Enter SILVIA attended. Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Jul. Ay, 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: I know, they are stuff'd with protestations, Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. His Julia gave it him at his departure: Though his false finger hath profan'd the ring, Jul. She thanks you. Sil. What say'st thou ? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much. Sil. Dost 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, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. I think she doth, and that's her cause of sorrow. Sil. Is she not passing fair? Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is : When she did think my master lov'd her well, Sil. How tall was she? Jul. About my stature : for, at Pentecost, [6] The colour of a part pinched, is livid, as it is commonly called, black and blue. The weather may therefore be justly said to pinch when it produces the same visible effect. I believe this is the reason why the cold is said to pinch. JOHNSON [7] The history of this twice-deserted lady is too well known to need an introduction here; nor is the reader interrupted on the business of Shakespeare: but I find it difficult to refrain from making a note the vehicle for a conjecture like this, which I may have no better opportunity of communicating to the public.-The subject of a picture of Guido (commonly supposed to be Ariadne deserted by Theseus and courted by Bacchus) may possibly have been hitherto mistaken. ever will examine the fabulous history critically, as well as the performance itself, will acquiesce in the truth of the remark. Ovid, in his Fasti, tells us, that Bacchus (who left Ariadne to go on his Indian expedition) found too many charms in the daughter of one of the kings of that country. "Interea Liber depexos crinibus Indos "Inter captivas facie præstante puellas "Flebat amans conjux, spatiataque littore curvo "Quid me desertis perituram, Liber, arenis "Servabas? potui dedoluisse semel "Ausus es ante oculos, adducta pellice, nostros "Tam bene compositum sollicitare torum," &c. Ovid, Fast. 1. iii. v. 465. Who In this picture he appears as if just returned from India, bringing with him his new favourite, who hangs on his arm, and whose presence only causes those emotions so visible in the countenance of Ariadne, who has been hitherto represented, on this occasion, as From this painting a plate was engraved by Giacimo Freij, which is generally a companion to the Aurora of the same master. The print is so common that the curious may easily satisfy themselves concerning the propriety of a remark which has intruded itself among the notes on Shakespeare. STEEVENS. For Theseus' perjury, and unjust flight; Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!- I weep myself, to think upon thy words. [Exit SILVIA. Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. I hope my master's suit will be but cold, Her eyes are grey as glass; and so are mine : Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and ador'd; I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, [Exit. [5] A high forehead was, in our author's time, accounted a feature eminently beautiful. So, in the History of Guy of Warwick, "Felice his lady" is said to "have the same high forehead as Venus " JOHNSON. ACT V. SCENE I.-The same. An Abbey. Enter EGLAMOUR. Eglamour. THE sun begins to gild the western sky; And now, it is about the very hour That Silvia, at Patrick's cell, should meet me. So much they spur their expedition. Enter SILVIA. See, where she comes :-Lady, a happy evening! I fear, I am attended by some spies. Egl. Fear not the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure enough. The same. SCENE II. [Exeunt. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit? Pro. No; that it is too little. Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder. Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it loathes. Thu. What says she to my face? Pro. She says, it is a fair one. Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Thu. How likes she my discourse? Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. [Aside Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and peace ? [Aside. Thu. What says she to my valour? Pro. O, sir, she. makes no doubt of that. Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.[Asi. Thu. What says she to my birth? Pro. That you are well deriv'd. Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Aside Thu. Considers she my possessions? Pro. O, ay; and pities them. Thu. Wherefore! Jul. That such an ass should owe them. [Aside Pro. That they are out by lease. Jul. Here comes the Duke. Enter Duke. Duke. How now, sir Proteus? how now, Thurio? Which of you saw sir Eglamour of late? Thu. Not I. -Pro. Nor I. Duke. Saw you my daughter? Pro. Neither. Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant Valentine; And Eglamour is in her company. '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: Upon the rising of the mountain-foot That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled: Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. [Exit. That flies her fortune when it follows her: Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, [Exit. Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exit. Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exit. |