The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare

As you do love your lady Silvia:

She dreams on him, that has forgot her love;

You dote on her, that cares not for your love.

'Tis pity, love should be so contrary;

And thinking on it makes me cry, alas!

Well

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 entertain'd
A fox, to be the shepherd of thy lambs.
Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him
That with his very heart despiseth me?
Because he loves her, he despiseth me;
Because I love him, I must pity him.
This ring I gave him, when he parted from me,
To bind him to remember my good will:
And now am I (unhappy messenger)

To plead for that, which I would not obtain;
To carry that, which I would have refus'd;

To praise his faith, which I would have disprais'd.
I am my master's true confirmed love,

But cannot be true servant to my master,
Unless I prove false traitor to myself.
Yet I will woo for him; but yet so coldly,
As heaven,

it knows,

I would not have him speed.

Enter SILVIA, attended.
Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean
To bring me, where to speak with madam Silvia.
Sil. 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, O!-he sends you for a picture ?

Jul. Ay, madam.

Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there!

When she did think my master lov'd 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 starv'd the roses in her cheeks,
And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face,
That now she is become as black, as I.

KENE II.

E SE

Sil. How tall was she?

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[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 unadvis'd
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!
Jul. It may not be; good madam, pardon me!
Sil. There, hold!

I will not look upon your master's lines:

I know, they are stuff'd with protestations,
And full of new-found oaths, which he will break,
As easily, as I do tear his paper.

Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring.
Sil. The more shame for him, that he sends it me;

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 an hundred several times.

For Theseus' perjury, and unjust flight,
Which I solively acted with my tears,
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
Wept bitterly; and, would I might
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!
Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!-

dead be dead,

Alas, poor lady! desolate and left ! -
I weep myself, to think upon thy words.
Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this
For thy sweet mistress 'sake, because thou lov'sther.

Farewell!

[Exit Silvia.

Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her.

A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful!

I hope my master's suit will be but cold, Since she respects my mistress' love so much. Alas, how love can trifle with itself!

Pro

Thi

Jul

Here is her picture. Let me see! I think,

If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely, as is this of hers:
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,
Unless I flatter with myself too much.
Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow:
If that be all the difference in his love,
I'll get me such a coloured periwig.

Her eyes are grey, as glass; and so are mine:
Ay, but her forehead's low, and mine's as high.
What should it be, that he respects in her,
But I can make respective in myself,
If this fond love were not a blinded god?
Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up!
For'tis thy rival. O thou senseless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and ador'd;
And, were there sense in his idolatry,

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:

See, where she comes: Lady, a happy evening

Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour,

Out at the postern by the abbey-wall!

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.

SCENE II. The same. An apartment

[Exeunt.

in the Duke's

Enter THURIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA.

2 Out. Come, bring her away!

1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun 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.

10ut. Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave:

Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder.

Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee.

Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it loaths.

[Exeunt.

Thu. What says she to my face?

Pro. She says it is a fair one.

SCENE IV. - Another part of the forest. Enter VALENTINE.

Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black.

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man!

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;

This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,

For I had rather wink than look on them.

[Aside.

Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and peace?

Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.

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,

[Aside.

And leave no memory of what it was!

Thu. What says she to my valour?

Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;

Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!

Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

What halloing, and what stir is this to-day?

[Aside.

These are my mates, that make their wills their law,

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Have some unhappy passenger in chase:

Pro. That you are well deriv'd.

They love me well; yet I have much to do,

Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool.

[Aside.

To keep them from uncivil outrages.

Thu. Considers she my possessions?

Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes here?

Pro. O, ay; and pities them..

[Steps aside.

Thu. Wherefore?

Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA.

(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.
Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Val. How like a dream is this I see and hear!

'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the forest:
Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she;
But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it:

Besides, she did intend confession

At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not:
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently; and meet with me
Upon the rising of the mountain-foot,
That leads towards Mautua, whither they are fled.
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me!
Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That flies her fortune when it follows her:
I'll after, more to be reveng'd on Eglamour,
Than for the love of reckless Silvia.

Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy.
Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your presence.

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. 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!

Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire.

Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch;

Thou friend of an ill fashion!

Pro. Valentine!

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 would'st disprove me.
Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more,

But count the world a stranger for thy sake.

The private wound is deepest: O time, most curst!
'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!
Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me. -
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,

I tender it here; I do as truly suffer,
As e'er I did commit.

Val. Then I am paid;

And once again I do receive thee honest : -
Who by repentance is not satisfied,

Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd;
By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd: -
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

Jul. O me, unhappy!

Pro. Look to the boy.

Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now?

Look up; speak.

Jul. O good sir, my master charg'd 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.

Pro. How! let me see:

Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.

Fills him with faults, makes him run through all sins:
Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins:

[Faints.

What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy

More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye?
Val. Come, come, a hand from either:
Let me be blest to make this happy close;
'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever!
Jul. And I have mine.

Enter Out-laws, with Duke and THURIO.
Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!
Val. Forbear, I say; it is my lord the duke.
Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd,
Banished Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine!

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:
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands,
Take but possession of her with a touch; -
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.

Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;
I hold him but a fool, that will endanger
His body for a girl, that loves him not:
I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.
Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions. -
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
And think thee worthy of an empress' love.
Know, then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again. -
Plead anew state in thy unrivall'd merit,
sir Valentine,

what is the To which I thus subscribe,

matter? Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;

Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her.
Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made me happy.
I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon, that I shall ask of you.

[Gives a ring. Duke. I grant it for thine own, whate'er it be.

Jul. O, cry you 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 it 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;
How oft hast thon with perjury cleft the root!
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment; if shame live
In a disguise of love:

is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: O heaven!

were man

But constant, he were perfect: that one error

Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal,
Are men endued with worthy qualities;
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile:
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
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 alljars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.
Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your grace to smile:
What think you of this page, my lord?
Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.
Val. I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.
Duke. What mean you by that saying?

'tis your penance, but

Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned. --
Come, Proteus;
The story of your loves discovered :
to hear
That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness. iness. [Exeunt.

Sle

bil

thr

Shal. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-pound?
chamber matter of it: if he were twenty sir John Fal-
staffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.

Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, and
Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and Cust-alorum.

coram.

Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armigero.

Shal. Ay, that we do; and have done any time these three hundred years.

Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat.

Eva. Yes, py'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple conjectures: but this is all one: If sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you.

Shal. The Council shall hear it; it is a riot.

Eva. It is not meet the Council hear a riot; there is no fear of Got in a riot: the Council, look you, shall desire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments in that.

Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it.

Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and endit: and there is another device in my prain, which, peradventure,prings goot discretions with it. There is Anne Page, which is daugther to Master George Page, which is pretty virginity.

Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman.

Eva. It is that fery verson for all the 'orld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of monies, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire, upon his death'sbed, (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!) give, when

Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts.

Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good gifts.

Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Fallstaff there?

Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, as I do despise one that is false; or, as I despise one that is not true. The knight, sir John, is there; and I beseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. I will peat the door [knocks] for master Page. What, hoa! Got pless your house here!

Enter PAGE.

Page. Who's there?

Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and justice Shallow: and here young master Slender; that, peradventures, shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to your likings.

Page. I am glad to see your worships well: I thank you for my venison, master Shallow.

Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you; much good do it your good heart! I wished your venison better; it was ill kill'd: How doth good mistress Page? and I love you always with my heart, la; ; with my heart. Page. Sir, I thank you.

Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do.

Page. I am glad to see you, good master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard say, he was out-run on Cotsale.

Page. It could not be judged, sir.

Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess,

Shal. That he will not; -'tis your fault, 'tis your

fault: - 'Tis a good dog.

Page. A cur, sir.

Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; can there be more said? he is good, and fair. Is sir John Falstaff here?

Page. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good office between you.

Eva. It is spoke as a christians ought to speak.
Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page.
Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it.
Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd; is not that
so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me; indeed, he

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Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answer'd.

Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well

Shal. The Council shall know this.

Fal. I will answer it straight. -I have done all this:- met: by your leave, good mistress. [Kissing her.
That is now answer'd.

Fal. 'Twere better for you, if it were known in coun- gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness.

sel: you'll be laugh'd at.

Page, Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome: --
Come, we have ahot venison pasty to dinner; come,
[Exeunt all but Shal. Slender, and Evans.

Eva. Pauca verba, sir John, good worts.

Fal. Good worts! good cabbage.-Slender, I broke your head; what matter have you against me?

How now, Simple! Where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I? You have not The book of Riddles about you, have you?

Slen. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you; and against your coney-catching rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. They carried me to the tavern, and made me drunk, and afterwards picked my pocket.

Bard. You Banbury cheese!

Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

Pist. How now, Mephostophilus?

Slen. Ay,it is no matter.

Nym. Slice, I say! pauca, pauca; slice! that's my humour.

Slen. Where's Simple, my man?-can you tell, cousin? Eva. Peace: I pray you! Now let us understand: There is three umpires in this matter, as I understand: that is-master Page, fidelicet, master Page; and there is myself, fidelicet, myself; and the three party is, lastly and finally, mine host of the Garter.

Page. We three, to hear it, and end it between them. Eva. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my notebook; and we will afterwards'ork upon the cause, with as great discreetly as we can.

Fal. Pistol,

Pist. He hears with ears.

Eva. The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, He hears with ears? Why it is affectations.

Fal. Pistol, did you pick master Slender's purse?

Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he, (or I would I might never come in mine own great chamber again else) of seven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two shilling and two pence a

gloves

piece of Yead Miller, by these gloves.

Fal. Is this true, Pistol?

Sim. Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake upon Allhallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michaelmas?

Shal. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word with you, coz: marry, this, coz; There is, as 'twere, atender, a kind of tender, made afar off by sir Hugh here;-Do you understand me?

Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; ifit be

so, I shall do that that is reason.

Shal. Nay, but understand me.

Slen. So I do, sir. Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender: I will description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it. Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: I pray you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in his country, simple though I stand here.

Eva. But this is not the question; the question is concerning your marriage.

Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir.

Eva. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to mistress Anne Page.

Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her, upon any reasonable demands.

Eva. But can you affection the 'oman? Let us command to know that of your mouth, or of your lips; for divers philosophers hold, that the lips is parcel of the mouth; - Therefore, precisely, can you carry your good will to the maid?

Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her?

Eva. No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.
Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner! - Sir John and Slen. I hope, sir, -I will do, as it shall become one

master mine,

I combat challenge of this latten bilbo :

Word of denial in thy labras here;

Word of denial: froth and scum, thou liest.

Slen. By these gloves, then 'twas he.

Nym. Be advised, sir, and pass good humours; I will say, marry trap, with you, if you run the nuthook's humour on me; that is the very note of it.

Slen. By this hat, then he in the red face had it: for though I cannot remember what I did when you made me drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass.

Fal. What say you, Scarlet and John?

Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentleman had drunk himself out of his five sentences.

Eva. It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is! Bard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashier'd; and so conclusions pass'd the careires.

Slen. I will marry her, sir, at your request; but if
there be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven
may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we
are married, and have more occasion to know one ano-
ther: I hope, upon familiarity will grow more con-
tempt; but if you say, marry her, I will marry her,
that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.
Eva. It is a fery discretion answer; save, the faul'
is in the 'ort dissolutely: the 'ort is, according to our

Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no
matter: I'll ne'er bedrunk whilst I live again, but in
honest, civil, godly company, for this trick: if I be
drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the fear of meaning, resolutely; - his meaning is good.

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