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Pro. Why, this it is ! my heart accords thereto; And yet a thousand times it answers, no. [Exeunt.


SCENE I. Milan. A Room in the Duke's Palace.

Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. Speed. Sir, your glove. Val. Not mine; my gloves are on. Speed. Why then this may be yours, for this is

but one."
Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine :-
Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine !
Ah Silvia ! Silvia!

Speed. Madam Silvia ! madam Silvia !
Val. How now, sirrah?

Speed. She is not within hearing, sir.
Val. Why, sir, who bade you call her ?
Speed. Your worship, sir; or else I mistook.
Val. Well, you'll still be too forward.
Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too

slow. Val. Go to, sir; tell me, do you know madam

Silvia ?
Speed. She that your worship loves ?
Val. 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 male-content; to relish a love-song, like a robinred-breast; 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



1 On and one were anciently pronounced alike, and frequently writ ten so.

grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet;' to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hollowmas. 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.

Val. Are all these things perceived in me?
Speed. They are all perceived without you.
Val. 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.

Val. But, tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia ?

Speed. She that you gaze on so, as she sits at supper? Val. Hast thou observed that? even she I mean. Speed. Why, sir, I know her not.


Speed. Is she not hard-favored, sir?
Val. Not so fair, boy, as well favored.
Speed. Sir, I know that well enough.
Val. What dost thou know?

Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) wellfavored.

Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but her favor infinite.


1 To take diet is to be under a regimen for a disease.

2 The feast of All-hallows, or Åll Saints, at which time the poor in Staffordshire go froin parish tó parish a souling, as they call it; i. e. beg. ging and puling, for soul cakes, and singing what they call the souler's song.

Val. How painted ? and how out of count?

Speed. Marry, sir, so painted to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty.


Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed.
Val. How long hath she been deformed ?
Speed. Ever since you loved her.

Val. I have loved her ever since I saw her; and still I see her beautiful.

Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her. Val. Why? Speed. Because love is blind. O, that you had mine eyes; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered ! 1

Val. What should I see then ?

Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing deformity: for he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose ; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on



Val. In conclusion, I stand affected to her.

Speed. I would you were set,” so, your affection would cease.

Val. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves.

Speed. And have you?
Val. I have.
Speed. Are they not lamely writ?

Val. No, boy, but as well as I can do them :-
Peace, here she comes.

your hose.


1 Going ungartered is enumerated by Rosalind as one of the undoubted marks of love, in As You Like It, iii. 2. 2 Set, for seated, in opposition to stand in the preceding line.

VOL. I. 13

Enter SILVIA. Speed. O excellent motion!! O exceeding puppet! now will he interpret to her.

Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows.

Speed. 0, 'give you good even! here's a million of manners.

[Aside. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand.

Speed. He should give her interest; and she gives it him.

Val. As you enjoined me, I have writ your letter Unto the secret, nameless friend of

yours; Which I was much unwilling to proceed in, But for my duty to your ladyship. Sil. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very clerkly?

done. Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off; For, being ignorant to whom it

goes, I writ at random, very doubtfully. Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much

pains ?
Please you command, a thousand times as much :
Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess

the sequel ; And yet I will not name it:and yet I care not ;And yet take this again ;—and yet I thank you ;

Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more.
Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet.


[ Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like it?

But since unwillingly, take them again;
Nay, take them.

Val. Madam, they are for you.

And yet,

1 Motion signified, in Shakspeare's time, a puppet-show. Speed means to say, “What a fine puppet-show shall we have now! Here is the principal puppet to whom my master will be the interpreter.” The show-man was then frequently called the interpreter.

? i. e. like a scholar.

Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request;
But I will none of them; they are for you:
I would have had them writ more movingly.

Val. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another.

Sil. And, when it's writ, for my sake read it over: And, if it please you, so; if not, why, so.

Val. If it please me, madam! what then?

Sil. Why, if it please you, take it for your labor ; And so, good-morrow, servant. [Exit Silvia.

Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As à nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a

steeple ! My master sues to her; and she hath taught her suitor, He being her pupil, to become her tutor. O excellent device! was there ever heard a better? That my master, being scribe, to himself should write

the letter? Val. How now, sir ? what are you reasoning with yourself?

Speed. Nay, I was rhyming; 'tis you that have the reason.

Val. To do what?
Speed. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia.
Val. To whom?
Val. What figure ?
Speed. By a letter, I should say.
Val. Why, she hath not writ to me?


Val. No, believe me.

Speed. No believing you indeed, sir : But did you perceive her earnest ?

Val. She gave me none, except an angry word.
Speed. Why, she hath given you a letter.
Val. That's the letter I writ to her friend.


Val. I would, it were no worse.
Speed. I'll warrant you, 'tis as well:

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