VALENTINE    Except I be by Silvia in the night, There is no music in the nightingale. Unless I look on Silvia in the day, There is no day for me to look upon. She is my essence, and I leave to be If I be not by her fair influence Fostered, illumined, cherished, kept alive. […]

VALENTINE    And why not death, rather than living torment? To die is to be banished from myself, And Silvia is myself. Banished from her Is self from self – a deadly banishment. What light is light, if Silvia be not seen? What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by? (Unless it be to think […]

DUKE  Thank me for this more than for all the favours Which, all too much, I have bestowed on thee. But if thou linger in my territories Longer than swiftest expedition Will give thee time to leave our royal court, By heaven, my wrath shall far exceed the love I ever bore my daughter or […]

DUKE  What’s here? ‘Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee.’ ’Tis so! And here’s the ladder for the purpose! Why Phaëton, for thou art Merops’ son, Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car, And with thy daring folly burn the world? Wilt thou reach stars because they shine on thee? Go, base intruder, over-weening […]

DUKE  What letter is this same? What’s here? ‘To Silvia’? And here an engine fit for my proceeding! I’ll be so bold to break the seal for once. [He reads] ‘My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly, And slaves they are to me that send them flying. O, could their master come and go […]

DUKE  But hark thee: I will go to her alone. How shall I best convey the ladder thither? VALENTINE    It will be light, my lord, that you may bear it Under a cloak that is of any length. DUKE A cloak as long as thine will serve the turn? VALENTINE Ay, my good lord. DUKE […]

VALENTINE    Why then, a ladder quaintly made of cords, To cast up with a pair of anchoring hooks, Would serve to scale another Hero’s tower, So bold Leander would adventure it. DUKE  Now as thou art a gentleman of blood, Advise me where I may have such a ladder. VALENTINE When would you use it? […]

DUKE  But she I mean is promised by her friends Unto a youthful gentleman of worth, And kept severely from resort of men, That no man hath access by day to her. VALENTINE    Why then I would resort to her by night. DUKE Ay, but the doors be locked and keys kept safe That no […]

VALENTINE    If she do frown, ’tis not in hate of you, But rather to beget more love in you. If she do chide, ’tis not to have you gone, Forwhy the fools are mad if left alone. Take no repulse, whatever she doth say: For ‘Get you gone!’ she doth not mean ‘Away’. Flatter, and […]

VALENTINE    Win her with gifts if she respect not words. Dumb jewels often in their silent kind More than quick words do move a woman’s mind. DUKE  But she did scorn a present that I sent her. VALENTINE A woman sometime scorns what best contents her. Send her another. Never give her o’er, For scorn […]