We have convere'd, and spent our hours together :
And though myself have been an idle truant,
Qmitting the sweet benefit of time,
To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection ;
Yet hath Sir Protheus, for that's his name,
Made use and fair advantage of his days ;
His years but young, but his experience old ;
His head unmellow'd, but his judgment ripe;
And, in a word (for far behind his worth

380
Come all the praises that I now bestow),
He is complete in feature, and in mind,
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.

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; And here he means to spend his time a while: I think, 'tis no unwelcome news to you.

340 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 : For Valentine, I need not 'cite him to it: I'll send him hither to you presently. [Exit Duke.

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.

Sil. Belike, that now she hath enfranchis'd them Upon some other pawn for fealty.

350

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 ?

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.

Enter PROTHEUS.

Sil. Have done, have done ; here comes the gen

tleman. Val. Welcome, dear Protheus ! -- Mistress, I be

seech you,

Confirm his welcome with some special favour. 360

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 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 :Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.

Pro. My duty will I boast of, nothing else. 370

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..
Sil. That you are welcome!

Pro.

Pro. No; that you are worthless.

Enter Servant.

Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak

with you.

Sul. I'll wait upon his pleasure. [Exit Serv.] Come,

Sir Thurio, Go with me :--Qace more, new servant, welcome : I'll leave you to confer of home-affairs ; 380 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 your's ?
Pro. I left them all in health.

Val. How does your lady ? and how thrives your love?

390 Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you ; I know, you joy not in a love-discourse.

Val. Ay, Protheus, but that life is alter'd now: I have done penance for contemning love ; 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 chac'd sleep from my enthralled eyes, And made them watchers of mine own heart's sorrow.

Dij

O, gentle

o, gentle Protheus, love's a mighty lord; 401
And hath so humbled me, as, I confess,
There is no woe to his correction,
Nor, to his service, no such joy on earth!
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 ? 409

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 fatter her.
Val. O Hatter me! for love delights in praise.

Pro. When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills; 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.

430 Væl. Sweet, except not any ; 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 honourTo bear my lady's train; lest the base earth : 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.

430 Pro.

Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this?

Val. Pardon me, Protheus : 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 minc

own ;

And I as rich in having such a jewel,
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 doat upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes,
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,
With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Determin'd of: how I must climb her window;
The ladder made of cords; and all the means

450
Plotted, and 'greed on, for my happiness.
Good Protheus, go with me to iny chamber,
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.
Val. Will you make haste ?
Diij

Pro.