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instances of infinite of love,

      Warrant me welcome to my Proteus.

       Luc.

      All these are servants to deceitful men.

       Jul.

      Base men, that use them to so base effect!

      But truer stars did govern Proteus’ birth:

      His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles,

      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 heav’n he prove so when you come to him!

       Jul.

      Now, as thou lov’st me, do him not that wrong,

      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,

      My goods, my lands, my reputation;

      Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence.

      Come; answer not; but to it presently,

      I am impatient of my tarriance.

       Exeunt.

       ¶

      ACT III

      Scene I

       Enter Duke, Thurio, Proteus.

       Duke.

      Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, a while,

      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

      The law of friendship bids me to conceal,

      But when I call to mind your gracious favors

      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, Sir 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 stol’n away from you,

      It would be much vexation to your age.

      Thus, for my duty’s sake, 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.

      Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care,

      Which to requite, command me while I live.

      This love of theirs myself have often seen,

      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 lest my jealous aim might err,

      And so, unworthily, disgrace the man

      (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,

      Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested,

      I nightly lodge her in an upper tow’r,

      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 so cunningly

      That my discovery be not aimed at:

      For love of you, not hate unto my friend,

      Hath made me publisher of this pretense.

       Duke.

      Upon mine honor, he shall never know

      That I had any light from thee of this.

       Pro.

      Adieu, my lord, Sir Valentine is coming.

       [Exit.]

       [Enter] Valentine.

       Duke.

      Sir Valentine, whither away so fast?

       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 tenure of them doth but signify

      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 secret.

      ’Tis not unknown to thee that I have sought

      To match my friend Sir Thurio to my daughter.

       Val.

      I know it well, my lord, and sure the match

      Were rich and honorable; 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,

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