Thu. Ay, sir, and done too, for this time. Val. I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin. Sil. A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off. Val. 'T is indeed, madam; we thank the giver. Val. Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire: Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship's looks, And spends what he borrows, kindly in your company. Thu. Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt. Val. I know it well, sir: you have an exchequer of words, And, I think, no other treasure to give your followers; For it appears, by their bare liveries, That they live by your bare words. Sil. No more, gentlemen, no more; here comes my father. Enter DUKE. Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. Of much good news? Val. My lord, I will be thankful To any happy messenger from thence. Duke. Know you don Antonio, your countryman? Val. Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman To be of worth, and worthy estimation, And not without desert so well reputed. Duke. Hath he not a son? Val. Ay, my good lord; a son that well deserves The honour and regard of such a father. Duke. You know him well? Val. I knew him, as myself; for from our infancy We have convers'd and spent our hours together: And though myself have been an idle truant, To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection, Duke. Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good, As meet to be an emperor's counsellor. Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he. I will send him hither to you presently. [Exit DUKE. Sil. Belike, that now she hath enfranchis'd them, 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. Upon a homely object love can wink. a Feature (form or fashion) was applied to the body as well as the face. VOL. I. D Enter PROTEUS. Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. Val. Welcome, dear Proteus !-Mistress, I beseech you, Confirm his welcome with some special favour. Sil. His worth is warrant for his welcome hither, Sil. Too low a mistress for so high a servant. Val. Leave off discourse of disability :- Pro. No; that you are worthless. Thu. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. Sil. I wait upon his pleasure. Come, sir Thurio, Go with me:-once more, new servant, welcome : I'll leave you to confer of home affairs; When you have done, we look to hear from you. Pro. We'll both attend upon your ladyship. [Exeunt SILVIA, THURIO, and Speed. 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 yours? Pro. I left them all in health. Val. How does your lady? and how thrives your love? Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you; I know you joy not in a love-discourse. Val. Ay, Proteus, 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 chas'd sleep from my enthralled eyes, And made them watchers of mine own heart's sorrow. O, gentle Proteus, love 's a mighty lord; And hath so humbled me, as, I confess, There is no woe to his correction,a Nor to his service no such joy on earth! Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye; Was this the idol that you worship so? 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 flatter her. Val. O, flatter me; for love delights in praises. 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. Val. 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 honour,To 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, There is no woe compared to his correction. Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower, Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? Val. Pardon me, Proteus: 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 mine own; And I as rich in having such a jewel As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl, Val. Ay, and we are betroth'd: Nay, more, our marriage hour, With all the cunning manner of our flight, Some necessaries that I needs must use; Val. Will you make haste? Pro. I will. Even as one heat another heat expels, [Exit VAL.. Or as one nail by strength drives out another, Is by a newer object quite forgotten. a Road-open harbour. |