Then to Silvia let us sing, Host. How now? are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? the music likes you not. Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me 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! Host. You would have them always play but one Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice. Sil. Sir Proteus, as I take it. Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. Sil. What is your will? Pro. 'That I may compass yours. Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this, That presently you hie you home to bed. That hast deceived so many with thy vows? Jul. [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 [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? 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. SCENE 111-The same. Enter Eglamour. Egl. This is the hour that madam Silvia Entreated me to call, and know her mind; There's some great matter she'd employ me in.Madam, madam! Silvia appears above at her window. Sil. Who calls? Egl. Your servant, and your friend; One that attends your ladyship's command. Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow. I am thus early come, to know what service Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, Which heaven and fortune still reward with plagues. I do desire thee, even from a heart As full of sorrows as the sea of sands, SCENE IV.-The same. Enter Launce, with his dog. Laun. When a man's servant shall play the eur 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 eur 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 gentlemen-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 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 wet 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, oth erwise 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 receiv'd 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 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, Away, I say: Stay'st thou to vex me here? [Exit Launce. -Sebastian, I have entertained thee, She loved me well, deliver'd it to me. Juu. It seems, you loved her not, to leave her token : She's dead, belike. Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? Jul. Because, methinks, that she loved you as well As you do love your lady Silvia: She dreams on him that has forgot her love; Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she? Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Jul. Ay, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [Picture brought 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. What say'st thou ? Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus has forsook her. Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost, Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!— I weep myself, to think upon thy words. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. Alas, how love can trifle with itself! My substance should be statue in thy stead. I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, [Exit. SCENE 1-The same. An abbey. Enter Eglamour. Eglamour. THE sun begins to gild the western sky; See, where she comes :-Lady, a happy evening! Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour! I fear, I am attended by some spies. Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure enough. [Exeunt. SCENE II-The same. An apartment in the Duke's 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? 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 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. [Aside. Thu. How likes she my discourse? Thu. What says she to my valour? Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice. [Aside. Thu. What says she to my birth? Pro. That you are well deriv'd. Repair me with thy presence, Silvia; Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Aside. What halloing, and what stir, is this to-day? Thu. Considers she my possessions? Pre. O, ay; and pities them. Thu. Wherefore? Jul. That such an ass should owe them. Pro. That they are out by lease. Jul. Here comes the duke. Enter Duke. These are my mates, that make their wills their law, Have some unhappy passenger in chace : They love me well; yet I have much to do, [Aside. To keep them from uncivil outrages. Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes here? [Steps aside. Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant Valentine; 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: Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 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, 1 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! 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 forc'd your honour and your love. And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give. [Aside. Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am! Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy. Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your presence. [Aside. 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 death, Sil. When Proteus cannot love, where he's belov'd. Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst two, Who respects friends? Sil. In love, All men but Proteus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form, I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end; And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force you. Sil. O heaven! Valentine! Pro. Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love; (For such is a friend now,) treacherous man! Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye Could have persuaded me: Now I dare not say I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me. I am sorry, I must never trust thee more, Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine." Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is the matter? But constant, he were perfect: that one error Let me be blest to make this happy close; I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, 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, Are men endued with worthy qualities; They are reformed, civil, full of good, Duke. Thou hast prevail'd: I pardon them and thee; Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. Come, let us go; we will include all jars Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he Val. I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy. Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; |