It is your pleasure to command me in.

Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman,
(Think not flatter, for, I fwear, I do not)
Valiant, wife, remorseful, well accomplish'd.
Thou art not ignorant, what dear good will
I bear unto the banish'd Valentine;

Nor how my father would enforce me marry
Vain Thurio, whom my very foul abhors.
Thyself haft lov'd; and I have heard thee say,
No grief did ever come fo near thy heart,
As when thy lady and thy true love dy'd,
2 Upon whose grave thou vow'dft pure chastity.
Sir Eglamour, I would to Valentine,

To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode;
And, for the ways are dangerous to pass,
I do defire thy worthy company,
Upon whofe faith and honour I repofe.
Urge not my father's anger, Eglamour,
But think upon my grief, a lady's grief;
And on the justice of my flying hence,
To keep me from a most unholy match, [plagues.
Which heaven, and fortune, ftill reward with
I do defire thee, even from a heart
As full of forrows, as the fea of fands,
To bear me company, and go with me:
If not, to hide what I have faid to thee,
That I may venture to depart alone.

[A& 4. Scene 3.

[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 piffing while, but all the chamber smelt him. Out with 5 the dog, fays one; What cur is that? says another; Whip him out, fays the third; Hang bim up, fays the duke: 1, having been acquainted with the smell before, knew it was Crab; and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs 7: Friend, quoth I, you 1cmean to whip the dog? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he. You do bim the more wrong, quoth I; 'twas I did the thing you wot of. He makes no more ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How many mafters would do this for their fervant? nay, I'll be fworn I have fat in the stocks for puddings he hath tolen, otherwife he had been executed: I have ftpod on the pillory for geefe he hath kill'd, otherwife he had fuffer'd for 't: thou think'ft not of this now -Nay, I remember the trick you ferv'd 20me, when I took my leave of madam Silvia; did not I bid thee ftill mark me, and do as I do? When did'st thou fee me heave up my leg, and make water against a gentlewoman's farthingale? didft thou ever fee me do fuch a trick?

25

Egl. Madam, I pity much your 3 grievances;
Which fince I know they virtuously are plac'd,

I give consent to go along with you;

30

4 Recking as little what betideth me,

As much I wish all good befortune you.

When will you go?

Sil. This evening coming.

Egl. Where fhall I meet you?

Sil. At friar Patrick's cell,

Where I intend holy confeffion.

Egl. I will not fail your ladyship:
Good-morrow, gentle lady.

35

Sil. Good-morrow, kind fir Eglamour. [Exeunt. 4c
Enter Launce with his dog.

When a man's fervant fhall play the cur with
him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought
up of a puppy; one that I fav'd from drowning,
when three or four of his blind brothers and fifters 45
went to it! I have taught him-even as one would
fay precisely, Thus I would teach a dog. I was
fent to deliver him, as a present to miftrefs Silvia,
from my mafter; and I came no fooner into the
dining chamber, but he steps me to her trencher, 50
and fteals her capon's leg. O, 'tis a foul thing,
when a cur cannot keep 5 himself in all compa-
nies! I would have, as one should fay, 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; fure as I
live, he had fuffer'd for 't: you fhall judge. He

1

Enter Protheus and Julia.

Pro. Sebaftian is thy name? I like thee well, And will employ thee in some service presently. Jul. In what you please ;-I'll do, fir, what I can. Pro. hope, thou wilt.-How now, you whorefon peafant, Where have you been these two days loitering? [To Launce.

Laun. Marry, fir, I carry'd mistress Silvia the dog you bade me.

Pro. And what says she to my little jewel? Laun. Marry, the fays, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for fuch a prefent.

Pro. But the receiv'd my dog?

brought him back again.

Laun. No, indeed, fhe did not: here I have

Pro. What, didft thou offer her this from me?

Laun. Ay, fir; the other squirrel was ftol'n from as ten of yours, and therefore the gift the greater. me by the hangman's boy in the market-place: and then I offer'd her mine own; who is a dog as big Pro. Go, get thee hence, and find my dog again, Or ne'er return again into my fight.

Away, I fay: Stay'st thou to vex me here?
A flave, that, ftill an end 8, turns me to shame.
[Exit Launce.

Sebaftian, I have entertained thee,
Partly, that I have need of fuch a youth,
That can with fome difcretion do my business,
55 But, chiefly, for thy face, and thy behaviour;
For 'tis no trusting to yon foolish lowt;
Which (if my augury deceive me not)

Witnefs good bringing up, fortune, and truth:
Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.

Remorseful is pitiful. of chastity in honour of their deceafed wives or husbands. 2 It was common in former ages for widowers and widows to make vows 5 That is, reftrain himself. part of the office of an fher of the table. 6 A proverbial expreffion of thofe times. 3 Sorrows. 4 To reck is to care for. undertakes. 7 This appears to have been

8 That is, in the end, at the conclusion of every business he

Go

5

I will not look upon your master's lines:
know, they are stuff'd with protestations,
And full of new-found oaths; which he will break,
As eafily as I do tear this paper.

Jul. Madam, he fends your ladyship this ring.
Sil. The more shame for him, that he fends it me;
For, I have heard him fay a thousand times,
His Julia gave it him at his departure:
Though his falfe finger hath profan'd the ring,
10 Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.
Jul. She thanks you.

15

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 meffage done, he home unto my chamber, 20
Where thou shalt find me sad and folitary.

[Exit Protheus.

Jul. How many women would do fuch a meffage?
Alas, poor Protheus! thou haft 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.

Sil. What say'ft thou?

Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her:
Poor gentlewoman! my mafter wrongs her much.
Sil. Doft 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, the thinks that Protheus hath for-
[forrow.
Jul. I think the doth; and that's her caufe of
Sil. Is the not paffing fair?

fook her.

Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is;
When the did think my maiter lov'd her well,
25 She, in my judgment, was as fair as you;
But fince the did neglect her looking-glafs,
And threw her fun-expelling maik away,
The air hath starv'd the rofes in her cheeks,
And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face,

This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, 30 That now fhe is become as black as I.

To bind him to remember my good will:

And now I am (unhappy meffenger)

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 difprais'd.

I am my master's true confirmed love;
But cannot be true fervant to my master,
Unless I prove false traitor to myself.
Yet will I woo for him; but yet fo coldly,
As, heaven it knows, I would not have him fpeed.
Enter Silvia.

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 fhe, I do entreat your patience
To hear me speak the message I am fent on.
Sil. From whom?

Jul. From my mafter, fir Protheus, madam.
Sil. Oh! he fends you for a picture?

Jul. Ay, madam.

Sil. Urfula, bring my picture there.

[Picture brought.
Go, give your mafter this: tell him from me,
One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget,
Would better fit his chamber, than this fhadow.
Jul. Madam, please you perufe this letter.
-Pardon me, madam; I have unadvis'd
Deliver'd 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.

Sil. How tall was the?

Jul. About my ftature: for at Pentecoft,
When all our pageants of delight were play'd,
Our youth got me to play the woman's part,
35 And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown;
Which ferved me as fit, by all men's judgment,
As if the garment had been made for me:
Therefore, I know fhe is about my height.
And, at that time, I made her weep a-good,
4For I did play a lamentable part:

Madam, 'twas Ariadne, paffioning
For Thefeus' perjury, and unjust flight;
Which I fo lively acted with my tears,
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
45 Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead,
If I in thought felt not her very forrow!

Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth:-
Alas, poor lady! defolate and left!-

I

weep myself, to think upon thy words.

50 Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this
For thy fweet mistress' fake, becaufe thou lov'ft her.
Farewell.
[Exit Silvia.

Jul. And the fhall thank you for't, if e'er you
know her.

55 A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful.
I hope, my mafter's fuit will be but cold,
Since the refpects my mistress' love so much.
Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture: Let me fee; I think,
60 If I had fuch a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of her's:
[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 fuch a colour'd periwig 1.
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 3 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 fenfeless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and ador'd;
And, were there sense in his idolatry,

5 My fubftance should be statue in thy ftead.
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
That us'd me fo; or elfe, by Jove I vow,

I fhould have fcratch'd out your unseeing eyes,
To make my mafter out of love with thee. [Exit.

SCENE

4

II.

An apartment in the Duke's palace.

Enter Thurio, Protbeus, and Julia.

Thu. Sir Protheus, what fays Silvia to my fuit?
Pro. Oh, fir, 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 fomewhat
Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it
loaths.

Thu. What fays the to my face?

Pro. She fays, it is a fair one,

[rounder.

20

Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cow

ardice.

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well deriv'd.

[Afide

Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Afide.
Thu. Confiders the my poffeffions?

Pro. O, ay; and pities them.

Thu. Wherefore?

25 Jul. That fuch an afs fhould owe them. [Afide. Pro. That they are out by leafe.

30

35

Jul. Here comes the duke.

Enter Duke.

Duke. How now, fir Protheus? how now.

Thurio?

Which of you faw fir Eglamour of late?

Thu. Not I.

Pro. Nor I.

Duke. Saw you my daughter?

Pro. Neither.

[Valentine

Duke. Why, then fhe's fled unto that peasant And Eglamour is in her company.

"Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the foreft:
40 Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she 3
But, being mask'd, he was not fure of it:
Befides, fhe did intend confefsion

At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not
Thefe likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
45 Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently; and meet with me
Upon the rifing of the mountain-foot
That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled s
Difpatch, fweet gentlemen, and follow me.

Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black.
Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old faying is,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes." 50
Jul. 'Tis true, fuch pearls as put out ladies' eyes;
For I had rather wink, than look on them. [Afide.
Thu. How likes fhe my difcourfe?
Pro. Ill, when you talk of war.
Thu. But well, when I difcourfe of love, and 55
Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your

It should be remembered, that false hair was worn by the ladies, long before wigs were in fashion. Thefe falfe coverings, however, were call'd periwigs. 2 A high forehead was in Shakspeare's time accounted a feature eminently beautiful. 3 That is, respectful or respectable., ↑ Sure means fafe. 3 Own them.

SCENE

Be patient, we must bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thousand more mifchances, than this one,
Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.
2 Out. Come, bring her away.

[her? 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run us; But Moyfes, 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 fied;
The thicket is befet, he cannot 'scape.

1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's

• To record anciently fignified to fing. Record is also a term still used by bird-fanciers, to express the first essays of a bird in singing. That is, reward.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?
Jul. Here 'tis: this is it.
Pro. How! let me fee:

Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.

[Gives a ring.

Jul. Oh, cry your mercy, fir, I have mistook : This is the ring you fent to Silvia. [Shews another ring. Pro.But how cam'ft thou by this ring?At my depart, I gave this unto Julia.

Jul. And Julia herself did give it me;
And Julia herfelf 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 haft thou with perjury cleft the root?
Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou afham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest rayment; if shame live
In a disguise of love:

It is the leffer blot, modefty finds,

[A& 5. Scene 4,

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,
5 To make fuch means for her as thou haft done,
And leave her on such flight conditions.
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy fpirit, Valentine,
And think thee worthy of an emprefs' love.
10 Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again.
Plead a new ftate in thy unrival'd merit,
To which I thus fubscribe,-Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;
15 Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her.
Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made me
happy.

Women to change their fhapes,than men their minds. 20
Pro. Than men their minds ! 'tis true: oh heaven!

were man

But conftant, he were perfect: that one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all fins:
Inconftancy falls off, ere it begins:
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 bleft to make this happy close;

I now befeech you, for your daughter's fake,
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 endu'd with worthy qualities; Forgive them what they have committed here, 25 And let them be recall'd from their exile: They are reform'd, civil, full of good, And fit for great employment, worthy lord. Duke. Thou haft prevail'd; I pardon them, and thee;

"Twere pity two fuch friends should long be foes. 30 Difpofe of them, as thou know'ft their deserts.

Pro. Bear witness, heaven,

I have my wifh for ever.

Jul. And I mine.

Enter Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!

Come, let us go; we will include 2 all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare folemnity.

Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our difcourfe to make your grace to smile.
[duke. 35 What think you of this page, my lord?

Val. Forbear, forbear, I fay; it is my lord the Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Banished Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine!

Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. [death; 40
Val. Thurio, give back, or elfe embrace thy
Come not within the measure of my wrath:
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Milan fhall not behold thee. Here fhe ftands,
Take but poffeffion of her with a touch;-
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.--
Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;

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?

Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we país along,
That you will wonder, what hath fortuned.-
Come, Protheus: 'tis your penance, but to hear
The ftory of your loves difcovered:

That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;
45 One feaft, one house, one mutual happiness.

• That is, the reach of my anger. 2 To include is to shut up, to conclude.

[Exeunt omnes.

MERRY