Pant. He wondered that your Lordships 705 Would fuffer him te fpend his youth at home, While other men of flender reputation Put forth their fons to feek preferment out: (6) Γ Ant. Nornecdelt thou muchimportune me to that, And perfected by the fwift course of time: i (*) Put forth their sons.] In Shakespeare's time, voyages for› the difcovery of the Weft-indies were all in vogue: and we find, in the journals of travellers of that time, that the fons of noblemen, and of others of the best quality in England, went commonly on thofe adventures. To which prevailing fashion, 'tis evident, the Poet frequently alludes in this play, not without high commendations of it : Mr Warburton. (7) Attends the Emperor in his royal court] The Emperor's royal court is properly át Vienna: but Valentine, 'tis plain, is at Milan; where, in most other paffages, 'tis faid he is at tending the Duke, who makes one of the characters in the drama. This feems to convict the Author of a forgetfulness and contradiction; but, perhaps, it may be folved thus, L Aut. I know it well, fhim thither Pant Twere good, I think, your Lordship fent There thall he pradife tilts and tournaments, Hear fweet difcourfe, converfe with noblemen, And be in eye of every exercise, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counfel; well haft thou advifed I will dispatch him to the Emperor's court. And to commend their fervice to his will. Ant. Good company: with them fhall Protheus go And, in good time, now will we break with him. Enter PROTHEUS. Pro. Sweet love, fweet lines, fweet life! Ant. How new? what letter are you reading there? Pro. May't please your Lordfhip, 'tis a word or Of commendation fent from Valentine, Delivered by a friend that came from him. [two Ant. Lend me the letter; let me fee what news. Pro. There is no news, my Lord, but that he writes How happily he lives, how well beloved, and Milan be called the Emperor's court, as, fince the reign of Charlemaigne, this dukedom and its teritories have belonged to the Emperors. I wish I could as eafily folve, another abfurdity, which encounters us, of Valentine's going from Verona to Milan, both inland places, by sea, And daily graced by the Emperor; Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. Ant. And how stand you affected to his wifh? Pro. As one relying on your Lordship's will, And not depending on his friendly with. Ant. My will is fomething forted with his wifhe Mufe not that I thus fuddenly proceed:. For what I will, I will; and there's an end. Pro. My Lord, I cannot be fo foon provided, Please to deliberate a day or two. Ant. Look, what thou wanteft fhall be fent after No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go. [thee.. Come on, Panthïon; you shall be employed To haften on his expedition. [Exe. Ant. and Pant. Pro. Thus have I fhunned the fire, for fear of burning; And drenched me in the fea, where I am drowned; (8) Oh, how this spring of love refembleth well] This monofyllable was forted in by Mr Pope, to fupport, as he thought, the verfification in the clofe. But it was done for want of obferving Shakespeare's licences in his measure. which 'tis proper, once for all, to take notice of. Refembleth, he defigned here fhould in pronunciation make four fyllables: as witneffe, afterwards in this play, and as fidler, (in the Taming a shrew) and a gry (twice in Timon of Athens) are: made trifyllables; and as fire and hour are almost for ever: protracted by him to two fyllables. Th' uncertain glory of an April day; Which now fhews all the beauty of the fun, Pant. Sir Protheus, your father calls for you; He is in hafte, therefore I pray you go. Pro. Why, this it is! my heart accords thereto; And yet a thousand times it answers, no. [Exeunt. S AC TN. SCENE changes to Milan. An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. SPEED. R, 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 fee: ay, give it me, it's mine Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, Sir. Val. Why, Sir, who bade you call her? Speed. Your Worfhip, Sir, or elfe I mistook. Speed. And yet I was laft chidden for being too flow. ? Val. Why, how know you that I am in love? Speed. Marry, by thefe fpecial marks; first, you have learned, like Sir Protheus, to wreath your arms like a malecontent; to relifh a love-fong, like a Robin-red-breaft; to walk alone, like one that had the peftilence; to figh like a fchool-boy that had loft his A, B, C; to weep like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fait, like one that takes diet; to watch like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmafs. You were wont, when you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fafted, it was presently after dinner; when you looked fadly, it was for want of money: and now you are metamorphofed 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; for without you were fo fimple, none elfe would: but you are fo without these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in an urinal; that not an eye that fees you, but is a phyfician to comment on your malady. Val. But tell me, doft thou know my Lady Silvia? Speed. She that you gaze on fo as fhe fits at fupper? Val. Haft thou obferved that? even fhe I mean. Speed. Why, Sir, I know her not. Val. Doft thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet knoweft her not. Speed. Is fhe not hard-favoured, Sir? Val. What doft thou know? |