a

Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll prove.

Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: And he that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks should not be chronicled for wise.

Pro. Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells,3 so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

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
Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud,
Losing his verdure even in the prime,
And all the fair effects of future hopes.
But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee,
That art a votary to fond desire ?
Once more adieu: my father at the road
Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd.
Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.
Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our

leave.

To Milan let me hear from thee by letters, c
Of thy success in love, and what news else
Betideth here in absence of thy friend;
And I likewise will visit thee with mine.

Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!
Val. As much to you at home! and so, fare-
well.
[Exit VALENTINE.

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 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.

a Circumstance. The word is used by the two speakers in different senses. Proteus employs it in the meaning of circumstantial deduction;-Valentine in that of position.

b According to modern construction, we should read its verdure. In an elaborate note by Professor Craik, in his valuable "Philological Commentary on Julius Cæsar," he has clearly shown that "His was formerly neuter as well as masculine, or the genitive of It as well as of He."

To Milan. Let me hear from thee by letters, addressed to Milan. To is the reading of the first folio, and has been restored by Malone.

d The original copy reads, "I love myself."

Pro. Indeed a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be awhile away.

Speed. You conclude that my master is a shepherd then, and I a sheep?

Pro. I do.

Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.

Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.
Speed. This proves me still a sheep.
Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd.
Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.
Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by

another.

Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and 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 labour !

Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.

Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.

Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 't were 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 over,

"T is threefold too little for carrying a letter to

your lover.

Pro. But what said she? did she nod ?

[SPEED nods.

A laced mutton. The commentators have much doubtful learning on this passage. They maintain that the epithet "laced" was a very uncomplimentary epithet of Shakspere's time; and that the words taken together apply to a female of loose character. This is probable; but then the insolent application, by Speed, of the term to Julia is received by Proteus very patiently. The original meaning of the verb lace is to catch-to hold (see Tooke's Diversions &c. part ii. ch. 4); from which the noun lace,-any thing which catches or holds. Speed might, therefore, without an insult to the mistress of Proteus, say-I, a lost sheep, gave your letter to her, a caught sheep.

b Astray. The adjective here should be read "a stray" -a stray sheep.

e Did she nod? These words, not in the original text, were introduced by Theobald. The stage-direction, "Speed nods," is also modern.

Speed. I.

and

Pro. Nod, I; why, that's noddy.

Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: you ask me, if she did nod; and I say, I. Pro. And that set together, is-noddy.

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? Could'st thou perceive so much from her ?

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 your 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 to my master.

you

Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wrack;

Which cannot perish, having thee aboard,
Being destined to a drier death on shore :-
I must go send some better messenger;
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post.

SCENE II.-The same. Garden of Julia's

House.

Enter JULIA and LUCETTA.

Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Would'st 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 shew 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; 't is 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 would'st thou have me cast my love on him?

Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. Jul. Why, he of all the rest hath never mov'd

me.

Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think, best loves ye. Jul. His little speaking shews his love but small. Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. Jul. They do not love that do not shew their love.

a Parle. Speech. The first folio spells it par 'le, which shews the abbreviation of the original French parole.

b Censure. Give an opinion-a meaning which repeat

I. The old spelling of the affirmative particle Ay. The second folio changes the passage to "her mind." The first gives it "your mind." Speed says,-she was hard to me that brought your mind, by letter;-she will be as hard to you in telling it, in person.

The same allusion to the proverb, "He that is born to be hanged," &c., occurs in the Tempest.

c Fire is here used as a dissyllable. Steevens, whose ear received it as a monosyllable, corrupted the reading. In Act II. Se. VII., we have this line

"But qualify the fire's extreme rage.'

See Walker, on "Shakespeare's Versification," § xviii. The present play furnishes other examples, such as, "Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat."

When the reader has a key to the reading of such werdsfl-er, hou-er-he may dispense with the notes that he will perpetually find on these matters in the pages of Steevens.

Luc. O, they love least that let men know their love.

Jul. I would I knew his mind.
Luc.
Peruse this paper, madam.
Jul. To Julia, Say, from whom?
Luc.
That the contents will shew.
Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee?
Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think,
from Proteus:

He would have given it you, but I, being in the

way,

Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault,

I pray.

Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? To whisper and conspire against my youth? Now, trust me, 't is an office of great worth, And you an officer fit for the place. There, take the paper, see it be return'd; Or else return no more into my sight.

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.

Jul. Will you be gone?

Luc.

That you may ruminate. [Exit.

Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the letter.

It were a shame to call her back again,
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What' fool is she, that knows I am a maid,*
And would not force the letter to my view!
Since maids, in modesty, say No, to that
Which they would have the profferer construe Ay.
Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,
And ask remission for my folly past :-
What ho! Lucetta?

O hateful hands, to tear such loving words!
Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey,7
And kill the bees, that yield it, with your stings!
I'll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ-kind Julia;-unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude,

I throw thy name against the bruising stones,

Set. Compose. Julia plays upon the word, in the next line, in a different sense,-to "set by," being to make account of.

b Descant. The simple air, in music, was called the "Plain song," or ground. The "descant "was what we now call a variation."

c Mean. The tenor. The whole of the musical allusions in this passage shew that the terms of the art were familiar to a popular audience.

d You in the original. The ordinary reading is "your unruly base."

e The quibbling Lucetta here turns the allusion to the country game of base, or prison-base, in which one runs and challenges another to pursue.

Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And, here is writ-lore-wounded Proteus :-
Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed,
Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be throughly
heal'd;

And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.

f

But twice, (r thrice, was Proteus written down:
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name : that some whirlwind
bear

Unto a ragged, fearful-hanging rock,"
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;
Thus will I fold them one upon another;
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
Re-enter LUCETTA.

Luc. Madam, dinner is ready, and your
stays.

Jul. Well, let us go.

father

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." Jul. I see you have a month's mind to them. Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you

SCENE III.-The same. A room in Antonio's House.

Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO.

Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sada talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pan. "T was of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him?

Pan.

He wonder'd, that your lordship Fearful-hanging adopted from Delius, in Camb. edit. 1863. b For catching cold. Lest they should catch cold.

e The month's mind, in one form of the expression, referred to the solemn mass, or other obsequies directed to be performed for the repose of the soul, under the will of a deceased person. The strong desire with which this ceremony was regarded in Catholic times might have rendered 'he general expression "month's mind" equivalent to an eager longing, in which sense it is generally thought to be here used. But we are not quite sure that it means a strong and abiding desire; two lines in Hudibras would seem to make the month's mind" only a passing inclination :-"For if a trumpet sound, or drum beat, Who hath not a month's mind to combat."

4 Sad. Serious.

Would suffer him to spend his youth at home;
While other men, of slender reputation,
Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
Some, to the wars, to try their fortune there;
Some, to discover islands far away;
Some, to the studious universities 8
For any, or for all these exercises,
He said, that Proteus, your son, was meet:
And did request me, to importune you,
To let him spend his time no more at home,
Which would be great impeachment to his
In having known no travel in his youth.'
Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to
that

age,

Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have considered well his loss of time;
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
Not being try'd, and tutored in the world:
Experience is by industry achiev'd,

And perfected by the swift course of time:
Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him?
Pan. I think, your lordship is not ignorant,
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the emperor in his royal court.
Ant. I know it well.

Pan. "T were good, I think, your lordship sent him thither:

There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,10 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.
Pan. 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.b

Enter PROTEUS.

Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Here is her hand, the agent of her heart; Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn: O, that our fathers would applaud our loves,

In good time. As Antonio is declaring his intention Proteus appears; the speaker, therefore, breaks off with the expression, "in good time "-apropos.

b Break with him. Break the matter to him,-a form which repeatedly occurs.

To seal our happiness with their consents!
O heavenly Julia!

Ant. How now? what letter are you reading
there?

Pro. May 't please your lordship, 't is a word
or two

Of commendation sent from Valentine,
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 bappily he lives, how well-beloved,
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 :

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 a thou shalt have from me.
To-morrow be in readiness to go:

Exhibition. Stipend, allowance. The word is still used in this sense in our universities.

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.-
Come on, Panthino; you shall be employ'd
To hasten on his expedition.

[Exeunt ANT. and PAN. 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 shew 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 shews all the beauty of the sun,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!