testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd' me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself. And so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, [Exit Speed. [Exit. SCENE II.-THE SAME. THE GARDEN OF JULIA'S HOUSE. Enter Julia and Lucetta. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion, which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind Jul. What think 'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? But, were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. To see what folly reigns in us! Jul. How now? what means this passion at his name? Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? Luc. Then thus,—of many good, I think him best. Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason: I think him so, because I think him so. Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love on him? Luc. Jul. "To Julia." Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. That the contents will show. Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee? 90 Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus. He would have given it you, but I, being in the way, 1 Sixpence. Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault, I pray, There, take the paper: see it be return'd, Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Luc. That you may ruminate. Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlooked the letter. Which they would have the profferer construe 'Ay.' And ask remission for my folly past.- Luc. What would your ladyship? Enter Lucetta. I would it were; Jul. Is it near dinner-time? Luc. That you might kill your stomach on your meat, Jul. What is 't that you took up so gingerly? Luc. Nothing. Jul. Why didst thou stoop, then? Luc. That I let fall. To take a paper up Jul. And is that paper nothing? Luc. Nothing concerning me. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns, Unless it have a false interpreter. Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. Give me a note: your ladyship can set. Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible: Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love.' Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath some burthen then. Luc. VOL. I. I cannot reach so high. [Exit. D Jul. Let's see your song.-How now, minion! Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out: And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune. Jul. You do not? Luc. No, madam; 'tis too sharp. Jul. You, minion, are too saucy. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harsh a descant: Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie: You would be fing'ring them to anger me. [Tears the letter. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! O hateful hands! to tear such loving words: Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey, And kill the bees that yield it, with your stings. Look, here is writ-"kind Julia;"-unkind Julia! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be thoroughly heal'd; But twice, or thrice, was "Proteus" written down: Till I have found each letter in the letter; Except mine own name; that some whirlwind bear, 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. Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will. Luc. Madam, Enter Lucetta. Dinner is ready, and your father stays. Jul. Well, let us go. 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. [Exit. Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-THE SAME. A ROOM IN ANTONIO'S HOUSE. Enter Antonio and Panthino. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that, Pant. He said, that Proteus, your son, was meet; 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, And perfected by the swift course of time. Then, tell me, whither were I 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 practise 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. To-morrow, may it please you, Don 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 go : And in good time,-now will we break with him. Enter Proteus. Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Ant. How now! what letter are you reading there? 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, For what I will, I will, and there an end. 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: To hasten on bis 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 to show my father Julia's letter, Lest he should take exceptions to my love; And, with the vantage of mine own excuse, Enter Panthino. Pant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you: [Exeunt. |