Speed. Ever since you lov'd her.

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?

68

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 Protheus for going ungarter'd

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 you could not see to wipe my shoes.

79 Speed. True, sir; I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you swing'd me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for your's.

Val. In conclusion, I stand affected to her.

Speed. I would you were set, so your affection would cease.

Val. Last night she enjoin'd me to write some lines to one she loves.

Speed. And have you?

Val. I have.

Speed. Are they not lamely writ?

Val. No, boy, but as well as I can do them ::

Peace, here she comes.

Enter SILVIA.

Speed. Oh excellent motion! Oh exceeding pup, pet! now will he interpret to her.

Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good mor

rows.

Speed. Oh! 'give ye good even! here's a million of manners.

Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand.

100

Speed. 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 your's;

Which I was much unwilling to proceed in,
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.

110

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; 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.

120

Speed.

Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet.

[Aside.

Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like

it ?

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 5 But I will none of them; they are for you:

129

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.

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 !

My master sues to her; and she hath taught her suitor, He being her pupil, to become her tutor.

139

O excellent device! was there ever heard a better? That my master, being the scribe, to himself should write the letter?

Val. How now, sir? what are you reasoning with yourself?

Speed. Nay, I was rhiming: 'tis you that have the

reason.

Val. To do what?

Ciij

Speed.

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?

150

Speed. What need she, when she 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 carnest?

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.

160

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 you have 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 dis

cover,

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 din'd.

170

Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the cameleon love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourish'd

by

by my victuals, and would fain have meat: Oh be not like your mistress; be moved, be moved!

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

JULIA'S House at Verona.

Enter PROTHEUS, 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.

180

[Giving a Ring, Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, takę

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'er-slips me in the day,
Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake,
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 :

190

[Exit JULIA.

Julia, farewel.-What! gone without a word ?

AY