cg THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. ACT I. SCENE Ι. C An open place in Verona. Enter Valentine and Protheus. VALENTINE. EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus; Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love, To fee the wonders of the world abroad; VOL. I. PART II. M But fince thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein : PRO. Wilt thou be gone? sweet 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 fuccess. How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. PRO. What? VAL. To be in love, where scorn 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. And he that is so yoaked by a fool, Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing shame, That I, unworthy body as I am, Should cenfure thus on lovely gentlemen. JUL. Why not on Protheus, as on all the rest? JUL. Your reason ? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reafon; I think him so, because I think him fo. JUL. And would'st thou have me cast my love on him? JUL. I would, I knew his mind. Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. JUL. Say, fay; who gave it thee? : Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Protheus, He would have giv'n it you, but I, being in the way, JUL. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! 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 What fool is she, that knows I am a maid, And would not force the letter to my view? Since maids, in modesty, fay No, to that Which they would have the proff 'rer construe, Av. 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 fmile! My penance is to call Lucetta back, And afsk remiffion for my folly past. What ho! Lucetta! 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. Jur. What is't that you Took up so gingerly? Luc. Nothing. JUL. Why did'st 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 rhime. Lee. That I might fing it, madam, to a tune: Give me a note; your ladyship can fet. JUL. As little by fuch toys as may be poffible: Best sing to the tune of " Light o'love." JUL. Heavy? belike, it hath some burden then. JUL. And why not you? Luc. I cannot reach so high. JUL. Let's see your fong? How now, minions, Luc. Keep tune there still, 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. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harth a descant: There wanteth but a mean, to fill your fong. (Boxes Her. JUL. The mean is drown'd with your unruly bafe. JUL. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with protestation! Go, get you gone; and let the papers lye: 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 so anger'd with the same! Oh hateful hands, to tear fuch loving words! [Exit. |