Jul. What is't that you

Took up fo gingerly?

Luc. Nothing.

Jul. Why didft thou ftoop 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 thofe that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie, where it concerns; Unless it have a falfe interpreter.

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhime. Luc. That I might fing it, madam, to a tune : Give me a note; your ladyfhip can set.

Jul. As little by fuch toys as may be poffible: Beft fing it to the tune of Light o`love.

Luc. It is too heavy for fo light a tune.

Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath some burthen then. Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you fing it. Jul. And why not you?

Luc. I cannot reach fo high.

Jul. Let's fee your fong:

How now, minion?

Luc. Keep tune there ftill, fo you will fing it out: yet, methinks, I do not like this tune.

And

Jul. You do not?

Luc. No, madam, 'tis too fharp.
Jul. You, minion, are too faucy.

Luc. Nay, now you are too flat.

And mar the concord with too harsh a defcant :
There wanteth but a mean, to fill your fong.
Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base.
Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Protheus.

Jul. This babble fhall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with proteftation!

Go, get you gone; and let the

papers

lie :

[Tears it.

You would be fingering them, to anger me. [pleas'd

Luc. She makes it ftrange, but she would be best To be fo anger'd with another letter.

[Exit.

Jul.

Jul. Nay, would I were fo anger'd with the fame!
Oh hateful hands, to tear fuch loving words!
Injurious wafps, to feed on fuch fweet honey,
And kill the bees, that yield it, with your flings!
I'll kiss each feveral paper for amends:
Look, here is writ kind Julia;- -Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude,

I throw thy name against the bruifing ftones;
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
Look, here is writ, Love-wounded Protheus.
Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed,
Shall lodge thee, 'till thy wound be throughly heal'd;
And thus I fearch it with a fov'reign kifs.
But twice, or thrice, was Protheus written down;
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,
'Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: That fome whirl-wind bear
Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock,

And throw it thence into the raging fea!
Lo, here in one Line is his name twice writ:
Poor forlorn Protheus, paffionate Protheus,
To the fweet Julia: that I'll tear away;
And yet I will not, fith fo prettily
He couples it to his complaining names:
Thus will I fold them one upon another;
Now kifs, embrace, contend, do what you will.

Enter Lucetta.

Luc. Madam, dinner is ready, and your father ftays.
Jul. Well, let us go.

Luc. What, fhall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
Jul. If thou refpect them, beft to take them up.
Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
Jul. I fee, you have a month's mind to them.
Luc. Ay, madam, you may fay what fights you fee:
I fee things too, although you judge I wink.

Jul. Come, come, will't please you go? [Exeunt.
SCENE

Ant.

SCENE IV.

Anthonio's House.

Enter Anthonio and Panthion.

ELL me, Panthion, what fad talk was that,

TWherewith my brother held you in the

cloifter?

Pant. 'Twas of his nephew Protheus, your son.
Ant. Why, what of him?

Pant. He wonder'd that your lordship
Would fuffer him to spend his youth at home,
While other men of flender reputation.

Put forth their fons to feek preferment out:
Some to the wars, to try their fortune there;
Some, to difcover Islands far away ;
Some, to the ftudious univerfities.
For any, or for all thefe exercifes,

He faid, that Protheus your fon was meet:
And did requeft 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.

Ant. Nor need'ft thou much importune me to that,. Whereon this month I have been hammering.

I have confider'd well his lofs of time;
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
Not being try'd, and tutor'd in the world:
Experience is by industry atchiev'd,

And perfected by the swift course of time:
Then tell me, whither were I best to send him?
Pant. I think, your lordship is not ignorant,
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the Emperor in his royal court.

Ant. I know it well.

Pant. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him

thither;

There

There fhall he practise tilts and tournaments,
Hear fweet difcourfe, converfe with noblemen;
And be in eye of every exercife,

Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.

Ant. I like thy counsel; well haft thou advis'd:
And that thou may'ft perceive how well I like it,
The execution of it fhall make known;
Ev'n with the fpecdieft expedition

I will dispatch him to the Emperor's court.
Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonfo,
With other gentlemen of good esteem,

Are journeying to falute the Emperor;

And to commend their fervice to his will.

Ant. Good company: with them fhall Protheus go. And, in good time, now will we break with him.

Enter Protheus.

Pro. Sweet love, fweet lines, fweet life!
Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn,
Oh! that our fathers would applaud our loves,
To feal our happiness with their confents!
Oh heav'nly Julia!

Ant. How now? what letter are you reading there? Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two Of commendation fent from Valentine;

Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.

Ant. Lend me the letter; let me fee what news. Pro. There is no news, my lord, but that he writes How happily he lives, how well belov'd,

And daily graced by the Emperor;

Wifhing me with him, partner of his fortune.
Ant. And how stand you affected to his wifh?
Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will,
And not depending on his friendly with.
Ant My will is fomething forted with his wifh:
Mufe not that I thus fuddenly proceed;
For what I will, I will; and there's an end.

I am refolv'd, that thou fhalt spend some time
With Valentine in the Emp'ror's court:

What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou fhalt have from me:
To-morrow be in readiness to go.

Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.

Pro. My lord, I cannot be fo foon provided;

Please to deliberate a day or two.

[thee: Ant. Look, what thou want'ft, shall be sent after No more of flay; to-morrow thou must go. Come on, Panthion; you fhall be employ'd

To haften on his expedition. [Exe. Ant. and Pant. Pro. Thus have I fhun'd the fire, for fear of burning;

And drench'd me in the Sea, where I am drown'd:
I fear'd to fhew my father Julia's letter,

Left he should take exceptions to my love;
And with the vantage of mine own excuse,
Hath he excepted most against my love.
Oh, how this fpring of love refembleth
Th' uncertain glory of an April day;
Which now fhews all the beauty of the fun,
And by and by, a cloud takes all away!

Enter Panthion.

Pant. Sir Protheus, your father calls for you; He is in hafte, therefore, I pray you, go.

Pro. Why, this it is, my heart accords thereto :

And yet a thousand times it answers, no.

[Exeunt.