I bear unto the banished Valentine; To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode; As full of sorrows as the sea of sands, Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances; Sil. This evening coming. Where I intend holy confession. Sil. Good-morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. Enter LAUNCE, with his Dog. 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 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 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 1, you mean to whip the dog? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he. You do him the more wrong, quoth I; 'twas 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 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 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 [TO LAUNCE. Where have you been these two days loitering? Laun. Marry, sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. peasant! 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, did she 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 market-place and then I offered 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: Stay'st thou to vex me here? A slave, that still an end1 turns me to shame. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, Partly, that I have need of such a youth, [Exit LAUNCE. That can with some discretion do my business, But, chiefly for thy face and thy behavior: 1 Still an end, and most an end, are vulgar expressions, and mean perpetually, generally. Which (if my augury deceive me not) Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth: She loved me well, delivered it to me. Jul. It seems you loved her not, to leave her token: She's dead, belike. As Pro. Not so; I think she lives. Jul. Alas! Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? Jul. I cannot choose but pity her. Pro. Wherefore should'st thou pity her? Jul. Because, methinks that she loved you as well you do love your lady Silvia: She dreams on him that has forgot her love; Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal [Exit PROTEUS. Jul. How many women would do such a message? Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertained A fox, to be the shepherd of thy lambs: This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, To plead for that, which I would not obtain ; Unless I prove false traitor to myself. Yet I will woo for him: but yet so coldly, Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you be my mean Jul. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam. Jul. Ay, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [Picture brought Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.- Sil. I pray thee let me look on that again. I will not look upon your master's lines: I know they are stuffed with protestations, And full of new-found oaths; which he will break Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. His Julia gave it him at his departure: Though his false finger hath profaned the ring, Jul. She thanks you. Sil. What say'st thou? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much. |