PROTEUS       Thus have I shunned the fire for fear of burning And drenched me in the sea where I am drowned. I feared 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 […]

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. Tomorrow thou must go. Come on, Pantino. You shall be employed To hasten on his expedition. [Exeunt Antonio and Pantino]           (1.3.72-77)   Proteus is holding […]

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 resolved 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. […]

ANTONIO       Lend me the letter. Let me see what news. PROTEUS       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. ANTONIO And how stand you affected to his wish? PROTEUS As one relying on […]

PROTEUS       Sweet love, sweet lines, sweet life! Here is her hand, the agent of her heart. Here is her oath for love, her honour’s pawn. O that our fathers would applaud our loves To seal our happiness with their consents! O heavenly Julia!– ANTONIO       How now? What letter are you reading there? PROTEUS May’t please […]

ANTONIO       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 dispatch him to the Emperor’s court. PANTINO       Tomorrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso, With other gentlemen of good esteem, Are journeying […]

ANTONIO       Then tell me, whither were I best to send him? PANTINO       I think your lordship is not ignorant How his companion, youthful Valentine, Attends the Emperor in his royal court. ANTONIO I know it well. PANTINO ’Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither. There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Hear sweet […]

PANTINO       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 to his age In having known no travel in his youth. ANTONIO       Nor need’st thou much importune […]

Enter Antonio and Pantino ANTONIO       Tell me, Pantino, what sad talk was that Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? PANTINO       ’Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son. ANTONIO Why, what of him? PANTINO He wondered that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home While other men, of slender reputation, […]

[Enter Lucetta] LUCETTA        Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. JULIA  Well, let us go. LUCETTA What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here? JULIA If you respect them, best to take them up. LUCETTA Nay, I was taken up for laying them down. Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. JULIA […]