have staid, If crooked fortune had not thwarted me. 1 Out. What, were you banish'd thence? Val. I was. 2 Out. For what offence? Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse: I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent; But yet I slew him manfully in fight, Without false vantage, or base treachery. 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 tonguest? Val. My youthful travel therein made me happy; Or else I often had been miserable. 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. [to? 3 Out. Know, then, that some of us are gentlemen, Such is the fury of ungovern'd youth Thrust from the company of awful men; Myself was from Verona banish'd, For practising to steal away a lady, An leir, and near allied unto the duke. 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, Whom, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart. 1 Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as these. But to the purpose,-(for we cite our faults, That they may hold excused our lawless lives,) And, partly, seeing you are beautified With goodly shape; and by your own report A linguist; and a man of such perfection, As we do in our quality much want; 2 Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, 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? [sórt? 3 Out. What say'st thou? Wilt thou be of our conSay, ay, and be the captain of us all : We'll do thee homage, and be ruled by thee, Love thee as our commander, and our king. 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. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Milan.-Court of the Palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend : 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 music, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak? Jul. Is he among these? Host. Ay: but peace, lets hear 'em. SONG. Who is Silvia? What is she, [Music plays. That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair, and wise is she; The heavens such grace did lend her, That she might admired be. Is she kind, as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; That Silvia is excelling; Host. How now? Are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? The music likes you not. Jul. You inistake; 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. [thing! Host. I perceive, you delight not in music. Jul. Not a whit, when it jars so. Host. Hark, what fine change is in the music! Jul. Ay; that change is the spite. Host. You would have them always play but one 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. 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. Sil. I thank you for your music, 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,Beyond all reckoning. ཕྱི That presently you hle you home to bed, That hast deceived so many with thy vows? Jul. Twere false, if I should speak it; [Aside. Sil. Say, that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, Survives; to whom, thyself art witness, I am betroth'd: and art thou not ashamed To wrong him with thy importúnacy? Pro. I likewise hear that Valentine is dead. Sil. And so, suppose, am I; for in his grave Assure thyself, my love is buried. Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call her's thence; Or at the least, in her's sepulchre thine. Jul. He heard not that. [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; To that I'll speak, to that I'H sigh and weep: For, since the substance of your perfect self Is else devoted, I am but a shadow: And to your shadow I will make true love. Jul, If 'twere a substance, you would, sure ceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am. I do desire thee, even from a heart 27 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. Good-morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. [Exeunt Enter LAUNCE, with his Dog. When a man's servant shall play the cur with of a puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up 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 diningchamber, but he steps me to her trencher, and steals her capon's leg. 0, 'tis a foul thing, when a car cannot keep+ himself in all companies! I de-him to be a dog indeed, to be, as it were, a dog at would have, as one should say, one that takes upon 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 hang'd 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 third; Hang him up, says the duke. I, having been cur is that? says another; Whip him out, says the acquainted with the smell before, knew it was Crab; and goes me to the fellow that whips the [Aside. Sil. I am very loth to be your idol, Sir; Pro. As wretches have o'er night, [Exeunt Proteus; and Silvia, from above. Jul. Host, will you go? Host. By my hallidom, I was fast asleep. Host. Marry, at my house: trust me, I think, 'tis dogs: Friend, quoth I, you mean to whip the dog. 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 ! SILVIA appears above, at her Window. Sil. Who calls? Egl. Your servant, and your friend; Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good-morrow. Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, Nor how my father would enforce me marry To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode; Ay, marry, do I, quoth he. You do him the more wrong, quoth 1; 'twas I did the thing you wot of. the chamber. How many masters would do this He makes me no more ado, but whips me out of for their servant? Nay, I'll be sworn I have sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been executed: I have stood on the pillory for geese he hath kill'd, otherwise be had suffer'd for't; thou think'st 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.-How now, you whoreson peasant? [To Launce. Where have you been these two days loitering? Laun. 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 present. Pro. But she received my dog? Laun. No, indeed, she did 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 market place: and then I offer'd 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, Or ne'er return again into my sight. Away, I say: stay'st thou to vex me here? Which heaven and fortune still reward with plagues. A slave, that, still an end t, turns me to shame. • Holy dame, blessed lady. + Injunction, command. ↑ Pitiful. • Caring. + Restrain. [Exit Launce. In the. ed. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, Partly, that I have need of such a youth, She loved me well, deliver'd it to me. Jul. It seems, you loved her not, to leave her She's dead, belike, Pro. Not so; I think, she lives Jul. Alas! (token. [well you as Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas ? Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, To plead for that, which I would not obtain; But cannot be true servant to my master, Jul: About my stature for, at Pentecost •, Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth ! I weep myself, to think upon thy words: Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. As, heaven, it knows, I would not have him speed. If this fond love were not a blinded god? Enter SILVIA, attended. Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean 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. Jul. She thanks you. Sil. What say'st thou? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up, I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, ACT V. SCENE 1.-The same.-An Abbey. Enter EGLAMOUR. [Exil. Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky; Enter SILVIA. See, where she comes: Lady, a happy evening! I fear, I am attended by some spies. SCENE II.-The same.-An Apartment in the Enter THURIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA. Pro. No; that it is too little. Thu. I'll wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder 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' eyes; For I had rather wink than look on them. [Aside. Thu. How likes she my discourse? Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. Thu. But well, when I discourse of love and peace? Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your peace. [Aside. Thu. What says she to my valour? Thu. What says she to my birth? Thu. Wherefore? [Aside. Duke. Why, then, she's fled unto that peasant VaAnd Eglamour is in her company. [lentine; 'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: [Erit. (Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Then 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. SCENE III.-Frontiers of Mantua.-The Forest. Enter SILVIA, and OUTLAWS. 1 Out. Come, come; Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run us, But Moyses, and Valerius, follow him. Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled; The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape. [cave: 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, And will not use a woman lawlessly. Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee! [Exeunt SCENE IV.-Another part of the Forest.. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain !-- These are my mates, that make their wills their law, Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and Julia. Jul. Aud me, when he approacheth to your pre[Aside. sence. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast, Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst two, Who respects friends? Sil. All men but Proteus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire. Pro. Valentine! Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love; (For such is a friend now,) treacherous man! Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say I have one friend alive: thou wouldst disprove me. I am sorry, I must never trust thee more, I tender it here: I do as truly suffer, As e'er I did commit. Val. Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest :- Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleased; Pro. Look to the boy. [Faints. Val. Why, boy! Why wag! How now? What is the Look up; speak. Jul. O, good Sir, my master charged me To deliver a ring to madam Silvia; [matter ! Which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Jul. Here 'tis: this is it. [Gives a Ring. Felt, experienced. Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain'd them deeply in her heart: How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!! O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush! Be thou ashamed, that I have took upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live In a disguise of love: It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds! 'Tis true : 0 heaven! Were man [sins: But constant, he were perfect: that one error Enter OUT-LAWS, with DUKE and TRURIO. Val. Forbear, I say! It is my lord the duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced, Banished Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine! Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I; I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be. Duke. Thou hast prevail'd: I pardon then, and thee; Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts, Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to smile: What think you of this page, my lord? Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. Val. I warrant you, my lord; more grace than boy. Duke. What mean you by that saying? Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; • Interest. Conclude. |