Two Gentlemen of Verona | Page 4

eating canker
dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all.
VALENTINE. And writers say, as the most forward bud Is eaten by the
canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turned
to folly; blasting in the bud, Losing his verdure even in the prime, And
all the fair effects of future hopes. But wherefore waste I time to
counsel the That art a votary to fond desire? Once more adieu! my
father at the road Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd.
PROTEUS. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.
VALENTINE. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. To Milan
let me hear from thee by letters Of thy success in love, and what news
else Betideth here in absence of thy friend; And I likewise will visit
thee with mine.
PROTEUS. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!
VALENTINE. As much to you at home! and so farewell!

[Exit.]
PROTEUS. He after honour hunts, I after love; He leaves his friends to
dignify them more: I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. Thou,
Julia, thou hast metamorphos'd me;-- Made me neglect my studies, lose
my time, War with good counsel, set the world at nought; Made wit
with musing weak, heart sick with thought.
[Enter SPEED.]
SPEED. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master?
PROTEUS. But now he parted hence to embark for Milan.
SPEED. Twenty to one then he is shipp'd already, And I have play'd the
sheep in losing him.
PROTEUS. Indeed a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be
a while away.
SPEED. You conclude that my master is a shepherd then, and I a
sheep?
PROTEUS. I do.
SPEED. Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.
PROTEUS. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.
SPEED. This proves me still a sheep.
PROTEUS. True; and thy master a shepherd.
SPEED. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.
PROTEUS. It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another.
SPEED. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd;
but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me; therefore, I am no
sheep.
PROTEUS. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the shepherd for
food follows not the sheep: thou for wages followest thy master; thy
master for wages follows not thee. Therefore, thou art a sheep.
SPEED. Such another proof will make me cry 'baa.'
PROTEUS. But, dost thou hear? gavest thou my letter to Julia?
SPEED. Ay, sir; I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton;
and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour.
PROTEUS. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.
SPEED. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.
PROTEUS. Nay, in that you are astray: 'twere best pound you.
SPEED. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your
letter.

PROTEUS. You mistake; I mean the pound,--a pinfold.
SPEED. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, 'Tis threefold too
little for carrying a letter to your lover.
PROTEUS. But what said she? [SPEED nods.] Did she nod?
[SPEED] Ay.
PROTEUS. Nod, ay? Why, that's noddy.
SPEED. You mistook, sir; I say she did nod; and you ask me if she did
nod; and I say, Ay.
PROTEUS. And that set together is--noddy.
SPEED. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for
your pains.
PROTEUS. No, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter.
SPEED. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.
PROTEUS. Why, sir, how do you bear with me?
SPEED. Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly; having nothing but the
word 'noddy' for my pains.
PROTEUS. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit.
SPEED. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.
PROTEUS. Come, come; open the matter; in brief: what said she?
SPEED. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both
at once delivered.
PROTEUS. Well, sir, here is for your pains [giving him money]. What
said she?
SPEED. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her.
PROTEUS. Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?
SPEED. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much
as a ducat for delivering your letter; and being so hard to me that
brought your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling your
mind. Give her no token but stones, for she's as hard as steel.
PROTEUS. What! said she nothing?
SPEED. No, not so much as 'Take this for thy pains.' To testify your
bounty, I thank you, you