Val. I take your offer, and will live with you; 3 Out. No; we detest such vile, base practices. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Milan. The Court of the Palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, And now I must be as unjust to Thurio. Under the colour of commending him, I have access my own love to prefer; She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; window, And give some evening music to her ear. Enter THURIO, and Musicians. Thu. How now, sir Proteus! are you crept before us? Thu. Ay; but I hope, sir, that you love not here. Pro. Ay, Silvia,—for your sake. Now, gentlemen, Enter Host and JULIA (in boy's clothes), behind. Host. Now, my young guest; methinks you're allycholly: I pray you, why is it? Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry. Host. Come, we'll have you merry. I'll bring you where you shall hear music, and see the gentlemen that you ask'd for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak? Jul. That will be music. Jul. Is he among these? Host. Ay; but peace! let's hear 'em. SONG. Who is Silvia? what is she, Host. How now! are you sadder than you were 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. [Music plays again.3 Host. You would not 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 lov'd 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 St. Gregory's well. Thu. Farewell. [Exeunt THURIO and Musicians. Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? That all our swains commend her? .2 The heaven such grace did lend her, Is she kind, as she is fair, For beauty lives with kindness? To help him of his blindness; Then to Silvia let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; Upon the dull earth dwelling: To her let us garlands bring. 1 crews: in f. e. 2 is she: in f. e. 3 This direction is not in f. e. Jul. [Aside.] 'T were false, if I should speak it; For, I am sure, she is not buried. 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 To wrong him with thy importunacy? Pro. I likewise hear, that Valentine is dead. Assure thyself, my love is buried. Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. Or, at the least, in her's sepulchre thine. Host. By my halidom,' I was fast asleep. Jul. Pray you, where lies sir Proteus? Host. Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think, 't is as a present to mistress Silvia from my master, and I almost day. Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night That e'er I watch'd, and the most heaviest. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-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 ! Enter SILVIA 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. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. According to your ladyship's impose, 2 I am thus early come, to know what service It is your pleasure to command me in. Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, Nor how my father would enforce me marry 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 hang'd for 't: sure as I live, he had suffer'd 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; "do 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 his 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 kill'd, otherwise he had suffer'd 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! Where have you been these two days loitering: Launce. Marry, sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog Which heaven and fortune still reward with plagues. you bade me. As full of sorrows as the sea of sands, To bear me company, and go with me: If not, to hide what I have said to thee, That I may venture to depart alone. Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances, And the most true affections that you bear;* Pro. And what says she to my little jewel? Launce. 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? Launce. No, indeed, did she not. brought him back again. 1 From the Saxon haligdome, holy place or kingdom. 2 Injunction. 3 Compassionate. 4 This line is not in f. e. Here have I Pro. What! didst thou offer her this cur1 from me? | One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget, Launce. Ay, sir: the other squirrel was stolen from Would better fit his chamber, than this shadow. me by a hangman boy2 in the market-place; and then I offer'd her my 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! Stayest thou to vex me here? A slave that still an end3 turns me to shame. [Exit LAUNCE. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, She lov'd me well deliver'd it to me. Jul. It seems, you lov'd not her, to leave her token. She's dead, belike? Pro. Not so I think, she lives. Jul. Alas! A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs. Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him, This ring I gave him when he parted from me, To plead for that which I would not obtain; To praise his faith which I would have disprais'd. But cannot be true servant to my master, Gentlewoman, good day. I pray you, be my mean 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. [A Picture brought. Go, give your master this: tell him from me, 1 Not in f. e. 2 the hangman's boys: in f. e. 3 Continually. Jul. Madam, so please you to peruse this letter.— Pardon me, madam, I have unadvis'd [Giving a letter. Deliver'd you a paper that I should not: This is the letter to your ladyship. [Giving another letter. [Giving it back. 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, That I have wept a hundred several times. Sil. Belike, she thinks, that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is. Sil. How tall was she? 6 Jul. About mý stature; for, at pentecost, Sil. She is beholding to thee, gentle youth.- I weep myself, to think upon thy words. Jul. And she shall thank you for 't, if e'er you know A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful! 4 5 Not in f. e. 6 In good earnest. |