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 [To LAUNCE. Where have you been these two days loitering? Laun. Marry, sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. peasant! 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. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, [Exit LAUNCE. Partly, that I have need of such a youth, But, chiefly for thy face and thy behavior: 1 Still an end, and most an end, are vulgar expressions, and mean perpetually, generally. Which (if my augury deceive me not) Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth: She loved me well, delivered it to me. Jul. It seems you loved her not, to leave her token: She's dead, belike. As Pro. Not so; I think she lives. Jul. Alas! Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? Jul. I cannot choose but pity her. Pro. Wherefore should'st thou pity her? Jul. Because, methinks that she loved you as well you do love your lady Silvia: She dreams on him that has forgot her love; You dote on her that cares not for your love. Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal [Exit 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: This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, To plead for that, which I would not obtain; To praise his faith which I would have dispraised Unless I prove false traitor to myself. Yet I will woo for him: but yet so coldly, Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you be my mean Jul. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [Picture brought Go, give your master this: tell him from me, One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget, Would better fit his chamber than this shadow. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.Pardon me, madam; I have unadvised Delivered you a paper you a paper that I should not; This is the letter to your ladyship. Sil. I pray thee let me look on that again. Sil. There, hold. I will not look upon your master's lines: I know they are stuffed with protestations, And full of new-found oaths; which he will break As easily as I do tear his paper. Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. For, I have heard him say a thousand times, His Julia gave it him at his departure: Though his false finger hath profaned 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 a hundred several times. Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. I think she doth, and that's her cause of sorrow. Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: 1 Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost, Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth! Alas, poor lady! desolate and left!— I weep myself, to think upon thy words. Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this 1 i. e. in good earnest, tout de bon. Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. Her eyes are gray as glass; and so are mine: Thou shalt be worshipped, kissed, loved, and adored; My substance should be statue in thy stead. I should have scratched out your unseeing eyes, To make my master out of love with thee. 1 Regardful. V. Merchant of Venice, Act V. Sc. I. [Exit. 2 The word statue was formerly used to express a portrait, and sometimes a statue was called a picture. |