| ACT I SCENE III | The same. ANTONIO's house. | |
| | Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO | |
| ANTONIO | Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that | |
| | Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? | |
| PANTHINO | 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son. | |
| ANTONIO | Why, what of him? | 5 |
| PANTHINO | 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; | 10 |
| | Some to discover islands far away; | |
| | Some to the studious universities. | |
| | For any or for all these exercises, | |
| | He said that Proteus your son was meet, | |
| | And did request me to importune you | 15 |
| | 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. | |
| ANTONIO | Nor need'st thou much importune me to that | |
| | Whereon this month I have been hammering. | 20 |
| | I have consider'd well his loss of time | |
| | And how he cannot be a perfect man, | |
| | Not being tried and tutor'd in the world: | |
| | Experience is by industry achieved | |
| | And perfected by the swift course of time. | 25 |
| | Then tell me, whither were I best to send him? | |
| PANTHINO | I think your lordship is not ignorant | |
| | How his companion, youthful Valentine, | |
| | Attends the emperor in his royal court. | |
| ANTONIO | I know it well. | 30 |
| PANTHINO | 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: | |
| | There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, | |
| | Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen. | |
| | And be in eye of every exercise | |
| | Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. | 35 |
| ANTONIO | I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised: | |
| | And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it, | |
| | The execution of it shall make known. | |
| | Even with the speediest expedition | |
| | I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. | 40 |
| PANTHINO | To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso, | |
| | With other gentlemen of good esteem, | |
| | Are journeying to salute the emperor | |
| | And to commend their service to his will. | |
| ANTONIO | Good company; with them shall Proteus go: | 45 |
| | And, in good time! now will we break with him. | |
| | Enter PROTEUS | |
| PROTEUS | Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! | |
| | Here is her hand, the agent of her heart; | |
| | Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn. | |
| | O, that our fathers would applaud our loves, | 50 |
| | To seal our happiness with their consents! | |
| | O heavenly Julia! | |
| ANTONIO | How now! what letter are you reading there? | |
| PROTEUS | May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two | |
| | Of commendations sent from Valentine, | 55 |
| | Deliver'd by a friend that came from him. | |
| ANTONIO | Lend me the letter; let me see what news. | |
| PROTEUS | There is no news, my lord, but that he writes | |
| | How happily he lives, how well beloved | |
| | And daily graced by the emperor; | 60 |
| | Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. | |
| ANTONIO | And how stand you affected to his wish? | |
| PROTEUS | As one relying on your lordship's will | |
| | And not depending on his friendly wish. | |
| ANTONIO | My will is something sorted with his wish. | 65 |
| | Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed; | |
| | For what I will, I will, and there an end. | |
| | I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time | |
| | With Valentinus in the emperor's court: | |
| | What maintenance he from his friends receives, | 70 |
| | Like exhibition thou shalt have from me. | |
| | To-morrow be in readiness to go: | |
| | Excuse it not, for I am peremptory. | |
| PROTEUS | My lord, I cannot be so soon provided: | |
| | Please you, deliberate a day or two. | 75 |
| ANTONIO | Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee: | |
| | No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go. | |
| | Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd | |
| | To hasten on his expedition. | |
| | Exeunt ANTONIO and PANTHINO | |
| PROTEUS | Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning, | 80 |
| | And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. | |
| | I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter, | |
| | Lest he should take exceptions to my love; | |
| | And with the vantage of mine own excuse | |
| | Hath he excepted most against my love. | 85 |
| | O, how this spring of love resembleth | |
| | The uncertain glory of an April day, | |
| | Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, | |
| | And by and by a cloud takes all away! | |
| | Re-enter PANTHINO | |
| PANTHINO | Sir Proteus, your father calls for you: | 90 |
| | He is in haste; therefore, I pray you to go. | |
| PROTEUS | Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto, | |
| | And yet a thousand times it answers 'no.' | |
| | Exeunt | |
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