To-morrow be in readiness to go : 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. Come on, Panthion: you shall be employed PRO. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning, The uncertain glory of an April day, Re-enter PANTHION. PAN. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you: 80 90 [exeunt. ACT II SCENE I.. Milan. A Room in 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 your's, for this is but one. VAL. Ha, let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine— SPEED. Madam Silvia, Madam Silvia! ACT II SPEED. She is not within hearing, Sir. VAL. Well, you'll still be too forward. VAL. Go to, Sir! tell me, do you know Madam Silvia? VAL. Why, how know you that I am in love? SPEED. Marry, by these special marks: first, you have learn'd, like Sir Proteus, to wreath your arms, like a male-content; 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 ABC; to weep, like a young 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 laugh'd, to crow like a cock; when you walk'd, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you look'd sadly, it was for want of money: and now you are so metamorphos'd with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master. 30 VAL. Are all these things perceiv'd in me? SPEED. Without ye? nay, that's certain, for, without VAL. But tell me, dost thou know my Lady Silvia? SPEED. Why, Sir, I know her not. 40 VAL. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know'st her not? SPEED. Is she not hard-favour'd, Sir? VAL. Not so fair, boy, as well-favour'd. SPEED. Sir, I know that well enough. 49 ACT II SPEED. That she is not so fair as (of you) well-favour'd. VAL. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but her favour infinite. SPEED. That's because the one is painted, and the other 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 esteem'st thou me? I account of her beauty. VAL. How long hath she been deform'd? SPEED. Ever since you lov'd her. 60 VAL. I have lov'd her ever since I saw her; and still I see her beautiful. 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 ungarter'd! VAL. What should I see then? 70 SPEED. Your own present folly and her passing de- For he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose; nose. VAL. Belike, boy, then, you are in love; for last morning 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 your's. VAL. In conclusion, I stand affected to her. 80 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 ? VAL. I have. SPEED. Are they not lamely writ ? ACT II VAL. No, boy, but as well as I can do them. Peace! Sc. I here she comes. Enter SILVIA. SPEED. O excellent motion !1 O exceeding puppet ! now will he interpret to her. 91 VAL. Madam and Mistress, a thousand good-morrows ! manners. [aside. SIL. Sir Valentine and Servant, to you two thousand. VAL. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter SIL. I thank you, gentle Servant: 'tis very clerkly done. For, being ignorant to whom it goes, I writ at random, very doubtfully. SIL. Perchance you think too much of so much pains? Please you command, a thousand times as much : 100 110 [aside. SIL. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel ; VAL. Madam, they are for you. SIL. Ay, ay, you writ them, Sir, at my request; 120 I would have had them writ more movingly. 1 puppet-show. VAL. If it please me, Madam? what then? ACT II [Exit SILVIA. SIL. Why, if it please you, take it for your labour: eft And so, good-morrow, Servant. SPEED. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a to steeple! 130 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 your self? SPEED. Nay, I was rhyming: 'tis you that have the reason. VAL. To do what? SPEED. To be a spokesman from Madam Silvia. 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? 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. 150 SPEED. And that letter hath she deliver'd, and there an end. 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, 160 Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover. |