Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper: And afterward determine our proceedings. Duke. Even now about it; I will pardon you. [Exeunt. Art Fourth. SCENE I. A Forest, near Mantua. Enter certain Out-laws. 1 Out. Fellows, stand fast; I see a passenger. 2 Out. If there be ten, shrink not, but down with 'em. Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. 3 Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you If not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you. [mies. 1 Out. That's not so, sir; we are your ene2 Out. Peace; we'll hear him. 3 Out. Ay, by my beard, will we; for he is a proper man. Val. Then know, that I have little wealth to I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent; 1 Out. Why, ne'er repent it, if it were done so; But were you banish'd for so small a fault? Val. I was, and held me glad of such a doom. 1 Out. Have you the tongues? Val. My youthful travel therein made met happy; Or else I often had been miserable. 3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat This fellow were a king for our wild faction. It is an honourable kind of thievery. Val. Peace, villain! 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, 2 Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, And live, as we do, in this wilderness? 3 Out. What say'st thou? wilt thou be of our Say ay, and be the captain of us all; 2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we Val. I take your offer, and will live with you: 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. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Milan. Court of the Palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, And give some evening musick to her ear. Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for, you know that love here. 2 Out. Tell us this: Have you any thing to Enter Host, at a distance; and JULIA in boy's clothes. take to? Val. Nothing but my fortune. 3 Out. Know, then, that some of us are gen- Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth Host. Now, my young guest! methinks, you're allycholly; I pray you, why is it? Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be Jul. That will be musick. Jul. Is he among these? [Musick plays. Even for this time I spend in talking to thee. Pro. I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady; But she is dead. Host. Ay: but peace, let's hear 'em. SONG. Who is Sylvia? What is she, That all her swains commend her? The heavens such grace did lend her; Is she kind, as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; That Silvia is excelling; Upon the dull earth dwelling; Host. How now? are you sadder than you How do you, man? the musick likes you not 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, does 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. 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 Saint Gregory's well. SILVIA appears above, at her window. Jul. "Twere false, if I should speak it; Aside. Sil. Say, that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, I am betroth'd: And art thou not asham'd Pro. I likewise hear, that Valentine is dead. Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. thence; Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine. [Aside. Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdurate, Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love, The picture that is hanging in your chamber For, since the substance of your perfect self To that I'll speak, to that I'll sigh and weep; Is else devoted, I am but a shadow; And to your shadow will I make true love. Jul. If 'twere a substance, you would, sure, deceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am. [Aside. But, since your falsehood shall become you well Pro. That wait for execution in the morn. Jul. Host, will you go? Host. By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night SCENE III. The same. Enter EGLAMOUR. [Exeunt. Egl. This is the hour that madam Silvia SILVIA appears above, at her window. Egl. Your servant, and your friend; morrow. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. Pro. That I may compass yours. [this,- That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, D Upon whose faith and honour I repose. plagues. I do desire thee, even from a heart Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances; As much I wish all good befortune you. Sil. This evening coming. Egl. Where shall I meet you? Sil. 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. SCENE IV. The same. Enter LAUNCE, with his dog. [Exeunt. Pro. I hope, thou wilt.-How now, you whoreson peasant! [To LAUNCE. Where have you been these two days loitering? Pro. Marry, sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. Pro. And what says she to my little jewel? Laun. 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? Laun. No, indeed, did she not: here have I brought him back again. Pro. What, didst thou offer her this from me? Laun. Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman's boys in the marketplace: 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, She loved me well deliver'd it to me. Jul. It seems you loved her not, to leave her Pro. Not so; I think she lives. Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? 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. '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 suffer'd 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 Jul. How many women would do such a meswas Crab; then goes me to the fellow that whips Alas, poor Proteus, thou hast entertained [sage? the dogs: Friend, quoth I, you mean to whip the A fox, to be the shepherd of thy lambs: dog? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he. You do him the more Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him wrong, quoth I; 'twas I did the thing you wot of That with his very heart despiseth me? He makes me no more ado, but whips me out Because he loves her, he despiseth me; of the chamber. How many masters would do Because I love him, I must pity him. this for their servant? Nay, I'll be sworn, I have This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, To bind him to remember my good-will: otherwise he had been executed: I have stood And now am I (unhappy messenger!) on the pillory for geese he hath killed, otherwise I Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal, This letter; that's her chamber.-Tell mylady, 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. he had suffered for't: thou think'st not of this To plead for that, which I would not obtain; now!--Nay, I remember the trick you served To carry that, which I would have refus'd; me, when I took my leave of madam Silvia: did To praise his faith, which I would have disprais'd. I am my master's true confirmed love: not I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? But cannot be true servant to my master, When didst thou see me heave up my leg, and Unless I prove false traitor to myself. make water against a gentlewoman's farthin-Yet I will woo for him: but yet so coldly, gale? didst thou ever see me do such a trick? As,heaven, it knows, I would not have him speed. Enter PROTEUS and JULIA. Enter SILVIA, attended. Pro. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well, And will employ thee in some service presently. Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you be my mean Jul. In what you please; I will do what I can. To bring me where to speak with madam Silvia. Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she? Jul. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. Picture brought. Sil. I pray thee let me look on that again. I will not look upon your master's lines: Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. sook her. Jul. I think, she doth, and that's her cause of Sil. Is she not passing fair? [sorrow. Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: 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. Sil. How tall was she? Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost, When all our pageants of delight were play'd, Our youth got me to play the woman's part, And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown, Which served me as fit, by all men's judgment, As if the garment had been made for me; Therefore, I know she is about my height. And, at that time, I made her weep a good, For I did play a lamentable part: Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning For Theseus' perjury, and unjust flight; Which I so lively acted with my tears, That my poor mistress, moved therewithal, Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead, If I in thought felt not her very sorrow! Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth -Alas, poor lady! desolate and left!1 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'st her. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful. And, were there sense in this idolatry, See, where she comes: Lady, a happy evening! Egl. Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure enough. [Exeunt. SCENE II-The same. A Room in the Duke's Palace. Enter TпUBIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA. Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit? Pro. O, sir, 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. [rounder. Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it Thu. What says she to my face? [loaths. Pro. She says it is a fair one. Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. 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' Duke. Saw you my daughter? Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant And Eglamour is in her company. [Valentine; 'Tis true, for friar Laurence met them both, As he in penance wander'd through the forest: At Patrick's cell this even: and there she was not: [Exit. 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. | Leave not the mansion so long tenantless, Have some unhappy passenger in chase: here? Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, [Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exit. Jul. And I will follow more to cross that love,, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd, When women cannot love where they're beloved. Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's belov'd. [Exit. SCENE III. Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest. Out. Come, come; Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Another part of the Forest. Enter VALENTINE. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! |