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. "You do him the more wrong," quoth I; "'t was 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 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 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 again, Sebastian, I have entertainéd thee, Go presently, and take this ring with thee, 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. Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? Jul. I cannot choose but pity her. Pro. Wherefore shouldst thou pity her? She dreams on him that has forgot her love; Pro. Well, give 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. [Exit PROTEUS. Jul. How many women would do such a message? Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertained 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. 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, please you peruse this letter.Pardon me, madam; I have unadvised Delivered 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. 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 an 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 loved her well, She, in my judgment, was as fair as you; But since she did neglect her looking-glass, And threw her sun-expelling mask away, The air hath starved the roses in her cheeks, And pinched 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 played, Our youth got me to play the woman's part, And I was trimmed in Madam Julia's gown; Which served me as fit, by all men's judgment, As if the garment had been made for me: Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!- A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful. If this fond Love were not a blinded god? Besides, she did intend confession At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled. Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exit. SCENE III.-Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest. Enter SILVIA, and Outlaws. 1st Out. Come, come; Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. Sil. A thousand more mischances than this one Have learned me how to brook this patiently. 2nd Out. Come, bring her away. 1st Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3rd Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out run us, But Moyses and Valerius follow him. Go thou 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. 1st Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave: Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, And will not use a woman lawlessly. Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Another part of the Forest. Enter VALENTINE. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods, I better brook than flourishing peopled towns: Here can I sit alone, unseen of any, And to the nightingale's complaining notes Tune my distresses, and record my woes. O thou that dost inhabit in my breast, Leave not the mansion so long tenantless; Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall, And leave no memory of what it was! Repair me with thy presence, Silvia; Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain! What halloing and what stir is this to-day? Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA. Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you, (Though you respect not aught your servant doth) To hazard life, and rescue you from him That would have forced your honour and your love. Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look; presence. Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your [Aside. Sil. Had I been seizéd 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 perjured 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, Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou had'st two, Pro. Who respects friends? Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love; (For such is a friend now;) treacherous man! Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye Could have persuaded me: Now I dare not say I have one friend alive; thou would'st disprove me. Who should be trusted, when one's own right hand Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus, I am sorry I must never trust thee more, 'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the Is nor of heaven nor earth; for these are pleased; By penitence the Eternal's wrath 's appeased :And that my love may appear plain and free, All that was mine in Silvia I give thee. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what's the matter? Look up; speak. Jul. O good sir, my master charged me 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. [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 entertained them deeply in her heart: How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root! O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush! |