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
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;
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, dinner's ready, and your father

Jul. Well, let us go.

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. 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.

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,
Which would be great impeachment to his age,
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, Not being try'd and tutord in the world: Experience is by industry atchiev'd,

And perfected by the swift course of time:

Then, tell me, whither were 1 best to send him?
Pant. I think, your Lordship is not ignorant,
How his companion youthful Valentine,
Attends the Emperor in his royal court.
Ant. I know it well.

Pant. 'Twere good, I think, your Lordship sent him thither:

There shall he practice 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 expedition

I will dispatch him to the Emperor's court.

Pant.

Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Doa Alphonso,

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 gor And, in good time, - now will we break with him.

Enter PROTEUS.

Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! 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!

Ant. How now? what letter are you reading

there?

Pro. May't please your Lordship, 'tis a word

or two

Of commendation sent from Valentine,

Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.

Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. Pro. There is no news, my Lord; but that he writes

How happily he lives, how well belov'd,
And daily graced by the Emperor;
Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
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 you shall spend some time
With Valentinus in the Emperor's court:

VOL. I.

8

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.
Come on, Panthino; you shall be employ'd
To hasten on his expedition.

[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:
I fear'd to shew my father Julia's letter,
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;
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!

Re-enter PANTHINO.

Pant. 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; And yet a thousand times it answers, no.

[Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE I.

Milan. An Apartment in the Duke's Palace.

Enter VALENTINE and SPELD.

Speed. Sir, your glove.

Val. Not mine; my gloves are on.

Speed. Why then this may be yours, for this

Val. Ha! let me see:

is but one.

Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine!
Ah Silvia! Silvia!

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.
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? Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you have learn'd, like Sir Proteus, to wreath your arms like a malecontent; 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;