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Milan. The DUKE's palace.
[Enter VALENTINE and SPEED]
SPEED
,
,
Sir, your | glove.
VALENTINE
T T
T ,
Not | mine: my gloves | are on.
SPEED
, ,
, , 2 ,
Why then | this may | be yours:| for this | is
but one.
VALENTINE
,
, , ,
,
Ha? Let | me see:| aye, give / it me,| it's mine:
T T . T
, ,
,
Sweet ornament,| that decks | a thing | divine,
, 2 , 2
Ah Silv|ia, Silv|ia.
SPEED
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 learned (like Sir Proteus) to
wreathe 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 schoolboy 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.
VALENTINE
Are all these things perceived in me?
SPEED
They are all perceived 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 a 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 observed that? even she I mean.
SPEED
Why sir, I know her not.
VALENTINE
Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet knowest her not?
SPEED
Is she not hard-favored, sir?
VALENTINE
Not so fair (boy) as well-favored.
SPEED
Sir, I know that well enough.
VALENTINE
What dost thou know?
SPEED
That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favored.
VALENTINE
I mean that her beauty is exquisite,
But her favor infinite.
SPEED
That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count.
VALENTINE
How painted? and how out of count?
SPEED
Marry sir, so painted to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty.
VALENTINE
How esteemst thou me? I account of her beauty.
SPEED
You never saw her since she was deformed.
VALENTINE
How long hath she been deformed?
SPEED
Ever since you loved her.
VALENTINE
I have loved her ever since I saw her,
And still I see her beautiful.
SPEED
If you love her, you cannot see her.
VALENTINE
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.
VALENTINE
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 your hose.
VALENTINE
Belike (boy) then you are in love, for last morning you could not see to
wipe my shoes.
SPEED
True sir: I was in love with my bed, I thank you, you swinged me for my
love, which makes me the bolder to chide you, for yours.
VALENTINE
In conclusion, I stand affected to her.
SPEED
I would you were set, so your affection would cease.
VALENTINE
Last night she enjoined me,
To write some lines to one she loves.
SPEED
And have you?
VALENTINE
I have.
SPEED
Are they not lamely writ?
VALENTINE
No (boy) but as well as I can do them:
Peace, here she comes.
SPEED
Oh excellent motion; oh exceeding puppet:
Now will he interpret to her.
[Enter SILVIA]
VALENTINE
Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows.
SPEED
Oh, give ye good even: here's a million of manners.
SILVIA
Sir Valentine, and servant, to you two thousand.
SPEED
He should give her interest: and she gives it him.
VALENTINE
, ,
, ,
x
As you | enjoined | me; I | have writ | your
letter
, ,
, , ,
Unto | the sec|ret, name|less friend | of yours:
, 2
, ,
2 ,
Which I was | much un|willing | to proceed | in,
<- , 2
, 3 3 , ,
But || for my du|ty to your lad|yship.
SILVIA
<- T T T , ,
, , ,
I thank you ||(gentle | servant)| 'tis ve|ry
clerk|ly done.
VALENTINE
, ,
, , ,
Now trust | me (mad|am) it / came hard|ly off:
, , ,
, ,
For be|ing ig|norant | to whom | it goes,
,
, , ,
,
I writ | at rand|om, ve|ry doubt|fully.
SILVIA
, ,
, . T T T
Perchance | you think | too much | of so much
pains?
VALENTINE
, ,
, , ,
No (mad/am) so | it stead | you, I | will write
,
, ,
, ,
(Please you | command)| a thous|and times | as
much:
,
And yet-- \\
SILVIA
, ,
2 , , , 2->
A pret|ty per|iod: well:| I guess | the se||quel;
??
, 2
, x
, ,
And yet | I will not | name it: and | yet I |
care not.
, ,
2 , ,
,
And yet,| take this a|gain: and | yet I | thank
you:
,
, , ,
,
Meaning | henceforth | to troub|le you | no more.
SPEED
, ,
, , ,
And yet | you will:| and yet,| anoth|er yet.
VALENTINE
, ,
,
What means | your lad|yship?
, x
Do you | not like
it?
SILVIA
, ,
, ,
,
Yes*, yes:| the lines | are ve|ry quaint|ly writ,
,
, , ,
,
But (since | unwil|lingly)| take them | again.
T T T
Nay, take them.
VALENTINE
, ,
,
Madam,| they are | for you.
SILVIA
, ,
, ,
,
Aye,^aye:| you writ | them sir,| at my | request,
, ,
, , ,
But I | will none | of them:| they are | for you:
,
, , ,
,
I would | have had | them writ | more mov|ingly:
VALENTINE
,
, , ,
, 2->
Please you,| I'll write | your lad|yship |
anoth|er.
SILVIA
, ,
, T T . T ->
And when | it's writ:| for my | sake read it
ov||er,
, 2
, , , ,
And | if it please | you, so:| if not:| why so:
VALENTINE
, ,
, T T
If it | please me,|(madam)?| What then?
SILVIA
<- T 2
, ,
, ,
o
Why || if it please | you, take | it for | your
lab|or:
, ,
,
And so | good* mor|row serv|ant. \\
[Exit]
SPEED (this is in steady oct/tetra)
_ __ __ __
, , ,
,
O | jest | un|seen:| inscru|table:| invi|sible,
2 ,
2 , __
2 , , 2 ,
o
As a nose | on a man's | face,| or a
weath|ercock | on a steep|le:
, ,
, oo , ,
, o
My mast|er sues | to her:| |and she | hath
taught | her suit|or,
, ,
, oo , , ,
oo
He be/ing her | pupil,| | to be|come her |
tutor.|
, ,
, ,
, ,
, oo
O ex|cellent | device,| was there | ever | heard
a | better?|
, ,
, __
That my | master | being | scribe,
, ,
, ,
To him|self should | write the | letter?
VALENTINE
How now sir?
What are you reasoning with yourself?
SPEED
Nay: I was rhyming: 'tis you that have the reason.
VALENTINE
To do what?
SPEED
To be a spokesman for Madam Silvia.
VALENTINE
To whom?
SPEED
To yourself: why, she wooes you by a figure.
VALENTINE
What figure?
SPEED
By a letter, I should say.
VALENTINE
Why she hath not writ to me?
SPEED
What need she,
When she hath made you write to yourself?
Why, do you not
perceive the jest?
VALENTINE
No, believe me.
SPEED
No believing you indeed sir:
But did you perceive her earnest?
VALENTINE
She gave me none, except an angry word.
SPEED
Why she hath given you a letter.
VALENTINE
That's the letter I writ to her friend.
SPEED
And that letter hath she delivered, and there an end.
VALENTINE
I would it were no worse.
SPEED
I'll warrant you, 'tis as well: (next lines are
octameter)
, ,
, ,
, , ,
oo
For of|ten have | you writ | to her:| and she |
in mod|esty,|
, ,
, , ,
, , oo
Or else | for want | of id|le time,| could not |
again | reply,|
, ,
, , ,
, ,
o
Or fear|ing else | some mes|senger,| that might |
her mind | discov|er,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, o
Herself | hath taught | her love | himself,| to
write | unto | her lov|er.
,
, ,
2 ,
x
All this | I speak | in print,| for in print | I found it.
T T T ,
, __
Why muse you,| sir? 'tis
| dinner|time.
VALENTINE
I have dined.
SPEED
Aye, but hearken sir: though the chameleon Love can feed on the air, I am
one that am nourished by my victuals; and would fain have meat: oh be not
like your mistress, be moved, be moved.
[Exeunt]