ACT III. SCENE I. Milan. An Ante-room in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE, THURIO, and PROTEUS. Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray awhile; We have some secrets to confer about [Erit THURIO. Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me? Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would dis cover, The law of friendship bids me to conceal : My duty pricks me on to utter that Which else no worldly good should draw from me. Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care; Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd a mean How he her chamber window will ascend, And with a corded ladder fetch her down; For which the youthful lover now is gone, And this way comes he with it presently; Where, if it please you, you may intercept him. But, good my lord, do it so cunningly, That my discovery be not aim'd & at; For love of you, not hate unto my friend, Hath made me publisher of this pretence.9 Duke. Upon mine honour, he shall never know That I had any light from thee of this. Pro. Adieu, my lord; sir Valentine is coming. Duke. Be they of much import? Val. The tenor of them doth but signify My health, and happy being at your court. Duke. Nay, then no matter; stay with me a while; I am to break with thee of some affairs, That touch me near, wherein thou must be secret. 'Tis not unknown to thee, that I have sought To match my friend, sir Thurio, to my daughter. Val. I know it well, my lord; and, sure, the match Were rich and honourable; besides, the gentleman Is full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter: Cannot your grace win her to fancy him? Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, fro- Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty; Val. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words; tents her: Send her another; never give her o'er ; Val. Why then I would resort to her by night. Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept safe, That no man hath recourse to her by night. Val. Why then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords, | There is no day for me to look upon : To cast up with a pair of anchoring hooks, Would serve to scale another Hero's tower, So bold Leander would adventure it. Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood, Advise me where I may have such a ladder. Val. When would you use it? pray, sir, tell me that. Duke. This very night; for love is like a child, That longs for every thing that he can come by. Val. By seven o'clock I'll get you such a ladder. Duke. But, hark thee; I will go to her alone; How shall I best convey the ladder thither? Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may bear it Under a cloak, that is of any length. Duke. A cloak as long as thine will serve the turn? My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly; And slaves they are to me, that send them flying: O, could their master come and go as lightly, Himself would lodge, where senseless they are lying. My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them; While I, their king, that thither them importune, Do curse the grace that with such grace hath bless'd them, Because myself do want my servant's fortune: I curse myself for they are sent by me, That they should harbour where their lord should be. What's here? Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee: Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose. Thank me for this, more than for all the favours, Will give thee time to leave our royal court, To die, is to be banish'd from myself; She is my essence; and I leave to be, Enter PROTEUS and LAUNCE. Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out. Laun. So-ho! so-ho! Pro. What seest thou? Laun. Him we go to find: there's not a hair on's head, but 'tis a Valentine. Pro. Valentine? Val. No. So much of bad already hath possess'd them. Pro. Then in dumb silence will I bury mine For they are harsh, untunable, and bad. Val. Is Silvia dead? Laun. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are vanish'd. Pro. That thou art banished, O, that's the news; From hence, from Silvia, and from me thy friend. Val. O, I have fed upon this woe already, And now excess of it will make me surfeit. Doth Silvia know that I am banished? Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the doom, (Which, unrevers'd, stands in effectual force,) A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears: Those at her father's churlish feet she tender'd; With them, upon her knees, her humble self; Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so became them, As if but now they waxed pale for woe: But neither bended knees, pure hands held up, Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears, Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire; But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die. Besides, her intercession chaf'd him so, When she for thy repeal was suppliant, That to close prison he commanded her, With many bitter threats of 'biding there. Val. No more; unless the next word that thou speak'st, Have some malignant power upon my life: If so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear, As ending anthem of my endless dolour. Pro. Cease to lament for that thou canst not help, And study help for that which thou lament'st. Time is the nurse and breeder of all good. Here if thou stay, thou canst not see thy love; Besides, thy staying will abridge thy life. Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my boy, [Exeunt VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the wit to think my master is a kind of a knave: but that's all one, if he but one knave. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but what woman, I will not tell myself. Enter SPEED. Speed. How now, signior Launce? what news with your mastership? Laun. With my master's ship? why, it is at sea. Speed. Well, your old vice still; mistake the word: What news then in your paper? Laun. The blackest news, that ever thou heard'st. Laun. Why, as black as ink. Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou canst not read. Laun. I will try thee. Speed. Come, fool, come: try me in thy paper. Speed. Item, She is too liberal.? Laun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ down she is slow of: of her purse she shall not; for that I'll keep shut. What's next? Speed. She has more faults than hairs, — Laun. That's monstrous: O, that that were out! Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious: Well, I'll have her: and if it be a match, as nothing is impossible, Speed. What then? Laun. Why, then I will tell thee, master stays for thee at the north gate. Speed. For me? Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath staid for a better man than thee. Speed. And must I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staid so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? plague of your love-letters! [Exit. Laun. Now will he be swinged for reading my letter: An unmannerly slave, that will thrust himself into secrets! — I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction. [Exit. -The same. A Koom in the Duke's Enter DUKE and THURIO; PROTEUS behind. you, Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight. Thu. Since his exíle she hath despised me most, Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure Laun. There; and saint Nicholas 9 be thy speed! A little time will melt her frozen thoughts, Speed. Imprimis, She can milk. Laun. Ay, that she can. Speed. Item, She brews good ale. Laun. And thereof comes the proverb. — Bless ing of your heart, you brew good ale. Speed. Item, She can sew. Laun. That's as much as to say, Can she so? Speed. Here follow her vices. Laun. Close at the heels of her virtues. Speed. Item, She is slow in words. Laun. O villain, that set this down among her vices! To be slow in words, is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with't; and place it for her chief virtue. Speed. Item, She is proud. And worthless Valentine shall be forgot. Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace, Duke. Thou know'st how willingly I would effect The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter. Pro. I do, my lord. Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, What might we do to make the girl forget and cannot be ta'en from her. Speed. Item, She hath no teeth. Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love rusts. Speed. Item, She is curst.1 Laun. Well; the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. Speed. Item, She will often praise her liquor. Laun. If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will not, I will; for good things should be praised. 9 St. Nicholas presided over young scholars. 1 Froward. The love of Valentine, and love sir Thurio? Duke. Ay, but she'll think, that it is spoke in hate. Duke. Then you must undertake to slander him Pro. And that, my lord, I shall be loth to do: Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him, Being entreated to it by your friend. By wailful sonnets, whose composed rhymes Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it, That may discover such integrity: By aught that I can speak in his dispraise, She shall not long continue love to him. It follows not that she will love sir Thurio. For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews; Thu. Therefore, as you unwind her love from him, After your dire lamenting elegies, Lest it should ravel, and be good to none, Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind; And cannot soon revolt and change your mind. Pro. As much as I can do, I will effect: - Visit by night your lady's chamber-window Duke. This discipline shows thou hast been in love. To sort 7 some gentlemen well skill'd in musick: Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper: SCENE I. A Forest near Mantua. Enter certain Out-laws. ACT IV. 1 Out. Fellows, stand fast; I see a passenger. Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. 3 Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about you; If not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you. 2 Out. For what offence? Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse: 1 Out. Why ne'er repent it, if it were done so Speed. Sir, we are undone ! these are the villains Or else I often had been miserable. That all the travellers do fear so much. 3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar, This fellow were a king for our wild faction. 1 Out. We'll have him: sirs, a word. It is an honourable kind of thievery. 2 Out. Tell us this: Have you any thing to take Val. Nothing, but my fortune. 3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentlemen, Such as the fury of ungoverned youth Thrust from the company of awful 9 men. 1 Out. But to the purpose, you are beautified Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you: Are you content to be our general? To make a virtue of necessity, And live, as we do, in this wilderness? 6 Mournful elegy. Well looking. • Languages. D 7 Choose out. 9 Lawful. 3 Out. What say'st thou? wilt thou be of our consort? Say, ay, and be the captain of us all : 1 Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. 2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd. Val. I take your offer, and will live with you; Provided that you do no outrages On silly women, or poor passengers. 3 Out No, we detest such vile base practices. Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our crews, And shew thee all the treasure we have got ; Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend : Enter THURIO, and Musicians. Thu. How now, sir Proteus? are you crept before us? Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for you know, that love Will creep in service where it cannot go. Thu. Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here. Pro. Sir, but I do; or else I would be hence. Thu. Whom? Silvia? Pro. Ay, Silvia, - for your sake. Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen, Let's tune, and to it lustily a while. Enter HOST, at a distance; and JULIA in boy's clothes. 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 musick, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak? Jul. That will be musick. Is she kind, as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness: Love doth to her eyes repair, To help him of his blindness; And, being help'd, inhabits there. Then to Silvia let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; She excels each mortal thing, Upon the dull earth dwelling; To her let us garlands bring. Host. How now? are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? the musick likes you not. Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not. Host. Why, my pretty youth? 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 musick. Host. Hark, what fine change is in the musick! Host. You would 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 loved her out of all nick. 1 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. Sir Thurio, fear not you! I will so plead, That you shall say, my cunning drift excels. Thu. Where meet we? Pro. At saint Gregory's well.' Thu. Farewell. [Exeunt THURIO and Musicians. SILVIA appears above, at her window. Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. Sul. I thank you for your musick, gentlemen: Who is that, that spake? 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. Thou subtle, perjur'd, false, disloyal man! [Musick plays. Think'st thou, I am so shallow, so conceitless, To be seduced by thy flattery, Host. Ay: but peace, let's hear 'em. SONG. Who is Silvia? What is she? That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair, and wise is she; The heavens such grace did lend her, That she might admired he. Passionate reproaches. That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? 1 Beyond all reckoning. |