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Enter VALENTINE , SYLVIA , THURIO , and SPEED
Enter VALENTINE , SYLVIA , THURIO , and SPEED

SYLVIA

Servant!

SYLVIA

Servant!

VALENTINE

Mistress?

VALENTINE

Mistress?

SPEED

Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.

SPEED

Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.

VALENTINE

Ay, boy, it’s for love.

VALENTINE

Ay, boy, it’s for love.

SPEED

5 Not of you.

SPEED

Not of you.

VALENTINE

Of my mistress, then.

VALENTINE

Of my mistress, then.

SPEED

’Twere good you knocked him.

SPEED

’Twere good you knocked him.
Exit SPEED
Exit SPEED

SYLVIA

Servant, you are sad.

SYLVIA

Servant, you are sad.

VALENTINE

Indeed, madam, I seem so.

VALENTINE

Indeed, madam, I seem so.

THURIO

10 Seem you that you are not?

THURIO

Seem you that you are not?

VALENTINE

Haply I do.

VALENTINE

Haply I do.

THURIO

So do counterfeits.

THURIO

So do counterfeits.

VALENTINE

So do you.

VALENTINE

So do you.

THURIO

What seem I that I am not?

THURIO

What seem I that I am not?

VALENTINE

15 Wise.

VALENTINE

Wise.

THURIO

What instance of the contrary?

THURIO

What instance of the contrary?

VALENTINE

Your folly.

VALENTINE

Your folly.

THURIO

And how quote you my folly?

THURIO

And how quote you my folly?

VALENTINE

I quote it in your jerkin.

VALENTINE

I quote it in your jerkin.

THURIO

20 My “jerkin” is a doublet.

THURIO

My “jerkin” is a doublet.

VALENTINE

Well, then, I’ll double your folly.

VALENTINE

Well, then, I’ll double your folly.

THURIO

How?

THURIO

How?

SYLVIA

What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color?

SYLVIA

What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color?

VALENTINE

Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.

VALENTINE

Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.

THURIO

25 That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air.

THURIO

That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air.

VALENTINE

You have said, sir.

VALENTINE

You have said, sir.

THURIO

Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.

THURIO

Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.

VALENTINE

I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.

VALENTINE

I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.

SYLVIA

A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.

SYLVIA

A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.

VALENTINE

30 ’Tis indeed, madam, we thank the giver.

VALENTINE

’Tis indeed, madam, we thank the giver.

SYLVIA

Who is that, servant?

SYLVIA

Who is that, servant?

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.

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.

THURIO

Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.

THURIO

Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.

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.

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

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter VALENTINE , SYLVIA , THURIO , and SPEED
Enter VALENTINE , SYLVIA , THURIO , and SPEED

SYLVIA

Servant!

SYLVIA

Servant!

VALENTINE

Mistress?

VALENTINE

Mistress?

SPEED

Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.

SPEED

Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.

VALENTINE

Ay, boy, it’s for love.

VALENTINE

Ay, boy, it’s for love.

SPEED

5 Not of you.

SPEED

Not of you.

VALENTINE

Of my mistress, then.

VALENTINE

Of my mistress, then.

SPEED

’Twere good you knocked him.

SPEED

’Twere good you knocked him.
Exit SPEED
Exit SPEED

SYLVIA

Servant, you are sad.

SYLVIA

Servant, you are sad.

VALENTINE

Indeed, madam, I seem so.

VALENTINE

Indeed, madam, I seem so.

THURIO

10 Seem you that you are not?

THURIO

Seem you that you are not?

VALENTINE

Haply I do.

VALENTINE

Haply I do.

THURIO

So do counterfeits.

THURIO

So do counterfeits.

VALENTINE

So do you.

VALENTINE

So do you.

THURIO

What seem I that I am not?

THURIO

What seem I that I am not?

VALENTINE

15 Wise.

VALENTINE

Wise.

THURIO

What instance of the contrary?

THURIO

What instance of the contrary?

VALENTINE

Your folly.

VALENTINE

Your folly.

THURIO

And how quote you my folly?

THURIO

And how quote you my folly?

VALENTINE

I quote it in your jerkin.

VALENTINE

I quote it in your jerkin.

THURIO

20 My “jerkin” is a doublet.

THURIO

My “jerkin” is a doublet.

VALENTINE

Well, then, I’ll double your folly.

VALENTINE

Well, then, I’ll double your folly.

THURIO

How?

THURIO

How?

SYLVIA

What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color?

SYLVIA

What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color?

VALENTINE

Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.

VALENTINE

Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.

THURIO

25 That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air.

THURIO

That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air.

VALENTINE

You have said, sir.

VALENTINE

You have said, sir.

THURIO

Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.

THURIO

Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.

VALENTINE

I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.

VALENTINE

I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.

SYLVIA

A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.

SYLVIA

A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.

VALENTINE

30 ’Tis indeed, madam, we thank the giver.

VALENTINE

’Tis indeed, madam, we thank the giver.

SYLVIA

Who is that, servant?

SYLVIA

Who is that, servant?

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.

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.

THURIO

Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.

THURIO

Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.

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.

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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