The SONG.
Now until the break of day,
Through this house each Fairy Stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us fhall blessed be :
And the issue, there create,
Ever shall be fortunate;
So shall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be :
And the blots of nature's hand
Shall not in their issue stand;
Never mole, hair-lip, nor fcar,
Nor mark prodigious, fuch as are
Despised in nativity,
Shall upon their children be.
With this field-dew confecrate,
Every Fairy take his gate,
And each feveral chamber bless,
Through this palace, with sweet peace.
Ever shall it fafely rest,
And the owner of it bleft.
Trip away, make no stay;
Meet me all by break of day.
Puck. If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended;
That you have but slumbred here,
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theam
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend;
If you pardon, we will mend.
And as I am honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the ferpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long:
Elfe the Puck a liar call :
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends;
And Robin shall restore amends.
DUKE of Milan, Father to Silvia.
the two Gentlemen.
Anthonio, Father to Protheus.
Thurio, a foolish Rival to Valentine.
Eglamore, Agent for Silvia in her Efcape.
Hoft, where Julia lodges in Milan.
Speed, a clownish Servant to Valentine.
Launce, the like to Protheus..
Panthion, Servant to Anthonio.
Julia, a Lady of Verona, beloved of Protheus.
Silvia, the Duke of Milan's Daughter, beloved of Valen
Lucetta, Waiting-woman to Julia.
The SCENE, Sometimes in Verona; Sometimes in Milan; and on the Frontiers of Mantua.
EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus;
Home-keeping youth have
ve ever homely wits;
Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days
To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love,
I rather would intreat thy company,
To fee the wonders of the world abroad;
Than (living dully sluggardiz'd at home)
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.
But since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein;
Ev'n as I would, when I to love begin.
Pro. Wilt thou be gone? sweet Valentine, adieu; Think on thy Protheus, when thou, haply, seest Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel:
Wish me partaker in thy happinefs,
When thou doft meet good hap; and in thy danger,
If ever danger do environ thee,
Commend thy Grievance to my holy prayer;
For I will be thy bead's-man, Valentine.
Val. And on a love-book pray for my fuccess.
Pro. Upon fome book I love, I'll pray for thee.
Val. That's on fome shallow story of deep love,
How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont.
Pro. That's a deep ftory of a deeper love;
For he was more than over shoes in love.
Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love,
And yet you never fwom the Hellespont.
Prq. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots.
Val. No, I will not: for it boots thee not.
Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans;
Coy looks, with heart-fore fighs; one fading mo
With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights.
If haply won, perhaps, an hapless gain:
If loft, why then a grievous labour won;
However, but a folly bought with wit;
Or else a wit by folly vanquished.
Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.
Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll prove.
Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not love.
Val. Love is your master; for he masters you.
And he that is so yoaked by a fool,
Methinks, should not be chronicled for wife.
Pro. Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud
The eating canker dwells; so eating love
Inhabits in the finest wits of all.
Val. And writers say, as the most forward bud
Is eaten by the canker, ere it blow;
Even so by love the young and tender wit
Is turn'd to folly, blafting in the bud;
Lofing his verdure even in the prime,
And all the fair effects of future hopes.
But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee,
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