Page 1924 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

But there I leave to love where I should love. Exit.
Julia I lose, and Valentine I lose;
If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; [20]
If I lose them, thus find I by their loss:
For Valentine, myself; for Julia, Silvia.
I to myself am dearer than a friend,
For love is still most precious in itself;
And Silvia - witness heaven, that made her fair - [25]
Shows Julia but a swarthy Ethiope.
I will forget that Julia is alive,
Remembering that my love to her is dead;
And Valentine I’ll hold an enemy,
Aiming at Silvia as a sweeter friend. [30]
I cannot now prove constant to myself
Without some treachery used to Valentine.
This night he meaneth with a corded ladder
To climb celestial Silvia’s chamber-window,
Myself in counsel, his competitor. [35]
Now presently I’ll give her father notice
Of their disguising and pretended flight,
Who, all enraged, will banish Valentine,
For Thurio he intends shall wed his daughter;
But Valentine being gone, I’ll quickly cross [40]
By some sly trick blunt Thurio’s dull proceeding.
Love, lend me wings to make my purpose swift,
As thou hast lent me wit to plot this drift!

Scene VII IT

Enter Julia and Lucetta.

JULIA

Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me;
And, e’en in kind love, I do conjure thee,
Who art the table wherein all my thoughts
Are visibly charactered and engraved,
To lesson me and tell me some good mean [5]
How, with my honour, I may undertake
A journey to my loving Proteus.