976Iul. Counsaile, Lucetta, gentle girle assist me,

977And eu'n in kinde loue, I doe coniure thee,

978Who art the Table wherein all my thoughts

979Are visibly Character'd, and engrau'd,

980To lesson me, and tell me some good meane

981How with my honour I may vndertake

982A iourney to my louing Protheus.

983Luc. Alas, the way is wearisome and long.

984Iul. A true-deuoted Pilgrime is not weary

985To measure Kingdomes with his feeble steps,

986Much lesse shall she that hath Loues wings to flie,

987And when the flight is made to one so deere,

988Of such diuine perfection as Sir Protheus.

989Luc. Better forbeare, till Protheus make returne.

990 Iul. Oh, know'st y^u not, his looks are my soules food?

991Pitty the dearth that I haue pined in,

992By longing for that food so long a time.

993Didst thou but know the inly touch of Loue,

994Thou wouldst as soone goe kindle fire with snow

995As seeke to quench the fire of Loue with words.

996Luc. I doe not seeke to quench your Loues hot fire,

997But qualifie the fires extreame rage,

998Lest it should burne aboue the bounds of reason.

999Iul. The more thou dam'st it vp, the more it burnes:

1000The Current that with gentle murmure glides

1001(Thou know'st) being stop'd, impatiently doth rage:

1002But when his faire course is not hindered,

1003He makes sweet musicke with th' enameld stones,

1004Giuing a gentle kisse to euery sedge

1005He ouer-taketh in his pilgrimage.

1006And so by many winding nookes he straies

1007With willing sport to the wilde Ocean.

1008Then let me goe, and hinder not my course:

1009Ile be as patient as a gentle streame,

1010And make a pastime of each weary step,

1011Till the last step haue brought me to my Loue,

1012And there Ile rest, as after much turmoile

1013A blessed soule doth in Elizium.

1014Luc. But in what habit will you goe along?

1015Iul. Not like a woman, for I would preuent

1016The loose encounters of lasciuious men:

1017Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weedes

1018As may beseeme some well reputed Page.

1019Luc. Why then your Ladiship must cut your haire.

1020Iul. No girle, Ile knit it vp in silken strings,

1021With twentie od-conceited true-loue knots:

1022To be fantastique, may become a youth

1023Of greater time then I shall shew to be.

1024 Luc. What fashion (Madam) shall I make your bree-(ches?

1025Iul. That fits as well, as tell me (good my Lord)

1026What compasse will you weare your Farthingale?

1027Why eu'n what fashion thou best likes (Lucetta.)

1028 Luc. You must needs haue thē with a cod-peece (Ma-(dam)

1029Iul. Out, out, (Lucetta) that wilbe illfauourd.

1030 Luc. A round hose (Madam) now's not worth a pin

1031Vnlesse you haue a cod-peece to stick pins on.

1032Iul. Lucetta, as thou lou'st me let me haue

1033What thou think'st meet, and is most mannerly.

1034But tell me (wench) how will the world repute me

1035For vndertaking so vnstaid a iourney?

1036I feare me it will make me scandaliz'd.

1037 Luc. If you thinke so, then stay at home, and go not.

1038Iul. Nay, that I will not.

1039Luc. Then neuer dreame on Infamy, but go:

1040If Protheus like your iourney, when you come,

1041No matter who's displeas'd, when you are gone:

1042I feare me he will scarce be pleas'd with all.

1043Iul. That is the least (Lucetta) of my feare:

1044A thousand oathes, an Ocean of his teares,

1045And instances of infinite of Loue,

1046Warrant me welcome to my Protheus.

1047Luc. All these are seruants to deceitfull men.

1048Iul. Base men, that vse them to so base effect;

1049But truer starres did gouerne Protheus birth,

1050His words are bonds, his oathes are oracles,

1051His loue sincere, his thoughts immaculate,

1052His teares, pure messengers, sent from his heart,

1053His heart, as far from fraud, as heauen from earth.

1054 Luc. Pray heau'n he proue so when you come to him.

1055Iul. Now, as thou lou'st me, do him not that wrong,

1056To beare a hard opinion of his truth:

1057Onely deserue my loue, by louing him,

1058And presently goe with me to my chamber

1059To take a note of what I stand in need of,

1060To furnish me vpon my longing iourney:

1061All that is mine I leaue at thy dispose,

1062My goods, my Lands, my reputation,

1063Onely, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence:

1064Come; answere not: but to it presently,

1065I am impatient of my tarriance.

1070Duke. Sir Thurio, giue vs leaue (I pray) a while,

1071We haue some secrets to confer about.

1072Now tell me Protheus, what's your will with me?

1073 Pro. My gracious Lord, that which I wold discouer,

1074The Law of friendship bids me to conceale,

1075But when I call to minde your gracious fauours

1076Done to me (vndeseruing as I am)

1077My dutie pricks me on to vtter that

1078Which else, no worldly good should draw from me:

1079Know (worthy Prince) Sir Valentine my friend

1080This night intends to steale away your daughter:

1081My selfe am one made priuy to the plot.

1082I know you haue determin'd to bestow her

1083On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates,

1084And should she thus be stolne away from you,

1085It would be much vexation to your age.

1086Thus (for my duties sake) I rather chose

1087To crosse my friend in his intended drift,

1088Then (by concealing it) heap on your head

1089A pack of sorrowes, which would presse you downe

1090(Being vnpreuented) to your timelesse graue.

1091Duke. Protheus, I thank thee for thine honest care,

1092Which to requite, command me while I liue.

1093This loue of theirs, my selfe haue often seene,

1094Haply when they haue iudg'd me fast asleepe,

1095And oftentimes haue purpos'd to forbid