EPILOGUE. Spoken by Prospero. NOW my charms are all o'erthrown, Which pierces so, that it assaults As you from crimes would pardon d be, It is observed of The Tempest, that its plan is regular; this the author of The Revisal thinks, what I think too, an accidental effect of the story, not intended or regarded by our author. But, whatever might be Shakspeare's intention in forming or adopting the plot, he has made it instrumental to the production of many characters, diversified with boundless invention, and preserved with profound skill in nature, extensive knowledge of opinions, and accurate observation of life. In a single drama are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and sailors, all speaking in their real characters. There is the agency of airy spirits, and of an earthly goblin; the operations of magic, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a desert island, the native effusion of untaught affection, the punishment of (1) Applause: noise was supposed to dissolve a guilt, and the final happiness of the pair for whom spell. our passions and reasons are equally interested. JOHNSON. Valentine. Out-laws. Julia, a lady of Verona, beloved by Proteus. Silvia, the duke's daughter, beloved by Valentine Lucetta, waiting-woman to Julia. Servants, musicians. Scene, Sometimes in Verona; sometimes in Milan; and on the frontiers of Mantua. If lost, why then a grievous labour won; Enter Or else a wit by folly vanquished. CEASE to persuade, my loving Proteus; Think on thy Proteus, when thou, haply, seest When thou dost meet good hap; and, in thy dan ger, If ever danger do environ thee, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success. Pro. Upon some book I love, I'll pray for thee. Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love, How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont. Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love. For he was more than over shoes in love. Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never swam the Hellespont. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots.' Val. No, I'll not, for it boots thee not. What? To be La love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks, With heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth, (1) A humorous punishment at harvest-home feasts, &c. Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll prove. Pro. Tis love you cavil at; I am not Love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: And he that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Val. And writers say, As the most forward bud At Milan, let me hear from thee by letters, Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewell! [Exit Valentine. Pro. 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. Speed. Twenty to one then, he is shipp'd already;| 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 Speed. You conclude that my master is a shep-telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; herd then, and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What, said she nothing? Speed. No, not so much as take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd4 me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself; and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. Pro. Go, go, begone, to save your ship from wreck; Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Speed. This proves me still a sheep. Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, Being destin'd to a drier death on shore:and my master seeks not me: therefore, I am no I must go send some better messenger; sheep. fear, my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post. Pro. 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. Pro. But dost thou hear? gav'st 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. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. Pro. 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. Pro. But what said she? did she nod? Speed. I. I [Exeunt. SCENE II-The same. Garden of Julia's Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, That every day with parles encounter me, Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll show According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing Pro. Nod, I? why, that's noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains. Pro. No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter. Speed. Well, I perccive, I must be fain to bear with you. Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, sir, the letter very orderly; having nothing but the word, noddy, for my pains. Pro. Beshrew3 me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what said she? Speed. Open your purse, that the money, and Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. from her? (1) A term for a courtezan. (2) A game at cards. (3) Ill betide. I Should censures thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Your reason? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love Jul. I would, I knew his mind. (4) Given me a sixpence. Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, IJul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with protestation! pray. Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!1 There, take the paper, see it be return'd; [Tears the letter. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! hate. Jul. Will you be gone? Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the letter. It were a shame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault for which Ichid her. What fool is she, that knows I am a maid, And would not force the letter to my view? Since maids, in modesty, say No, to that Which they would have the profferer construe, Ay. Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love, That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse, And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod! How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, When willingly I would have had her here! How angrily I taught my brow to frown, When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile! My penance is, to call Lucetta back, And ask remission for my folly past:What ho! Lucetta! Jul. Nothing. What is't you took up Why didst thou stoop, then? Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall. Jul. And is that paper nothing? Luc. Nothing concerning me. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns, Unless it have a false interpreter. Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune: Give me a note: your ladyship can set Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible: Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love. Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Jul. Heavy? belike it hath some burden then. Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you sing it. Jul. And why not you? I cannot reach so high. Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. And mar the concord with too harsh a descant:" (1) A matchmaker. (2) Passion or obstinacy. 73) A term in music. (4) The tenor in music. Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey, I throw thy name against the bruising stones, And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pan. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him? Pan. He wonder'd, that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home; While other men, of slender reputation," Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: Some, to the wars, to try their fortune there; Some, to discover islands far away; Some, to the studious universitics. 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, (5) A challenge. (6) Bustle, stir. (7) Since. (8) Serious. (9) Little consequence Which would be great impeachment1 to his age, Whereon this month I have been hammering. Ant. I know it well. Pant. Twere good, I think, your lordship sent There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: And, that thou may'st perceive how well I like it, The execution of it shall make known; Even with the speediest execution I will despatch him to the emperor's court. Come on, Panthino; you shall be employ'd Act II. [Exeunt Ant. and Pant. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning; And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd: The uncertain glory of an April day; Pant. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; ACT II. [Exeunt. Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Al- SCENE I.-Milan. An apartment in the Duke's phonso, With other gentlemen of good esteem, Are journeying to salute the emperor, And to commend their service to his will. Ant. Good company: with them shall Proteus go: And, in good time,-now will we break with him.2 Enter Proteus. Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Ant. How now? what letter are you reading Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two Of commendation sent from Valentine, Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. How happily he lives, how well belov❜d, Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish: Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; Ant. Look, what thou want'st, shall be sent after thee: No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go. (1) Reproach. (2) Break the matter to him. (3) Wonder. (4) Allowance. palace. Enter Valentine and Speed. Speed. Sir, your glove. Val. Not mine; my gloves are on. Speed. Why then this may be yours, for this is but one. Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine :- Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia ! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. Val. Go to, sir; tell me, do you know madam Speed. She that your worship loves? Val. Why, how know you that I am in love? have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreath your arms Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you like a male-content; to relish a love-song, like a robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy that had had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes lost his A. B. C.; to weep, like a young wench that diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to were wont, when you laugh'd, to crow like a cock; speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money: and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master. Val. Are all these things perceived in me? without you were so simple, none else would: but |