With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent,— Duke. Ay, but shell think that it is spoke in hate. Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it: * Therefore, it must with circumstance be spoken By one whom she esteemeth as his friend. Duke. Then you must undertake to slander him. Pro. And that, my lord, I shall be loth to do: Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him, Pro. You have prevail*!*, my lord: if I can do it. Thu. Therefore, as you unwind her love from him. Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind, Pro. As much as I can do, I will effect:— Duke. Ay, much is the force of heaven-bred poesy. Pro. Say, that upon the altar of her beauty You sacrifice your tears, your sighs, your heart. Write, till your ink be dry, and with your tears Moist it again; and frame some feeling line That may discover such integrity: For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews; Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones, Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands. After your dire lamenting elegies, Visit by night your lady's chamber-window With some sweet concert; to their instruments Tune a deploring dump: the night's dead silence Will well become such sweet complaining grievance. This, or else nothing, will inherit her. Duke. This discipline shows thou hast been in love. Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put in practice: Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direct ion-gi^er. Let us into the city presently, • To sort some gentlemen well skiU'd in music. 1 have a sonnet that will serve the turn To give the onset to thy good advice. Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. Well wait upon your grace till after Slipper, And afterward determine our proceedings. Duke. Even now about it; 1 will pardon you. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.—The Frontiers ^Mantua. A Forest. Enter certain Outlaws. 1 Out. Fellows, stand fast; I see a passenger. a Out. If there be ten, shrink not, but down with 'em. Enter Valentine and Speed. 3 Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about If not, well make you sit, and rifle you. fyou j Speed. Sir, we are undone: these are the villains That all the travellers do fear so much. Veil. My friends,— x Out. That's not so, sir; we are your enemies. a Out. Peace! we '11 hear him. 3 Out. Ay, by my beard, wijj we; for he Is a proper man.' Vol. Then know, that I have little wealth to lose, A man I am, cross'd with adversity: My riches are these poor habiliments, Of which if you should here disfnrnlsh me, 3 Out. Whither travel you? Val. To Verona. 1 Out. Whence came yout Val. From Milan. 3 Out. Have you long sojourn'd there? Val. Some sixteen months; and longer might neve If crooked fortune had not thwarted me. [stay'd, 3 Out. What, were you banish'd thence? Val. I was. 2 Out. For what offence? Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse: t kill'd a man, whose death 1 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. s Out. Have you the tongues? 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 I 1 Out. Well have him:—sirs, a word. It is an honourable kind of thievery. 2 Out. Tell us this: have you anything to take tot Val. Nothing, but my fortune. 3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentlemen, Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth Thrust from the company of awful men: 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, Who, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart. x Out. And 1, for such like petty crimes as a Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man. 3 Out. What say'st thou? wilt thou be of our consort? Say 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, t Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. 2 Ou/.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 3 Out. No; we detest such vile, baa [Exeunt. SCENE II.—Milan. The Court 0/the Palace. Enter Proteus. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, And now I must be as unjust to Thurio Under the colour of commending him, I have access my own love to prefer: But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy. To be corrupted with my worthless gifts. When I protest true loyalty to her, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; When to her beauty I commend my vows, She bids me think now I have been forsworn, In breaking faith with Julia whom I lov'd: And, notwithstanding all her sudden quips. The least whereof would quell a lover s nope. Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love, The more it grows, and fawneth on her still. But here comes Thurio: now must we to her window, And give some evening music to her ear. Enter Thurio and Musicians. Thu. How now. Sir Proteus I are you crept before us t Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for you know that lov« Will creep ih 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, at a distance. Host, and Julia in boy's clothes. Host, Now, my young guest; methinks you 're allycholly: I pray you, why is it I Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry. Host. Come, well have you merry: I'll bring you where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that Jul. But shall I hear him speak? [you asked for. Host. Ay, that you shall. Jul. That will be music. [Musicplays. Host. Hark, hark 1 Jul. Is he among these? Host.' Ay; but peace 1 let's hear 'em. SONG. Who is Silvia? what is she J Thai all our swains commend her; The heaven such grace did lend her. For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; Upon the dull earth dwelling: Jul. Not so; but yet so false, that ne grieves my Host. You have a quick ear. [very heart-strings. Jul. Ay; I would I were deafl it makes me have a slow heart. 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. [thing? 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.-1 will tell you what Launce, his man, told me, —he lov'd her out of all nick. Jul. Where is Launce? Host. Gone to seek his clog; which, to-morrow, by his master's command, lie must carry for a present to his lady. Jul. Peace! stand aside: the company parts. Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you: I will so p That you shall say my cunning drift excels. Thu. Where meet we? Pro. At Saint Gregory's well. Thu. Farewell. \Exeunt Thurio and Musicians. Enter Silvia 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 yon knew his pure heart's truth, You would 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,— Pro. I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady; But she is dead. Jul. [Aside.] 'Twere false, if I should speak it; For, I am sure, she is not buried. Sil. Say, that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, Survives, to whom thyself art witness I am bet roth'd : and art thou not asham'd To wrong him with thy importunacy? 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 hers thence f Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine. . _iepui _ Jul. [Aside.] He heard not that. Jul. fAside.] If'twere a substance, you would, sure. And make it but a shadow, as I am. [deceive it. Sil. 1 am very loth to be your idol, sir; Pro. As wretches have o'er night. That wait for execution in the morn. | Exeunt Proteus, and Silvia, above. Jul. Host will you go? Host. By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Jul. Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus? [most day. Host. Marry, at iny house. Trust ine, I think 'tis alJul. 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 Silvia above, at her window. Egl. Your servant, and your friend; One that attends your ladyship's command. Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good-morrow. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. Sit. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman,— Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances; ■ SiL This evening coming. Egl. Where shall I meet you r Sit. At friar Patrick's cell, Where I intend holy confession. Egl. I will not fan your ladyship. Good morrow, Gentle lady. Sti. Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. [Exeunt Eglamour, and Silvia, above. SCENE IV.— The Same. Launee. 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 ray 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 alt companies I 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 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 1" says one: "What cur is that I" 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 wotof." He makes me no more ado, but whips me out ofthe chamber. How many masters would do this for his 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 thinkest not of this now!—Nay, I remember the trick you served nie. 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 ine 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. Sebastianjis 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.—{To Launce.] How now, you whoreson peasant! Where have you been these two days loitering! Launce. Marry, sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. Pro. And what says she to my little jewel f Launce. Marry, she says, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for such a Pro. But she received my dog! (present. Launce. No, indeed, did she not: here have I brought him back again. Pro. What 1 didst thou offer her this from me? Launce. Ay, sir: the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman boys in the market-place; and then I offered her mine own, who is a dog as big as ten of yours, ?nd therefore the gift the greater. Pro. Go, get tliee hence, and find my dog again. [Exit Launce. Sebastian, I have entertained thee. Jul. It seems, you lov'd not her, to leave her token. She's dead, belike! Pro. Not so: I think, she lives. Jul. Alas! Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? Jul. I cannot choose but pity her. Pro. Wherefore shouldst thou pity hert Jul. Because, methiuks, that she lov'd you as w Pro. Well, give her that ring; and therewithal Jul. How many women would do such a 0 Enter Silvia, attended. Sit. What would you with hefcif that I be shet Jul. If you be she. I do entreat your patience To hear me speak the message I am sent on. Sit. From whom! Jul. From my master. Sir Proteus, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there.— [A picture brought. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.-— Sil. I pray thee, let ine look on that again. Jul. It may not be; good madam, pardon me. Sil. There, hold. Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. Sit. The more shame for him that he sends it me; For, I have heard him say, a thousand times. His Julia gave it him at his departure. Though his false finger have profan'd the ring. Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong. Jut. She thanks you. Sil. What say'st thou? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her. Poor gentlewoman I my master wrongs her much. Sil. Dost thou know her? Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: 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. Sil. How tall was she? Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost, When all our pageants of delight wero plny'ri. Our youth gr,t me to play the woman's part. And I was trimm'd in Madam Julia's gown; Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning For Theseus' perjury, and unjust ft Which I so lively acted with „ Sit. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth. yul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her.— [Mxtt Silvia, -with Attendants. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful. ACT V. SCENE I.—Milan. An Abbey. Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky J Su. Amen, amen! go on, good Kglamour, Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off; SCENE II.—Milan. The Duke's Palace. Thu. Ill wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder. Jul. [Aside.] But love will not be spurr'd to what it Thu. What says she to my face? (loathes. 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. yul. {Aside.} Tistrue, such pearls as put out ladies' For I had rather wink than look on them. (eyes Thu. How likes she my discourse? Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. Thu. But well, when I discourse of love and peace? yul. [Aside. | But better. Indeed, when you hold Thu. What says she to my valour? [your peace. Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. yul. {Aside.] That such an ass should owe them. Pro. That they are out by lease. yul. Here comes the duke. Enter Duke. Duke. How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio I 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: Him he knew well; and guess'd that it was she; But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it: Besides, she did intend confession At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not. These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence: Therefore, I pray you. stand not to discourse. But mount you presently ; and meet with ine Upon the rising of the mountain-foot. That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled: Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. {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. {Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love Than hate of Eglamour. that goes with her. [Exit yul. And I will follow, more to cross that love Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exit. SCENE III.—Frontiers e/Mantua. The Forest. Enter Outlaws with Silvia, i Out Come, come; be patient; we must bring you to our captain. Sit A thousand more mischances than this one Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently. 3 Out. Come, bring her away, i Oitt. Wliereisthegentlemanthatwas withher? 3 ('//.'. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun 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. [Exeunt all except the First Outlaw and Silvia. SCENE IV.—Another part ofthe Forest. [Noise heard. [Retires. Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia. That would have forc'd your honour and your love: Val. [Aside.] Howlikeadreamisthis I seeandhear Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. Sii. O, miserable, unhappy that I am! Pro. Unhappy were you. madam, ere I came; But by my coming I have made you happy. Si/. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy, Jul. [Aside.] And me, when heapproachethtoyour presence. Si/. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death. Si/. When Proteus cannot love where he's belov'd. Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love. For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith Into a thousand oaths; and ah those oaths Descended into perjury, to love me. Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two. And that's far worse than none: better have none Than plural faith, which is too much by one. Thou counterfeit to thy true friend 1 Pro. In love Who respects friend? Si/. All men but Proteus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form, I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end. And love you 'gainst the nature of love,—force you. Sit. O heaven! Pro. Ill force thee yield to my desire. Val. [Coming forward.] Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch: Thou friend of an ill fashion I Pro. Valentine I Va/. Thou common friend, that's without faith or Pro. My shame and guilt confound me.— Va/. Then, I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest.— yul- O me unhappy! [Faints. Pro. Look to the boy. Va/. Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the matter? look up j speak. Jn/. O good sir, my master charg'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia; which, out of iny neglect, was Pro. Where is that ring, boy? (never done. yul. Here 'tts: this is it. [Gives a ring. Pro. How I let me see!—why, this is the ring I gave to Julia. yul. O, cry you mercy, sir; I have mistook: This is the ring you sent to Silvia. [Shows another ring. Pro. But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart I gave this unto Julia. yul. And Julia herself did give ft me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How ! Julia! ytt/. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, 0 Proteus! let this habit make thee blush: It is the lesser blot, modesty finds. But constant, he were perfect: that one error Va/. Come, come, a hand from either. Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever. yul. And I mine. Enter Outlaws with Duke and Thurio. Out. A prize 1 a prize! a prize! Val. Forbear, forbear, I say! it fs my lord the Your grace is welcome to a man disgrae'd, [duke.— Banished Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine! Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. Val. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy d 1 dare thee but to breathe upon my love. I hold him but a fool, that will endanger His body for a girl that loves htm not: I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou, Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made me Va/. And as we walk along. I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to s" lord" th gract Val, I warrant you. my lord,—more grace than boy. < y< , . Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him: he blushes. Val, I warrant you. my lord,—more grac Duke. What mean you by that saying? Val. Please you, l'U tell you as we pass along, That you will wonder what hath fortuned.— Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear The story of your loves discovered: That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; One feast, one house, one mutual happiness. [Exeunt, |