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Modern Text |
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Enter VALENTINE , SYLVIA , THURIO , and SPEED
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Enter VALENTINE , SYLVIA , THURIO , and SPEED
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SYLVIA Servant!
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SYLVIA Servant!
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VALENTINE Mistress?
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VALENTINE Mistress?
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SPEED Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.
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SPEED Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.
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VALENTINE Ay, boy, it’s for love.
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VALENTINE Ay, boy, it’s for love.
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SPEED 5 Not of you.
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SPEED Not of you.
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VALENTINE Of my mistress, then.
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VALENTINE Of my mistress, then.
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SPEED ’Twere good you knocked him.
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SPEED ’Twere good you knocked him.
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Exit SPEED
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Exit SPEED
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SYLVIA Servant, you are sad.
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SYLVIA Servant, you are sad.
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VALENTINE Indeed, madam, I seem so.
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VALENTINE Indeed, madam, I seem so.
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THURIO 10 Seem you that you are not?
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THURIO Seem you that you are not?
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VALENTINE Haply I do.
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VALENTINE Haply I do.
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THURIO So do counterfeits.
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THURIO So do counterfeits.
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VALENTINE So do you.
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VALENTINE So do you.
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THURIO What seem I that I am not?
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THURIO What seem I that I am not?
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VALENTINE 15 Wise.
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VALENTINE Wise.
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THURIO What instance of the contrary?
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THURIO What instance of the contrary?
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VALENTINE Your folly.
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VALENTINE Your folly.
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THURIO And how quote you my folly?
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THURIO And how quote you my folly?
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VALENTINE I quote it in your jerkin.
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VALENTINE I quote it in your jerkin.
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THURIO 20 My “jerkin” is a doublet.
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THURIO My “jerkin” is a doublet.
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VALENTINE Well, then, I’ll double your folly.
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VALENTINE Well, then, I’ll double your folly.
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THURIO How?
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THURIO How?
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SYLVIA What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color?
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SYLVIA What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color?
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VALENTINE Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.
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VALENTINE Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.
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THURIO 25 That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air.
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THURIO That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air.
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VALENTINE You have said, sir.
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VALENTINE You have said, sir.
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THURIO Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.
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THURIO Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.
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VALENTINE I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.
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VALENTINE I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.
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SYLVIA A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.
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SYLVIA A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.
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VALENTINE 30 ’Tis indeed, madam, we thank the giver.
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VALENTINE ’Tis indeed, madam, we thank the giver.
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SYLVIA Who is that, servant?
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SYLVIA Who is that, servant?
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VALENTINE Yourself, sweet lady, for you gave the fire. Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship’s looks, and spends what he borrows kindly in your company.
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VALENTINE Yourself, sweet lady, for you gave the fire. Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship’s looks, and spends what he borrows kindly in your company.
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THURIO Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.
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THURIO Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.
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VALENTINE I know it well, sir; you have an exchequer of words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your followers, for it appears, by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words.
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VALENTINE I know it well, sir; you have an exchequer of words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your followers, for it appears, by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words.
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SYLVIA 35 No more, gentlemen, no more. Here comes my father.
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SYLVIA No more, gentlemen, no more. Here comes my father.
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Enter the DUKE
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Enter the DUKE
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DUKE Now, daughter Sylvia, you are hard beset.
Sir Valentine, your father is in good health.
What say you to a letter from your friends
Of much good news?
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DUKE Now, daughter Sylvia, you are hard beset.
Sir Valentine, your father is in good health.
What say you to a letter from your friends
Of much good news?
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VALENTINE 40 My lord, I will be thankful
To any happy messenger from thence.
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VALENTINE My lord, I will be thankful
To any happy messenger from thence.
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DUKE Know ye Don Antonio, your countryman?
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DUKE Know ye Don Antonio, your countryman?
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VALENTINE Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman
To be of worth and worthy estimation,
45 And not without desert so well reputed.
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VALENTINE Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman
To be of worth and worthy estimation,
And not without desert so well reputed.
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DUKE Hath he not a son?
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DUKE Hath he not a son?
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VALENTINE Ay, my good lord, a son that well deserves
The honor and regard of such a father.
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VALENTINE Ay, my good lord, a son that well deserves
The honor and regard of such a father.
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DUKE You know him well?
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DUKE You know him well?
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VALENTINE 50 I knew him as myself, for from our infancy
We have conversed and spent our hours together.
And though myself have been an idle truant,
Omitting the sweet benefit of time
To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection,
55 Yet hath Sir Proteus—for that’s his name—
Made use and fair advantage of his days;
His years but young, but his experience old;
His head unmellowed, but his judgment ripe.
And, in a word—for far behind his worth
60 Comes all the praises that I now bestow—
He is complete in feature and in mind
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
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VALENTINE I knew him as myself, for from our infancy
We have conversed and spent our hours together.
And though myself have been an idle truant,
Omitting the sweet benefit of time
To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection,
Yet hath Sir Proteus—for that’s his name—
Made use and fair advantage of his days;
His years but young, but his experience old;
His head unmellowed, but his judgment ripe.
And, in a word—for far behind his worth
Comes all the praises that I now bestow—
He is complete in feature and in mind
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
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DUKE Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good,
He is as worthy for an empress’ love
65 As meet to be an emperor’s counselor.
Well, sir, this gentleman is come to me,
With commendation from great potentates,
And here he means to spend his time awhile.
I think ’tis no unwelcome news to you.
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DUKE Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good,
He is as worthy for an empress’ love
As meet to be an emperor’s counselor.
Well, sir, this gentleman is come to me,
With commendation from great potentates,
And here he means to spend his time awhile.
I think ’tis no unwelcome news to you.
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VALENTINE 70 Should I have wished a thing, it had been he.
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VALENTINE Should I have wished a thing, it had been he.
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DUKE Welcome him then according to his worth.
Sylvia, I speak to you, and you, Sir Thurio;
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it.
I will send him hither to you presently.
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DUKE Welcome him then according to his worth.
Sylvia, I speak to you, and you, Sir Thurio;
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it.
I will send him hither to you presently.
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Exit the DUKE
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Exit the DUKE
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VALENTINE 75 This is the gentleman I told your ladyship
Had come along with me but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes locked in her crystal looks.
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VALENTINE This is the gentleman I told your ladyship
Had come along with me but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes locked in her crystal looks.
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SYLVIA Belike that now she hath enfranchised them
Upon some other pawn for fealty.
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SYLVIA Belike that now she hath enfranchised them
Upon some other pawn for fealty.
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VALENTINE 80 Nay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.
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VALENTINE Nay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.
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SYLVIA Nay, then he should be blind, and being blind
How could he see his way to seek out you?
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SYLVIA Nay, then he should be blind, and being blind
How could he see his way to seek out you?
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VALENTINE Why, lady, Love hath twenty pair of eyes.
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VALENTINE Why, lady, Love hath twenty pair of eyes.
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THURIO They say that Love hath not an eye at all.
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THURIO They say that Love hath not an eye at all.
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VALENTINE 85 To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself.
Upon a homely object Love can wink.
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VALENTINE To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself.
Upon a homely object Love can wink.
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SYLVIA Have done, have done. Here comes the gentleman.
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SYLVIA Have done, have done. Here comes the gentleman.
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Enter PROTEUS
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Enter PROTEUS
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VALENTINE Welcome, dear Proteus!—Mistress, I beseech you,
Confirm his welcome with some special favor.
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VALENTINE Welcome, dear Proteus!—Mistress, I beseech you,
Confirm his welcome with some special favor.
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SYLVIA 90 His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he you oft have wished to hear from.
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SYLVIA His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he you oft have wished to hear from.
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VALENTINE Mistress, it is. Sweet lady, entertain him
To be my fellow servant to your ladyship.
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VALENTINE Mistress, it is. Sweet lady, entertain him
To be my fellow servant to your ladyship.
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SYLVIA Too low a mistress for so high a servant.
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SYLVIA Too low a mistress for so high a servant.
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PROTEUS 95 Not so, sweet lady, but too mean a servant
To have a look of such a worthy mistress.
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PROTEUS Not so, sweet lady, but too mean a servant
To have a look of such a worthy mistress.
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VALENTINE Leave off discourse of disability.
Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
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VALENTINE Leave off discourse of disability.
Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
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PROTEUS My duty will I boast of, nothing else.
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PROTEUS My duty will I boast of, nothing else.
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SYLVIA 100 And duty never yet did want his meed.
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.
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SYLVIA And duty never yet did want his meed.
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.
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PROTEUS I’ll die on him that says so but yourself.
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PROTEUS I’ll die on him that says so but yourself.
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SYLVIA That you are welcome?
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SYLVIA That you are welcome?
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PROTEUS That you are worthless.
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PROTEUS That you are worthless.
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Enter a Servant
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Enter a Servant
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SERVANT 105 Madam, my lord your father would speak with you.
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SERVANT Madam, my lord your father would speak with you.
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SYLVIA I wait upon his pleasure.
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SYLVIA I wait upon his pleasure.
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Exit Servant
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Exit Servant
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Come, Sir Thurio,
Go with me. Once more, new servant, welcome.
I’ll leave you to confer of home affairs.
110 When you have done we look to hear from you.
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Come, Sir Thurio,
Go with me. Once more, new servant, welcome.
I’ll leave you to confer of home affairs.
When you have done we look to hear from you.
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PROTEUS We’ll both attend upon your ladyship.
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PROTEUS We’ll both attend upon your ladyship.
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Exeunt SYLVIA and THURIO
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Exeunt SYLVIA and THURIO
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VALENTINE Now tell me, how do all from whence you came?
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VALENTINE Now tell me, how do all from whence you came?
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PROTEUS Your friends are well and have them much commended.
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PROTEUS Your friends are well and have them much commended.
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VALENTINE And how do yours?
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VALENTINE And how do yours?
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PROTEUS 115 I left them all in health.
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PROTEUS I left them all in health.
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VALENTINE How does your lady, and how thrives your love?
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VALENTINE How does your lady, and how thrives your love?
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PROTEUS My tales of love were wont to weary you;
I know you joy not in a love discourse.
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PROTEUS My tales of love were wont to weary you;
I know you joy not in a love discourse.
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VALENTINE Ay, Proteus, but that life is altered now.
120 I have done penance for contemning Love,
Whose high imperious thoughts have punished me
With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,
With nightly tears, and daily heartsore sighs;
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,
125 Love hath chased sleep from my enthrallèd eyes
And made them watchers of mine own heart’s sorrow.
O gentle Proteus, Love’s a mighty lord,
And hath so humbled me as I confess
There is no woe to his correction,
130 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
Upon the very naked name of love.
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VALENTINE Ay, Proteus, but that life is altered now.
I have done penance for contemning Love,
Whose high imperious thoughts have punished me
With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,
With nightly tears, and daily heartsore sighs;
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,
Love hath chased sleep from my enthrallèd eyes
And made them watchers of mine own heart’s sorrow.
O 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
Upon the very naked name of love.
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PROTEUS Enough. I read your fortune in your eye.
135 Was this the idol that you worship so?
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PROTEUS Enough. I read your fortune in your eye.
Was this the idol that you worship so?
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VALENTINE Even she. And is she not a heavenly saint?
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VALENTINE Even she. And is she not a heavenly saint?
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PROTEUS No, but she is an earthly paragon.
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PROTEUS No, but she is an earthly paragon.
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VALENTINE Call her divine.
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VALENTINE Call her divine.
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PROTEUS I will not flatter her.
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PROTEUS I will not flatter her.
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VALENTINE 140 O, flatter me, for love delights in praises.
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VALENTINE O, flatter me, for love delights in praises.
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PROTEUS When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills,
And I must minister the like to you.
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PROTEUS When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills,
And I must minister the like to you.
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VALENTINE Then speak the truth by her; if not divine,
Yet let her be a principality,
145 Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.
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VALENTINE Then speak the truth by her; if not divine,
Yet let her be a principality,
Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.
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PROTEUS Except my mistress.
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PROTEUS Except my mistress.
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VALENTINE Sweet, except not any,
Except thou wilt except against my love.
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VALENTINE Sweet, except not any,
Except thou wilt except against my love.
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PROTEUS Have I not reason to prefer mine own?
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PROTEUS Have I not reason to prefer mine own?
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VALENTINE 150 And I will help thee to prefer her, too.
She shall be dignified with this high honor:
To bear my lady’s train, lest the base earth
Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss
And, of so great a favor growing proud,
155 Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower
And make rough winter everlastingly.
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VALENTINE And I will help thee to prefer her, too.
She shall be dignified with this high honor:
To bear my lady’s train, lest the base earth
Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss
And, of so great a favor growing proud,
Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower
And make rough winter everlastingly.
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PROTEUS Why, Valentine, what braggartism is this?
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PROTEUS Why, Valentine, what braggartism is this?
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VALENTINE Pardon me, Proteus, all I can is nothing
To her whose worth makes other worthies nothing.
160 She is alone.
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VALENTINE Pardon me, Proteus, all I can is nothing
To her whose worth makes other worthies nothing.
She is alone.
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PROTEUS Then, let her alone.
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PROTEUS Then, let her alone.
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VALENTINE 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,
165 The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou seest me dote upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes
Only for his possessions are so huge,
170 Is gone with her along, and I must after,
For love, thou know’st, is full of jealousy.
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VALENTINE 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,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou seest me dote upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes
Only for his possessions are so huge,
Is gone with her along, and I must after,
For love, thou know’st, is full of jealousy.
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PROTEUS But she loves you?
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PROTEUS But she loves you?
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VALENTINE Ay, and we are betrothed. Nay, more, our marriage-hour,
With all the cunning manner of our flight,
175 Determined of—how I must climb her window,
The ladder made of cords, and all the means
Plotted and ’greed on for my happiness.
Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
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VALENTINE Ay, and we are betrothed. Nay, more, our marriage-hour,
With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Determined of—how I must climb her window,
The ladder made of cords, and all the means
Plotted and ’greed on for my happiness.
Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
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PROTEUS 180 Go on before; I shall enquire you forth.
I must unto the road, to disembark
Some necessaries that I needs must use,
And then I’ll presently attend you.
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PROTEUS Go on before; I shall enquire you forth.
I must unto the road, to disembark
Some necessaries that I needs must use,
And then I’ll presently attend you.
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VALENTINE Will you make haste?
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VALENTINE Will you make haste?
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Exit VALENTINE
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Exit VALENTINE
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PROTEUS 185 I will.
Even as one heat another heat expels,
Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
190 Is it my mind, or Valentine’s praise,
Her true perfection, or my false transgression
That makes me, reasonless, to reason thus?
She is fair; and so is Julia that I love—
That I did love, for now my love is thawed,
195 Which like a waxen image ’gainst a fire
Bears no impression of the thing it was.
Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,
And that I love him not as I was wont.
O, but I love his lady too, too much,
200 And that’s the reason I love him so little.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,
That thus without advice begin to love her!
’Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,
And that hath dazzlèd my reason’s light;
205 But when I look on her perfections,
There is no reason but I shall be blind.
If I can check my erring love, I will;
If not, to compass her I’ll use my skill.
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PROTEUS I will.
Even as one heat another heat expels,
Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
Is it my mind, or Valentine’s praise,
Her true perfection, or my false transgression
That makes me, reasonless, to reason thus?
She is fair; and so is Julia that I love—
That I did love, for now my love is thawed,
Which like a waxen image ’gainst a fire
Bears no impression of the thing it was.
Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,
And that I love him not as I was wont.
O, but I love his lady too, too much,
And that’s the reason I love him so little.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,
That thus without advice begin to love her!
’Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,
And that hath dazzlèd my reason’s light;
But when I look on her perfections,
There is no reason but I shall be blind.
If I can check my erring love, I will;
If not, to compass her I’ll use my skill.
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Exit
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Exit
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter VALENTINE , SYLVIA , THURIO , and SPEED
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Enter VALENTINE , SYLVIA , THURIO , and SPEED
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SYLVIA Servant!
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SYLVIA Servant!
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VALENTINE Mistress?
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VALENTINE Mistress?
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SPEED Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.
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SPEED Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.
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VALENTINE Ay, boy, it’s for love.
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VALENTINE Ay, boy, it’s for love.
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SPEED 5 Not of you.
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SPEED Not of you.
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VALENTINE Of my mistress, then.
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VALENTINE Of my mistress, then.
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SPEED ’Twere good you knocked him.
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SPEED ’Twere good you knocked him.
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Exit SPEED
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Exit SPEED
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SYLVIA Servant, you are sad.
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SYLVIA Servant, you are sad.
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VALENTINE Indeed, madam, I seem so.
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VALENTINE Indeed, madam, I seem so.
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THURIO 10 Seem you that you are not?
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THURIO Seem you that you are not?
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VALENTINE Haply I do.
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VALENTINE Haply I do.
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THURIO So do counterfeits.
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THURIO So do counterfeits.
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VALENTINE So do you.
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VALENTINE So do you.
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THURIO What seem I that I am not?
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THURIO What seem I that I am not?
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VALENTINE 15 Wise.
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VALENTINE Wise.
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THURIO What instance of the contrary?
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THURIO What instance of the contrary?
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VALENTINE Your folly.
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VALENTINE Your folly.
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THURIO And how quote you my folly?
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THURIO And how quote you my folly?
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VALENTINE I quote it in your jerkin.
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VALENTINE I quote it in your jerkin.
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THURIO 20 My “jerkin” is a doublet.
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THURIO My “jerkin” is a doublet.
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VALENTINE Well, then, I’ll double your folly.
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VALENTINE Well, then, I’ll double your folly.
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THURIO How?
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THURIO How?
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SYLVIA What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color?
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SYLVIA What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color?
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VALENTINE Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.
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VALENTINE Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.
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THURIO 25 That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air.
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THURIO That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air.
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VALENTINE You have said, sir.
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VALENTINE You have said, sir.
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THURIO Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.
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THURIO Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.
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VALENTINE I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.
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VALENTINE I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.
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SYLVIA A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.
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SYLVIA A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.
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VALENTINE 30 ’Tis indeed, madam, we thank the giver.
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VALENTINE ’Tis indeed, madam, we thank the giver.
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SYLVIA Who is that, servant?
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SYLVIA Who is that, servant?
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VALENTINE Yourself, sweet lady, for you gave the fire. Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship’s looks, and spends what he borrows kindly in your company.
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VALENTINE Yourself, sweet lady, for you gave the fire. Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship’s looks, and spends what he borrows kindly in your company.
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THURIO Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.
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THURIO Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.
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VALENTINE I know it well, sir; you have an exchequer of words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your followers, for it appears, by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words.
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VALENTINE I know it well, sir; you have an exchequer of words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your followers, for it appears, by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words.
|
|
SYLVIA 35 No more, gentlemen, no more. Here comes my father.
|
SYLVIA No more, gentlemen, no more. Here comes my father.
|
|
Enter the DUKE
|
Enter the DUKE
|
|
DUKE Now, daughter Sylvia, you are hard beset.
Sir Valentine, your father is in good health.
What say you to a letter from your friends
Of much good news?
|
DUKE Now, daughter Sylvia, you are hard beset.
Sir Valentine, your father is in good health.
What say you to a letter from your friends
Of much good news?
|
|
VALENTINE 40 My lord, I will be thankful
To any happy messenger from thence.
|
VALENTINE My lord, I will be thankful
To any happy messenger from thence.
|
|
DUKE Know ye Don Antonio, your countryman?
|
DUKE Know ye Don Antonio, your countryman?
|
|
VALENTINE Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman
To be of worth and worthy estimation,
45 And not without desert so well reputed.
|
VALENTINE Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman
To be of worth and worthy estimation,
And not without desert so well reputed.
|
|
DUKE Hath he not a son?
|
DUKE Hath he not a son?
|
|
VALENTINE Ay, my good lord, a son that well deserves
The honor and regard of such a father.
|
VALENTINE Ay, my good lord, a son that well deserves
The honor and regard of such a father.
|
|
DUKE You know him well?
|
DUKE You know him well?
|
|
VALENTINE 50 I knew him as myself, for from our infancy
We have conversed and spent our hours together.
And though myself have been an idle truant,
Omitting the sweet benefit of time
To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection,
55 Yet hath Sir Proteus—for that’s his name—
Made use and fair advantage of his days;
His years but young, but his experience old;
His head unmellowed, but his judgment ripe.
And, in a word—for far behind his worth
60 Comes all the praises that I now bestow—
He is complete in feature and in mind
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
|
VALENTINE I knew him as myself, for from our infancy
We have conversed and spent our hours together.
And though myself have been an idle truant,
Omitting the sweet benefit of time
To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection,
Yet hath Sir Proteus—for that’s his name—
Made use and fair advantage of his days;
His years but young, but his experience old;
His head unmellowed, but his judgment ripe.
And, in a word—for far behind his worth
Comes all the praises that I now bestow—
He is complete in feature and in mind
With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
|
|
DUKE Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good,
He is as worthy for an empress’ love
65 As meet to be an emperor’s counselor.
Well, sir, this gentleman is come to me,
With commendation from great potentates,
And here he means to spend his time awhile.
I think ’tis no unwelcome news to you.
|
DUKE Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good,
He is as worthy for an empress’ love
As meet to be an emperor’s counselor.
Well, sir, this gentleman is come to me,
With commendation from great potentates,
And here he means to spend his time awhile.
I think ’tis no unwelcome news to you.
|
|
VALENTINE 70 Should I have wished a thing, it had been he.
|
VALENTINE Should I have wished a thing, it had been he.
|
|
DUKE Welcome him then according to his worth.
Sylvia, I speak to you, and you, Sir Thurio;
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it.
I will send him hither to you presently.
|
DUKE Welcome him then according to his worth.
Sylvia, I speak to you, and you, Sir Thurio;
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it.
I will send him hither to you presently.
|
|
Exit the DUKE
|
Exit the DUKE
|
|
VALENTINE 75 This is the gentleman I told your ladyship
Had come along with me but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes locked in her crystal looks.
|
VALENTINE This is the gentleman I told your ladyship
Had come along with me but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes locked in her crystal looks.
|
|
SYLVIA Belike that now she hath enfranchised them
Upon some other pawn for fealty.
|
SYLVIA Belike that now she hath enfranchised them
Upon some other pawn for fealty.
|
|
VALENTINE 80 Nay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.
|
VALENTINE Nay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.
|
|
SYLVIA Nay, then he should be blind, and being blind
How could he see his way to seek out you?
|
SYLVIA Nay, then he should be blind, and being blind
How could he see his way to seek out you?
|
|
VALENTINE Why, lady, Love hath twenty pair of eyes.
|
VALENTINE Why, lady, Love hath twenty pair of eyes.
|
|
THURIO They say that Love hath not an eye at all.
|
THURIO They say that Love hath not an eye at all.
|
|
VALENTINE 85 To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself.
Upon a homely object Love can wink.
|
VALENTINE To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself.
Upon a homely object Love can wink.
|
|
SYLVIA Have done, have done. Here comes the gentleman.
|
SYLVIA Have done, have done. Here comes the gentleman.
|
|
Enter PROTEUS
|
Enter PROTEUS
|
|
VALENTINE Welcome, dear Proteus!—Mistress, I beseech you,
Confirm his welcome with some special favor.
|
VALENTINE Welcome, dear Proteus!—Mistress, I beseech you,
Confirm his welcome with some special favor.
|
|
SYLVIA 90 His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he you oft have wished to hear from.
|
SYLVIA His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he you oft have wished to hear from.
|
|
VALENTINE Mistress, it is. Sweet lady, entertain him
To be my fellow servant to your ladyship.
|
VALENTINE Mistress, it is. Sweet lady, entertain him
To be my fellow servant to your ladyship.
|
|
SYLVIA Too low a mistress for so high a servant.
|
SYLVIA Too low a mistress for so high a servant.
|
|
PROTEUS 95 Not so, sweet lady, but too mean a servant
To have a look of such a worthy mistress.
|
PROTEUS Not so, sweet lady, but too mean a servant
To have a look of such a worthy mistress.
|
|
VALENTINE Leave off discourse of disability.
Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
|
VALENTINE Leave off discourse of disability.
Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
|
|
PROTEUS My duty will I boast of, nothing else.
|
PROTEUS My duty will I boast of, nothing else.
|
|
SYLVIA 100 And duty never yet did want his meed.
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.
|
SYLVIA And duty never yet did want his meed.
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.
|
|
PROTEUS I’ll die on him that says so but yourself.
|
PROTEUS I’ll die on him that says so but yourself.
|
|
SYLVIA That you are welcome?
|
SYLVIA That you are welcome?
|
|
PROTEUS That you are worthless.
|
PROTEUS That you are worthless.
|
|
Enter a Servant
|
Enter a Servant
|
|
SERVANT 105 Madam, my lord your father would speak with you.
|
SERVANT Madam, my lord your father would speak with you.
|
|
SYLVIA I wait upon his pleasure.
|
SYLVIA I wait upon his pleasure.
|
|
Exit Servant
|
Exit Servant
|
|
Come, Sir Thurio,
Go with me. Once more, new servant, welcome.
I’ll leave you to confer of home affairs.
110 When you have done we look to hear from you.
|
Come, Sir Thurio,
Go with me. Once more, new servant, welcome.
I’ll leave you to confer of home affairs.
When you have done we look to hear from you.
|
|
PROTEUS We’ll both attend upon your ladyship.
|
PROTEUS We’ll both attend upon your ladyship.
|
|
Exeunt SYLVIA and THURIO
|
Exeunt SYLVIA and THURIO
|
|
VALENTINE Now tell me, how do all from whence you came?
|
VALENTINE Now tell me, how do all from whence you came?
|
|
PROTEUS Your friends are well and have them much commended.
|
PROTEUS Your friends are well and have them much commended.
|
|
VALENTINE And how do yours?
|
VALENTINE And how do yours?
|
|
PROTEUS 115 I left them all in health.
|
PROTEUS I left them all in health.
|
|
VALENTINE How does your lady, and how thrives your love?
|
VALENTINE How does your lady, and how thrives your love?
|
|
PROTEUS My tales of love were wont to weary you;
I know you joy not in a love discourse.
|
PROTEUS My tales of love were wont to weary you;
I know you joy not in a love discourse.
|
|
VALENTINE Ay, Proteus, but that life is altered now.
120 I have done penance for contemning Love,
Whose high imperious thoughts have punished me
With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,
With nightly tears, and daily heartsore sighs;
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,
125 Love hath chased sleep from my enthrallèd eyes
And made them watchers of mine own heart’s sorrow.
O gentle Proteus, Love’s a mighty lord,
And hath so humbled me as I confess
There is no woe to his correction,
130 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
Upon the very naked name of love.
|
VALENTINE Ay, Proteus, but that life is altered now.
I have done penance for contemning Love,
Whose high imperious thoughts have punished me
With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,
With nightly tears, and daily heartsore sighs;
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,
Love hath chased sleep from my enthrallèd eyes
And made them watchers of mine own heart’s sorrow.
O 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
Upon the very naked name of love.
|
|
PROTEUS Enough. I read your fortune in your eye.
135 Was this the idol that you worship so?
|
PROTEUS Enough. I read your fortune in your eye.
Was this the idol that you worship so?
|
|
VALENTINE Even she. And is she not a heavenly saint?
|
VALENTINE Even she. And is she not a heavenly saint?
|
|
PROTEUS No, but she is an earthly paragon.
|
PROTEUS No, but she is an earthly paragon.
|
|
VALENTINE Call her divine.
|
VALENTINE Call her divine.
|
|
PROTEUS I will not flatter her.
|
PROTEUS I will not flatter her.
|
|
VALENTINE 140 O, flatter me, for love delights in praises.
|
VALENTINE O, flatter me, for love delights in praises.
|
|
PROTEUS When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills,
And I must minister the like to you.
|
PROTEUS When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills,
And I must minister the like to you.
|
|
VALENTINE Then speak the truth by her; if not divine,
Yet let her be a principality,
145 Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.
|
VALENTINE Then speak the truth by her; if not divine,
Yet let her be a principality,
Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.
|
|
PROTEUS Except my mistress.
|
PROTEUS Except my mistress.
|
|
VALENTINE Sweet, except not any,
Except thou wilt except against my love.
|
VALENTINE Sweet, except not any,
Except thou wilt except against my love.
|
|
PROTEUS Have I not reason to prefer mine own?
|
PROTEUS Have I not reason to prefer mine own?
|
|
VALENTINE 150 And I will help thee to prefer her, too.
She shall be dignified with this high honor:
To bear my lady’s train, lest the base earth
Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss
And, of so great a favor growing proud,
155 Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower
And make rough winter everlastingly.
|
VALENTINE And I will help thee to prefer her, too.
She shall be dignified with this high honor:
To bear my lady’s train, lest the base earth
Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss
And, of so great a favor growing proud,
Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower
And make rough winter everlastingly.
|
|
PROTEUS Why, Valentine, what braggartism is this?
|
PROTEUS Why, Valentine, what braggartism is this?
|
|
VALENTINE Pardon me, Proteus, all I can is nothing
To her whose worth makes other worthies nothing.
160 She is alone.
|
VALENTINE Pardon me, Proteus, all I can is nothing
To her whose worth makes other worthies nothing.
She is alone.
|
|
PROTEUS Then, let her alone.
|
PROTEUS Then, let her alone.
|
|
VALENTINE 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,
165 The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou seest me dote upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes
Only for his possessions are so huge,
170 Is gone with her along, and I must after,
For love, thou know’st, is full of jealousy.
|
VALENTINE 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,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou seest me dote upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes
Only for his possessions are so huge,
Is gone with her along, and I must after,
For love, thou know’st, is full of jealousy.
|
|
PROTEUS But she loves you?
|
PROTEUS But she loves you?
|
|
VALENTINE Ay, and we are betrothed. Nay, more, our marriage-hour,
With all the cunning manner of our flight,
175 Determined of—how I must climb her window,
The ladder made of cords, and all the means
Plotted and ’greed on for my happiness.
Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
|
VALENTINE Ay, and we are betrothed. Nay, more, our marriage-hour,
With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Determined of—how I must climb her window,
The ladder made of cords, and all the means
Plotted and ’greed on for my happiness.
Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
|
|
PROTEUS 180 Go on before; I shall enquire you forth.
I must unto the road, to disembark
Some necessaries that I needs must use,
And then I’ll presently attend you.
|
PROTEUS Go on before; I shall enquire you forth.
I must unto the road, to disembark
Some necessaries that I needs must use,
And then I’ll presently attend you.
|
|
VALENTINE Will you make haste?
|
VALENTINE Will you make haste?
|
|
Exit VALENTINE
|
Exit VALENTINE
|
|
PROTEUS 185 I will.
Even as one heat another heat expels,
Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
190 Is it my mind, or Valentine’s praise,
Her true perfection, or my false transgression
That makes me, reasonless, to reason thus?
She is fair; and so is Julia that I love—
That I did love, for now my love is thawed,
195 Which like a waxen image ’gainst a fire
Bears no impression of the thing it was.
Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,
And that I love him not as I was wont.
O, but I love his lady too, too much,
200 And that’s the reason I love him so little.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,
That thus without advice begin to love her!
’Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,
And that hath dazzlèd my reason’s light;
205 But when I look on her perfections,
There is no reason but I shall be blind.
If I can check my erring love, I will;
If not, to compass her I’ll use my skill.
|
PROTEUS I will.
Even as one heat another heat expels,
Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
Is it my mind, or Valentine’s praise,
Her true perfection, or my false transgression
That makes me, reasonless, to reason thus?
She is fair; and so is Julia that I love—
That I did love, for now my love is thawed,
Which like a waxen image ’gainst a fire
Bears no impression of the thing it was.
Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,
And that I love him not as I was wont.
O, but I love his lady too, too much,
And that’s the reason I love him so little.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,
That thus without advice begin to love her!
’Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,
And that hath dazzlèd my reason’s light;
But when I look on her perfections,
There is no reason but I shall be blind.
If I can check my erring love, I will;
If not, to compass her I’ll use my skill.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
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