He overtaketh in his pilgrimage ; :
And so by many winding nooks he strays,
With willing sport, to the wild ocean.
Then let me go, and hinder not my course :
I'll be as patient as a gentle stream,
And make a pastime of each weary step,
Till the last step have brought me to my love;
And there I'll rest, as, after much turmoil, .
A blessed soul doth in Elysium. .

Luc, But in what habit will you go along?

Jul. Not like a woman; for I would prevent
The loose encounters of lascivious men :
Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds
As may beseem some well-reputed page.

Luc. Why then your ladyship must cut your hair.

Jul. No, girl ; I'll knit it up in filken strings, With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots : To be fantastic, may become a youth Of greater time than I shall shew to be. Luc. What fashion, madam, shall I make your

breeches ? Jul. That fits as well, as" tell me, good my lord, « What compass will you wear your farthingale ?" Why, even that fashion thou best lik'ft, Lucetra. Luc. You must needs have them with a cod-piece,

madam, Jul, Out, out, Lucetta 7! that will be ill-favour'd.

6 — with a cod-piece, &c.] Whoever wishes to be acquainted with this particular, relative to dress, may consult Bulwer's Ar. tificial Changeling, in which such matters are very amply dir. cussed. Ocular instruction may be had from the armour Thewn as John of Gaunt's in the Tower of London. The same fashion appears to have been no less offensive in France. See Montaigne, chap. XXII. The custom of sticking pins in this oftentatious piece of indecency, was continued by the illiberal warders of the Tower, till forbidden by authority. STEEVENS.

7 Out, out, Lucetta? &c.] Dr. Percy observes, that this interjection is still used in the North. It seems to have the sainc meaning as apage, Lat. STEEVENS.

Luc.

M

3

Luc. A round hose, madam, now's not worth

pin, Unless you have a cod-piece to stick pins on,

Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'it me, let me have . What thou think'st meet, and is most mannerly : But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me, For undertaking so unftaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me scandaliz'd.

Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go not.
Jul. Nay, that I will not.

Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go.
If Protheus like your journey, when you come,
No matter who's displeas’d, when you are gone :
I fear me, he will scarce be pleas'd withal.

Ful. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear :
A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears,
And instances as infinite of love,
Warrant me welcome to my Protheus.

Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men.
· Jul. Base men, that use them to so base effect !
But truer stars did govern Protheus' birth :
His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles;
His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate;
His tears, pure messengers sent froin his heart;
His heart as far from fraud, as heaven from earth,
Luc. Pray heaven, he prove so, when you come

to him! Ful. Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not that wronga To bear a hard opinion of his truth: Only deserve my love, by loving him; And presently go with me to my chamber, To take a note of what I stand in need of, To furnish me upon my longing journey, All that is mine I leave at thy dispose,

! of infinite ] Old edit. Johnson. 9 m y longing journey.) Dr. Gray observes, that longing is a participle active, with a passive signification ; for longed, wished or desired. STEEVENS.

My

My goods, my lands, my reputation;
Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence.
Come, answer not, but to it presently ;
I am iinpatient of my tarriance.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

The duke's palace in Milan.

Enter Duke, Thurio, and Protheus. Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile; We have some secrets to confer about.

Exit Thur. Now, tell me, Protheus, what's your will with me?

Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would discover, The law of friendship bids me to conceal: But, when I call to mind your gracious favours Done to me, undeserving as I am, My duty pricks me on to utter that Which else no worldly good should draw from me. Know, worthy prince, fir Valentine, my friend, This night intends to steal away your daughter; , Myself am one made privy to the plot. I know, you have determin'd to bestow her On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates; And should she thus be stolen away from you, It would be inuch vexation to your age. Thus, for my duty's fake, I rather chose To cross my friend in his intended drift, Than, by concealing it, heap on your head A pack of sorrows, which would press you down, Being unprevented, to your timeless grave.

Duke. Protheus, I thank thee for thine honest care; Which to requite, command me while I live. This love of theirs myself have often seen, M 4

Haply,

De made prill away your, my friend

Haply, when they have judg’d me fast asleep;
And oftentimes have purpos'd to forbid
Sir Valentine her company, and my court:
But, fearing left my jealous aim' might err,
And so, unworthily, disgrace the man,
(A rashness that I ever yet have lhunn'd)
I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find
That which thyself haft now disclos'd to me.
And, that thou may'st perceive, my fear of this,
Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested,
I nightly lodge her in an upper tower,
The key whereof myself have ever kept;
And thence she cannot be convey'd away.

Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd a mean
How he her chamber-window will ascend,
And with a corded ladder fetch her down ;
For which the youthful lover now is gone,
And this way comes he with it presently ;
Where, if it please you, you may intercept him.
But, good my lord, do it fo cunningly,
That my discovery · be not aimed at;
For love of you, not hate unto my friend,
Hath made me publisher 3 of this pretence.

Duke. Upon mine honour, he shall never know That I had any light from thee of this. Pro. Adieu, my lord; sir Valentine is coming.

Exit Pro, Enter Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away so fast? 1-jealous aim] Aim is guess, in this instance, as in the fola lowing. So in Romeo and Juliet:

" I aim'd so near when I suppos’d you lov'd." STEEVENS, - be not aimed at;] Be not guessed. JOHNSON. 3-of this pretence.] Of this claim made to your daughter.

Johnson. Pretence is design. So in K. Lear: “ to feel my affection po your honour, and no other pretence of danger.” Again, in the same play ; “ pretence and purpose of unkinda nels," STEEVENS,

Val. Please it your grace, there is a messenger
That stays to bear my letters to my friends,
And I am going to deliver them.

Duke. Be they of much import?

Val. The tenor of them doth but fignify My health, and happy being at your court.

Duke. Nay, then no matter; stay with me a while; I am to break with thee of some affairs, That touch me near, wherein thou must be fecret. 'Tis not unknown to thee, that I have fought To match my friend, fir Thurio, to my daughter.

Val. I know it well, my lord; and, sure, the match Were rich and honourable; besides, the gentleman Is full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter : Cannot your grace win her to fancy him?

Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, froward,
Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty; .;
Neither regarding that she is iny child,
Nor fearing me as if I were her father :
And, may I say to thee, this pride of hers,
Upon advice, hath drawn my love from her;
And, where I thought the remnant of mine age
Should have been cherish'd by her child-like duty,
I now am full resolv'd to take a wife,
And turn her out to who will take her in :
Then let her beauty be her wedding-dower;
For me, and my poffeffions, she esteems not.
Val. What would your grace have me to do in

this?. .
Duke. There is a lady, 4 fir, in Milan, here,
Whom I affect; but she is nice, and coy,
And nought esteems my aged eloquence :

*- fir, in Milan, bere, ] It ought to be thus, instead of in Verona, here for the scene apparently is in Milan, as is clear from several passages in the firit act, and in the beginning of the first scene of the fourth act. A like mistake has crept into the eighth scene of act II. where Speed bids his fellow-fervant Launce Welcome to Padua. Pope,

Now,