Host. How now? are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? the music likes you not. 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. Jul. Not a whit, when it jars so. Host. Hark, what fine change is in the music! Jul. Ay; that change is the spite. Host. You would 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 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 truth, You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice. Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. That I may compass yours. That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? (1) Beyond all reckoning. (2) Holy dame, blessed lady. 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. Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call her's thence; Or, at the least, in her's sepulchre thine. Jul. He heard not that." [Aside. Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdúrate, Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love, To that I'll speak, to that I'll sigh and weep: The picture that is hanging in your chamber; For, since the substance of your perfect self Is else devoted, I am but a shadow; And to your shadow I will make true love. Jul. If 'twere a substance, you would, sure, deceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am. [Aside. Sil. I am very loth to be your idol, sir; But, since your falsehood 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, from above. Jul. Host, will you go? Host. By my hallidom,2 I was fast asleep. Jul. Pray you, where lies sir Proteus? 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. row. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. I am thus early come, to know what service Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman (3) Injunction, command. F (4) Pitiful. Upon whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity. I do desire thee, even from a heart with 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? 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 At friar Patrick's cell, place: and then I offered her mine own; who is a from me by the hangman's boys in the marketdog as big as ten of yours, and therefore the gift the greater. Where I intend holy confession. Egl. I will not fail your ladyship: Good-morrow, gentle lady. Sil. Good-morrow, kind sir Eglamour. SCENE IV.-The same. [Exeunt. Enter Launce, with Jul. It seems you loved her not, to leave her token: She's dead, belike. Pro. Jul. Alas! Not so; I think, she lives. Pro. Go, get thee hence, and find my dog again, Or ne'er return again unto my sight. Away, I say: Stay'st thou to vex me here? A slave, that, still an end,3 turns me to shame. his dog. [Exit Launce. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, When a man's servant shall play the cur with That can with some discretion do my business, Partly, that I have need of such a youth, 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 dog. 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, deliver'd it to me. steals her capon's leg. O, 'tis a foul thing, when a cur cannot keep2 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 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, you mean to whip the dog? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he. do him the more wrong, quoth I; 'twas I did the You thing you wot of He makes me no more ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for their 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 killed, otherwise he had suffered for't: thou think'st not of this now!-Nay, I remember the trick you (1) Caring. (2) Restrain. (3) In the end. Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? As you do love your lady Silvia: This letter;-that's her chamber.-Tell my lady, [Exit Proteus. Jul. How many women would do such a mes- This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, Enter Silvia, attended. Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [Picture brought. 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: To think upon her woes, I do protest, Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook As if the garment had been made for me; Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!- Farewell. Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, For I had rather wink than look on them. [Aside. Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your [Aside. peace. Thu. What says she to my valour? Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. ice. Thu. What says she to my birth? Pro. That you are well deriv'd. [Aside. SCENE IV-Another part of the Forest. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods, Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Aside. And leave no memory of what it was! Thu. Considers she my possessions? Pro. O, ay; and pities them. Thu. Wherefore? Repair me with thy presence, Silvia; 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? These are my mates, that make their wills their 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: [Exit. [Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, The (1) Own. (2) Foolish. (3) Careless. law, Have some unhappy passenger in chace: Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia. Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look; Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your presence. 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 Would I not undergo for one calm look? O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd,1 Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love, Pro. How! Julia! For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me Could have persuaded me : Now I dare not say I am sorry, I must never trust thee more, Val. : Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; [Faints. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is the matter? Look up; speak. Jul. 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: O But constant, he were perfect: that one error Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins: Val. Come, come, a hand from either: Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. Come not within the measure of my wrath: O good sir, my master charg'd me Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her. To deliver a ring to madam Silvia ; Which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Jul. Here 'tis: this is it. [Gives a ring. Pro. How! let me see: Why this is the ring I gave to Julia. Jul. O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook; This is the ring you sent to Silvia. [Shows 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. (1) Felt, experienced. (2) Direction. Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made me To grant one boon that I shall ask of you. Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be. |