Who is Silvia? What is she, That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair, and wise is she; The heavens such grace did lend her That she might admired be. Is she kind, as she is fuir? For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; this, is even That presently you hie you home to bed. That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? Jul. 'Twere false if I should speak it; [lady; [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. Sil. And so, suppose, am I; for in his grave Assure thyself, my love is buried. Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call hers thence; Host. How now? are you sadder than you Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine. were before? How do you, man? the music likes you not. Jul. He heard not that. [A side, Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not. Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love, Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdurate, lost. Why, my pretty youth? 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. Sir Thurio, fear not you! I will so plead, That you shall say, my cunning drift excels. Thu. Where meet we? Pro. At saint Gregory's well. [Exeunt THURIO and Musicians. Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, quickly learn to know him by his voice. The picture that is hanging in your chamber; 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, well Send to me in the morning, and I'll send it: To worship shadows, and adore false shapes, 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, I was fast asleep. Jul. Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus? think, 'tis almost day. Host. Marry, at my house: Trust me, I Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest That e'er I watch'd, and the most heaviest. night SCENE III.-The sume. Enter EGLAMOUR. [Exeunt, Egl. This is the hour that madam Silvia Entreated me to call, and kLow her mind; There's some great matter she'd employ me Madam, madam! [in. SILVIA appears above, at her window. Sil. Who calls? l. Your servant, and your friend; e that attends your ladyship's command. says another; Whip him out, says the third Hang him up, says the duke. I, having been Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good-acquainted with the smell before, knew it was morrow. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. I do desire thee, even from a heart 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? Sil. At friar Patrick's cell, Where I intend holy confession. Egl. I will not fail your ladyship: Good-morrow, gentle lady. Sil. Good-morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. Enter LAUNCE, with his dog. Laun. 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 keeps 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. Dut with the dog, says one; What cur is that? * Injunction, command. ✰ Caring. + Pitiful. Restrain. 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. 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 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 fartingale? 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 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 She loved me well, deliver'd it to me. She's dead, belike. Pro. Not so; I think she lives. Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal This letter;-that's her chamber.-Tell my lady,, Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain'd I am my master's true confirmed love; mean Enter SILVIA, attended. Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my [via. To bring me where to speak with madam SilSil. What would you with her, if that I be she? Jul. If you be she, I do entreat your patience To hear me speak the message I am sent on. Sil. From whom? Jul. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again. I will not look upon your master's lines: [me; Sil. The more shame for him that he sends it For, I have heard him say a thousand times, His Julia gave it him at his departure: Though his false finger hath profan'd the ring, Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong. 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. Sil. Dost thou know her? Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: To think upon her woes, I do protest, That I have wept a hundred several times. Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. I think she doth, and that's her cause of sorrow. Sil. Is she not passing fair? Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: When she did think my master lov'd her well, 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 judgement, 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 beholden 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 [her. Forthy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lov'st Farewell. [Exit SILVIA. this Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. And, were there sense in his idolatry, ACT V. SCENE I.-The same.-An Abbey. Enter EGLAMOUR. [Exit Out at the postern by the abbey wall; Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues If we recover that, we are sure enough. [off; [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? Pro. O, Sir, I find her milder than she was; And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu. What, that my leg is too long? Pro. No; that it is too little. Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder. Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it loaths. Thu. What says she to my face? 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' eyes; For I had rather wink than look on them. Thu. How likes she my discourse? Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. [Aside. Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and peace. Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your peace. [Aside. Thu. What says she to my valour? [Aside. Thu. What says she to my birth? [Aside. Thu. Considers she my possessions? Jul. That such an ass should owe them. SCENE III.—Frontiers of Mantua.-The Forest. Be patient, we must ing you to our captain. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble footed, he hath outrun But Moyses, and Valerius, follow him. [us, Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, There is our captain: we'll follow him that's The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape. [fled; 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! law, Have some unhappy passenger in chase: They love me well; yet I have much to do, To keep them from uncivil outrages. Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes here? [Steps aside. Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA. Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you, [doth Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peas- (Though you respect not aught your servant ant Valentine; And Eglamour is in her company. To hazard life, and rescue you from him love. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast, Rather than have false Proteus rescue me. O, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine, Whose life's as tender to me as my soul; And full as much (for more there cannot be,) I do detest false perjur'd Proteus : Therefore be gone, solicit me no more. Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo for one calm look? Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love, faith [Gives a ring. Jul. Here 'tis this is it. Pro. How! let me see: Why this is the ring I gave to Julia. Jul. O, cry your 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. Pro. How! Julia! Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain❜d them deeply in her heart: It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, [minds. But constant, he were perfect: that one error Fills him with faults; makes him run through all sins: Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins: Val. Come, come, a hand from either: Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. Val. Thurio give back, or else embrace thy death; Come not within the measure of my wrath: Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I; Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou, 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, Direction. + An allusion to cleaving the pin in archery, 1 Length of my sword. 4 Interet. |