Sil. And so, suppose, am I; for in his grave, Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. Jul. [Aside.] He heard not that. Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdurate, And to your shadow will I make true love. Jul. [Aside.] If 'twere a substance, you would, sure, deceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am. Sil. I am very loath to be your idol, Sir; But, since your falsehood shall become you well Pro. [Exeunt PROTEUS, and SILVIA, above. Jul. Host, will you go? Host. By my halidom, 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 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? friend; Egl. Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good-morrow. According to your ladyship's impose, I am thus early come, to know what service Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman,— To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode; Upon whose faith and honour I repose. To keep me from a most unholy match, I do desire thee, even from a heart As full of sorrows as the sea of sands, If not, to hide what I have said to thee, Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances; At friar Patrick's cell, Where I intend holy confession. Egl. I will not fail your ladyship. Good morrow, Gentle lady. Sil. Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. [Exeunt EGLAMOUR, and SILVIA, above. SCENE IV.-The Same. Enter LAUNCE with his dog. Launce. When a man's servant shall play the cur 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 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 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 gentleman-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 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 had stolen, otherwise he had been executed: I have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed, otherwise he had suffered for't. Thou thinkest 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.-[To LAUNCE.] How, now, you whoreson peasant! Where have you been these two days loitering? Launce. Marry, Sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. 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 received my dog? Launce. No, indeed, did she not: here have I brought him back. again. Pro. What! didst thou offer her this from me? Launce. Ay, Sir: the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman 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? She lov'd me well deliver'd it to me. Jul. It seems, you lov'd not her, to leave her token. Pro. Not so I think, she lives. Jul. Alas! Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? Jul. I cannot choose but pity her. Pro. Wherefore shouldst thou pity her? [Exit LAUNCE Jul. Because, methinks, that she lov'd you as well As you do love your lady Silvia. She dreams on him, that has forgot her love; And thinking on it makes me cry, alas! [Exit. Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him, This ring I gave him when he parted from me, To ple ad for that which I would not obtain ; To carry that which I would have refus'd; I am my master's true confirmed love, But cannot be true servant to my master, Unless I prove false traitor to myself. Enter SILVIA, attended. 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. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there.- [A picture brought. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter. [Gives a letter. Pardon me, Madam; I have unadvis'd Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again. [Gives another. [Gives back the first letter. I will not look upon your master's lines: I know, they are stuff'd with protestations, Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. [Tears the second letter. |