic may become a youth
Of greater time than I shall show to be.

_Luc._ What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches?

_Jul._ That fits as well as, 'Tell me, good my lord,                50
What compass will you wear your farthingale?'
Why even what fashion thou best likest, Lucetta.

_Luc._ You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam.

_Jul._ Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd.

_Luc._ A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin,                  55
Unless you have a codpiece to stick pins on.

_Jul._ Lucetta, as thou lovest me, let me have
What thou think'st meet, and is most mannerly.
But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me
For undertaking so unstaid a journey?                               60
I fear me, it will make me scandalized.

_Luc._ If you think so, then stay at home, and go not.

_Jul._ Nay, that I will not.

_Luc._ Then never dream on infamy, but go.
If Proteus like your journey when you come,                         65
No matter who's displeased when you are gone:
I fear me, he will scarce be pleased withal.

_Jul._ That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear:
A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears,
And instances of infinite of love,                                  70
Warrant me welcome to my Proteus.

_Luc._ All these are servants to deceitful men.

_Jul._ Base men, that use them to so base effect!
But truer stars did govern Proteus' birth:
His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles;                         75
His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate;
His tears pure messengers sent from his heart;
His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth.

_Luc._ Pray heaven he prove so, when you come to him!

_Jul._ Now, as thou lovest me, do him not that wrong,               80
To bear a hard opinion of his truth:
Only deserve my love by loving him;
And presently go with me to my chamber,
To take a note of what I stand in need of,
To furnish me upon my longing journey.                              85
All that is mine I leave at thy dispose,
My goods, my lands, my reputation;
Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence.
Come, answer not, but to it presently!
I am impatient of my tarriance.    [_Exeunt._                       90


  Notes: II, 7.

  SCENE VII.] SCENE X. Pope.
  13: _perfection_] F1 F2 F4. _perfections_ F3.
  18: _inly_] F1 F2. _inchly_ F3 F4.
  22: _extreme_] _extremest_ Pope.
  32: _wild_] _wide_ Collier MS.
  47: _fantastic_] _fantantastique_ F2.
  52: _likest_] Pope. _likes_ Ff.
  67: _withal_] _with all_ F1 F4. _withall_ F2 F3.
  70: _of infinite_] F1. _as infinite_ F2 F3 F4. _of the infinite_
    Malone.
  85: _longing_] _loving_ Collier MS.
  89: _to it_] _do it_ Warburton.




ACT III.


SCENE I. _Milan. Ante-room in the DUKE'S palace._

  _Enter DUKE, THURIO, and PROTEUS._

_Duke._ Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile;
We have some secrets to confer about.    [_Exit Thu._
Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me?

_Pro._ My gracious lord, that which I would discover
The law of friendship bids me to conceal;                            5
But when I call to mind your gracious favours
Done to me, undeserving as I am,
My duty pricks me on to utter that
Which else no worldly good should draw from me.
Know, worthy prince, Sir Valentine, my friend,                      10
This night intends to steal away your daughter:
Myself am one made privy to the plot.
I know you have determined to bestow her
On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates;
And should she thus be stol'n away from you,                        15
It would be much vexation to your age.
Thus, for my duty's sake, I rather chose
To cross my friend in his intended drift
Than, by concealing it, heap on your head
A pack of sorrows, which would press you down,                      20
Being unprevented, to your timeless grave.

_Duke._ Proteus, 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 judged me fast asleep;                         25
And oftentimes have purposed to forbid
Sir Valentine her company and my court:
But, fearing lest my jealous aim might err,
And so, unworthily disgrace the man,
A rashness that I ever yet have shunn'd,                            30
I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find
That which thyself hast now disclosed to me.
And, that thou mayst perceive my fear of this,
Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested,
I nightly lodge her in an upper tower,                              35
The key whereof myself have ever kept;
And thence she cannot be convey'd away.

_Pro._ Know, noble lord, they have devised a mean
How he her chamber-window will ascend,
And with a corded ladder fetch her down;                            40
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 so cunningly
That my discovery be not aimed at;                                  45
For, love of you, not hate unto my friend,
Hath made me publisher of this pretence.

_Duke._ Upon mine honour, he shall never know
That I had any light from thee of this.

_Pro._ Adieu, my Lord; Sir Valentine is coming.    [_Exit._         50

  _Enter VALENTINE._

_Duke._ Sir Valentine, whither away so fast?

_Val._ Please it your grace, there is a messenger
That stays to bear my letters to my friends,
And I am going to deliver them.

_Duke._ Be they of much import?                                     55

_Val._ The tenour of them doth but signify
My health and happy being at your court.

_Duke._ Nay then, no matter; stay with me awhile;
I am to break with thee of some affairs
That touch me near, wherein thou must be secret.                    60
'Tis not unknown to thee that I have sought
To match my friend Sir Thurio to my daughter.

_Val._ I know it well, my Lord; and, sure, the match
Were rich and honourable; besides, the gentleman
Is full of virtue, bounty, worth and qualities                      65
Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter:
Cannot your Grace win her to fancy him?

_Duke._ No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, froward,
Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty;
Neither regarding that she is my child,                             70
Nor fearing me as if I were her father:
And, may I say 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,                  75
I now am full resolved 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 possessions she esteems not.

_Val._ What would your Grace have me to do in this?                 80

_Duke._ There is a lady in Verona here
Whom I affect; but she is nice and coy,
And nought esteems my aged eloquence:
Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor,--
For long agone I have forgot to court;                              85
Besides, the fashion of the time is changed,--
How and which way I may bestow myself,
To be regarded in her sun-bright eye.

_Val._ Win her with gifts, if she respect not words:
Dumb jewels often in their silent kind                              90
More than quick words do move a woman's mind.

_Duke._ But she did scorn a present that I sent her.

_Val._ A woman sometimes scorns what best contents her.
Send her another; never give her o'er;
For scorn at first makes afterlove the more.                        95
If she do frown, 'tis not in hate of you,
But rather to beget more love in you:
If she do chide, 'tis not to have you gone;
For why, the fools are mad, if left alone.
Take no repulse, whatever she doth say;                            100
For 'get you gone,' she doth not mean 'away!'
Flatter and praise, commend, extol their graces;
Though ne'er so black, say they have angels' faces.
That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man,
If with his tongue he cannot win a woman.                          105

_Duke._ But she I mean is promised by her friends
Unto a youthful gentleman of worth;
And kept severely from resort of men,
That no man hath access by day to her.

_Val._ Why, then, I would resort to her by night.                  110

_Duke._ Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept safe,
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 so shelving, that one cannot climb it                    115
Without apparent hazard of his life.

_Val._ Why, then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords,
To cast up, with a pair of anchoring hooks,
Would serve to scale another Hero's tower,
So bold Leander would adventure it.                                120

_Duke._ Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood,
Advise me where I may have such a ladder.

_Val._ When would you use it? pray, sir, tell me that.

_Duke._ This very night; for Love is like a child,
That longs for every thing that he can come by.                    125

_Val._ By seven o'clock I'll get you such a ladder.

_Duke._ But, hark thee; I will go to her alone:
How shall I best convey the ladder thither?

_Val._ It will be light, my lord, that you may bear it
Under a cloak that is of any length.                               130

_Duke._ A cloak as long as thine will serve the turn?

_Val._ Ay, my good lord.

_Duke._                Then let me see thy cloak:
I'll get me one of such another length.

_Val._ Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my lord.

_Duke._ How shall I fashion me to wear a cloak?                    135
I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.
What letter is this same? What's here? 'To Silvia'!
And here an engine fit for my proceeding.
I'll be so bold to break the seal for once.    [_Reads._

    'My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly;                140
      And slaves they are to me, that send them flying:
    O, could their master come and go as lightly,
      Himself would lodge where senseless they are lying!
    My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them;
      While I, their king, that thither them importune,            145
    Do curse the grace that with such grace hath bless'd them,
      Because myself do want my servants' fortune:
    I curse myself, for they are sent by me,
    That they should harbour where their lord would be.

What's here?                                                       150

    'Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee.'

'Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose.
Why, Phaethon,--for thou art Merops' son,--
Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car,
And with thy daring folly burn the world?                          155
Wilt thou reach stars, because they shine on thee?
Go, base intruder! overweening slave!
Bestow thy fawning smiles on equal mates;
And think my patience, more than thy desert,
Is privilege for thy departure hence:                              160
Thank me for this more than for all the favours,
Which all too much I have bestow'd on thee.
But if thou linger in my territories
Longer than swiftest expedition
Will give thee time to leave our royal court,                      165
By heaven! my wrath shall far exceed the love
I ever bore my daughter or thyself.
Be gone! I will not hear thy vain excuse;
But, as thou lovest thy life, make speed from hence.    [_Exit._

_Val._ And why not death rather than living torment?               170
To die is to be banish'd from myself;
And Silvia is myself: banish'd from her,
Is self from self: a deadly banishment!
What light is light, if Silvia be not seen?
What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by?                              175
Unless it be to think that she is by,
And feed upon the shadow of perfection.
Except I be by Silvia in the night,
There is no music in the nightingale;
Unless I look on Silvia in the day,                                180
There is no day for me to look upon:
She is my essence; and I leave to be,
If I be not by her fair influence
Foster'd, illumined, cherish'd, kept alive.
I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom:                           185
Tarry I here, I but attend on death:
But, fly I hence, I fly away from life.

  _Enter PROTEUS and LAUNCE._

_Pro._ Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out.

_Launce._ Soho, soho!

_Pro._ What seest thou?                                            190

_Launce._ 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?                                       195

_Val._ Neither.

_Pro._ What then?

_Val._ Nothing.

_Launce._ Can nothing speak? Master, shall I strike?

_Pro._ Who wouldst thou strike?                                    200

_Launce._ Nothing.

_Pro._ Villain, forbear.

_Launce._ Why, sir, I'll strike nothing: I pray you,--

_Pro._ Sirrah, I say, forbear. Friend Valentine, a word.

_Val._ My ears are stopt, and cannot hear good news,               205
So much of bad already hath possess'd them.

_Pro._ Then in dumb silence will I bury mine,
For they are harsh, untuneable, and bad.

_Val._ Is Silvia dead?

_Pro._ No, Valentine.                                              210

_Val._ No Valentine, indeed, for sacred Silvia.
Hath she forsworn me?

_Pro._ No, Valentine.

_Val._ No Valentine, if Silvia have forsworn me.
What is your news?                                                 215

_Launce._ Sir, there is a proclamation that you are vanished.

_Pro._ That thou art banished--O, that's the news!--
From hence, from Silvia, and from me thy friend.

_Val._ O, I have fed upon this woe already,
And now excess of it will make me surfeit.                         220
Doth Silvia know that I am banished?

_Pro._ Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the doom--
Which, unreversed, stands in effectual force--
A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears:
Those at her father's churlish feet she tender'd;                  225
With them, upon her knees, her humble self;
Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so became them
As if but now they waxed pale for woe:
But neither bended knees, pure hands held up,
Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears,                 230
Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire;
But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die.
Besides, her intercession chafed him so,
When she for thy repeal was suppliant,
That to close prison he commanded her,                             235
With many bitter threats of biding there.

_Val._ No more; unless the next word that thou speak'st
Have some malignant power upon my life:
If so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear,
As ending anthem of my endless dolour.                             240

_Pro._ Cease to lament for that thou canst not help,
And study help for that which thou lament'st.
Time is the nurse and breeder of all good.
Here if thou stay, thou canst not see thy love;
Besides, thy staying will abridge thy life.                        245
Hope is a lover's staff; walk hence with that,
And manage it against despairing thoughts.
Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence;
Which, being writ to me, shall be deliver'd
Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love.                          250
The time now serves not to expostulate:
Come, I'll convey thee through the city-gate;
And, ere I part with thee, confer at large
Of all that may concern thy love-affairs.
As thou lovest Silvia, though not for thyself,                     255
Regard thy danger, and along with me!

_Val._ I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my boy,
Bid him make haste, and meet me at the North-gate.

_Pro._ Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Valentine.

_Val._ O my dear Silvia! Hapless Valentine!                        260

    [_Exeunt Val. and Pro._

_Launce._ I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the
wit to think my master 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
shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love; and yet         265
'tis a woman; but what woman, I will not tell myself; and
yet 'tis a milkmaid; yet 'tis not a maid, for she hath had
gossips; yet 'tis a maid, for she is her master's maid, and
serves for wages. She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel,--
which is much in a bare Christian.                                 270
  [_Pulling out a paper._]
Here is the cate-log of her condition. 'Imprimis:
She can fetch and carry.' Why, a horse can do no more:
nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore is she
better than a jade. 'Item: She can milk;' look you, a
sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands.                           275

  _Enter SPEED._

_Speed._ How now, Signior Launce! what news with your mastership?

_Launce._ With my master's ship? why, it is at sea.

_Speed._ Well, your old vice still; mistake the word.
What news, then, in your paper?                                    280

_Launce._ The blackest news that ever thou heardest.

_Speed._ Why, man, how black?

_Launce._ Why, as black as ink.

_Speed._ Let me read them.

_Launce._ Fie on thee, jolt-head! thou canst not read.             285

_Speed._ Thou liest; I can.

_Launce._ I will try thee. Tell me this: who begot thee?

_Speed._ Marry, the son of my grandfather.

_Launce._ O illiterate loiterer! it was the son of thy grandmother:
this proves that thou canst not read.                              290

_Speed._ Come, fool, come; try me in thy paper.

_Launce._ There; and Saint Nicholas be thy speed!

_Speed_ [_reads_]. 'Imprimis: She can milk.'

_Launce._ Ay, that she can.

_Speed._ 'Item: She brews good ale.'                               295

_Launce._ And thereof comes the proverb: 'Blessing of
your heart, you brew good ale.'

_Speed._ 'Item: She can sew.'

_Launce._ That's as much as to say, Can she so?

_Speed._ 'Item: She can knit.'                                     300

_Launce._ What need a man care for a stock with a
wench, when she can knit him a stock?

_Speed._ 'Item: She can wash and scour.'

_Launce._ A special virtue; for then she need not be
washed and scoured.                                                305

_Speed._ 'Item: She can spin.'

_Launce._ Then may I set the world on wheels, when
she can spin for her living.

_Speed._ 'Item: She hath many nameless virtues.'

_Launce._ That's as much as to say, bastard virtues;               310
that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no
names.

_Speed._ 'Here follow her vices.'

_Launce._ Close at the heels of her virtues.

_Speed._ 'Item: She is not to be kissed fasting, in respect        315
of her breath.'

_Launce._ Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast.
Read on.

_Speed._ 'Item: She hath a sweet mouth.'

_Launce._ That makes amends for her sour breath.                   320

_Speed._ 'Item: She doth talk in her sleep.'

_Launce._ It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in her talk.

_Speed._ 'Item: She is slow in words.'

_Launce._ O villain, that set this down among her vices!           325
To be slow in words is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee,
out with't, and place it for her chief virtue.

_Speed._ 'Item: She is proud.'

_Launce._ Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and
cannot be ta'en from her.                                          330

_Speed._ 'Item: She hath no teeth.'

_Launce._ I care not for that neither, because I love crusts.

_Speed._ 'Item: She is curst.'

_Launce._ Well, the best is, she hath no teeth to bite.            335

_Speed._ 'Item: She will often praise her liquor.'

_Launce._ If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will
not, I will; for good things should be praised.

_Speed._ 'Item: She is too liberal.'

_Launce._ Of her tongue she cannot, for that's writ down           340
she is slow of; of her purse she shall not, for that I'll keep
shut: now, of another thing she may, and that cannot I
help. Well, proceed.

_Speed._ 'Item: She hath more hair than wit, and more
faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults.'                   345

_Launce._ Stop there; I'll have her: she was mine, and
not mine, twice or thrice in that last article. Rehearse that
once more.

_Speed._ 'Item: She hath more hair than wit,'--

_Launce._ More hair than wit? It may be; I'll prove it.            350
The cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more
than the salt; the hair that covers the wit is more than the
wit, for the greater hides the less. What's next?

_Speed._ 'And more faults than hairs,'--

_Launce._ That's monstrous: O, that that were out!                 355

_Speed._ 'And more wealth than faults.'

_Launce._ Why, that word makes the faults gracious.
Well, I'll have her: and if it be a match, as nothing is
impossible,--

_Speed._ What then?                                                360

_Launce._ Why, then will I tell thee--that thy master
stays for thee at the North-gate?

_Speed._ For me?

_Launce._ For thee! ay, who art thou? he hath stayed
for a better man than thee.                                        365

_Speed._ And must I go to him?

_Launce._ Thou must run to him, for thou hast stayed
so long, that going will scarce serve the turn.

_Speed._ Why didst not tell me sooner? pox of your
love-letters!    [_Exit._                                          370

_Launce._ Now will he be swinged for reading my letter,--an
unmannerly slave, that will thrust himself into secrets!
I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction.    [_Exit._


  Notes: III, 1.

  Ante-room] Capell.
  2: [Exit Thu.] Rowe.
  7: _as_] F1 F3 F4. _as as_ F2.
  21: _Being_] _If_ Pope.
  _unprevented_] F1 F2. _unprepared_ F3 F4.
  32: _hast_] _hath_ Pope.
  33: _that_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.
  50: [Exit] Rowe.
  Enter Valentine.] om. F1. [Enter. F2 F3 F4.
  51: SCENE II. Pope.
  _whither_] F2. _whether_ F1 (and elsewhere).
  56: _tenour_] _tenure_ Ff.
  72: _may I_] _I may_ Hanmer.
  78: _dower_] _dowre_ Ff. _dowry_ Hanmer.
  81: _in Verona_] Ff. _sir, in Milan_ Pope. _in Milano_ Collier MS.
    _of Verona_ Halliwell. See note (VII).
  83: _nought_] F2 F3 F4. _naught_ F1.
  89: _respect_] F1 F2 F3. _respects_ F4.
  92: _that I sent her_] _that I sent, sir_ Steevens conj.
  93: _contents_] _content_ Mason conj.
  98: _'tis_] F1 F3 F4. _'its_ F2.
  99: _For why, the_] _For why the_ Dyce.
  105: _with_] F1 F3 F4. _this_ F2.
  139: [Reads] Rowe.
  149: _would be_] F2 F3 F4. _should be_ F1.
  151: _I will_] F1 F2 F3. _will I_ F4.
  154: _car_] _cat_ F3 F4.
  169: [Exit] F2.
  170: SCENE III. Pope.
  Enter PRO. and LAUNCE] F2.
  189: _Soho, soho!_] _So-hough, Soa hough--_ F1.
  200: _Who_] F1. _Whom_ F2 F3 F4.
  204: _Sirrah_] om. Pope.
  216: _vanished_] _vanish'd_ Pope.
  217: _banished--O that's_] _banish'd: oh, that's_ Ff. _banish'd--O,
    that is_ Pope. _banished--_ Val. _Oh, that's the news!_ Pro. _From
    hence, ... _ Edd. conj.
  260: [Exeunt Val. and Pro.] Exeunt. F2.
  261: SCENE VI. Pope, by misprint for IV.
  263: _one knave_] _one kind of knave_ Hanmer. _one kind_ Warburton.
    _one in love_ Staunton conj.
  270: [Pulling out a paper] Rowe.
  271: _cate-log_] _cat-log_ Pope.
  _condition_] F1 F2 F3. _conditions_ F4.
  274: _milk;' look you,_] _milk, look you;_' Capell.
  276: Enter Speed] F2.
  278: _master's ship_] Theobald. _Mastership_ Ff.
  293, 294: om. Farmer conj.
  293: _Imprimis_] _Item_ Halliwell.
  304: _need not be_] F1. _need not to be_ F2 F3 F4.
  313: _follow_] F1. _followes_ F2. _follows_ F3 F4.
  315: _kissed_] Rowe. om. Ff.
  322: _sleep_] _slip_ Collier MS.
  325: _O ... this_] _O villaine, that set this_ F1. _O villainy,
    that set_ F2 F3. _Oh villain! that set_ F4. _O villainy that set
    this_ Malone.
  342: _cannot I_] _I cannot_ Steevens.
  344: _hair_] F1. _hairs_ F2 F3 F4.
  347: _that last_] F1. (in some copies only, according to Malone.)
    _that_ F2 F3 F4.
  350: _It may be; I'll prove it_] Theobald. _It may be I'll prove it_
    Ff.
  369: _of_] F1 F2. om. F3 F4.
  370: [Exit] Capell.
  373: [Exit.] Capell.    [Exeunt. Ff.


SCENE II. _The same. The DUKE'S palace._

  _Enter DUKE and THURIO._

_Duke._ Sir Thurio, fear not but that she will love you,
Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight.

_Thu._ Since his exile she hath despised me most.
Forsworn my company, and rail'd at me,
That I am desperate of obtaining her.                                5

_Duke._ This weak impress of love is as a figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,
And worthless Valentine shall be forgot.                            10

  _Enter PROTEUS._

How now, Sir Proteus! Is your countryman,
According to our proclamation, gone?

_Pro._ Gone, my good lord.

_Duke._ My daughter takes his going grievously.

_Pro._ A little time, my lord, will kill that grief.                15

_Duke._ So I believe; but Thurio thinks not so.
Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee--
For thou hast shown some sign of good desert--
Makes me the better to confer with thee.

_Pro._ Longer than I prove loyal to your Grace                      20
Let me not live to look upon your Grace.

_Duke._ Thou know'st how willingly I would effect
The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter.

_Pro._ I do, my lord.

_Duke._ And also, I think, thou art not ignorant                    25
How she opposes her against my will.

_Pro._ She did, my lord, when Valentine was here.

_Duke._ Ay, and perversely she persevers so.
What might we do to make the girl forget
The love of Valentine, and love Sir Thurio?                         30

_Pro._ The best way is to slander Valentine
With falsehood, cowardice and poor descent,
Three things that women highly hold in hate.

_Duke._ Ay, but she'll think that it is spoke in hate.

_Pro._ Ay, if his enemy deliver it:                                 35
Therefore it must with circumstance be spoken
By one whom she esteemeth as his friend.

_Duke._ Then you must undertake to slander him.

_Pro._ And that, my lord, I shall be loath to do:
'Tis an ill office for a gentleman,                                 40
Especially against his very friend.

_Duke._ Where your good word cannot advantage him,
Your slander never can endamage him;
Therefore the office is indifferent,
Being entreated to it by your friend.                               45

_Pro._ You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it
By ought that I can speak in his dispraise,
She shall not long continue love to him.
But say this weed her love from Valentine,
It follows not that she will love Sir Thurio.                       50

_Thu._ Therefore, as you unwind her love from him,
Lest it should ravel and be good to none,
You must provide to bottom it on me;
Which must be done by praising me as much
As you in worth dispraise Sir Valentine.                            55

_Duke._ And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind,
Because we know, on Valentine's report,
You are already Love's firm votary,
And cannot soon revolt and change your mind.
Upon this warrant shall you have access                             60
Where you with Silvia may confer at large;
For she is lumpish, heavy, melancholy,
And, for your friend's sake, will be glad of you;
Where you may temper her by your persuasion
To hate young Valentine and love my friend.                         65

_Pro._ As much as I can do, I will effect:
But you, Sir Thurio, are not sharp enough;
You must lay lime to tangle her desires
By wailful sonnets, whose composed rhymes
Should be full-fraught with serviceable vows.                       70

_Duke._ Ay,
Much is the force of heaven-bred poesy.

_Pro._ Say that upon the altar of her beauty
You sacrifice your tears, your sighs, your heart:
Write till your ink be dry, and with your tears                     75
Moist it again; and frame some feeling line
That may discover such integrity:
For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews;
Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones,
Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans                               80
Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands.
After your dire-lamenting elegies,
Visit by night your lady's chamber-window
With some sweet concert; to their instruments
Tune a deploring dump: the night's dead silence                     85
Will well become such sweet-complaining grievance.
This, or else nothing, will inherit her.

_Duke._ This discipline shows thou hast been in love.

_Thu._ And thy advice this night I'll put in practice.
Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver,                       90
Let us into the city presently
To sort some gentlemen well skill'd in music.
I have a sonnet that will serve the turn
To give the onset to thy good advice.

_Duke._ About it, gentlemen!                                        95

_Pro._ We'll wait upon your Grace till after supper,
And afterward determine our proceedings.

_Duke._ Even now about it! I will pardon you.    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: III, 2.

  SCENE II.] SCENE V. Pope.
  14: _grievously._] _grievously?_ F1. (in some copies only, according
    to Malone). _heavily?_ F2 F3. _heavily._ F4.
  18: _some_] _sure_ Collier MS.
  19: _better_] _bolder_ Capell conj.
  20: _loyal_] F1 F3 F4. _royall_ F2.
  21: _your_] F1 F3 F4. _you_ F2.
  _Grace_] _face_ Anon. conj.
  25: _I think_] F1. _I doe think_ F2 F3 F4.
  28: _persevers_] F1 F2. _perseveres_ F3 F4.
  37: _esteemeth_] F1. _esteemes_ F2. _esteems_ F3 F4.
  49: _weed_] Ff. _wean_ Rowe.
  55: _worth_] _word_ Capell conj.
  64: _Where_] _When_ Collier MS.
  71, 72: _Ay, Much_] Capell. _I, much_ Ff. _Much_ Pope.
  76: _line_] _lines_ S. Verges conj.
  77: _such_] _strict_ Collier MS. _love's_ S. Verges conj. Malone
    suggests that a line has been lost to this purport: _'As her
    obdurate heart may penetrate.'_
  81: _to_] F1. _and_ F2 F3 F4.
  84: _concert_] Hanmer. _consort_ Ff.
  86: _sweet-complaining_] Capell. _sweet complaining_ Ff.
  94: _advice_] F2 F3 F4. _advise_ F1.




ACT IV.


SCENE I. _The frontiers of Mantua. A forest._

  _Enter certain _Outlaws_._

_First Out._ Fellows, stand fast; I see a passenger.

_Sec. Out._ If there be ten, shrink not, but down with 'em.

  _Enter VALENTINE and SPEED._

_Third Out._ Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye:
If not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you.

_Speed._ Sir, we are undone; these are the villains                  5
That all the travellers do fear so much.

_Val._ My friends,--

_First Out._ That's not so, sir: we are your enemies.

_Sec. Out._ Peace! we'll hear him.

_Third Out._ Ay, by my beard, will we, for he's a proper man.       10

_Val._ Then know that I have little wealth to lose:
A man I am cross'd with adversity;
My riches are these poor habiliments,
Of which if you should here disfurnish me,
You take the sum and substance that I have.                         15

_Sec. Out._ Whither travel you?

_Val._ To Verona.

_First Out._ Whence came you?

_Val._ From Milan.

_Third Out._ Have you long sojourned there?                         20

_Val._ Some sixteen months, and longer might have stay'd,
If crooked fortune had not thwarted me.

_First Out._ What, were you banish'd thence?

_Val._ I was.

_Sec. Out._ For what offence?                                       25

_Val._ For that which now torments me to rehearse:
I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent;
But yet I slew him manfully in fight,
Without false vantage or base treachery.

_First Out._ Why, ne'er repent it, if it were done so.              30
But were you banish'd for so small a fault?

_Val._ I was, and held me glad of such a doom.

_Sec. Out._ Have you the tongues?

_Val._ My youthful travel therein made me happy,
Or else I often had been miserable.                                 35

_Third Out._ By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar,
This fellow were a king for our wild faction!

_First Out._ We'll have him. Sirs, a word.

_Speed._ Master, be one of them; it's an honourable kind
of thievery.                                                        40

_Val._ Peace, villain!

_Sec. Out._ Tell us this: have you any thing to take to?

_Val._ Nothing but my fortune.

_Third Out._ Know, then, that some of us are gentlemen,
Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth                                45
Thrust from the company of awful men:
Myself was from Verona banished
For practising to steal away a lady,
An heir, and near allied unto the duke.

_Sec. Out._ And I from Mantua, for a gentleman,                     50
Who, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart.

_First Out._ And I for such like petty crimes as these.
But to the purpose,--for we cite our faults,
That they may hold excused our lawless lives;
And partly, seeing you are beautified                               55
With goodly shape, and by your own report
A linguist, and a man of such perfection
As we do in our quality much want,--

_Sec. Out._ Indeed, because you are a banish'd man,
Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you:                        60
Are you content to be our general?
To make a virtue of necessity,
And live, as we do, in this wilderness?

_Third Out._ What say'st thou? wilt thou be of our consort?
Say ay, and be the captain of us all:                               65
We'll do thee homage and be ruled by thee,
Love thee as our commander and our king.

_First Out._ But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest.

_Sec. Out._ Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd.

_Val._ I take your offer, and will live with you,                   70
Provided that you do no outrages
On silly women or poor passengers.

_Third Out._ No, we detest such vile base practices.
Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our crews,
And show thee all the treasure we have got;                         75
Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose.    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: IV, 1.

  SCENE I. The frontiers ... forest.] Capell. A forest. Rowe.
    A forest leading towards Mantua. Warburton.
  2: _shrink_] _shrinkd_ F2.
  4: _sit_] F1 F2. _sir_ F3 F4.
  5: _Sir_] _O sir_ Capell.
  6: _do_] om. Pope, who prints lines 5 and 6 as prose.
  9: _Peace!_] _Peace, peace!_ Capell.
  11: _little wealth_] F1. _little_ F2 F3 F4. _little left_ Hanmer.
  18: _Whence_] _And whence_ Capell, who reads 16-20 as two lines
    ending _came you? ... there?_
  35: _ I often had been_] F2. _I often had been often_ F1. _often had
    been_ (om. _I_) F3 F4. _I had been often_ Collier.
  39, 40: _it's ... thievery_] Printed as a verse in Ff. _It is a kind
    of honourable thievery_ Steevens.
  42: _thing_] F1. _things_ F2 F3 F4.
  46: _awful_] _lawful_ Heath conj.
  49: _An heir, and near allied_] Theobald. _And heire and Neece,
    allide_ F1 F2. _An heir, and Neice allide_ F3. _An Heir, and
    Neece alli'd_ F4.
  51: _Who_] _Whom_ Pope.
  60: _Therefore_] F1 F2. _There_ F3 F4.
  63: _this_] F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.
  74: _crews_] F4. _crewes_ F1 F2 F3. _cave_ Collier MS. _caves_
    Singer. _crew_ Delius conj. _cruives_ Bullock conj.
  76: _all_] _shall_ Pope.


SCENE II. _Milan. Outside the DUKE'S palace, under SILVIA'S chamber._

  _Enter PROTEUS._

_Pro._ Already have I been false to Valentine,
And now I must be as unjust to Thurio.
Under the colour of commending him,
I have access my own love to prefer:
But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy,                          5
To be corrupted with my worthless gifts.
When I protest true loyalty to her,
She twits me with my falsehood to my friend;
When to her beauty I commend my vows,
She bids me think how I have been forsworn                          10
In breaking faith with Julia whom I loved:
And notwithstanding all her sudden quips,
The least whereof would quell a lover's hope,
Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love,
The more it grows, and fawneth on her still.                        15
But here comes Thurio: now must we to her window,
And give some evening music to her ear.

  _Enter THURIO and _Musicians_._

_Thu._ How now, Sir Proteus, are you crept before us?

_Pro._ Ay, gentle Thurio; for you know that love
Will creep in service where it cannot go.                           20

_Tim._ Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here.

_Pro._ Sir, but I do; or else I would be hence.

_Thu._ Who? Silvia?

_Pro._            Ay, Silvia; for your sake.

_Thu._ I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen,
Let's tune, and to it lustily awhile.                               25

_Enter, at a distance, HOST, and JULIA in boy's clothes._

_Host._ Now, my young guest, methinks you're allycholly:
I pray you, why is it?

_Jul._ Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry.

_Host._ Come, we'll have you merry: I'll bring you
where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that              30
you asked for.

_Jul._ But shall I hear him speak?

_Host._ Ay, that you shall.

_Jul._ That will be music.    [_Music plays._

_Host._ Hark, hark!                                                 35

_Jul._ Is he among these?

_Host._ Ay: but, peace! let's hear 'em.

SONG.

  Who is Silvia? what is she,
    That all our swains commend her?
  Holy, fair, and wise is she;                                      40
    The heaven such grace did lend her,
  That she might admired be.

  Is she kind as she is fair?
    For beauty lives with kindness.
  Love doth to her eyes repair,                                     45
    To help him of his blindness,
  And, being help'd, inhabits there.

  Then to Silvia let us sing,
    That Silvia is excelling;
  She excels each mortal thing                                      50
    Upon the dull earth dwelling:
  To her let us garlands bring.

_Host._ How now! are you sadder than you were before?
How do you, man? the music likes you not.

_Jul._ You mistake; the musician likes me not.                      55

_Host._ Why, my pretty youth?

_Jul._ He plays false, father.

_Host._ How? out of tune on the strings?

_Jul._ Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my very
heart-strings.                                                      60

_Host._ You have a quick ear.

_Jul._ Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes me have a slow
heart.

_Host._ I perceive you delight not in music.

_Jul._ Not a whit, when it jars so.                                 65

_Host._ Hark, what fine change is in the music!

_Jul._ Ay, that change is the spite.

_Host._ You would have them always play but one thing?

_Jul._ I would always have one play but one thing.
But, host, doth this Sir Proteus that we talk on                    70
Often resort unto this gentlewoman?

_Host._ I tell you what Launce, his man, told me,--he
loved her out of all nick.

_Jul._ Where is Launce?

_Host._ Gone to seek his dog; which to-morrow, by his               75
master's command, he must carry for a present to his lady.

_Jul._ Peace! stand aside: the company parts.

_Pro._ Sir Thurio, fear not you: I will so plead,
That you shall say my cunning drift excels.

_Thu._ Where meet we?

_Pro._              At Saint Gregory's well.

_Thu._                                     Farewell.                80

    [_Exeunt Thu. and Musicians._

  _Enter SILVIA above._

_Pro._ Madam, good even to your ladyship.

_Sil._ I thank you for your music, gentlemen.
Who is that that spake?

_Pro._ One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth,
You would quickly learn to know him by his voice.                   85

_Sil._ Sir Proteus, as I take it.

_Pro._ Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.

_Sil._ What's your will?

_Pro._                 That I may compass yours.

_Sil._ You have your wish; my will is even this:
That presently you hie you home to bed.                             90
Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man!
Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless,
To be seduced by thy flattery,
That hast deceived so many with thy vows?
Return, return, and make thy love amends.                           95
For me,--by this pale queen of night I swear,
I am so far from granting thy request,
That I despise thee for thy wrongful suit;
And by and by intend to chide myself
Even for this time I spend in talking to thee.                     100

_Pro._ I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady;
But she is dead.

_Jul._ [_Aside_] 'Twere false, if I should speak it;
For I am sure she is not buried.

_Sil._ Say that she be; yet Valentine thy friend
Survives; to whom, thyself art witness,                            105
I am betroth'd: and art thou not ashamed
To wrong him with thy importunacy?

_Pro._ I likewise hear that Valentine is dead.

_Sil._ And so suppose am I; for in his grave
Assure thyself my love is buried.                                  110

_Pro._ Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.

_Sil._ Go to thy lady's grave, and call hers thence;
Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine.

_Jul._ [_Aside_] He heard not that.

_Pro._ Madam, if your heart be so obdurate,                        115
Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love,
The picture that is hanging in your chamber;
To that I'll speak, to that I'll sigh and weep:
For since the substance of your perfect self
Is else devoted, I am but a shadow;                                120
And to your shadow will I make true love.

_Jul._ [_Aside_] If 'twere a substance, you would,
    sure, deceive it,
And make it but a shadow, as I am.

_Sil._ I am very loath to be your idol, sir;
But since your falsehood shall become you well                     125
To worship shadows and adore false shapes,
Send to me in the morning, and I'll send it:
And so, good rest.

_Pro._           As wretches have o'ernight
That wait for execution in the morn.
    [_Exeunt Pro. and Sil. severally._

_Jul._ Host, will you go?                                          130

_Host._ By my halidom, I was fast asleep.

_Jul._ Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus?

_Host._ Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think 'tis
almost day.

_Jul._ Not so; but it hath been the longest night                  135
That e'er I watch'd, and the most heaviest.    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: IV, 2.

  SCENE II. Outside ... palace ...] An open place, ... Warburton.
    Court of the palace. Capell.
  1: _have I_] _I've_ Pope.
  15: _and_] om. F3 F4.
  18: Musicians.] Rowe. Musitian. Ff. at the beginning of the scene.
  23: _Who_] F1. Whom F2 F3 F4.
  25: _tune_] F1. _turne_ F2. _turn_ F3 F4.
  26: at a distance] Capell.
  _allycholly_] _melancholy_ Pope.
  27: _I pray you, why is it_] F1. _I pray you what is it_ F2 F3.
    _I pray what is it?_ F4.
  34: [Music plays] Capell.
  40: _is she_] _as free_ Collier MS.
  50: _excels_] _exceeds_ S. Walker conj.
  53: SCENE III. Pope.
  53, 54: _are you ... before?_] _you are ... before_ Heath conj.
  68: _You would_] _you would, then,_ Malone. _you would not_
    Collier MS.
  70, 71: Printed as prose by Capell.
  72-74: Printed as verse in Ff. _I tell ... He lov'd ..._
  78: _fear not you_] F1. _fear not_ F2 F3 F4.
  80: [Exeunt Thu. and Musicians.] Rowe.
  81: SCENE IV. Pope.
  Enter SILVIA above] Rowe. om. Ff.
  85: _You would_] Ff. _You'd_ Pope.
  88: _What's_] _What is_ Pope.
  89: _even_] F1. _ever_ F2 F3 F4.
  102: [Aside] Pope.
  105: _thyself_] _even thyself_ Hanmer.
  109: _his_] F2 F3 F4. _her_ F1.
  112: _hers_] F1 F2. _her_ F3 F4.
  114: [Aside] Pope.
  115: _if_] _if that_ Warburton.
  115, 116: _obdurate, Vouchsafe_] _Obdurate, O, vouchsafe_ Hanmer.
  116: _for my love_] om. Hanmer.
  122: [Aside] Pope.
  125: _since your falsehood shall_] _since you're false, it shall_
    Johnson conj.
  129: [Exeunt ... severally] om. F1. [Exeunt. F2.
  136: _heaviest_] _heavy one_ Pope.


SCENE III. _The same._

  _Enter EGLAMOUR._

_Egl._ This is the hour that Madam Silvia
Entreated me to call and know her mind:
There's some great matter she'ld employ me in.
Madam, madam!

  _Enter SILVIA above._

_Sil._      Who calls?

_Egl._               Your servant and your friend;
One that attends your ladyship's command.                            5

_Sil._ Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow.

_Egl._ As many, worthy lady, to yourself:
According to your ladyship's impose,
I am thus early come to know what service
It is your pleasure to command me in.                               10

_Sil._ O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman,--
Think not I flatter, for I swear I do not,--
Valiant, wise, remorseful, well accomplish'd:
Thou art not ignorant what dear good will
I bear unto the banish'd Valentine;                                 15
Nor how my father would enforce me marry
Vain Thurio, whom my very soul abhors.
Thyself hast loved; and I have heard thee say
No grief did ever come so near thy heart
As when thy lady and thy true love died,                            20
Upon whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity.
Sir Eglamour, I would to Valentine,
To Mantua, where I hear he makes abode;
And, for the ways are dangerous to pass,
I do desire thy worthy company,                                     25
Upon whose faith and honour I repose.
Urge not my father's anger, Eglamour,
But think upon my grief, a lady's grief,
And on the justice of my flying hence,
To keep me from a most unholy match,                                30
Which heaven and fortune still rewards with plagues.
I do desire thee, even from a heart
As full of sorrows as the sea of sands,
To bear me company, and go with me:
If not, to hide what I have said to thee,                           35
That I may venture to depart alone.

_Egl._ Madam, I pity much your grievances;
Which since I know they virtuously are placed,
I give consent to go along with you;
Recking as little what betideth me                                  40
As much I wish all good befortune you.
When will you go?

_Sil._          This evening coming.

_Egl._ Where shall I meet you?

_Sil._                       At Friar Patrick's cell,
Where I intend holy confession.

_Egl._ I will not fail your ladyship. Good morrow,                  45
gentle lady.

_Sil._ Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour.
    [_Exeunt severally._


  Notes: IV, 3.

  SCENE III.] SCENE V. Pope. Dyce makes no new scene here. See note
    (VIII).
  4: _Madam, madam!_] _Madam!_ Hanmer.
  13: _Valiant, wise_] _Valiant and wise_ Pope. _Wise, valiant_
    Anon. conj. A monosyllable lost before _valiant._ S. Walker conj.
  17: _abhors_] Hanmer. _abhor'd_ F1 F2 F3. _abhorr'd_ F4.
  19: _ever_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.
  _near_] _near unto_ Pope.
  31: _rewards_] Ff. _reward_ Pope.
  37, 38: _grievances; Which_] _grievances, And the most true
    affections that you bear; Which_ Collier MS.
  40: _Recking_] Pope. _Wreaking_ F1.
  42: _evening coming_] _coming evening_ Anon. conj.


SCENE IV. _The same._

  _Enter LAUNCE, with his Dog._

_Launce._ When a man's servant shall play the cur with
him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up of a
puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when three or
four of his blind brothers and sisters went to it! I have
taught him, even as one would say precisely, 'thus I                 5
would teach a dog.' I was sent to deliver him as a present
to Mistress Silvia from my master; and I came no sooner
into the dining-chamber, but he steps me to her trencher,
and steals her capon's leg: O, 'tis a foul thing when a cur
cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have, as              10
one should say, one that takes upon him to be a dog indeed,
to be, as it were, a dog at all things. If I had not
had more wit than he, to take a fault upon me that he
did, I think verily he had been hanged for't: sure as I
live, he had suffered for't: you shall judge. He thrusts            15
me himself into the company of three or four gentleman-like
dogs, under the duke's table: he had not been there--bless
the mark!--a pissing while, but all the chamber
smelt him. 'Out with the dog!' says one: 'What cur is
that?' says another: 'Whip him out,' says the third: 'Hang          20
him up,' says the duke. I, having been acquainted with
the smell before, knew it was Crab, and goes me to the
fellow that whips the dogs: 'Friend,' quoth I, 'you mean
to whip the dog?' 'Ay, marry, do I,' quoth he. 'You
do him the more wrong,' quoth I; ''twas I did the thing             25
you wot of.' He makes me no more ado, but whips me
out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for
his servant? Nay, I'll be sworn, I have sat in the stocks
for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been executed;
I have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed,               30
otherwise he had suffered for't. Thou thinkest not of this
now. Nay, I remember the trick you served me when I
took my leave of Madam Silvia: did not I bid thee still
mark me, and do as I do? when didst thou see me heave
up my leg, and make water against a gentlewoman's farthingale?      35
didst thou ever see me do such a trick?

  _Enter PROTEUS and JULIA._

_Pro._ Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well,
And will employ thee in some service presently.

_Jul._ In what you please: I'll do what I can.

_Pro._ I hope thou wilt. [_To Launce_] How now, you
    whoreson peasant!                                               40
Where have you been these two days loitering?

_Launce._ Marry, sir, I carried Mistress Silvia the dog
you bade me.

_Pro._ And what says she to my little jewel?

_Launce._ Marry, she says your dog was a cur, and tells             45
you currish thanks is good enough for such a present.

_Pro._ But she received my dog?

_Launce._ No, indeed, did she not: here have I brought
him back again.

_Pro._ What, didst thou offer her this from me?                     50

_Launce._ Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stolen from me
by the hangman boys in the market-place: and then I
offered her mine own, who is a dog as big as ten of yours,
and therefore the gift the greater.

_Pro._ Go get thee hence, and find my dog again,                    55
Or ne'er return again into my sight.
Away, I say! stay'st thou to vex me here?
    [_Exit Launce._
A slave, that still an end turns me to shame!
Sebastian, I have entertained thee,
Partly that I have need of such a youth,                            60
That can with some discretion do my business,
For 'tis no trusting to yond foolish lout;
But chiefly for thy face and thy behaviour,
Which, if my augury deceive me not,
Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth:                       65
Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.
Go presently, and take this ring with thee,
Deliver it to Madam Silvia:
She loved me well deliver'd it to me.

_Jul._ It seems you loved not her, to leave her token.              70
She is dead, belike?

_Pro._             Not so; I think she lives.

_Jul._ Alas!

_Pro._ Why dost thou cry, 'alas'?

_Jul._                          I cannot choose
But pity her.

_Pro._      Wherefore shouldst thou pity her?

_Jul._ Because methinks that she loved you as well                  75
As you do love your lady Silvia:
She dreams on him that has forgot her love;
You dote on her that cares not for your love.
'Tis pity love should be so contrary;
And thinking on it makes me cry, 'alas!'                            80

_Pro._ Well, give her that ring, and therewithal
This letter. That's her chamber. Tell my lady
I claim the promise for her heavenly picture.
Your message done, hie home unto my chamber,
Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary.    [_Exit._             85

_Jul._ How many women would do such a message?
Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertained
A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs.
Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him
That with his very heart despiseth me?                              90
Because he loves her, he despiseth me;
Because I love him, I must pity him.
This ring I gave him when he parted from me,
To bind him to remember my good will;
And now am I, unhappy messenger,                                    95
To plead for that which I would not obtain,
To carry that which I would have refused,
To praise his faith which I would have dispraised.
I am my master's true-confirmed love;
But cannot be true servant to my master,                           100
Unless I prove false traitor to myself.
Yet will I woo for him, but yet so coldly,
As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed.

  _Enter SILVIA, attended._

Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean
To bring me where to speak with Madam Silvia.                      105

_Sil._ What would you with her, if that I be she?

_Jul._ If you be she, I do entreat your patience
To hear me speak the message I am sent on.

_Sil._ From whom?

_Jul._ From my master, Sir Proteus, madam.                         110

_Sil._ O, he sends you for a picture.

_Jul._ Ay, madam.

_Sil._ Ursula, bring my picture there.
Go give your master this: tell him, from me,
One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget,                      115
Would better fit his chamber than this shadow.

_Jul._ Madam, please you peruse this letter.--
Pardon me, madam; I have unadvised
Deliver'd you a paper that I should not:
This is the letter to your ladyship.                               120

_Sil._ I pray thee, let me look on that again.

_Jul._ It may not be; good madam, pardon me.

_Sil._ There, hold!
I will not look upon your master's lines:
I know they are stuff'd with protestations,                        125
And full of new-found oaths; which he will break
As easily as I do tear his paper.

_Jul._ Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring.

_Sil._ The more shame for him that he sends it me;
For I have heard him say a thousand times                          130
His Julia gave it him at his departure.
Though his false finger have profaned the ring,
Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.

_Jul._ She thanks you.

_Sil._ What say'st thou?                                           135

_Jul._ I thank you, madam, that you tender her.
Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much.

_Sil._ Dost thou know her?

_Jul._ Almost as well as I do know myself:
To think upon her woes I do protest                                140
That I have wept a hundred several times.

_Sil._ Belike she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her.

_Jul._ I think she doth; and that's her cause of sorrow.

_Sil._ Is she not passing fair?

_Jul._ She hath been fairer, madam, than she is:                   145
When she did think my master loved her well,
She, in my judgement, was as fair as you;
But since she did neglect her looking-glass,
And threw her sun-expelling mask away,
The air hath starved the roses in her cheeks,                      150
And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face,
That now she is become as black as I.

_Sil._ How tall was she?

_Jul._ About my stature: for, at Pentecost,
When all our pageants of delight were play'd,                      155
Our youth got me to play the woman's part,
And I was trimm'd in Madam Julia's gown;
Which served me as fit, by all men's judgements,
As if the garment had been made for me:
Therefore I know she is about my height.                           160
And at that time I made her weep agood,
For I did play a lamentable part:
Madam, 'twas Ariadne passioning
For Theseus' perjury and unjust flight;
Which I so lively acted with my tears,                             165
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
Wept bitterly; and, would I might be dead,
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!

_Sil._ She is beholding to thee, gentle youth.
Alas, poor lady, desolate and left!                                170
I weep myself to think upon thy words.
Here, youth, there is my purse: I give thee this
For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lovest her.
Farewell.    [_Exit Silvia, with attendants._

_Jul._ And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her.        175
A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful!
I hope my master's suit will be but cold,
Since she respects my mistress' love so much.
Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture: let me see; I think,                          180
If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of hers:
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,
Unless I flatter with myself too much.
Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow:                        185
If that be all the difference in his love,
I'll get me such a colour'd periwig.
Her eyes are grey as glass; and so are mine:
Ay, but her forehead's low, and mine's as high.
What should it be that he respects in her,                         190
But I can make respective in myself,
If this fond Love were not a blinded god?
Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
For 'tis thy rival. O thou senseless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, loved, and adored!               193
And, were there sense in his idolatry,
My substance should be statue in thy stead.
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
That used me so; or else, by Jove I vow,
I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes,                    200
To make my master out of love with thee!    [_Exit._


  Notes: IV, 4.

  SCENE IV.] SCENE VI. Pope. Dyce makes no new scene here. See note
    (VIII).
  The same.] The same. Silvia's Anti-chamber. Capell.
  6: _I was sent_] _I went_ Theobald.
  11: _to be a dog indeed_] _to be a dog, to be a dog indeed_
    Johnson conj.
  20: _the third_] _a third_ Hanmer.
  23: _you mean_] _do you mean_ Collier MS.
  26: _makes me no more_] _makes no more_ Rowe.
  28: _his servant_] _their servant_ Pope.
  33: _Silvia_] _Julia_ Warburton.
  39: _I'll do_] _Ile do_ F1. _Ile do sir_ F2 F3 F4. _I will do_
    Malone.
  45: _was_] _is_ Capell conj.
  48: _did she_] F1 F2. _she did_ F3 F4.
  50: _this_] _this cur_ Collier MS.
  51: _the other squirrel_] _the other, Squirrel_ Hanmer.
  51-54: Printed as four verses ending _me ... marketplace ... dog ...
    greater_ Ff. Pope made the change.
  52: _hangman boys_] Singer. _Hangmans boyes_ F1. _hangmans boy_
    F2 F3 F4. _a hangman boy_ Collier MS.
  57: [Exit Launce] om. F1. [Exit. F2 after line 58.
  58: _still an end_] _ev'ry day_ Pope.
  66: _know thou_] F2 F3 F4. _know thee_ F1.
  _entertain thee_] F1 F3 F4. _entertaine hee_ F2.
  70: _to leave_] F2 F3 F4. _not leave_ F1. _nor love_ Johnson conj.
  74: _Wherefore_] _Why_ Hanmer.
  75: _that_] _if_ Hanmer.
  81: _give her_] _give to her_ Collier MS.
  _and therewithal_] _and give therewithal_ Theobald. _and give her
    therewithal_ Capell.
  85: [Exit] F2.
  95: _am I_] F1 F2. _I am_ F3 F4.
  103: Enter SILVIA attended] Malone. Enter SILVIA. Rowe.
  104: _Gentlewoman_] Ff. _Lady_ Pope.
  110: _From my master,_] _My master; from_ Capell.
  111: Capell adds _does he not?_
  115: _forget_] F1 F2. _forgot_ F3 F4.
  117: _please you peruse_] _may 't please you to peruse_ Pope.
    _wilt please you to peruse_ Capell. _so please you to peruse_
    Collier MS.
  127: _easily_] F1. _easie_ F2 F3 F4.
  138: _Dost thou_] _Dost_ Capell conj.
  151: _pinch'd_] _pitch'd_ Warburton. _pincte_ Becket conj. _pinc'd_
    Id. conj.
  158: _judgements_] _judgment_ Capell.
  161: _agood_] F2 F3 F4. _a good_ F1. _a-good_ Theobald.
  168: _felt_] _feel_ Seward conj.
  169: _beholding_] _beholden_ Pope.
  172: _my purse_] F1. _a purse_ F2 F3 F4.
  174: _Farewell_] om. Pope.
  [Exit ... attendants] Dyce, after 175. [Exit. F2. om. F1. [Exit S.
    Singer, after 175.
  178: _my mistress'_] _his mistress'_ Hanmer.
  185: _auburn_] Rowe. _Aburne_ Ff.
  188: _grey as glass_] F1. _grey as grass_ F2 F3 F4. _green as grass_
    Collier MS.
  189: _mine's as high_] _mine is high_ Pope.
  197: _statue_] _sainted_ Hanmer. _statued_ Warburton. _statua_
    Reed conj.
  200: _your_] _thy_ Hanmer.
  201: [Exit.] F2. [Exeunt. F1.




ACT V.


SCENE I. _Milan. An abbey._

  _Enter EGLAMOUR._

_Egl._ The sun begins to gild the western sky;
And now it is about the very hour
That Silvia, at Friar Patrick's cell, should meet me.
She will not fail, for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time;                              5
So much they spur their expedition.
See where she comes.

  _Enter SILVIA._

                     Lady, a happy evening!

_Sil._ Amen, amen! Go on, good Eglamour,
Out at the postern by the abbey-wall:
I fear I am attended by some spies.                                 10

_Egl._ Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off;
If we recover that, we are sure enough.    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: V, 1.

  SCENE I. An abbey.] Capell. Near the Friar's cell. Theobald.
  3: _That_] om. Pope.
  _Friar_] om. Steevens (1793).
  12: _we are_] _we're_ Pope.


SCENE II. _The same. The DUKE'S palace._

  _Enter THURIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA._

_Thu._ Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit?

_Pro._ O, sir, I find her milder than she was;
And yet she takes exceptions at your person.

_Thu._ What, that my leg is too long?

_Pro._ No; that it is too little.                                    5

_Thu._ I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder.

_Jul._ [_Aside_] But love will not be spurr'd to what it loathes.

_Thu._ What says she to my face?

_Pro._ She says it is a fair one.

_Thu._ Nay then, the wanton lies; my face is black.                 10

_Pro._ But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.

_Jul._ [_Aside_] 'Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies' eyes;
For I had rather wink than look on them.

_Thu._ How likes she my discourse?                                  15

_Pro._ Ill, when you talk of war.

_Thu._ But well, when I discourse of love and peace?

_Jul._ [_Aside_] But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.

_Thu._ What says she to my valour?

_Pro._ O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.                          20

_Jul._ [_Aside_] She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

_Thu._ What says she to my birth?

_Pro._ That you are well derived.

_Jul._ [_Aside_] True; from a gentleman to a fool.

_Thu._ Considers she my possessions?                                25

_Pro._ O, ay; and pities them.

_Thu._ Wherefore?

_Jul._ [_Aside_] That such an ass should owe them.

_Pro._ That they are out by lease.

_Jul._ Here comes the duke.                                         30

  _Enter DUKE._

_Duke._ How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio!
Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late?

_Thu._ Not I.

_Pro._      Nor I.

_Duke._          Saw you my daughter?

_Pro._                              Neither.

_Duke._ Why then,
She's fled unto that peasant Valentine;                             35
And Eglamour is in her company.
'Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the forest;
Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she,
But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it;                           40
Besides, she did intend confession
At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not;
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently, and meet with me                           45
Upon the rising of the mountain-foot
That leads toward Mantua, whither they are fled:
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.    [_Exit._

_Thu._ Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That flies her fortune when it follows her.                         50
I'll after, more to be revenged on Eglamour
Than for the love of reckless Silvia.    [_Exit._

_Pro._ And I will follow, more for Silvia's love
Than hate of Eglamour, that goes with her.    [_Exit._

_Jul._ And I will follow, more to cross that love                   55
Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.    [_Exit._
  Notes: V, 2.

  SCENE II. The Duke's palace.] Theobald.
  7: Jul. [Aside] _But love ..._] Collier (Boswell conj.). Pro.
    _But love ..._ Ff.
  13: Jul. [Aside] _'Tis true ..._] Rowe. Thu. _'Tis true ..._ Ff.
  18, 21, 24, 28: [Aside] Capell.
  18: _hold_] _do hold_ Capell.
  25: _possessions_] _large possessions_ Collier MS.
  28: _owe_] Ff. _own_ Pope.
  32: _saw Sir_] F4. _saw_ F1. _say saw Sir_ F2 F3.
  34, 35: _Why then, She's_] _Why then, she's_ Capell.
  35: _that_] F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.
  40: _it_] _her_ Collier MS.
  47: _toward_] _towards_ Pope.
  48: [Exit.] Rowe.
  50: _when_] F1. _where_ F2 F3 F4.
  51: _on_] _of_ Pope.
  52: [Exit.] Capell.
  54: [Exit.] Capell.
  56: [Exit.] Capell. [Exeunt. Ff.


SCENE III. _The frontiers of Mantua. The forest._

  _Enter _Outlaws_ with SILVIA._

_First Out._ Come, come,
Be patient; we must bring you to our captain.

_Sil._ A thousand more mischances than this one
Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.

_Sec. Out._ Come, bring her away.                                    5

_First Out._ Where is the gentleman that was with her?

_Third Out._ Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us,
But Moses and Valerius follow him.
Go thou with her to the west end of the wood;
There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled;                 10
The thicket is beset; he cannot 'scape.

_First Out._ Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave:
Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.

_Sil._ O Valentine, this I endure for thee!    [_Exeunt_.           15


  Notes: V, 3.

  SCENE III. The ... Mantua] Capell.
  The forest.] Pope.
  8: _Moses_] Capell. _Moyses_ Ff.
  10: _we'll_] om. Pope.
  11: [Exeunt. Capell.


SCENE IV. _Another part of the forest._

  _Enter VALENTINE._

_Val._ How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
And to the nightingale's complaining notes                           5
Tune my distresses and record my woes.
O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was!                                 10
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!
What halloing and what stir is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have some unhappy passenger in chase.                               15
They love me well; yet I have much to do
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here?

  _Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA._

_Pro._ Madam, this service I have done for you,
Though you respect not aught your servant doth,                     20
To hazard life, and rescue you from him
That would have forced your honour and your love;
Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.                     25

_Val._ [_Aside_] How like a dream is this I see and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

_Sil._ O miserable, unhappy that I am!

_Pro._ Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;
But by my coming I have made you happy.                             30

_Sil._ By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy.

_Jul._ [_Aside_] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.

_Sil._ Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.                           35
O, Heaven be judge how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!
And full as much, for more there cannot be,
I do detest false perjured Proteus.
Therefore be gone; solicit me no more.                              40

_Pro._ What dangerous action, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look!
O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,
When women cannot love where they're beloved!

_Sil._ When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved.                 45
Read over Julia's heart, thy first, best love,
For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
Descended into perjury, to love me.
Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two,                   50
And that's far worse than none; better have none
Than plural faith which is too much by one:
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

_Pro._                             In love
Who respects friend?

_Sil._             All men but Proteus.

_Pro._ Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words                    55
Can no way change you to a milder form,
I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end,
And love you 'gainst the nature of love,--force ye.

_Sil._ O heaven!

_Pro._         I'll force thee yield to my desire.

_Val._ Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,                     60
Thou friend of an ill fashion!

_Pro._                       Valentine!

_Val._ Thou common friend, that's without faith or love,
For such is a friend now; treacherous man!
Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say                         65
I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand
Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,
I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake.                        70
The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst,
'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!

_Pro._ My shame and guilt confounds me.
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,                                 75
I tender 't here; I do as truly suffer
As e'er I did commit.

_Val._              Then I am paid;
And once again I do receive thee honest.
Who by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased.                  80
By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeased:
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

_Jul._ O me unhappy!    [_Swoons._

_Pro._ Look to the boy.                                             85

_Val._ Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the matter?
Look up; speak.

_Jul._ O good sir, my master charged me to deliver
a ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never
done.                                                               90

_Pro._ Where is that ring, boy?

_Jul._                        Here 'tis; this is it.

_Pro._ How! let me see:
Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.

_Jul._ O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook:
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.                                95

_Pro._ But how camest thou by this ring? At my depart
I gave this unto Julia.

_Jul._ And Julia herself did give it me;
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.

_Pro._ How! Julia!                                                 100

_Jul._ Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain'd 'em deeply in her heart.
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me                           105
Such an immodest raiment, if shame live
In a disguise of love:
It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,
Women to change their shapes than men their minds.

_Pro._ Than men their minds! 'tis true. O heaven, were man         110
But constant, he were perfect! That one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all the sins:
Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.
What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy
More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye?                         115

_Val._ Come, come, a hand from either:
Let me be blest to make this happy close;
'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.

_Pro._ Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever.

_Jul._ And I mine.                                                 120

  _Enter _Outlaws_, with DUKE and THURIO._

_Outlaws._ A prize, a prize, a prize!

_Val._ Forbear, forbear, I say! it is my lord the duke.
Your Grace is welcome to a man disgraced,
Banished Valentine.

_Duke._           Sir Valentine!

_Thu._ Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine.                        125

_Val._ Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death;
Come not within the measure of my wrath;
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands:
Take but possession of her with a touch:                           130
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.

_Thu._ Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I:
I hold him but a fool that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not:
I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.                       135

_Duke._ The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions.
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,                                140
And think thee worthy of an empress' love:
Know, then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,
Plead a new state in thy unrival'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,                          145
Thou art a gentleman, and well derived;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.

_Val._ I thank your grace; the gift hath made me happy.
I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.                         150

_Duke._ I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.

_Val._ These banish'd men that I have kept withal
Are men endued with worthy qualities:
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile:                         155
They are reformed, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

_Duke._ Thou hast prevail'd; I pardon them and thee:
Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts.
Come, let us go: we will include all jars                          160
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.

_Val._ And, as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your Grace to smile.
What think you of this page, my lord?

_Duke._ I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.             165

_Val._ I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.

_Duke._ What mean you by that saying?

_Val._ Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned.
Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance but to hear                       170
The story of your loves discovered:
That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.    [_Exeunt._


  Notes: V, 4.

  SCENE IV. Another ... forest.] Capell. The outlaw's cave in the
    forest. Theobald.
  2: _This shadowy desert,_] _These shadowy, desert,_ Collier MS.
  8: _so_] _too_ Collier MS.
  14: _are my_] _my rude_ Collier MS.
  18: [Steps aside. Johnson.
  19: _I have_] F1 F2 F3. _have I_ F4. _having_ Collier MS.
  25: _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.
  26, 32: [Aside] Theobald.
  26: _is this I see and hear!_] Theobald. _is this? I see and hear:_
    Ff.
  43: _and still approved_] _for ever prov'd_ Pope.
  49: _to love me_] F1. _to deceive me_ F2 F3 F4.
  57: _woo_] _wooe_ F1. _move_ F2 F3 F4.
  58: _ye_] Ff. _you_ Warburton.
  63: _treacherous man_] F1. _Thou treacherous man_ F2. _Though
    treacherous man_ F3. _Tho treacherous man_ F4.
  65: _now_] om. Pope.
  67: _trusted now, when one's_] F2 F3 F4. _trusted, when one's_ F1.
    _trusted, when one's own_ Johnson. _trusted now, when the_ Pope.
  69: _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.
  71: _O time most accurst_] _O time accurst_ Hanmer. _O time most
    curst_ Johnson. _O spite accurst_ S. Verges conj.
  72: _all foes that a friend_] _all my foes a friend_ Collier MS.
  73: _confounds_] _confound_ Rowe.
  _My ... confounds me_] _My shame and desperate guilt at once
    confound me_ Collier MS.
  82, 83: Blackstone proposes to transfer these lines to the end of
    Thurio's speech, line 135.
  84: [Swoons.] Pope.
  86-90: Printed by Capell as four verses ending _matter ... me ...
    Silvia ... done._
  86: _what's_] _what is_ Capell.
  88: _to deliver_] _Deliver_ Steevens conj.
  92: _see_] _see it_ Steevens conj. suggesting that lines 92-97
    should end at _ring ... sir ... sent ... this?_ (om. _ring_)
    _... Julia._
  93: _Why, this is_] _This is_ Pope. _Why, 'tis_ S. Verges conj.
  96: _But_] om. Pope.
  102: _'em_] _them_ Capell.
  103: _root_] _root on't_ Hanmer.
  112: _all the sins_] _all th' sins_ Ff. _all sins_ Pope.
  118: _be long_] _long be_ Pope.
  120: _And I mine_] _And I have mine_ Steevens (Ritson conj.).
  [embracing. Capell.
  121: SCENE V. Pope.
  122: _Forbear, forbear, I say!_] _Forbear, I say!_ Capell.
    _Forbear, forbear!_ Pope.
  124: _Banished_] _The banish'd_ Pope.
  129: _Verona shall not hold_] _Milan shall not behold_ Theobald.
    _And Milan shall not hold_ Hanmer. _Milano shall not hold_
    Collier MS. See note (VII).
  143: _again,_] _again._ Steevens (Tyrwhitt conj.).
  144: _unrival'd_] F1. _arrival'd_ F2 F3 F4.
  160: _include_] _conclude_ Hanmer.
  161: _rare_] F1. _all_ F2 F3 F4.
  164: _page_] _stripling page_ Collier MS.
  167: _saying?_] _saying, Valentine?_ Collier MS.
  171: _loves discovered_] _love discovered_ Pope. _love's discoverer_
    Collier MS.
  172: _That done, our ... yours_] _Our day of marriage shall be
    yours no less_ Collier MS.




NOTES.


NOTE I.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. We have followed Steevens and the later editors in
reading 'Proteus' for 'Protheus'; for though the latter form is
invariably used in the Folios, and was, in all probability, what
Shakespeare wrote, yet in choosing the name he doubtless meant to
compare the fickle mind of the lover with the changeable form of the
god. We have written 'Panthino,' not 'Panthion,' because the authority
of the first Folio preponderates in favour of the former, in itself the
more probable form of an Italian proper name. 'Panthion' occurs in F1,
among 'the names of all the actors,' and in a stage direction at the
beginning of Act II Sc. 2, but never in the text. 'Panthino' is found
twice in the text, and once in a stage direction at the beginning of Act
I. Sc. 3. The blunder 'Panthmo,' I. 3. 76, which is the reading of F1,
shows that the original MS. had 'Panthino,' not 'Panthion.'


NOTE II.

I. 1. 28 sqq. Mr Sidney Walker (_Criticisms on Shakespeare_, III. p. 9)
says we ought 'perhaps' to read

  'No,
  I will not, for it boots not.'

Doubtless he meant also to re-arrange the following lines, and so get
rid of the Alexandrine at 30; thus:

  '_Val._ No,
  I will not, for it boots not.

  _Pro._                      What?

  _Val._                          To be
  In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks
  With heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth,' &c.


NOTE III.

I. 2. 53. _What a fool is she._ The first Folio reads 'What 'foole is
she,' doubtless to indicate an ellipsis of the indefinite article,
which, for the sake of the metre, was to be slurred over in
pronunciation. As we have not followed the Folio in reading _th'_ or
_th_ for _the_ before a consonant, so we have thought it best to insert
here the omitted letter _a_, especially as the use of the apostrophe is
by modern custom much more restricted than it was in the Folio. For
example, we find _'Save for God save_ (_Tempest_, II. 1. 162), and _at
'nostrils for at's nostrils_ or _at the nostrils_ (_Id._ II. 2. 60).


NOTE IV.

II. 1. 68, 69. This passage is corrupt. The usual explanation, which
satisfies Delius, is inadmissible, because Valentine would certainly not
appear, like the Knight of La Mancha, without his hose. A rhyming
couplet was probably what the author intended. Many conjectures might be
made, as for example:

  'For he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose;
  And you, being in love, cannot see to beyond your nose.'

Or, 'to put spectacles on your nose.' Or possibly, 'to put on your
shoes,' the point of which remark Valentine's disordered dress might
make clear to the audience. Rosalind, when enumerating the marks of a
man in love, mentions the untied shoe as well as the ungartered hose,
_As You Like It_, Act III. Sc. 2. The same misprint, 'hose' for 'shoes,'
occurs in the first edition of Greene's _Groatsworth of Wit_. See Mr
Dyce's preface to his edition of Greene's _Dramatic Works_, p. xxviii.


NOTE V.

II. 4. 7, 95, 111. As Speed after line 7 does not say a word during the
whole of this long scene, we have sent him off the stage. It is not
likely that the clown would be kept on as a mute bystander, especially
when he had to appear in the following scene.

The Folios give line 110 to Thurio, who, if the reading be right, must
have quitted the stage during the scene. The most probable time for this
would be on Proteus' entrance, line 95. Mr Dyce however argues that
'Thurio, after what the Duke, in the presence of Silvia, had said to him
about welcoming Proteus, would hardly run off the moment Proteus
appeared.' But Thurio is not held up as a model of courtesy, and he
might as well be off the stage as on it, for any welcome he gives to
Proteus. Besides, in line 101 Valentine ignores Thurio altogether, who,
if he had been present, would not have remained silent under the slight.

On the whole, we think that the arrangement we have given is the best,
as involving no change in the original reading. The question however is
a difficult and doubtful one--indeed, far more difficult and doubtful
than it is important, or instructive.


NOTE VI.

II. 4. 192. Theobald's correction, 'mine eye,' or as Mr Spedding
suggests, 'my eye' ('my eie' in the original spelling), is supported by
a passage in the _Comedy of Errors_, III. 2. 55:

  'It is a fault that springeth from your eye.'

If this were not satisfactory, another guess might be hazarded:

  'Is it mine _unstaid mind_ or Valentine's praise.'

The resemblance of 'mine' and 'mind' in the printer's eye (final d and
final e being perpetually mistaken for each other) might cause the
omission of the two words. 'Valentine' is found as a dissyllable I. 2.
38. 'Sir Valentine's page, &c.': perhaps also III. 1. 191:

  'There's not a hair on 's head but 'tis a Valentine,'

and, if Capell's arrangement be right, V. 2. 34.


NOTE VII.

II. 5. 1, III. 1. 81, and V. 4. 129. We have retained 'Padua' in the
first of these passages and 'Verona' in the second and third, because it
is impossible that the words can be a mere printer's, or transcriber's,
error. These inaccuracies are interesting as showing that Shakespeare
had written the whole of the play before he had finally determined where
the scene was to be laid.

       *       *       *       *       *
           *       *       *       *
       *       *       *       *       *

Sources:

The editors' Preface (e-text 23041) discusses the 17th- and
18th-century editions in detail; the newer (19th-century) editions
are simply listed by name. The following editions may appear in the
Notes. All inset text is quoted from the Preface.

  Folios:
  F1 1623; F2 (no date given); F3 1663; F4 1685.
    "The five plays contained in this volume occur in the first Folio
    in the same order, and ... were there printed for the first time."

  Early editions:
  Rowe 1709
  Pope 1715
    "Pope was the first to indicate the _place_ of each new scene;
    as, for instance, _Tempest_, I. 1. 'On a ship at sea.' He also
    subdivided the scenes as given by the Folios and Rowe, making
    a fresh scene whenever a new character entered--an arrangement
    followed by Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson. For convenience of
    reference to these editions, we have always recorded the
    commencement of Pope's scenes."
  Theobald 1733
  Hanmer ("Oxford edition") 1744
  Warburton 1747
  Johnson 1765
  Capell 1768; _also Capell's annotated copy of F2_
  Steevens 1773
  Malone 1790
  Reed 1803

  Later editions:
  Singer, Knight, Cornwall, Collier, Phelps, Halliwell, Dyce, Staunton


Errors and inconsistencies:

  [Text-critical notes]

  II. 3. 20: _Oh, the dog is me_]  [_body text punctuates "Oh! the"_]
  II. 4. 58: Know]  [_body text has "know", not capitalized_]
  II. 5. 1: Padua]  [_body text has "the same", referring back to
    II. 4 "Milan"_]
  IV. 4. 95: _am I_] F1 F2. _I am_ F3 F4.  [F3 F3]





End of Project Gutenberg's Two Gentlemen of Verona, by William Shakespeare