And each feveral chamber bless, Puck. If we fhadows have offended, Now to 'fcape the ferpent's tongue, So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends; [Exeunt omnes. THE Two GENTLEMEN of VERONA DRAMATIS PERSONE. DUKE of Milan, father to Silvia. } men. Anthonio, father to Pro- Thurio, a foolish rival to Eglamore, agent for Silvia Hoft, where Julia lodges in Out-laws. Speed, a clownish fervant to Launce, the like to Protheus. nio. Julia, a lady of Verona be- Silvia, the Duke of Milan's Lucetta, waiting-woman te Servants, Muficians. The SCENE, fometimes in Verona, Sometimes in Milan, and on the frontiers of Mantua. ACT I. SCENE I. Val. An open place in Verena. Enter Valentine and Protheus. EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus; Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits; Wer't not affection chains thy tender days I may very well be doubted, what er Shakespear had any other hand in his play, than the enlivening it with fome speeches and lines thrown in here and there; which are cality diftinguithed, as being of a different ftamp from the reft. Pro Wilt thou be gone? feet 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. With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights. Pro. So, by your circumftrnce, you call me fool. Methinks, fhould not be chronicled for wife. Val. And writers fay, as the most forward bud Even fo by love the young and tender wit Is turn'd to folly, blafting in the bud; ⚫ Lofing his verdure even in the prime, I'll pray for thee. Val. That's on fome fhallow Ttory of deep 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. Pro Over the borts? ray give me not the boots, Val. To be in love, &c. t VOL. I. L And 1 And all the fair effects of future hopes. But wherefore wafte I time to counfel thee, Once more adieu: my father at the road Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Of thy fuccefs in love; and what news elfe [Exits Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love; He leaves his friends to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. Thou, Julia, thou haft metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my ftudies, lofe my time, War with good counfel, fet the world at nought; Made wit with mufing weak, heart-fick with thought. SCENE II. Enter Speed. Speed. Sir Protheus, fave you; faw you my mafter? Pro. But now he parted hence, t'imbark for Milan. Speed. Twenty to one then he is fhipp'd already, And I have play'd the fheep in lofing him. Pro. Indeed a sheep doth very often stray, An if the fhepherd be a while away. Speed. You conclude that my mafter is a fhepherd then, and I a fheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or fleep. Pro. A filly anfwer, and fitting well a fheep. Pro. True; and thy mafter a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumftance. Pro. It fhall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The thepherd feeks the fheep, and not the freep the thepherd; but I feek my mafter, and my mafer feeks not me; therefore I am no sheep. Pro. Pro. The fheep for fodder follows the fhepherd, the fhepherd for the food follows not the fheep; thou for wages followeft thy mafter, thy mafter for wages follows not thee; therefore thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry Baû. Pro. But doft thou hear? gaveft thou my letter to Julia? Speed. Ay, Sir, I, a loft mutton, gave your letter to her, a lace'd mutton * and fhe, a lace'd mutton, gave me, a loft mutton, nothing for my labour. Pro. Here's too fmall à pafture for fuch ftore of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharge'd, you were bet ftick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are a stray, 'twere beft pound you. Speed. Nay, Sir, lefs than a pound fhall ferve me for carrying your letter. 1 Pro. You mistake: I mean the pound, a pin-fold. Speed. From a pound to 2 pin? fold it over and over, 'tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. Pro. But what faid fhe: did fhe nod? [Speed nods. Speed. I. Pro. Nod-I! why, that's noddy. Speed. You miftook, Sir: I faid, fhe did nod And you ask me, if he did nod; and I faid, I. Pro. And that fet together, is nod ly. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to fet it together, take it for your pains. Pro. No, no, you fhall have it for bearing the letter. Speed. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you. Pro. Why, Sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, Sir, the letter very orderly; Having nothing but the word noddy for my pains. Pro. Befhrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your flow purfe. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what faid fhe? * Lace'd mutton is a phrafe anciently ufed for a lady of pleafare. |