Upon some other pawn for fealty. 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 bath twenty pair of eyes. Val. To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself; Enter PROTEUS. Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentle man. Val. Welcome, dear Proteus !—Mistress, I beseech you, Confirm his welcome with some special favour. 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. Sil. And duty never yet did want his meed; Pro. I'll die on him that says so, but yourself. Enter Servant. Ser. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. Sil. I'll wait upon his pleasure. [Exit Servant.] Come, Sir Thurio, [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 chac'd sleep from my enthralled eyes, And made them watchers of mine own heart's sorrow. 0, gentle Proteus, love's a mighty lord; 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, Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye: Val. Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint? Pro. When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills; Val. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, Pro. Except my mistress. Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own? Val. And I will help thee to prefer her too : 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, Pro. But she loves you ? Val. Ay, and we are betroth'd ; Pro. Go on before ; I shall enquire you forth : Val. Will you make haste ? [Exit VAL. Which, like a waxen image 'gainst a fire, [Erit. SCENE V.-The same. A Street. Enter Speed and Launce. Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Milan. Laun. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth ; for I am not welcome. I reckon this always—that a man is never undone, till he be hanged; nor never welcome to a place, till some certain shot be paid, and the hostess say, welcome. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the ale-house with you presently; where, for one shot of five-pence, thou shalt have five thousand welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy master part with madam Julia ? Laun. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But shall she marry him? |