should they

Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them? How cam'st thou in this pickle?

Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones I shall not fear fly-blowing.

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano!

Ste. O! touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp.

Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah? Ste. I should have been a sore one, then. Alon. This is a strange thing as e'er I look'd on. [Pointing to Caliban. Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners, As in his shape.-Go, sirrah, to my cell; Take with you your companions: as you look To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter,

And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,
And worship this dull fool!

Pro.

Go to; away!

Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it. Seb. Or stole it, rather.

[Exeunt Cal., Ste., and Trin. Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train,

To my poor cell where you shall take your rest
For this one night; which (part of it) I'll waste
With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall
Go quick away; the story of my life, [make it
And the particular accidents gone by,
Since I came to this isle: and in the morn
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,

EPILOGUE. Spoken by Prospero.
Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own;
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,

I must be here confin'd by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island, by your spell;
But release me from my bands,
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant ;
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be reliev'd by prayer;
Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be.
Let your indulgence set me free.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-An open place in Verona.

Enter Valentine and Proteus.

Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus: Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days

To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love,
I rather would entreat thy company
To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Than, living dully sluggardiz'd at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.
But, since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive
therein,

Even as I would, when I to love begin.
Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine,
adieu !

Think on thy Proteus, when thou haply seest
Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel;
Wish me partaker in thy happiness,
When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy
If ever danger do environ thee, [danger,
Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,
For I will be thy bead's-man, Valentine.
Val. And on a love-book pray for my suc-
[thee.

cess.

Pro. Upon some book I love, I'll pray for Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love,

How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont. Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love; For he was more than over shoes in love.

Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots love,

in

And yet you never swam the Hellespont. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots.

Val. No, I will not, for it boots thee not. Pro. What? Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; [moment's mirth, Coy looks, with heart-sore sighs; one fading With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: If haply won, perhaps, a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won: However, but a folly bought with wit, Or else a wit by folly vanquished. [fool. Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear you'll

Val. And writers say, As the most forward
Is eaten by the canker ere it blow,
Even so by love the young and tender wit
Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud,
Losing his verdure even in the prime,
And all the fair effects of future hopes.
But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee,
That art a votary to fond desire ?
Once more adieu! my father at the road
Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd.
Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.
Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take
our leave.

To Milan let me hear from thee by letters,
Of thy success in love, and what news else
Betideth here in absence of thy friend;
And I likewise will visit thee with mine.

Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love : He leaves his friends to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at nought; [thought.

Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with
Enter Speed.

Speed. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my
master?
[for Milan.
Pro. But now he parted hence, to embark
Speed. Twenty to one, then, he is shipp'd
already,

And I have play'd the sheep, in losing him
Pro. Indeed a sheep doth very often stray,
An if the shepherd be awhile away.

Speed. You conclude, that my master is a shepherd, then, and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.

Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Speed. This proves me still a sheep. Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. [another. Pro. It shall go hard but I'll prove it by Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me: therefore, I am no sheep.

Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore thou art a sheep. ["Baa." Speed. Such another proof will make me cry Pro. But, dost thou hear? gavest thou my letter to Julia?

Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour !

Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.

Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.

Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound you.

Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. [pinfold. Pro. You mistake: I mean the pound, a Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over [your lover.

and over,

'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to Pro. But what said she? [Speed nods.] Did she nod?

Speed. I.

Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!

Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewell.

Pro. No, no; you shall have it for bearing | the letter.

Speed. Well, I perceive, I must be fain to bear with you.

Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, sir, the letter very orderly having nothing but the word "noddy" for my pains.

Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.

Pro. Come, come; open the matter in brief: what said she?

Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she?

[her.

Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win Pro. Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?

Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter and being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What! said she nothing?

Speed. No, not so much as-"take this for thy pains." To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me ; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master.

Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck;

Which cannot perish, having thee aboard,
Being destin'd to a drier death on shore.---

SCENE II.-Verona. Garden of Julia's House. Enter Julia and Lucetta. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,

Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing That I, unworthy body as I am, [shame, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.

Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? Luc. Then thus,-of many good I think Jul. Your reason? [him best. Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so. Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love on him? [away. Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast Jul. Why, he, of all the rest, hath never mov'd me. [loves ye. Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small.

[all.

Luc. Fire that is closest kept, burns most of
Jul. They do not love, that do not show
their love.
[their love.
Luc. O, they love least, that let men know
Jul. I would I knew his mind.

Luc.
Peruse this paper, madam.
Gives a letter.
Jul. "To Julia."--Say from whom?

Luc.
That the contents will show.
Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee?
Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think,

from Proteus.

[way, He would have given it you; but I, being in the Did in your name receive it ; pardon the fault, I pray.

Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? To whisper and conspire against my youth? Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth, And you an officer fit for the place. There, take the paper; see it be return'd; Or else return no more into my sight.

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee Jul. Will you be gone? [than hate, Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the

letter.

Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you, repeat their names, show my mind

According to my shallow simple skill.

I'll

What fool is she, that knows I am a maid, And would not force the letter to my view! Since maids, in modesty, say "No," to that Which they would have the profferer construe,

"Ay."

lamour?

Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat, and But, were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mer

catio?

[so. Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Pro[us! Luc. Lord, lord! to see what folly reigns in

teus?

When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,
And ask remission for my folly past.—
What ho! Lucetta!
Re-enter Lucetta.

O hateful hands, to tear such loving words!
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey,
And kill the bees, that yield it, with your
stings!

I'll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ--"kind Julia."-Unkind
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, [Julia!
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And, here is writ-love-wounded Proteus:"
Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed,

Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be throughly heal'd;

And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. But twice or thrice was "Proteus" written down:

Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name : that some whirlwind
Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock, [bear
And throw in thence into the raging sea!
Lo! here in one line is his name twice writ,-
"Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:"-that I'll tear away;
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names:
Thus will I fold them one upon another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
Re-enter Lucetta.

Luc. Madam,

that,

[son.

Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
Pant. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your
Ant. Why, what of him?
Pant. He wonder'd that your lordship
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home;
While other men, of slender reputation,
Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
Some to the wars, to try their fortune there;
Some to discover islands far away;
Some to the studious universities.
For any, or for all these exercises,
He said that Proteus your son was meet;
And did request me to importune you
To let him spend his time no more at home,
Which would be great impeachment to his age,
In having known no travel in his youth.

Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to that

Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have consider'd well his loss of time,
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
Not being tried and tutor'd in the world :
Experience is by industry achiev'd,
And perfected by the swift course of time.
Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him?

Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning, [drown'd. And drench'd me in the sea, where I am 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 and by a cloud takes all away! Re-enter Panthino.

Pant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you: He is in haste; therefore, I pray you, go. Pro. Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto;

And yet a thousand times it answers, No. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

And,-in good time :-now will we break with Enter Proteus.

Pro. 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 !

Ant. How now! what letter are you reading there?

Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a

word or two

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.
Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided:
Please you, deliberate a day or two.

Ant. 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 this expedition.

[Exeunt Antonio and Panthino.

Val.

Not mine; my gloves are on. Speed. Why then this may be yours, for this is but one. [mine.Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine! Ah, Silvia, Silvia !

[Silvia ! Speed. [Calling.] Madam Silvia! Madam 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 wreathe your arms, like a malcontent; to relish a love-song, like a robin-red-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 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.

Val. Are all these things perceived in me?
Speed. They are all perceived without ye.
Val. Without me? they cannot.

Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain;