Counsel, Lucetta. Gentle girl, assist me,

2.7.4977And ev'n in kind love I do conjure thee,

2.7.5978Who art the table wherein all my thoughts

2.7.6979Are visibly charactered and engraved,

2.7.7980To lesson me and tell me some good mean

2.7.8981How with my honor I may undertake

2.7.9982A journey to my loving Proteus.

Alas, the way is wearisome and long.

A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary

2.7.12985To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps;

2.7.13986Much less shall she that hath Love's wings to fly,

2.7.14987And when the flight is made to one so dear,

2.7.15988Of such divine perfection as Sir Proteus.

Better forbear till Proteus make return.

Oh, know'st thou not his looks are my soul's food?

2.7.18991Pity the dearth that I have pined in

2.7.19992By longing for that food so long a time.

2.7.20993Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,

2.7.21994Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow

2.7.22995As seek to quench the fire of love with words.

I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire,

2.7.24997But qualify the fire's extreme rage,

2.7.25998Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.

The more thou dam'st it up, the more it burns:

2.7.271000The current that with gentle murmur glides,

2.7.281001Thou know'st, being stopped, impatiently doth rage;

2.7.291002But when his fair course is not hindered,

2.7.301003He makes sweet music with th'enameled stones,

2.7.311004Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge

2.7.321005He overtaketh in his pilgrimage,

2.7.331006And so by many winding nooks he strays

2.7.341007With willing sport to the wild ocean.

2.7.351008Then let me go, and hinder not my course.

2.7.361009I'll be as patient as a gentle stream

2.7.371010And make a pastime of each weary step,

2.7.381011Till the last step have brought me to my love,

2.7.391012And there I'll rest, as after much turmoil

2.7.401013A blessed soul doth in Elysium.

But in what habit will you go along?

Not like a woman, for I would prevent

2.7.431016The loose encounters of lascivious men.

2.7.441017Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds

2.7.451018As may beseem some well-reputed page.

Why then your ladyship must cut your hair.

No, girl, I'll knit it up in silken strings,

2.7.481021With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots.

2.7.491022To be fantastic may become a youth

2.7.501023Of greater time then I shall show to be.

What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches?

That fits as well as tell me, good my Lord.

2.7.531026What compass will you wear your farthingale?

2.7.541027Why ev'n what fashion thou best likes, Lucetta.

You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam.

Out, out, Lucetta! That will be ill-favored.

A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin

2.7.581031Unlesse you have a codpiece to stick pins on.

Lucetta, as thou lov'st me, let me have

2.7.601033What thou think'st meet and is most mannerly.

2.7.611034But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me

2.7.621035For undertaking so unstaid a journey?

2.7.631036I fear me it will make me scandalized.

If you think so, then stay at home and go not.

Nay, that I will not.

Then never dream on infamy, but go.

2.7.671040If Proteus like your journey when you come,

2.7.681041No matter who's displeased when you are gone.

2.7.691042I fear me he will scarce be pleased withal.

That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear.

2.7.711044A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears,

2.7.721045And instances of infinite of love,

2.7.731046Warrant me welcome to my Proteus.

All these are servants to deceitful men.

Base men, that use them to so base effect.

2.7.761049But truer stars did govern Proteus's birth.

2.7.771050His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles,

2.7.781051His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate,

2.7.791052His tears, pure messengers sent from his heart,

2.7.801053His heart, as far from fraud as heav'n from earth.

Pray heav'n he prove so when you come to him.

Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not that wrong

2.7.831056To bear a hard opinion of his truth.

2.7.841057Only deserve my love by loving him,

2.7.851058And presently go with me to my chamber

2.7.861059To take a note of what I stand in need of,

2.7.871060To furnish me upon my longing journey.

2.7.881061All that is mine I leave at thy dispose,

2.7.891062My goods, my lands, my reputation;

2.7.901063Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence.

2.7.911064Come, answer not, but to it presently,

2.7.921065I am impatient of my tarriance.