Is she kind, as she is fair?' For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; Then to Silvia let us sing, Host. How now? are you sadder than you were How do you, man? the music likes you not. Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not. Jul. He plays false, father. Host. How? out of tune on the strings? And by and by intend to chide myself, Jul. [Aside. Sil. Say, that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, Survives; to whom, thyself art witness, I am betroth'd: And art thou not asham'd Pro. I likewise hear, that Valentine is dead. Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. [Aside. Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdúrate, Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love, Jul. Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my The picture that is hanging in your chamber; very heart-strings. Host. You have a quick ear. Jud. Ay, I would I were deaf! it makes me have a slow heart. Host. I perceive, you delight not in music. Jul. I would always have one play but one But, host, doth this sir Proteus, that we talk on, Host. I tell you what Launce, his man, told me, he loved her out of all nick.' Jul. Where is Launce? Host. Gone to seek his dog; which, to-morrow, by his master's command, he must carry for a present to his lady. Jul. Peace! stand aside! the company parts. Pro. At saint Gregory's well. [Exeunt Thurio and Musicians. Silvia appears above, at her window. Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. Sil. I thank you for your music, gentlemen: Who is that, that spake? Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice. Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. Pro. That I may compass yours. To that I'll speak, to that I'll sigh and weep; And to your shadow I will make true love. And make it but a shadow, as I am. [Aside. Si'. I am very loth to be your idol, sir; Pro. As wretches have o'er-night, That wait for execution in the morn. [Exeunt Proteus; and Silvia, from above. Jul. Host, will you go? Host. By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night [Exeunt. row. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this,-It is your pleasure to command me in. That presently you hie you home to bed. Thou subtle, perjur'd, false, disloyal man! That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman (3) Injunction, command. (4) Pitiful. Upon whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity. Which heaven and fortune still reward with I do desire thee, even from a heart As full of sorrows as the sea of sands, To bear me company, and go with me: If not, to hide what I have said to thee, Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances; As much I wish all good befortune you. Sil. This evening coming. At friar Patrick's cell, Egl. Where shall I meet you? Sil. Good-morrow, kind sir Eglamour. served me, when I took my leave of madam Silvia ; did not I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? When didst thou see me heave up my leg, and make water against a gentlewoman's farthingale? didst thou ever see me do such a trick? Enter Proteus and Julia. Pro. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well, And will employ thee in some service presently. Jul. In what you please ;-I will do what I can. Pro. I hope, thou wilt.-How now, you whoreson peasant? [To Launce. Where have you been these two days loitering? Laun. Marry, sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. Pro. And what says she, to my little jewel? Laun. Marry, she says, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for such a present. Pro. But she received my dog? Laun. No, indeed, she did not: here have I brought him back again. Pro. What, didst thou offer her this from me? Laun. Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman's boys in the marketplace: and then I offer'd her mine own; who is a dog as big as ten of yours, and therefore the gift the greater. Pro. Go, get thee hence, and find my dog again, Jul. It seems you loved her not, to leave her token: She's dead, belike. Pro. Jul. Alas! Not so; I think, she lives. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. Enter Launce, with his dog. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, When a man's servant shall play the cur with Partly, that I have need of such a youth, That can with some discretion do my business, him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up For 'tis no trusting to yon foolish lowt: of a puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when But chiefly, for thy face, and thy behaviour; three or four of his blind brothers and sisters went Which (if my augury deceive me not) to it! I have taught him-even as one would say Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth: precisely, Thus I would teach a deg. I was sent Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee. to deliver him, as a present to mistress Silvia, from Go presently, and take this ring with thee, my master; and I came no sooner into the dining Deliver it to madam Silvia: chamber, but he steps me to her trencher, and She loved me well, delivered it to me. steals her capon's leg. O'tis a foul thing, when a cur cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have, as one should say, one that takes upon him to be a dog indeed, to be, as it were, a dog at all things. If I had not had more wit than he, to take a fault upon me that he did, I think verily he had been hanged for't; sure as I live, he had suffered for't: you shall judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentlemenlike dogs, under the duke's table: he had not been there (bless the mark) a pissing while; but all the As you do love your lady Silvia: chamber smelt him. Out with the dog, says one; She dreams on him, that has forgot her love; What cur is that? says another; Whip him out, You dote on her, that cares not for your love. says the third; Hang him up, says the duke. I,Tis pity, love should be so contrary; having been acquainted with the smell before, And thinking on it makes me cry, alas! knew it was Crab; and goes me to the fellow that Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal whips the dogs: Friend, quoth I, you mean to This letter;-that's her chamber.-Tell my lady, whip the dog? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he.. You I claim the promise for her heavenly picture. do him the more wrong, quoth I; 'twas I did the Your message done, hie home unto my chamber, thing you wot of. He makes me no more ado, Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary. but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for their servant? Nay, I' be sworn, I have sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been executed: Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain'¿ have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed, A fox, to be the shepherd of thy lambs: otherwise he had suffered for't: thou think'st not Alas, poor fool! Why do I pity him of this now!-Nay, I remember the trick you (1) Caring. (2) Restrain. (3) In the end. Pro. Why dost thy cry, alas! [Exit Proteus. Jul. How many women would do such a message? That with his very heart despiseth me? This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, To praise his faith, which I would have disprais'd. Enter Silvia, attended. Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean Jud. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [Picture brought. Go, give your master this: tell him from me, One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget, Would better fit his chamber, than this shadow. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.Pardon me, madam; I have unadvis'd Delivered you a paper that I should not; This is the letter to your ladyship. Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again. I will not look upon your master's lines: Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. Sil. What say'st thou? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much. Sil. Dost thou know her? Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. I think she doth, and that's her cause of As if the garment had been made for me: I Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!— Alas, poor lady! desolate and left!weep myself, to think upon thy words. Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lov'st her. Farewell. [Exit Silvia. Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, See, where she comes: Lady, a happy evening' Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour! Out at the postern by the abbey-wall; I fear, I am attended by some spics. Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure' enough. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia. Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit? (3) Head-dress. (4) Respectable. (5) Safe. Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was; Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it loaths. Thu. What says she to my face? Pro. She says, it is a fair one. Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is, Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes. Jul. 'Tis true; such pearls as put out ladies' Thu. What says she to my valour? Thu. What says she to my birth? Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. Thu. Wherefore? Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run us, But Moyses, and Valerius, follow him. Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave: Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Another part of the Forest. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods, better brook than flourishing peopled towns: Here can I sit alone, unseen of any, I And, to the nightingale's complaining notes, Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain ! Jul. That such an ass should owe them. [Aside. What halloing, and what stir, is this to-day? Valentine; And Eglamour is in her company. 'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled [Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, SCENE III-Frontiers of Mantua. [Exit. The : These are my mates, that make their wills their law, Have some unhappy passenger in chace: Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia. (Though you respect not aught your servant doth,) love. Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look; Pro. Unhappy, were you, madam, ere I came ; 0, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd,1 When women cannot love where they're belov'd. Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's belov'd. Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,' Pro. How! Julia! Jud. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me faith (For such is a friend now,) treacherous man! Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye Could have persuaded me: Now I dare not say 0 I am sorry, I must never trust thee more, I tender it here; I do as truly suffer, As e'er I did commit. Then I am paid; Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; Jul. O me, unhappy! Pro. Look to the boy. [Faints. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is the matter? Look up; speak. Such an immodest raiment; if shame live It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis true: 0 heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins: Val. Come, come, a hand from either: ever. Jul. And I have mine. Enter Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize! Val. Forbear, I say; It is my lord the duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Banish'd Valentine. Sir Valentine! Duke. Come not within the measure of my wrath: I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, O good sir, my master charg'd me Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd; To deliver a ring to madam Silvia; Which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Here 'tis: this is it. Jul. O, ery you mercy, sir, I have mistook; Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her. Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made me happy. I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, To grant one boon that I shall ask of you. Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be. Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal, Jul. [Gives a ring. Pro. How! let me see: Why this is the ring I gave to Julia. This is the ring you sent to Silvia. Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? at depart, I gave this unto Julia. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. (1) Felt, experienced. (2) Direction, (3) An allusion to cleaving the pin in archery, Are men endued with worthy qualities; And fit for great employment, worthy lord. thee; Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts, (4) Length of my sword, (5) Interest, |