Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it. But now I worship a celestial sun. But there I leave to love, where I should love. And Silvia, (witness heaven that made her fair!) I will forget that Julia is alive, For Thurio, he intends, shall wed his daughter: Love had not sinned, but had sweetly suggested, i. e. tempted Proteus to sin, and Proteus calls upon Love to teach him how to excuse it. Johnson puts it, "if thou hast influenced me to sin;" but still, it was Proteus who had sinned, and the corr. fo. 1632 tells us, naturally enough, to read "if I have sinn'd" for "if thou hast sinn'd." It was no sin in Cupid to make Proteus fall in love with Silvia; it was his business and occupation: Proteus knew that it was his own sin, and therefore required Cupid to prompt him to excuse it. 4 - precious in itself;] The corr. fo. 1632 has to for "in," which may be right, but, with the license then used as regards prepositions, the change can hardly be called expedient. 5 PRETENDED flight;] “Pretended flight,” in the language of the time, is intended flight. See Vol. iii. pp. 701. 703, &c. But, Valentine being gone, I'll quickly cross [Exit. SCENE VII." Verona. A Room in JULIA'S House. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me: Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. Of such divine perfection, as sir Proteus. Luc. Better forbear, till Proteus make return. Jul. Oh! know'st thou not, his looks are my soul's food? Pity the dearth that I have pined in, By longing for that food so long a time. Didst thou but know the inly touch of love, Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow, Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire, it burns. Jul. The more thou damm'st it up, the more • Scene VII.] Johnson suggested, with plausibility, that this ought to be the first scene of the third act, and not the last scene of the second act, as it is marked in the folios, 1623, 1632, 1664, and 1685. He makes sweet music with the enamel'd stones, He overtaketh in his pilgrimage; And so by many winding nooks he strays Luc. But in what habit will you go along? 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 silken strings, With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots: To be fantastic may become a youth Of greater time than I shall show 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 what fashion thou best lik'st, Lucetta. Luc. You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam. Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd. Luc. A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin, Unless you have a codpiece to stick pins on. Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'st me, let me have But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me I fear me, it will make me scandaliz'd. Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. If Proteus like your journey, when you come, 7 With willing sport to the WIDE ocean.] It is "wild ocean" in the folios; but Julia is referring to the expanse of the sea, which receives small tributaries, and not to its turbulence: therefore, we are not surprised to find "wide" substituted for wild in the corr. fo. 1632: the two epithets were easily confounded by the See Vol. v. p. 697, where "wild" is misprinted vilde. ear. No matter who's displeas'd, when you are gone. Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear. Warrant me welcome to my Proteus. Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men. Jul. Base men, that use them to so base effect; His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate; His tears, pure messengers sent from his heart; His heart as far from fraud, as heaven from earth. Luc. Pray heaven, he prove so, when you come to him! Only deserve my love by loving him, [Exeunt. • And instances as infinite of love,] i. e. Instances as infinite of love, as the "ocean of his tears," mentioned in the preceding line. This is the reading of the folio of 1632, and it seems correct, although the older copy has the line, "And instances of infinite of love." So to read it, we must take "infinite" for infinity. Malone read, "And instances of the infinite of love," warranted by no authority. • To furnish me upon my LONGING journey.] The corr. fo. 1632 here gives an emendation, which we do not adopt, because the old text may very well stand as it is: the proposed change is loving for “longing," but "longing" may be understood to mean the journey Julia was longing to undertake. There is an instance of the misprint of "loving" for having in "The Knight of the Burning Pestle," (Edit. Dyce, ii. p., 179) where Jasper is made to say, instead of "And let me loving live or losing die ;" "And let me having live, or losing die." The opposition being between having and “losing ” the object of his affections, but the error has always been allowed to pass. The Rev. Mr. Dyce is content to reprint M. Mason's absurd note, that "loving here means possessing her I love;" neither of them perceiving that having is the word required. ACT III. SCENE I. Milan. An Ante-chamber in the DUKE's Palace. Enter DUKE, THURIO, and PROTEUS. Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile: We have some secrets to confer about. [Exit THURIO. Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me? Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would discover, But, when I call to mind your gracious favours My duty pricks me on to utter that, Which else no wordly good should draw from me. I know, you have determin'd to bestow her Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care, (A rashness that I ever yet have shunn'd) I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find That, which thyself hast now disclos❜d to me. And, that thou mayst perceive my fear of this, |