all good grace to grace a gentleman.
Duke.
Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good,
He is as worthy for an empress’ love
As meet to be an emperor’s counsellor.
Well, sir—this gentleman is come to me
With commendation from great potentates,
And here he means to spend his time a while.
I think ’tis no unwelcome news to you.
Val.
Should I have wish’d a thing, it had been he.
Duke.
Welcome him then according to his worth—
Silvia, I speak to you, and you, Sir Thurio;
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it.
I will send him hither to you presently.
[Exit.]
Val.
This is the gentleman I told your ladyship
Had come along with me, but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes lock’d in her crystal looks.
Sil.
Belike that now she hath enfranchis’d them
Upon some other pawn for fealty.
Val.
Nay sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.
Sil.
Nay then he should be blind, and being blind,
How could he see his way to seek out you?
Val.
Why, lady, Love hath twenty pair of eyes.
Thu.
They say that Love hath not an eye at all.
Val.
To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself:
Upon a homely object Love can wink.
Sil.
Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman.
[Exit Thurio.]
[Enter] Proteus.
Val.
Welcome, dear Proteus! Mistress, I beseech you
Confirm his welcome with some special favor.
Sil.
His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he you oft have wish’d to hear from.
Val.
Mistress, it is: sweet lady, entertain him
To be my fellow-servant to your ladyship.
Sil.
Too low a mistress for so high a servant.
Pro.
Not so, sweet lady, but too mean a servant
To have a look of such a worthy mistress.
Val.
Leave off discourse of disability.
Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
Pro.
My duty will I boast of, nothing else.
Sil.
And duty never yet did want his meed.
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.
Pro.
I’ll die on him that says so but yourself.
Sil.
That you are welcome?
Pro.
That you are worthless.
[Enter Thurio.]
Thu.
Madam, my lord your father would speak with you.
Sil.
I wait upon his pleasure. Come, Sir Thurio,
Go with me. Once more, new servant, welcome;
I’ll leave you to confer of home affairs;
When you have done, we look to hear from you.
Pro.
We’ll both attend upon your ladyship.
[Exeunt Silvia and Thurio.]
Val.
Now tell me: how do all from whence you came?
Pro.
Your friends are well and have them much commended.
Val.
And how do yours?
Pro.
I left them all in health.
Val.
How does your lady, and how thrives your love?
Pro.
My tales of love
