where you shall hear music, and see the gentlemen Think'st thou, I am so shallow, so conceitless, that you ask'd for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak ? Jul. That will be music. Host. Hark! Hark! Jul. Is he among these? Host. Ay; but peace! let's hear 'em. SONG. Who is Silvia? what is she, To be seduced by thy flattery, That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? Return, return, and make thy love amends. [Music plays. For me, by this pale queen of night I swear, That all our swains commend her? The heaven such grace did lend her, For beauty lives with kindness? To help him of his blindness; Then to Silvia let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; Upon the dull earth dwelling: Host. How now! are you sadder than you were Jul. He plays false, father. Host. How? out of tune on the strings? Jul. Not so; but yet so false, that he grieves my very heart-strings. Host. You have a quick ear. Jul. Ay; I would I were deaf! it makes me have a slow heart. Host. I perceive, you delight not in music. Host. You would not have them always play but one thing? Jul. I would always have one play but one thing. But, Host, doth this sir Proteus, that we talk on, Often resort unto this gentlewoman? Host. I tell you what Launce, his man, told me, he lov'd 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. Sir Thurio, fear you not: I will so plead, That you shall say my cunning drift excels. Thu. Where meet we? Pro. At saint Gregory's well. Thu. Farewell. [Exeunt THURIO and Musicians. Sil. I thank you for your music, gentlemen. Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, You would quickly learn to know him by his voice. Sil. Sir Proteus, as I take it. Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. That I may compass yours. Jul. [Aside.] 'Twere false, if I should speak it; For, I am sure, she is not buried. Sil. Say, that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, 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. Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call her's thence; Or, at the least, in her's sepulchre thine. Jul. [Aside.] He heard not that. Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdurate, And to your shadow will I make true love. And make it but a shadow, as I am. Sil. I am very loth to be your idol, sir; But, since your falsehood, 't shall become you well To worship shadows, and adore false shapes, Send to me in the morning, and I'll send it. And so, good rest. Pro. As wretches have o'er night, That wait for execution in the morn. [Exeunt PROTEUS and SILVIA. Jul. Host, will you go? Host. By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Host. Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think, 'tis almost day. Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night That e'er I watch'd, and the most heaviest. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The Same. Enter EGLAMOUR. Egl. This is the hour that madam Silvia Enter SILVIA above, at her window. Your servant, and your friend; I am thus early come, to know what service Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, Nor how my father would enforce me marry Which heaven and fortune still reward with plagues. As full of sorrows as the sea of sands, Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances, As much I wish all good befortune you. Sil. This evening coming. Egl. Where shall I meet you? At friar Patrick's cell, Where I intend holy confession. Sil. Good morrow, kind sir Eglamour. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The Same. Launce. When a man's servant shall play the cur with him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up of a puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when three or four of his blind brothers and sisters went to it. I have taught him, even as one would say precisely, thus I would teach a dog. I was sent to deliver him as a present to mistress Silvia from my master, and I came no sooner into the dining-chamber, but he steps me to her trencher, and 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 hang'd for't: sure as I live, he had suffer'd for't. You shall judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentleman-like dogs under the duke's table: he had not been there (bless the mark) a pissing while, but all the chamber smelt him. "Out with the dog!" says one; "what cur is that?" says another; "whip him out," says the third; "hang him up," says the duke. I, having been acquainted with the smell before, knew it was Crab, and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs: "Friend," quoth I; "do you mean to whip the dog?" "Ay, marry, do I,' quoth he. "You do him the more wrong," quoth I; "'twas I did the thing you wot of." He makes me no more ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for his servant? Nay, I'll be sworn I have sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been executed: I have stood on the pillory for geese he hath kill'd, otherwise he had suffer'd for't: thou think'st not of this now.-Nay, I remember the trick you 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! Where have you been these two days loitering? Launce. Marry, sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. Pro. And what says she to my little jewel? Launce. Marry, she says, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for such a present. Pro. But she receiv'd my dog? Launce. No, indeed, did she not. Here have I brought him back again. Pro. What! didst thou offer her this cur from me? Launce. Ay, sir: the other squirrel was stolen from me by a hangman boy in the market-place; 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, Or ne'er return again into my sight. Away, I say! Stayest thou to vex me' here? [Exit LAUNCE. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, She lov'd me well deliver'd it to me. Jul. It seems, you lov'd not her, to leave her token. She's dead, belike? Pro. Why dost thou cry alas? Jul. I cannot choose but pity her. Pro. Wherefore shouldst thou pity her? Jul. Because, methinks, that she lov'd you as well As you do love your lady Silvia. She dreams on him, that has forgot her love; You dote on her, that cares not for your love. "Tis pity, love should be so contrary, And thinking on it makes me cry alas! [Exit. Pro. Well, give to her that ring; and therewithal This letter:-that's her chamber.-Tell my lady I claim the promise for her heavenly picture. Your message done, hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary. Jul. How many women would do such a message? Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain'd A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs. Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him, That with his very heart despiseth me? Because he loves her, he despiseth me; Because I love him, I must pity him. This ring I gave him when he parted from me, To bind him to remember my good will, And now am I (unhappy messenger!) D To plead for that which I would not obtain; As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed. Gentlewoman, good day. I pray you, be my mean To bring me where to speak with madam Silvia. Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she? Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Jul. Ay, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [A 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, so please you to peruse this letter.- 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. Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: Sil. Belike, she thinks, that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is. And threw her sun-expelling mask away, The air hath starv'd the roses in her cheeks, And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face, That now she is become as black as I. Sil. How tall was she? Jul. About my stature; for, at pentecost, When all our pageants of delight were play'd, Our youth got me to play the woman's part, And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown, Which served me as fit, by all men's judgments, As if the garment had been made for me: Therefore, I know she is about my height. And at that time I made her weep a-good, For I did play a lamentable part. Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning For Theseus' perjury, and unjust flight; Which I so lively acted with my tears, That my poor mistress, moved therewithal, Wept bitterly; and, would I might be dead, If I in thought felt not her very sorrow. Sil. She is beholding to thee, gentle youth.Alas, poor lady! desolate and left! I 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! If this fond love were not a blinded god? I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, ACT V. Sil. Amen, amen. Go on, good Eglamour, Out at the postern by the abbey-wall. [Exit. I fear, I am attended by some spies. If we recover that, we are sure enough. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The Same. A Room in the DUKE'S Palace. Enter THURIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA. Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit? Pro. O, sir! I find her milder than she was; And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu. I'll wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder. Thu. What says she to my face? [Aside. Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies: my face is black. [Aside. Thu. What says she to my valour? Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice. [Aside. Thu. What says she to my birth? Pro. That you are well deriv'd. Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Aside. Thu. Wherefore? Jul. That such an ass should owe them. Jul. Here comes the duke. Enter DUKE, angrily. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun 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. Sil. O Valentine! this I endure for thee. [Exeunt. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain !— [Aside. They love me well; yet I have much to do, Duke. How now, sir Proteus! how now, Thurio! Which of you saw sir Eglamour of late? Thu. Not I. Pro. Nor I. Duke. Saw you my daughter? Pro. Neither. Duke. Why, then She's fled unto that peasant Valentine, "Tis true; for friar Lawrence met them both, At Patrick's cell this even, and there she was not. That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled. Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA. [Aside. Sil. O, miserable! unhappy that I am! Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast, Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's belov'd. Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two, I'll force thee yield to my desire. Val. [Coming forward.] Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch; Thou friend of an ill fashion! Pro. Valentine! Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love; I am sorry I must never trust thee more, The private wound is deepest. O time most accurst! me. Forgive me, Valentine. If hearty sorrow Be, a sufficient ransom for offence, I tender 't here: I do as truly suffer, As e'er I did commit. Val. Then, I am paid; Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd: Jul. O me unhappy! Pro. Look to the boy. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the matter? look up; speak. Jul. O good sir! my master charg'd me to deliver a ring to madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Fills him with faults; makes him run through all the sins: Val. Come, come, a hand from either. Let me be blest to make this happy close: Enter Outlaws, with DUKE and THURIO. Val. Forbear: forbear, I say; it is my lord the duke.— Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, 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. Here 'tis this is it. [Gives a ring. Are men endued with worthy qualities: Pro. How! let me see. This is the ring I gave to Julia. Jul. O! cry you mercy, sir; I have mistook : At my depart I gave this unto Julia. [Discovering herself. Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, O Proteus! let this habit make thee blush: Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error Forgive them what they have committed here, Duke. Thou hast prevail'd; I pardon them, and thee: Val. And as we walk along, I dare be bold Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him : he blushes. Our day of marriage shall be yours no less; |