'T is pity, love should be so contrary; And thinking on it makes me cry, alas! Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewitha. 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. [Exit Proteus. 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 disprais'd. As, Heaven it knows, I would not have him speed. 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. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Jul. Ay, 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. 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? Ful. Almost as well as I do know myself: Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her. Ful. I think she doth, and that's her cause of sorrow, Sil. Is she not passing fair? ful. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: Ful. About my stature for, at Pentecost, Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth !- I weep myself to think upon thy words. Ful. And she shall thank you for 't, if e'er you know her. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, SCENE II.-The same. A Room in the Duke's Palace. Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia. Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit? Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was; And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu. What, that my leg is too long? Pro. No; that it is too little. [rounder. Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it loaths. Thu. What says she to my face? Pro. She says, it is a fair one. [black Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is, Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes. Jul. 'T is 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. [peace? Duke. Saw you my daughter? Pro. Neither. At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not : That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled. Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exit. Ful, And I will follow, more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exit. SCENE III.-Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest. Enter Silvia, and Outlaws. 1 Out. Come, come; Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. Sil. A thousand more mischances than this one Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently. 2 Out. Come, bring her away. 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. I Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's 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. Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you, (Though you respect not aught your servant doth,) To hazard life, and rescue you from him That would have forc'd your honour and your love. Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look ; A smaller boon than this I cannot beg, And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give. Val. How like a dream is this I see and hear! Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile. [Aside. Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am! Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came ; But, by my coming, I have made you happy. Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy. Ful. And 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, Would I not undergo for one calm look? 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. Sil. O heaven! Pro. I am sorry I must never trust thee more, The private wound is deepest: O time most accurs'd! 'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst. Pro. My shame, and guilt, confounds me.Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow Be a sufficient ransom for offence, I render 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 pleas'd; Jul. O me, unhappy! Pro. Look to the boy. [Faints. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what's the matter? Look up; speak. Jul. O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring to madam Silvia; which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Jul. Here 't is this is it. [Gives a ring. Pro. How! let me see; why this is the ring I gave to Julia. Ful. O, cry your mercy, sir, I have mistook; This is the ring you sent to Silvia. [Shews another ring. Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? at my depart, I gave this unto Julia. Ful. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How! Julia ! 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 asham'd, that I have took upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live [sins: But constant, he were perfect: that one error Let me be blest to make this happy close; Enter Outlaws, with Duke and Thurio. [ever, [duke. Val. Forbear, forbear, I say; it is my lord the Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Banished Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine! Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. Val. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy Come not within the measure of my wrath: [death; Do not name Silvia thine; if once again, Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands, Take but possession of her with a touch ;I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I; I hold him but a fool, that will endanger His body for a girl that loves him not: I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou, To make such means for her as thou hast done, And leave her on such slight conditions.Now, by the honour of my ancestry, I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, And think thee worthy of an empress' love. I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, Forgive them what they have committed here, And fit for great employment, worthy lord. Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. SCENE I.-Windsor. Garden Front of Page's House. Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans. Shal. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire. Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, and coram. Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and Cust-alorum. Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armigero. SIMPLE, servant to Slender. RUGBY, servant to Dr. Caius. Mrs. FORD. Mrs. PAGE. Mrs. ANNE PAGE, her daughter. Mrs. QUICKLY, servant to Dr. Caius. Servants to Page, Ford, &c. Shal. Ay, that I do; and have done any time these three hundred years. Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have don't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. Shal. It is an old coat. Eva. The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar beast to man, and signifies love. Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat. Slen. I may quarter, coz? Shal. You may, by marrying. Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it. |