Two Gentlemen of Verona | Page 7

time:--now will we break with him.
[Enter PROTEUS.]
PROTEUS. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Here is her hand, the
agent of her heart; Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn. O! that
our fathers would applaud our loves, To seal our happiness with their
consents! O heavenly Julia!
ANTONIO. How now! What letter are you reading there?
PROTEUS. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two Of
commendations sent from Valentine, Deliver'd by a friend that came
from him.
ANTONIO. Lend me the letter; let me see what news.
PROTEUS. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes How happily
he lives, how well belov'd And daily graced by the emperor; Wishing
me with him, partner of his fortune.
ANTONIO. And how stand you affected to his wish?
PROTEUS. As one relying on your lordship's will, And not depending

on his friendly wish.
ANTONIO. My will is something sorted with his wish. Muse not that I
thus suddenly proceed; For what I will, I will, and there an end. I am
resolv'd that thou shalt spend some time With Valentinus in the
Emperor's court: What maintenance he from his friends receives, Like
exhibition thou shalt have from me. To-morrow be in readiness to go:
Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.
PROTEUS. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; Please you,
deliberate a day or two.
ANTONIO. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee: No more
of stay; to-morrow thou must go. Come on, Panthino: you shall be
employ'd To hasten on his expedition.
[Exeunt ANTONIO and PANTHINO.]
PROTEUS. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning, And
drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. I fear'd to show my father
Julia's letter, Lest he should take exceptions to my love; And with the
vantage of mine own excuse Hath he excepted most against my love. O!
how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day,
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by an by a cloud takes
all away!
[Re-enter PANTHINO.]
PANTHINO. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; He is in haste;
therefore, I pray you, go.
PROTEUS. Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto, And yet a
thousand times it answers 'no.'
[Exeunt.]

ACT 2.
SCENE I. Milan. A room in the DUKE'S palace.
[Enter VALENTINE and SPEED.]
SPEED. Sir, your glove. [Offering a glove.]
VALENTINE. Not mine; my gloves are on.
SPEED. Why, then, this may be yours; for this is but one.
VALENTINE. Ha! let me see; ay, give it me, it's mine; Sweet ornament
that decks a thing divine! Ah, Silvia! Silvia!
SPEED. [Calling.] Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia!
VALENTINE. How now, sirrah?

SPEED. She is not within hearing, sir.
VALENTINE. Why, sir, who bade you call her?
SPEED. Your worship, sir; or else I mistook.
VALENTINE. Well, you'll still be too forward.
SPEED. And yet I was last chidden for being too slow.
VALENTINE. Go to, sir. tell me, do you know Madam Silvia?
SPEED. She that your worship loves?
VALENTINE. Why, how know you that I am in love?
SPEED. Marry, by these special marks: first, you have learned, like Sir
Proteus, to wreath your arms like a malcontent; to relish a love-song,
like a robin redbreast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to
sigh, like a school-boy that had lost his A B C; to weep, like a young
wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to
watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at
Hallowmas. You were wont, when you laughed, to crow like a cock;
when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was
presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of
money. And now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when I
look on you, I can hardly think you my master.
VALENTINE. Are all these things perceived in me?
SPEED. They are all perceived without ye.
VALENTINE. Without me? They cannot.
SPEED. Without you? Nay, that's certain; for, without you were so
simple, none else would; but you are so without these follies that these
follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in an urinal,
that not an eye that sees you but is a physician to comment on your
malady.
VALENTINE. But tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia?
SPEED. She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper?
VALENTINE. Hast thou observed that? Even she, I mean.
SPEED. Why, sir, I know her not.
VALENTINE. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet
know'st her not?
SPEED. Is she not