Val. Wife.

Thu. What inftance of the contrary?
Val. Your folly.

Thu. And how quote you my folly?
Val. I quote it in your jerkin.

Thu. My jerkin is a doublet.

Val. Well then, I'll double your folly.

Thu. How?

Sil. What, angry, Sir Thurio? do you change colour? Val. Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of Cameleon.

Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your blood, than live in your air.

Val. You have faid, Sir.

Thu. Ay, Sir, and done too, for this time.

Val. I know it well, Sir; you always end, ere you begin.

Sil. A fine volly of words, gentlemen, and quickly fhot off.

Val. "Tis, indeed, madam; we thank the giver.
Sil. Who is that, fervant?

Val. Your felf, fweet lady, for you gave the fire: Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyfhip's looks, and fpends, 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 the Duke.

Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard befet.
Sir Valentine, your father's in good health:
What fay you to a letter from your friends
Of much good news?

Val. My lord, I will be thankful To any happy meffenger from thence.

Duke. Know you Don Anthonio, your countryman Val. Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman To be of worth and worthy eftimation;

And, not without defert, fo well reputed.
Duke. Hath he not a fon?

Val. Ay, my good lord, a fon that well deferves The honour and regard of fuch a father.

Duke. You know him well ?

Val. I knew him, as my felf; for from our infancy
We have converft, and spent our hours together:
And tho' my felf have been an idle truant,
Omitting the fweet benefit of time,

To cloath 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
Come all the praifes, that I now bestow ;)
He is compleat in feature and in mind,
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.

Duke. Befhrew me, Sir, but if he makes this good.
He is as worthy for an emprefs' love,.
As meet to be an Emperor's counsellor..
Well, Sir, this gentleman is come to me,
With commendations from great potentates;
And here he means to spend his time a while.
I think, 'tis no unwelcome news to you..

Val. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he.. Duke. Welcome him then according to his worth: Silvia, I fpeak to you; and you, Sir Thurio;

For Valentine, I need not cite him to it :
I'll fend him hither to you presently.

[Exit Duke.
Val. This is the gentleman, I told your lady fhip,
Had come along with me, but that his mistress.
Did hold his eyes lockt in her crystal looks.

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

Val. Nay, fure, I think, fhe holds them pris'ners ftill. Sil. Nay, then he fhould be blind; and, being blind, How could he fee his way to feek out you?

Val. Why, lady, love hath twenty pair of eyes. Thu. They fay, that love hath not an eye at all. Val. To fee fuch lovers, Thurio, as your felf: Upon a homely object love can wink.

Enter Protheus.

Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. Val. Welcome, dear Protheus: mistress, I beseech you, Confirm his welcome with fome special favour.

Sil. His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he, you oft have wifh'd to hear from.
Val. Mistress, it is: Sweet lady, entertain him
To be my fellow-fervant to your ladyship.

Sil. Too low a mistress for so high a fervant.
Pro. Not fo, fweet lady; but too mean a fervant,
To have a look of fuch a worthy mistress.
Val. Leave off difcourfe of difability:
Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
Pro. My duty will I boaft of, nothing else.
Sil. And duty never yet did want his meed:
Servant, you're welcome to a worthless mistress.
Pro. I'll die on him that says so, but your self.
Sil. That you are welcome?

Pro. That you are worthless.

Enter Servant.

Serv. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. (9)

Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure: [Exit Serv.] Come, Sir Thurio,

Go with me.

Once more, my new fervant, welcome:

(9) Thur. Madam, my Lord your Father.] This Speech in all the Editions is affign'd improperly to Thurio; but he has been all along upon the Stage, and could not know that the Duke wanted his Daughter. Befides, the firft Line and half of Silvia's Answer is evidently addrefs'd to two Perfons. A Servant, therefore, must come in and deliver the Meffage; and then Silvia goes out with Thurio,

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.

[Ex. Sil. and Thu, 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, Protheus, but that life is alter'd now;
I have done penance for contemning love;
Whofe high imperious thoughts have punish'd me
With bitter fafts, with penitential groans;
With nightly tears, and daily heart-fore fighs.
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,
Love hath chac'd fleep from my enthralled eyes,
And made them watchers of mine own heart's forrow.
O gentle Protheus, love's a mighty lord;

And hath fo humbled me, as, I confefs,

There is no wo to his correction;

Nor to his fervice, no fuch joy on earth.
Now no discourse, except it be of love;

Now can I break my faft, dine, fup, 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 fo?

Val. Even fhe; and is fhe not a heav'nly faint?
Pro. No; but fhe is an earthly paragon.

Val. Call her divine.

Pro. I will not flatter her.

Val. O, flatter me; for love delights in praise. Pro. When I was fick, you gave me bitter pills; And I muft minifter the like to you.

Val. Then fpeak the truth by her; if not divine,
Yet let her be a principality,

Sov'reign to all the creatures on the earth.
Pro. Except my mistress.

Vai.

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 dignify'd with this high honour,
To bear my lady's train, left the base earth
Should from her vesture chance to fteal a kifs;
And, of fo great a favour growing proud,
Disdain to root the fummer-fwelling flower;
And make rough winter everlastingly.

Pro. Why, Valentine, what bragadism is this?
Val. Pardon me, Protheus; all I can, is nothing
To her, whofe 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 fuch a jewel,

As twenty feas, if all their fand were pearl,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me, that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou feeft me doat upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes,
Only for his poffeffions are fo huge,

Is

gone with her along, and I muft after; For love, thou know'ft, is full of jealoufie.

Pro. But fhe 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 muft climb her window,
The ladder made of cords; and all the means
Plotted and 'greed on for my happiness.
Good Protheus, go with me to my chamber,
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.

Pro. Go on before; I fhall enquire you
I muft unto the road, to disembark
Some neceffaries that I needs must use;
And then I'll presently attend you.

Val. Will you make haste ?
Pro. I will.

forth.

[Exit Val.