THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. ACT I. SCENE I. C An open place in Verona. Enter Valentine and Protheus. VALENTINE. EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus; Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits; Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days M But fince thou lov'ft, love ftill, and thrive therein: PRO. Wilt thou be gone? fweet Valentine, adieu; When thou doft meet good hap; and in thy danger, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayer; VAL. And on a love-book pray for my fuccefs. PRO. That's a deep ftory of a deeper love; For he was more than over fhoes in love. VAL. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never fwom the Hellefpont. Pko. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. PRO. What? VAL. To be in love, where fcorn is bought with groans; Coy looks, with heart-fore fighs; one fading moment's mirth, With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights. If haply won, perhaps, an hapless gain : PRO. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. PRO. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not love. VAL. Love is your mafter; for he mafters you. And he that is fo yoaked by a fool, Methinks, fhould not be chronicled for wife, Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a paffing shame, That I, unworthy body as I am, Should cenfure thus on lovely gentlemen. JUL. Why not on Protheus, as on all the reft? Luc. Then thus; of many good, I think him best. Luc. I have no other but a woman's reafon; I think him fo, because I think him fo. JUL. And would'ft thou have me caft my love on him? Luc. Perufe this paper, madam. JUL. "To Julia;" fay, from whom? JUL. Say, fay; who gave it thee? Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and fent, I think, from Protheus, He would have giv'n it you, but I, being in the way, Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I pray. JUL. Now, by my modefty, a goodly broker! Dare you prefume to harbour wanton lines? To whisper and confpire against my youth? Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth; And you an officer fit for the place, There, take the paper; fee, it be return'd; Or else return no more into my fight. Luc. To plead for love deferves more fee than hate. JUL. Will ye be gone? Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit, JUL. And yet I would I had o'er-look'd the letter. It were a shame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault, for which I chid her Re-enter Lucetta. Luc. What would your ladyship? JUL. Is't near dinner-time? Luc. I would it were; That you might kill your ftomach on your meat, And not upon your maid. JUL. What is't that you Took up fo gingerly? Luc. Nothing. JUL. Why did'ft thou ftoop then? Luc. To take a paper up, that I let fall. 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 rhime. Lve. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune : Give me a note; your ladyship can fet. JUL. As little by fuch toys as may be poffible : Luc. It is too heavy for fo light a túne. Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you fing it. Luc. I cannot reach fo high. JUL. Let's fee your fong? How now, minion'; Luc. Keep tune there fill, to you will fing 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 sawcy. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harth a defcant: [Boxes Her. JUL. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. JUL. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lyė: You would be fingering them, to anger me. [Tears it. Luc. She makes it strange, but she would be best pleas'd To be fo anger'd with another letter. JUL. Nay, would I were fo anger'd with the fame! Oh hateful hands, to tear fuch 16ving words! [Exit. |