As wretches have o'ernight, Pro. [Exeunt PROTEUS; and SILVIA from above. Jul. Host, will you go? Host. By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Host. Marry, at my house: Trust me, I think 'tis almost day. Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night That e'er I watched, and the most heaviest. SCENE III. The same. Enter EGLAmour. Egl. This is the hour that madam Silvia SILVIA appears above, at her window. [Exeunt. Sil. Who calls? Egl. your servant, and your friend; One that attends your ladyship's command. Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good-morrow. Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, Nor how my father would enforce me marry But think upon my grief, a lady s grief; Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances ; Sil. This evening coming. Sil. At friar Patrick's cell, Egl. I will not fail your ladyship : Good-morrow, gentle lady. Sil. Good-morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. [Ereunt. Enter LAUNCE, with his Dog. 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. O, ’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 fort: sure as I live, he had suffered 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 was Crab; and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs: Friend, quoth I, you mean to whip the dog ? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he. You do him the more wrong, quoth I; 'twas I did the thing you wot of. He makes me no more ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters would do this 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 killed, otherwise he had suffered 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. Jul. In what you please ;-I will do what I can. [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 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 market-place: 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, Or ne'er return again into my sight. Away, I say: Stay'st thou to vex me here? A slave, that still an end turns me to shame. [Exit LAUNCE. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, Partly, that I have need of such a youth, That can with some discretion do my business, For 'tis no trusting to yon foolish lout; But, chiefly for thy face and thy behavior : Which (if my augury deceive me not) Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth: Jul. It seems you loved her not, to leave her token: She's dead, belike. Pro. Not so; I think she lives. Jul. Because, methinks that she loved you as well your love. 'Tis pity, love should be so contrary: And thinking on it makes me cry, alas! Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal This letter; — that's her chamber.—Tell my lady, I claim the promise for her heavenly picture. Your message done, hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary. Erit PROTEUS. Jul. How many women would do such a message ? Alas, poor Proteus ! thou hast entertained A fox, to be the shepherd of thy lambs: Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him, That with his very heart despiseth me? Because he loves her, he despiseth me; Because I love him, I must pity him. This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, To bind him to remember my good-will: And now am I (unhappy messenger!) To plead for that, which I would not obtain ; To carry that which I would have refused; To praise his faith which I would have dispraised; I am my master's true, confirmed love; But cannot be true servant to my master, Unless I prove false traitor to myself. Yet I will woo for him: but yet so coldly, As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed. Enter Silvia, attended. Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you be my mean To bring me where to speak with madam Silvia. Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she? Jul. If you be she, I do entreat your patience Sil. From whom? [Picture brought. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.- Sil. I pray thee let me look on that again. Sil. There, hold. Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. Sil. The more shame for him that he sends it me; Jul. She thanks you. Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Sil. Dost thou know her ? Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself : Sül. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is : |