EPILOGUE.-Spoken by PROSPERO. Now my charms are all o'erthrown, And what strength I have's mine own; Which is most faint: now, 'tis true, I must be here confined by you, Or sent to Naples: Let me not, Since I have my dukedom got, And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell In this bare island, by your spell; But release me from my bands, With the help of your good hands. Applause; noise was supposed to dissolve a spell. Gentle breath of yours my sails SCENE, sometimes in Verona; sometimes in Milan; and on the Frontiers of Mantua. SCENE I-An open Place in Verona. Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS. ACT I. Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus; Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits: Wer't not affection chains thy tender days To the sweet glances of thy horfor'd love, I rather would entreat thy company, To see the wonders of the world abroad, Than living dully sluggardiz'd at home, Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. But, since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein, Even as I would, when I to love begin. Pro. Wilt thou begone? Sweet Valentine, adieu! Think on thy Proteus, when thou, haply, seest Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel: Wish me partaker in thy happiness, When thou dost meet good hap; and, in thy danger, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success. How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont. Pro. Val. What? To be In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy A humorous punishment at harvest-home feasts, &c. If lost, why then a grievous labor won; Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. And he that is so yoked by a fool, Pro. Yet writers say, As in the sweetest bud Val. And writers say, As the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. At Milan let me hear from thee by letters, Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Val. As much to you at home! and so farewell! [Exit VALENTINE. Pro. He after honor hunts, I after love: He leaves his friends to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at nought; Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: And being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What, said she nothing? Speed. No, not so much as take this for thy pains. To 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 the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and SCENE II. The same. Garden of Julia's house. my master seeks not me; therefore, I am no sheep. Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry baa. Pro. But dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia? Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labor. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are astray, 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound, a pinfold. Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and Speed. I. [SPEED nods. Pro. Nod, I? why, that's noddy. and you ask me, if she did nod; and I say, I. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains. Pro. No, no, you shall 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. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: What said she? Speed. Open your purse, that the money, and the matter, may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains: What said she? Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? Couldst thou perceive so much from her? A term for a courtezan. 3 A game at cards. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, 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 According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a knight well spoken, neat and fine; But were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so, so. Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus? Luc. Lord, lord! to see what folly reigns in us! Jul. How now! what means this passion at his name? Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing shame, That I, unworthy body as I am, 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. Jul. Your reason? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so. Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. Jul. I would I knew his mind. Peruse this paper, madam. Jul. To Julia, Say, from whom? 1 Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! Or else return no more into my sight. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd [Exit. To be so anger'd with another letter. Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey, hate. Jul. Will you begone? That you may ruminate. [Exit. And kill the bees, that yield it, with your stings! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, What would your ladyship? Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will. Re-enter LUCETTA. Luc. Jul. Is it near dinner time? I would it were; Why didst thou stoop 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 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 burden, then. Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you Jul. You do not? Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. Jul. You, minion, are too saucy. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harsh a descant;" There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Re-enter LUCETTA. Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father stays. Jul. Well, let us go. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up. He wonder'd that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home; To let him spend his time no more at home, Ant. Nor need'st thou much impórtune me to Whereon this month I have been hammering. •Matchmaker. [Tears the letter. * Serious. • Little consequence. • Reproach. Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes How happily he lives, how well belov'd, Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish? And not depending on his friendly wish. Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish: Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed; For what I will, I will, and there an end. I am resolv'd, that thou shalt spend some time With Valentinus in the emperor's court; What maintenance he from his friends receives, Like exhibition thou shalt have from me. To-morrow be in readiness to go: 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: No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go.- [Exeunt AxT. 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'd to show my father Julia's letter, Lest he should take exceptions to my love; And with the vantage of mine own excuse Hath he excepted most against my love. O, how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day; Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away! Re-enter PANTHINO. Pant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; He is in haste, therefore, I pray you, go. Pro. Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto; And yet a thousand times it answers, no. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.-Milan. An Apartment in the Duke's robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one that had Val. Ha! let me see: ay give it me, it's mine :- Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too slow. the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy that had lost his A, B, C; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money; and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master. Val. Are all these things perceived in me? Speed. They are all perceived without you. Val. Without me? They cannot. Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain, for without you were so simple, none else would: but you are so without these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in a urinal; that not an eye, that sees you, but is a physician to comment on your malady. Val. But, tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia? Speed. She, that you gaze on so, as she sits at supper? Val. Hast thou observed that? even she I mean. * Wonder. • Under a regimen. Allowance. Allhallowmas. 1 1 |