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. 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! Host. You would have them always play but one thing? 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.1 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, Pro. At Saint Gregory's well. Thu. Farewell. [Exeunt THU. and Musicians. SILVIA appears above, at her window. Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. 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. 1 i. e. Out of all reckoning or count; reckonings were kept upon nicked or notched sticks or tallies. H Sil. What is your will? Pro. That I may compass yours. Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this,- That hast deceived so many with thy vows; Jul. 'Twere false, if I should speak it; For, I am sure, she is not buried. [Aside. Sil. Say that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, Survives; to whom, thyself art witness, I am betrothed: And art thou not ashamed To wrong him with thy importúnacy? Pro. I likewise hear, that Valentine is dead. 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; Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine. Jul. He heard not that. Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdúrate, [Aside. Jul. If 'twere a substance, you would, sure, de ceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am. Sil. I am very loath to be your idol, sir; [Aside. וי But, since your falsehood shall become you well Pro. As wretches have o'ernight, That wait for execution in the morn. [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. [Exeunt. 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; One that attends your ladyship's command. Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good-morrow. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. According to your ladyship's impose, I am thus early come, to know what service Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, 1 i. e. pitiful. I bear unto the banished Valentine; To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode; Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances; As much I wish all good befortune you. Sil. This evening coming. Where I intend holy confession. Sil. Good-morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. 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 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, 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 |