Luc. Indeed, I bid the bafe for Protheus. (5) Go, [Tears it. Luc. She makes it ftrange, but he would be beft pleas'd To be fo anger'd with another letter. [Exit.. I throw thy name against the bruifing ftones;; Except mine own name: That fome whirl-wind bear And throw it thence into the raging fea! (5) Ibid the bafe for Protheus.] Lucetta here alters the allegory. from the bafe in mufick to a country exercife, call'd in the North, Bid-the-bafe in which fome purfue, to take the others prifoners. So. that Lucetta would intend to fay, " Indeed, I take pains to make "you a captive for Protheus" Mr. Warburton. Enter Enter Lucetta. Luc. Madam, dinner is ready, and your father ftays. Luc. What, fhall these papers lie like tell-tales here? Jul. If thou refpect them, beft to take them up. Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down: Yet here they fhall not lie, for catching cold. Jul. I fee, you have a month's mind to them. Luc. Ay, madam, you may fay what fights you fee: I fee things too, although you judge I wink. Jul. Come, come, will't please you go? Ant. SCENE, Anthonio's Houfe. Enter Anthonio and Panthion. [Exeunt. ELL me, Panthion, what fad talk was that, Pant. He wonder'd that your Lordship Put forth their fons to feek preferment out: (6) He said, that Protheus your fon was meet: 16) Put forth their fons.] In Shakespeare's time, voyages for the difcovery of the Weft-Indies were all in vogue. And we find, in the journals of travellers of that time, that the fons of noblemen, and of others of the best quality in England, went commonly on thofe adventures. To which prevailing fashion, 'tis evident, the Poet frequently alludes in this play; not without high commendations of Mr. Warburton. Anto Ant. Nor need'ft thou much importune me to that, And perfected by the swift course of time: Ant. I know it well. Pant. 'Twere good, I think, your Lordship fent him thither; There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counfel; well haft thou advis'd: I will dispatch him to the Emperor's court. Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonfo With other gentlemen of good esteem, Are journeying to falute the Emperor; And to commend their fervice to his will. Ant. Good company: with them shall Protheus go, And, in good time, now will we break with him. (7) Attends the Emperor in his royal court.] The Emperor's royal court is properly at Vienna, but Valentine, 'tis plain, is at Milan; where, in most other paffages, 'tis faid he is attending the Duke, who makes one of the characters in the Drama. This seems to convict the Author of a forgetfulness and contradiction; but, perhaps, it may be folv'd thus, and Milan be call'd the Emperor's court, as, fince the reign of Charlemaigne, this dukedom and its territories have belong'd to the Emperors. I wish, I could as eafily folve another abfurdity, which encounters us; of Valentine's going from Verona to Milan, both inland places, by fea. Enter Enter Protheus. Pro. Sweet love, fweet lines, fweet life! Ant. How now? what letter are you reading there? Pro. May't please your Lordship, 'tis a word or two Of commendation fent, from Valentine; Deliver'd by a friend that came from him. Ant. Lend me the letter; let me fee what news. Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. Ant. My will is fomething forted with his wifh: What maintenance he from his friends receives, Excufe it not, for I am peremptory. Pro. My Lord, I cannot be fo foon provided; Please to deliberate a day or two. Ant. Look, what thou want'ft, fhall be fent after thee: To haften on his expedition [Exe. Ant. and Pant. Hath Hath he excepted moft against my love. Pant. Sir Protheus, your father calls for you; Pro. Why, this it is! my heart accords thereto; And yet a thousand times it answers, no. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to Milan. IR, your glove SPEED. Val. Not mine; my gloves are on. Speed. Why then this may be yours, for this is but one. Val. Ha! let me fee: ay, give it me, it's mine: Sweet ornament, that decks a thing divine! Ah Silvia! Silvia! Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Val. How now, firrah? Speed. She is not within hearing, Sir. (7) Ob, how this Spring of love resembleth well] This monofyllable was foifted in by Mr. Pope, to fupport, as he thought, the verfification in the clofe. But it was done for want of obferving Shakespeare's licences in his measures: which 'tis proper, once for all, to take notice of. Refembleth, he defign'd here fhould in pronunciation make four fyllables: as witnesse, afterwards in this play, and as fidler, (in the Taming a Shrew) and angry (twice in Timon of Athens) are made trifyllables; and as fire and bour are almost for ever protracted by him to two fyllables. Speeda |