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Dinner is ready, and your father stays.

Jul. Well, let us go.

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:

1

Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
Jul. I see, you have a month's mind 3 to them.
Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you

see;

I see things too, although you judge I wink.

Jul. Come, come, will 't please you go? [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. "Twas 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,

Chidden.

2 Lest they should catch cold.

A lingering desire.

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 1 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 achieved,

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. "Twere good, I think, your lordship sent

him thither:

There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,
Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen;
And be in eye of every exercise,

Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.

1 Reproach, imputation.

Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised: And, that thou mayst perceive how well I like it, The execution of it shall make known;

Even with the speediest expedition

I will despatch him to the emperor's court.
Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Al-
phonso,

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 honor'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

Of commendations sent from Valentine,

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,

And daily graced by the emperor,

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 1 with his wish : Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;

For what I will, I will, and there an end.

I am resolved, that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentinus in the emperor's court;

What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition 2 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 his expedition. [Exeunt Ant. and Pan.
Pro. 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.

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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.

Pan. Sir Proteus, your father calls for

He is in haste, therefore, I pray you, go.

you;

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

ACT II.

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.

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