The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [242]
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. The DUKE'S palace
Enter VALENTINE and SPEED
SPEED.
Sir, your 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 learn'd, 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 walk'd, to
walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently
after dinner; when you look'd sadly, it was for want of money.
And now you are metamorphis'd with a mistress, that, when I look
on you, I can hardly think you my master.
VALENTINE.
Are all these things perceiv'd in me?
SPEED.
They are all perceiv'd 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 observ'd 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 hard-favour'd, sir?
VALENTINE.
Not so fair, boy, as well-favour'd.
SPEED.
Sir, I know that well enough.
VALENTINE.
What dost thou know?
SPEED.
That she is not so fair as, of you, well-favour'd.
VALENTINE.
I mean that her beauty is exquisite, but her favour infinite.
SPEED.
That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count.
VALENTINE.
How painted? and how out of count?