EPILOGUE. Spoken by Prospero. NOW my charms are all o'erthrown, Which pierces so that it assaults you from crimes would pardon d be, Let your indulgence set me free. It is observed of The Tempest, that its plan is regular; this the author of The Revisal thinks, what I think too, an accidental effect of the story, not intended or regarded by our author. But, whatever might be Shakspeare's intention in forming or adopting the plot, he has made it instrumental to the production of many characters, diversified with boundless invention, and preserved with profound skill in nature, extensive knowledge of opinions, and accurate observation of life. In a single drama are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and sailors, all speaking in their real characters. There is the agency of airy spirits, and of an earthly goblin; the operations of magic, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a desert island, the native effusion of untaught affection, the punishment of () Applause: noise was supposed to dissolve a guilt, and the final happiness of the pair for whom our passions and reasons are equally interested. spell. JOHNSON. SCENE I.—An open place in Verona. Valentine and Proteus. Valentine. CEASE to persuade, my loving Proteus; Out-laws. Julia, a lady of Verona, beloved by Proteus. Servants, musicians. Scene, Sometimes in Verona; sometimes in Milan ; and on the frontiers of Mantua. If lost, why then a grievous labour won; Enter Or else a wit by folly vanquished. Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits: Think on thy Proteus, when thou, haply, scest When thou dost meet good hap; and, in thy dan ger, If ever danger do environ thee, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success. Pro. Upon some book I love, I'll pray for thee. Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love, How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont. Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love. Fal. No, I'll not, for it boots thee not. What? To be In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks, With heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth, (1) A humorous punishment at harvest-home feasts, &c. 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, Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Val. And writers say, As the most forward bud leave. At Milan, let me hear from thee by letters, Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love: Enter Speed. Speed. Sir Proteus, save you: saw you my master? 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. Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; 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 Speed. You conclude that my master is a shep-telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; herd then, and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What, said she nothing? Speed. No, not so much as-take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself; and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, Being destin'd to a drier death on shore:and my master seeks not me: therefore, I am no I must go send some better messenger; sheep. I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post. Pro. Go, go, begone, to save your ship from wreck; Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore, thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry baa. Pro. But dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia? Speed. I. me, [Speed nods. Pro. Nod, I? why, that's noddy." Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask if she did nod, and I say, I. Pro. And that set together, is--noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains. 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. Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what said she? Speed. Open your purse, that the money, and the matter, may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains; what said she? Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. from her? (1) A term for a courtezan. (2) A game at cards. (3) Ill betide. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. Garden of Julia's would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; But, were I you, he never should be mine. I Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? 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? Luc. Then thus,of many good I think him best. Jul. Your reason? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; think him so, because I think him so. Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. Jul. I would, I knew his mind. Given me a sixpence, (6) Pass sentence. Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I pray. Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker |1 There, take the paper, see it be return'd; 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: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! hate. Jul. Will you be gone? Luc. Ay. That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the letter. It were a shame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault for which Ichid her. What fool is she, that knows I am a maid, And would not force the letter to my view? Since maids, in modesty, say No, to that Which they would have the profferer construe, Fic, 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, When willingly I would have had her here! How angrily I taught my brow to frown, When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile! My penance is, to call Lucetta back, And ask remission for my folly past:What ho! Lucetta! Jul. Nothing. What is't you took up Why didst thou stoop, then? Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall. Jul. And is that paper nothing? Luc. Nothing concerning mc. 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: 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. I cannot reach so high. Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harsh a descant:a (1) A matchmaker. (2) Passion or obstinacy, (3) A term in music, (4) The tenor in music. Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey, I throw thy name against the bruising stones, And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father stays. 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: Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. Jul. I see you have a month's mind to them. see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. Jul. Come, come, will't please you go? [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A room in 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; 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. 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, (5) A challenge. (6) Bustle, stir, (7) Since, (8) Serious, (9) Little consequence Which would be great impeachment' to his age, that Whereon this month I have been hammering. Ant. I know it well. Pant. "Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen; And be in eye of every exercise, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: And, that thou may'st perceive how well I like it, The execution of it shall make known; Even with the speediest execution I will despatch him to the emperor's court. Come on, Panthino; you shall be employ'd [Exeunt Ant. and Pant. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning; And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. The uncertain glory of an April day; Pant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; ACT II. [Exeunt. Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Al-SCENE I.-Milan. An apartment in the Duke's phonso, With other gentlemen of good esteem, 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. How happily he lives, how well belov'd, Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish? Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will, And not depending on his friendly wish. Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish: Muse' not that I thus suddenly proceed; For what I will, I will, and there an end. I am resolv'd, 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: 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. (3) Reproach. (2) Break the matter to him. Wonder. (4) Allowance. *** 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 :- Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Val. Go to, sir; tell me, do you know madam Speed. She that your worship loves? Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreath your arms like a male-content; to relish a love-song, like a robin-red-breast; 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 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 walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after 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. 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 a urinal; that not an eye, that sees you, |