३

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Before the Cell of Prospero.
Enter Prospero in his magic robes; and Ariel.
Pro. Now does my project gather to a head:
My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and Time
Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day?
Ari. On the sixth hour;, at which time, my lord,
You said our work should cease.

Pro.

I did say so, When first I rais'd the tempest. Say, my spirit, How fares the king and 's followers?

Ari.

Confin'd together
In the same fashion as you gave in charge;
Just as you left them; all prisoners, sir,
In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell;
They cannot budge till your release. The king,
His brother, and yours, abide all three distracted;
And the remainder mourning over them,
Brimfull of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly [zalo;'
Him that you term'd, sir, 'The good old lord, Gon-
His tears ran down his beard, like winter's drops
From eaves of reeds: your charm so strongly works
That if you now beheld them your affections [them,
Would become tender.

Prc.

Dost thou think so, spirit?
Ari. Mine would, sir, were I human.
Pro.
And mine shall.
Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling
Of their afflictions? and shall not myself,
One of their kind, that relish all as sharply
Passion as they, be kindlier mov'd than thou art?
Though with their high wrongs I am strook to the
Yet, with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury [quick,
Do I take part: the rarer action is

In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent,
The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
Not a frown further: Go, release them, Ariel;
My charms I 'Il break, their senses I'll restore,
And they shall be themselves.
Ari.

I'll fetch them, sir. [Exit.
Pro. Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and
And ye that on the sands with printless foot [groves;
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him,
When he comes back; you demi-puppets that
By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make,
Whereof the ewe not bites; and you, whose pastime
Is to make midnight-mushrooms; that rejoice
To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid
(Weak masters though ye be) I have bedimm'd
The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds,
And 'twixt the green sea and the azur'd vault
Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder
Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak
With his own bolt: the strong-bas'd promontory
Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up
The pine and cedar: graves, at my command,
Have wak'd their sleepers; op'd, and let them forth
By my so potent art: But this rough magic
There abjure: and, when I have requir'd
Some heavenly music, (which even now I do,)
To work inine end upon their senses that
This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And, deeper than did ever plummet sound,
I'll drown my book.
[Solemn music.
Re-enter Ariel: after him, Alonso, with a frantic
sesture, attended by Gonzalo; Sebastian and An-
tonio in like manner, attended by Adrian and
Francisco: they all enter the circle which Prospero
had made, and there stand charmed; which
Prospero observing, speaks.

A solemn air, and the best comforter
To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains.

To him thou follow'st, I will pay the gra
Home, both in word and deed.-Most cruelly
Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter:
Thy brother was a furtherer in the act ;- [blood,
Thou art pinch'd for 't now, Sebastian.-Flesh and
You brother mine, that entertain'd ambition,
Expell'd remorse and nature; who, with Sebastian,
(Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong,)
Would here have kill'd your king; I do forgive thee,
Unnatural though thou art!-Their understanding
Begins to swell; and the approaching tide
Will shortly fill the reasonable shores,
That now lie foul and muddy. Not one of them
That yet looks on me, or would know me :-Ariel,
Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell;

(Exit Ariel.
I will discase me, and myself present,
As I was sometime Milan:-quickly, spirit;
Thou shalt ere long be free.

Ariel re-enters, singing, and helps to attire Prospero,
Ari. Where the bee sucks, there suck 1;
In a cowslip's bell 1 lie:

There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily:

Merrily, merrily, shall I live now,

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
Pro. Why, that's my dainty Ariel: I shall miss thee;
But yet thou shalt have freedom: so, so, so.--
To the king's ship, invisible as thou art:
There shalt thou find the mariners asleep
Under the hatches; the master, and the boatswain,
Being awake, enforce them to this place;
And presently, I prithee.

Or e'er your pulse twice beat.

Ari. I drink the air before me, and return

[Exit Ariel.
Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement
Inhabits here: Some heavenly power guide us
Out of this fearful country!
Pro.

Behold, sir king,
The wronged duke of Milan, Prospero:
Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body;
For more assurance that a living prince
And to thee, and thy company, I bid
A hearty welcome.
Alon.

Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me,
Whe'r thou beest he, or no,
As late I have been, I not know thy pulse
Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee,
I fear, a madness held me: this must crave
The affliction of my mind amends, with which,

(An if this be at all) a most strange story.
Thy dukedom I resign; and do entreat
Thou pardon me my wrongs:-But how should
Be living, and be here?
[Prospero

Pro.

First, noble friend,
Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot
Be measur'd, or confin'd. Gon. Whether this be,
Or be not, I'll not swear. Pro. You do yet taste
Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let you
Believe things certain :-Welcome, my friends all:-
But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded,
Aside to Seb, and Ant.
I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you,
And justify you traitors; at this time
I'll tell no tales.

Seb. The devil speaks in him.
Pro.

No:

[Aside.

For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother
Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive
Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require
My dukedom of thee, which, perforce, I know
Thou must restore.
Alon.
If thou beest Prsopero,

Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand, Give us particulars of thy preservation:
For you are spell-stopp'd.

Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,

Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine,
Fall fellowly drops.-The charm dissolves apace;
And as the morning steals upon the night,
Melting the darkness, so their rising senses
Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle
Their clearer reason.-O good Gonzalo,
My true preserver, and a loyal sir

How thou hast met us here, who three hours since
Were wrack'd upon this shore; where I have lost
(How sharp the point of this remembrance is!)
My dear son Ferdinand.

Pro.
I am woe for 't, sir.
Alon. Irreparable is the loss; and patience
Says it is past her cure. Pro. I rather think.
You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace
For the like loss, I have her sovereign aid,

And rest myself content.

A lon.

You the like loss?"
Pro. As great to me, as late; and supportable
To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker
Than you may call to comfort you; for I,
Have lost my daughter. Alon. A daughter?
O heavens that they were living both in Naples,
The king and queen there! that they were, I wish
Myself were mudded in that oozy bed [ter?
Where my son lies. When did you lose your daugh-
Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive these lords
At this encounter do so much admire,
That they devour their reason; and scarce think
Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have
Been justled from your senses, know for certain}
That I am Prospero, and that very duke
Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most
strangely

Led,

Upon this shore, where you were wrack'd, was land-
To be the lord on 't. No more yet of this;
For 't is a chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a breakfast, nor

Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;
This cell 's my court: here have I few attendants,
And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
My dukedom since you have given me again,

I will requite you with as good a thing;
At least, bring forth a wonder to content ye,
As much as me my dukedom.

The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers Fer-
dinand and Miranda playing at chess.

Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false.
Fer.

No, my dearest love,
I would not for the world.
Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should
And I would call it fair play.
[wrangle,

Alon.

If this prove

A vision of the island, one dear son
Shall I twice lose. Seb. A most high miracle!
Fer. Though the seas threaten they are merciful:
I have curs'd them without cause.
[Fer. kneels to Alon.
Alon.
Now all the blessings
Of a glad father compass thee about!
Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.
Mira.
O! wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in 't!
Pro.

'T is new to thee.

Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at
play?

Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours:
Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,
And brought us thus together?
Fer.
Sir, she's mortal;
But, by immortal providence, she 's mine;
I chose her, when I could not ask my father
For his advice; nor thought I had one: she
Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before; of whom I have.
Receiv'd a second life, and second father
This lady makes him to me.

Re-enter Ariel, with the Master and Boatswain
amazedly following.

O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of us!
I prophesied if a gallows were on land,
This fellow could not drown: now, blasphemy,
That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?
Boats. The best news is that we have safely found
Our king, and company: the next our ship,-
Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split,-
Is tight, and yare, and bravely rigg'd, as when
We first put out to sea.
Ari.
Sir, all this service)
Have I done since I went,
Pro.
My tricksy spirit!
Alon. These are not natural events; they
strengthen,
[hither?
From strange to stranger:-Say, how came you
Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,
And (how, we know not,) all clapp'd under hatches,
Where, but even now, with strange and several

noises

Aside.

Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod :
And there is in this business more than nature
Was ever conduct of: some oracle
Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege,
Do not infest your mind with beating on
The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure,
Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you
(Which to you shall seem probable) of every
These happen'd accidents: till when, be cheerful,
And think of each thing well.-Come hither, spirit;
[Aside.

Set Caliban and his companions free:
Untie the spell. [Exit Ariel.] How fares my gra-
There are yet missing of your company [cious sir?
Some few odd lads that you remember not.
Re-enter Ariel, driving in Caliban, Stephano, and
Trinculo, in their stolen Apparel.

Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune:Coragio, bully-monster, Coragio!

Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my
head, here's a goodly sight.

Cal. O Setebos, these be brave spirits, indeed!
How fine my master is! I am afraid

Alon. I am hers: He will chastise me.

But O, how oddly will it sound that I
Must ask my child forgiveness!

Pro.

There, sir, stop;
Let us not burthen our remembrances with
A heaviness that 's gone. Gon. I have inly wept,
Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you
And on this couple drop a blessed crown; [gods,
For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way
Which brought us hither!

Alon.
I say, amen, Gonzalo !
Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue
Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice
Beyond a common joy; and set it down
With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage
Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis;
And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife

Where he himself was lost; Prospero, his dukedom,
In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves,
When no man was his own.

Seb. Ha, ha!
What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy them?

Ant. Very like; one of them
Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.
Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
Then say if they be true: this mis-shapen knave,-
His mother was a witch, and one so strong
That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command, without her power:
These three have robb'd me: and this demi-devil
(For he 's a bastard one) had plotted with them
To take my life: two of these fellows you
Must know, and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.

Cal.

I shall be pinch'd to death.
Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?
Seb. He is drunk now: where had he wine?
Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: Where
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?

To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely. Pro. I'll deliver all;
And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
And sail so expeditious, that shall catch

That is thy charge; then to the elements
Be free, and fare thou well!Aside.] Please you,
draw near.
[Excunt.

EPILOGUE.

Spoken by Prospero.

Ste. O,touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp. Your royal fleet far off.-My Ariel;-chick,-
Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah?
Ste. I should have been a sore one then.
Alan. 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 1, to take this drunkard for a god,
And worship this dull fool!
Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where
Seb. Or stole it, rather.
[you found it.
[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 aight; which (part of it) I'll waste
With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall make it
Go quick away: the story of my life,

Pro. Go to; away!

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,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-beloved solemniz'd;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have 's mine own;
Which is most faint: now 't is 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.

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 dally sluggardiz'd at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.
Lut, 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, secst
Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel:
Wish me partaker in thy happiness,

When thou dost meet good hap: and in thy danger,
If ever danger do environ thee,
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 success?
Pro. Upon some book I love, I'll pray for thee.
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 boots in love.
Val. 'T is true; for you are over boots in love,
And yet you never swom the Hellespont.

Servants, Musicians.

In the original, Proteus is invariably spelt Protheus.

Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots.
Val. No, I will not, for it boots thee not.
Pro.
What?

groans;

Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with
[ment's mirth,
Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading mo
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.

Pro, So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.
Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll prove.
Pro. 'T is love you cavil at; I am not love.
Val. Love is your master, for he masters you:
And he that is so yoked by a fool,
Methinks should not be chronicled for wise.
Pro. Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud
The eating canker dwells, so eating love
Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

Val. And writers say, as the most forward bud
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 adicu: my father at the road
Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd.

Pro. As great to me, as late; and supportable
To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker
Than you may call to comfort you; for I
Have lost my daughter. Alon. A daughter?
O heavens that they were living both in Naples,
The king and queen there! that they were, I wish
Myself were mudded in that oozy bed [ter?
Where my son lies. When did you lose your daugh-
Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive these lords
At this encounter do so much admire,
That they devour their reason; and scarce think
Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have
Been justled from your senses, know for certain]
That I am Prospero, and that very duke
Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most
strangely

Upon this shore, where you were wrack'd, was land-
To be the lord on 't. No more yet of this; Led,
For 't is a chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a breakfast, nor
Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;
This cell 's my court: here have I few attendants,
And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
My dukedom since you have given me again,
I will requite you with as good a thing;
At least, bring forth a wonder to content ye,
As much as nie my dukedom.

The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers Fer-
dinand and Miranda playing at chess.

Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false.
Fer.

No, my dearest love,
I would not for the world.
Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should
And I would call it fair play.
[wrangle,

Alon.

If this prove
A vision of the island, one dear son
Shall I twice lose. Seb. A most high miracle!
Fer. Though the seas threaten they are merciful:
I have curs'd them without cause.
Alon.

[Fer. kneels to Alon.
Now all the blessings
Of a glad father compass thee about!
Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.
Mira.
O! wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in 't!
Pro.

'T is new to thee.

Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at
play?

Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours:
Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,
And brought us thus together?
Fer.
Sir, she's mortal;
But, by immortal providence, she 's mine;
I chose her, when I could not ask my father
For his advice; nor thought I had one: she
Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before; of whom I have.
Receiv'd a second life, and second father
This lady makes him to me.

Be 't so! Amen!

Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart
That doth not wish you joy!
Gon.
Re-enter Ariel, with the Master and Boatswain
amazedly following.

O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of us!
I prophesied if a gallows were on land,
This fellow could not drown: now, blasphemy,
That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?
Boats. The best news is that we have safely found
Our king, and company: the next our ship,-
Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split,-
Is tight, and yare, and bravely rigg'd, as when
We first put out to sea.
Ari.

Aside.

Sir, all this service)
Have I done since I went,
Pro.
My tricksy spirit!
Alon. These are not natural events; they
strengthen,
[hither?
From strange to stranger:-Say, how came you
Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,
And (how, we know not,) all clapp'd under hatches,
Where, but even now, with strange and several

noises

Of roaring, shrieking, howling, gingling chains,
We were awak'd; straightway, at liberty:
And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master
Capering to eye her: on a trice, so please you,
Even in a dream, were we divided from them,
And were brought moping hither.
Ari.
Was 't well done?)
Pro. Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt Aside.
be free.

Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod :
And there is in this business more than nature
Was ever conduct of: some oracle

Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege,
Do not infest your mind with beating on
The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure,
Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you
(Which to you shall seem probable) of every
These happen'd accidents: till when, be cheerful,
And think of each thing well.-Come hither, spirit;
[Aside.

Set Caliban and his companions free:
Untie the spell. [Exit Ariel.] How fares my gra-
There are yet missing of your company [cious sir?
Some few odd lads that you remember not.
Re-enter Ariel, driving in Caliban, Stephano, and
Trinculo, in their stolen Apparel.
Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no
man take care for himself; for all is but fortune :-
Coragio, bully-monster, Coragio!

Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight.

Cal. O Setebos, these be brave spirits, indeed!
How fine my master is! I am afraid
Alon. I am hers: He will chastise me. Seb. Ha, ha!
What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy them?

But O, how oddly will it sound that I
Must ask my child forgiveness!
Pro.

There, sir, stop;
Let us not burthen our remembrances with
A heaviness that 's gone. Gon. I have inly wept,
Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you
And on this couple drop a blessed crown; [gods,
For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way
Which brought us hither!

Alon.
I say, amen, Gonzalo !
Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue
Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice
Beyond a common joy; and set it down

With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage
Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis;

And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife

Where he himself was lost; Prospero, his dukedom,
In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves,
When no man was his own.

Ant. Very like; one of them

Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.
Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
Then say if they be true: this mis-shapen knave,--
His mother was a witch, and one so strong
That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command, without her power:
These three have robb'd me: and this demi-devil
(For he 's a bastard one) had plotted with them
To take my life: two of these fellows you
Must know, and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.

Cal.
I shall be pinch'd to death.
Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?
Seb. He is drunk now: where had he wine?
Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: Where

should they

That you might kill your stomach on your meat,

And not upon your maid.
Ful.
So gingerly?

Luc.

Ful.

Nothing.

What is 't you took up

Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall.
Ful. And is that paper nothing?
Luc.

I see things too, although you judge I wink.
Jul. Come, come, wilt please you go.

17

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same. A Room in Antonio's
House.

Enter Antonio and Panthino.

Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pan. 'T was of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him?

Pan.

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:

Why didst thou stoop then? 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.

Nothing concerning me.
Ful. Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.

Ful. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune:
Give me a note: your ladyship can set.

Ful. As little by such toys as may be possible:
Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love."
Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune.

Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath some burden then.
Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you sing it.
Ful. And why not you?
Luc.

I cannot reach so high.
Jul. Let's see your song?-How now, minion?
Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out:
And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune.

Ful. You do not?

Luc. No, madam; 't is too sharp.
Jul. You, minion, are too saucy.

Luc. Nay, now you are too flat,

And mar the concord with too harsh a descant:
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.
Ful. The mean is drown'd with you, unruly base.
Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me.
Here is a coil with protestation!-Tears the letter.
Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie:
You would be fingering them, to anger me.
Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best
pleas'd

To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit.
Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same!
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 Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude,

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,
Tul I have found each letter in the letter,

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 try'd, 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?
Pan. I think, your lordship is not ignorant,
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the emperor in his royal court.
Ant. I know it well.
Pan. 'T were good, I think, your fordship sent
There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,
Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen;
And be in eye of every exercise,

[him thither:

Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.
And, that thou may'st perceive how well I like it,
Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd:
The execution of it shall make known:
Even with the speediest expedition

I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.
Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,
With other gentlemen of good esteem,
Are journeying to salute the emperor,
And to commend their service to his will.
Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go:
And,-in good time.-Now will we break with him,
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?
Of commendation sent from Valentine,
Pro. May 't please your lordship, 't is a word or two

Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.
Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news.
Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes
How happily he lives, how well-beloved,

Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear And daily graced by the emperor;

Unto a ragged, fearful-hanging rock,
And throw it 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, dinner is ready, and your father
Fil. Well, let us go.
[stays.
Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up.
Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
Jul. I see you have a month's mind to them.
Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;

Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish?
Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will,
And not depending on his friendly wish.
Ant. 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.
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
No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go.-
Come on, Panthino; you shall be employ'd
C

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