Stockdale's Edition of Shakespeare

Go prefently, and take this ring with thee, Dever it to madan Silvia:

She lov'd me well, deliver'd it to me.

I will not look upon your master's lines :
I know, they are stuff'd with proteftations,

And full of new-found oaths; which he will break,

Jul. Madam, he fends your ladyship this ring. Sil. The more shame for him, that he sends it mes

For, I have heard him fay a thousand times, His Julia gave it him at his departure:

Fal. It feems, you lov'd not her, to leave her token: As easily as I do tear this paper.

She's dead, belike.

Pra. Not fo; I think she lives.

Fal. Alas!

Fra. Why doft thou cry, alas?

Ja. I cannot chuse but pity her.

Pra, Wherefore should'ft thou pity her?

Jr. Because, methinks, that the lov'd you as well

As you do love your lady Silvia,

She dreams on him, that has forgot her love: You doat on her, that cares not for your love. "Ta pity love should be fo contrary,

And, thinking on it, makes me cry, alas!

Pre. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal The letter; that's her chamber.- Tell my lady, I claim the promife for her heavenly picture. Your metlage done, hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me fad and folitary.

[Exit Protheus.

Fal. How many women would do fuch a message?
As, poor Protheus! thou haft entertain'd
A fix, to be the shepherd of thy lambs:
Alz, poor fool! why do I pity him
That with his very heart despiseth me?
Because he loves her, he defpifeth 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 I am (unhappy meffenger)

To plead for that, which I would not obtain;
To carry that which I would have refus'd;
To prade his faith, which I would have difprais'd.
1 am my matter's true confirmed love;
Bit cannot be true fervant to my master,
Lales I prove falfe traitor to myfelf.
Yet will I woo for him; but yet fo coldly,

As, beaven it knows, I would not have him fpeed.
Enter Silvia.

Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean
To bring me where to fpeak with madam Silvia,
4. What would you with her, if that I be she?
Fal. If you be she, I do entreat your patience

To hear me speak the message I am fent on.
SL From whom?

J-1. From my mafter, fir Protheus, madam.

. Oh! he fends you for a picture?

J. Ay, madam.

3.4 Urfula, bring my picture there.

[Picture brought.

Go, give your mafter this: tell him from me,
One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget,
Wood better fit his chamber, than this shadow.
Jal. Madam, please you perufe this letter.
-Pardon me, madam; I have unadvis'd
Delver'd you a paper that I should not;
1ts is the letter to your ladyship.

Ad. I pray thee, let me look on that again.
Tal. It may not be; good madam, pardon me.

There, hold.

Though his false finger hath profan'd the ring, Mine shall not do his Julia fo much wrong.

Jal. She thanks you.

Sil. What say'st thou ?

Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her:

Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much.
Sil. Doft thou know her?

Jal. Almost as well as I do know myself:
To think upon her woes, I do protest,
That I have wept an hundred feveral times.

fook her.

Sil. Belike, the thinks that Protheus hath for[forrow. Jul. I think the doth; and that's her cause of Sil. Is the not paffing fair?

Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than the is: When she did think my mafter lov'd her well, She, in my judgment, was as fair as you; But fince the did neglect her looking-glafs, And threw her fun-expelling mask away, The air hath stary'd the rofes in her cheeks, And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face, That now the is become as black as L.

Sil. How tall was the?

Jul. About my ftature: for at Pentecoft,
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 ferved me as fit, by all men's judgment,
As if the garment had been made for me:
Therefore, I know the is about my height.
And, at that time, I made her weep a-good,
For I did play a lamentable part :
Madam, 'twas Ariadne, paffioning
For Thefeus' perjury, and unjust flight;
Which I fo lively acted with my tears,
That my poor mistress, moved therew ithal,
Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead,
If I in thought felt not her very forrow!

Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth :-
Alas, poor lady! defolate and left !-
I weep myfelf, to think upon thy words.
Here, youth, there is my purfe; I give thee this
For thy sweet mistress' fake, because thou lov'it 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 hope, my mafter's fuit will be but cold,
Since the refpects my mistress' love fo much.
Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture: Let me fee; I think,
If I had fuch a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of her's:
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,

That is, in good earnest.

Unless

Unless I flatter with myself too much.

Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow:

If that be all the difference in his love,

I'll get me fuch a colour'd periwig1.

Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
For 'tis thy rival. O thou senseless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kifs'd, lov'd, and ador'd;
And, were there sense in his idolatry,

Her eyes are grey as glass: and so are mine;

My substance should be statue in thy stead.

Ay, but her 2 forehead's low; and mine's as high. I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' fake,

What should it be, that he respects in her,

That us'd me so; or else, by Jove I vow,
I should have fcratch'd out your unfeeing eyes,
To make my master out of love with thee. [Exit.

[rounder.

ful. She needs not, when the knows it cow

ardice.

Thu. What fays she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well deriv'd.

[Afide.

Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Afide.

Thu. Confiders the my poffeffions ?

Pro. O, ay; and pities them.

Thu. Wherefore?

Jul. That fuch an ass should owes them.[Afide.

Pro. That they are out by leafe.

Jul. Here comes the duke.

Enter Duke.

Duke. How now, fir Protheus? how now,

Thurio?

Which of you fsaw fir Eglamour of late?

Thu. Not I.

Pro. Nor I.

Duke. Saw you my daughter?

Pro. Neither.

[Valentine;

Duke. Why, then she's filed unto that peafant

And Eglamour is in her company.

'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the forest :
Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she;
But, being mask'd, he was not fure of it:
Besides, she did intend confeffion

Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it fomewhat At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.

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 faying is,
"Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes."

Therefore, I pray you, stand not to difcourse,
But mount you presently; and meet with me
Upon the rifing of the mountain-foot
That leads towards Mantua, whither they are filed:
Difpatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

[Exit Duke.

Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That flies her fortune when it follows her:
I'll after; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour,
Than for the love of reckless Silvia.

Jul. 'Tis true, fuch pearls as put out ladies' eyes;
For I had rather wink, than look on them. [Afide.
Thu. How likes the my discourse ?
Pro. Ill, when you talk of war.
[peace?
Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and
Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her.

peace.

Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love,

[Afide. Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.

Thu. What fays she to my valour?
Pro. Oh, fir, the makes no doubt of that.

[Exeunt.

1. It should be remembered, that false hair was worn by the ladies, long before wigs were in fashion. These false coverings, however, were call'd periwigs. 2 A high forehead was in Shakspeare's time accounted a feature eminently beautiful. 3 That is, respectful or refpectable.

4 Sure means safe. 5 Own them,

SCENE

Enter Silvia and Out-lawς.

Out. Come, come;

Be patient, we must bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thoufand more mifchances, than this one,
Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.
1 Ost. Come, bring her away.

[her? 1 Oat. Where is the gentleman that was with 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run us; But Moyfes, and Valerius, follow him.

Gothou with her to the west end of the wood,
There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled;
The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape.

1. Come, I must bring you to our cap

tain's cave:

Rather than have false Protheus rescue me.
Oh, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my foul;
And full as much (for more there cannot be)
I do deteft false perjur'd Protheus:
Therefore be gone, folicit me no more.

Pro. What dangerous action, ftood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look?
Oh, 'tis the curse in love, and ftill approv'd,
When women cannot love, where they're belov'd.
Sil. When Protheus cannot love, where he's belov'd.
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear fake thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thoufand oaths, and all those oaths

Defcended into perjury, to love me.
Thou haft no faith left now, unless thou hadst two,
And that's far worse than none; better have non
Than plural faith, which is too much by one:
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

Pro. In love,

[Exeunt. Who refpects friend?

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This thadowy defert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I fit alone, unseen of any,

And, to the nightingale's complaining notes,
Tune my diftresses, and record my woes.
O thou that doft inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the manfion fo long tenantless;
Left, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was!
Repair me with thy prefence, Silvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!--
What hallooing, and what ftir is this to-day?
Thefe are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have fome unhappy passenger in chace:
They love me well; yet I have much to do,
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes here?
[Val. fteps afide.

Enter Protheus, Silvia and Julia.
Pra. Madam, this service have I done for you,
(Though you respect not aught your servant doth)
To hazard life, and rescue you from him,
That wou'd have forc'd your honour and your love.
Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair look;
A fmaller boon than this I cannot beg,

And lefs than this, I am fure, you cannot give.

Fal. How like a dream is this, I fee, and hear! Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Afide. Sii. O miferable, unhappy that I am!

Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came : But, by my coming, I have made you happy. [py. Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhapJal. And me, when he approacheth to your [Afide.

prefence.

Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, would have been a breakfast to the beaft,

Sil. All men but Protheus.

Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words

Can no way change you to a milder form,

I'll woo you like a foldier, at arms end;

And love you 'gainft the nature of love, force you,
Sil. Oh heaven!

Pro. I'll force thee yield to my defire.
Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch;
Thou friend of an ill fashion!

Pro. Valentine!

[love:

Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or

(For fuch is a friend now) treacherous man!
Thou haft beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have perfuaded me: Now I dare not say,
I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted, when one's own right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Protheus,

I am forry, I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy fake.
The private wound is deepest: Oh time, most curst!
Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!

Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty forrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender it here; I do as truly fuffer,
As e'er I did commit.

Val. Then I am paid;
And once again I do receive thee honeft:
Who by repentance is not fatisfy'd,
Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd;
By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd:-
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All, that was mine in Silvia, I give thee.

Jul. Oh me unhappy!

Pro. Look to the boy.

[Faints. [the matter?

Val. Why, boy! why wag! how now! what is
Look up; fpeak.

Jul. O good fir, my master charg'd me
To deliver a ring to madam Silvia;

Which, out of my neglect, was never done.

To record anciently signified to fing. Record is also a term still used by bird-fanciers, to ex ress the first cilays of a bird in finging. 2 That is, reward,

Pre.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?

Jul. Here 'tis: this is it.

Pro. How! let me fee:

Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.

I hold him but a fool, that will endanger [Gives a ring. His body for a girl that loves him not:

Jul. Oh, cry your mercy, fir, I have mistook: This is the ring you fent to Silvia. [Shews another ring. Pro. But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart, I gave this unto Julia.

Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How! Julia?

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,

And entertain'd them deeply in her heart:
How oft haft thou with perjury cleft the root?
Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest rayment; if shame live
In a disguise of love:

It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,
Women to change their shapes, than men their minds.
Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: oh heaven!

were man

But conftant, he were perfect: that one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all fins:
Inconftancy falls off, ere it begins:
What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy
More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye?

Val. Come, come, a hand from either:
Let me be blest to make this happy close;

I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.

Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make fuch means for her as thou haft done,
And leave her on fuch flight conditions.-
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,

And think thee worthy of an emprefs' love.
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again.
Plead a new state in thy unrival'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe, -Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou haft deferv'd her.

Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made me
happy.

I now beseech you, for your daughter's fake,
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,

Are men endu'd with worthy qualities;
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile:
They are reform'd, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

Duke. Thou haft prevail'd: I pardon them, and thee;

*Twere pity two fuch friends should long be foes. Difpofe of them, as thou know'st their deferts.

Sbal. Ay, that I do; and have done any time these three hundred years. Slen. All his fuccessors, gone before him, have

Before Page's house in Windfor.

Enter Fuflice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans. done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, they may give the dozen white luces in their

Scal.

IR Hugh2, perfuade me not: I will may:
make a Star-chamber 3 matter of it: if coat.

he were twenty fir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse
Robert Shallow, esquire.

Slen. In the county of Glofter, justice of peace, and cov ans.

Sbal. Ay, coufin Slender, and 4 cuftalorum.

Sim. Ay, and ratalorum too; and a gentleman bom, mafter parfon; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, ar

ζετα

Shal. It is an old coat.

Eva. The dozen white loufes do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar beast to man, and fignifies-love.

Shal. The luce 5 is the fresh fish; the falt fish is an old coat.

Slen. I may quarter, coz.
Shal. You may, by marrying.

Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.

Queen Elizabeth was fo well pleased with the admirable character of Falstaff in the Twe Parts of Henry IV, that, as Mr. Rowe informs us, she commanded Shakspeare to continue it for we play more, and to shew him in love. To this command we owe The Merry Wives of Windsor : which. Mr. Gildon says, he was very well assured our author finished in a fortnight. 2 This is the firft, of fundry instances in our poet, where a parson is called fir; upon which it may be observed, that anciently it was the common designation both of one in holy orders and a knight. thumber had a right to take cognizance of routs and riots. 4 Probably intended for a corruption Cafes Rotulorum, s The luce is a pike or jack. This passage is also supposed to point at Sir Thomas Lucy, who was the cause of Shakspeare's leaving Stratford,

3 The

Shal,

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Stockdale's Edition of Shakespeare: Including, in One Volume, the Whole of ...