Enter behind, the Hoft and Julia in boy's cloaths.

Hoft. Now, my young gueft, methinks you're allycholly: I pray you, why is it?

Jul. Marry, mine Hoft, because I cannot be merry. Hoft. Come, we'll have you merry: I'll bring you where you fhall hear mufic, and fee the gentleman that you afk'd for.

Jul. But fhall I hear him speak?
Hoft. Ay, that you fhall.

Jul. That will be mufic.

Hoft. Hark! hark!

Jul. Is he among these?

Hoft. Ay: but peace, let's hear 'em.

SON G.

Who is Silvia? what is fhe,

That all our fwains commend ber?
Holy, fair, and wife is fhe;

The heavens fuch grace did lend her,
That he might admired be.

Is fhe kind, as fhe 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.

2

beauty lives with kindness:] Beauty without kindness

dies unenjoyed, and undelighting. JOHNSON.

Hoft.

Hoft. How now? are you fadder than you were before? how do you, man? the mufic likes you not. Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not. Hoft. Why, my pretty youth?

Jul. He plays false, father.

Hoft. How, out of tune on the strings?

Jul. Not fo; but yet fo falfe, that he grieves my very heart-strings.

Hoft. You have a quick ear.

Jul. Ay, I would I were deaf! it makes me have a flow heart.

Hoft. I perceive you delight not in mufic.

Jul. Not a whit, when it jars fo.

Hoft. Hark, what fine change is in the mufic!
Jul. Ay; that change is the fpite.

Hoft. You would have them always play but one thing?

Jul. I would always have one play but one thing. But, Hoft, doth this Sir Protheus, that we talk on, often refort unto this gentlewoman?

Hoft. I tell you what Launce, his man, told me, he lov'd her 3 out of all nick.

Jul. Where is Launce?

Hoft. Gone to feek his dog, which to-morrow, by his master's command, he must carry for a present to his lady.

Jul. Peace! ftand afide, the company parts. Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you; I will fo plead, That you fhall fay, my cunning drift excels.

3

Thu. Where meet we?

Pro. At Saint Gregory's well.

Thu. Farewell.

[Exeunt Thurio and mufic.

out of all nick.] Beyond all reckoning or count. Reckonings are kept upon nicked or notched fticks or tallies.

WARBURTON.

Silvia appears above, at her window.

Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. Sil. I thank you for your mufic, gentlemen: Who is that, that fpake?

Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice.

Sil. Sir Protheus, as I take it.

Pro. Sir Protheus, gentle lady, and

Sil. What is your will?

Pro. That I may compafs yours.

your fervant.

Sil. 4 You have your wifh, my will is even this,-
That prefently you hie you home to bed.
Thou fubtle, perjur'd, falfe, difloyal man!
Think'ft thou I am fo fhallow, fo conceitlefs,
To be feduced by thy flattery,

That haft deceived fo many with thy vows?
Return, return, and make thy love amends.
For me, by this pale queen of night, I fwear,
I am fo far from granting thy request,
That I defpife thee for thy wrongful fuit;
And, by and by, intend to chide myself,
Even for this time I spend in talking to thee.

Pro. I grant, fweet love, that I did love a lady; But he is dead.

ful. [Afide.] 'Twere falfe, if I should speak it; For, I am fure, fhe is not buried.

Sil. Say, that fhe be; yet Valentine, thy friend, Survives; to whom, thyfelf art witness,

I am betroth'd; and art thou not asham'd
To wrong him with thy importunacy?

Pro. I likewife hear, that Valentine is dead.
Sil. And fo, fuppofe, am I; for in his grave,
Affure thyfelf, my love is buried.

You have your wish; my will is even this,-] The word will is here ambiguous. He wishes to gain her will: fhe tells him, if he wants her will he has it. JOHNSON,

Pro

Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call her thence, Or, at the least, in her's fepulchre thine.

Ful. [Afide.] He heard not that.

Pro. Madam, if that your heart be so obdurate, Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love, The picture that is hanging in your chamber: To that I'll speak, to that I'll figh and weep: For fince the fubftance of your perfect self Is elfe devoted, I am but a fhadow;

And to your fhadow will I make true love. Jul. [Afide.] If 'twere a substance, you would, fure, deceive it,

And make it but a fhadow, as I am.

Sil. I am very loath to be your idol, Sir;

5 But, fince your falfhood fhall become you well
To worship fhadows, and adore falfe fhapes,
Send to me in the morning, and I'll send it:
And fo, good rest.

Pro. As wretches have o'er night,

That wait for execution in the morn.

[Exeunt Protheus and Silvia.

Jul. Hoft, will you go?

Hoft. By my hallidom, I was faft afleep.
Jul. Pray you, where lies Sir Protheus?

Hoft. Marry, at my house: trust me, I think, 'tis almost day.

Jul. Not fo; but it hath been the longest night That e'er I watch'd, and the most heavieft. [Exeunt.

5 But, fince your falfhood shall become you well] This is hardly fenfe. We may read, with very little alteration,

But fince you're falfe, it shall become you well. JOHNS.

SCENE

Egl. This is the hour that madam Silvia Entreated me to call, and know her mind : There's fome great matter fhe'd employ me in. Madam, madam!

Silvia, above at her window.

Sil. Who calls?

Egl. Your fervant, and your friend;
One that attends your ladyfhip's command.
Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow.
Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself:
According to your ladyship's impofe,

I am thus early come; to know what fervice
It is your pleasure to command me in.

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

Nor how my father would enforce me marry
Vain Thurio, whom my very foul abhor'd.
Thyfelf haft lov'd; and I have heard thee fay,
No grief did ever come fo near thy heart,
As when thy lady and thy true love dy'd;
Upon whofe grave thou vow'dft pure chastity.

I

Sir

• Upon whose grave thou vow'dft pure chastity.] It was common in former ages for widowers and widows to make vows of chastity in honour of their deceafed wives or hufbands. In Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwickshire, page 1013, there is the form of a commiffion by the bishop of the diocefe for taking a vow of chaflity made by a widow. It feems that, befides obferving the vow, the widow was, for life, to wear a veil and a mourning habit. The fame diftinction we may fuppofe to have been made in refpect of male votarifts; and therefore this circumftance might inform the players how Sir Eglamour should

be