It is your pleasure to command me in. Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, Nor how my father would enforce me marry As full of forrows, as the fea of fands, Egl. Madam, I pity much your 3 grievances; Sil. This evening coming. Egl. Where shall I meet you? Where I intend holy confeffion. Egl. I will not fail your ladyship: Good-morrow, gentle lady. thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentlemen-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 5 the dog, fays one; What cur is that? says another; Whip bim out, says the third; Hang bim up, fays the duke: I, having been acquainted with the smell before, knew it was Crab; and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs 7: Friend, quoth I, you I mean to whip the dog? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he. You do bim the more wrong, quoth I; 'twas I did the thing you wot of. He makes no more ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How many maf☐ ☐ters would do this for their servant? nay, I'll be 15fworn 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 kill'd, otherwife he had fuffer'd for 't: thou think'st not of this now !-Nay, I remember the trick you serv'd 20 me, when I took my leave of madam Silvia; did not I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? When did'st thou see me heave up my leg, and make water against a gentlewoman's farthingale? didst thou ever fee me do such a trick? Sil. Good-morrow, kind fir Eglamour. [Exeunt. 4c brought him back again. Enter Launce with bis dog. When a man's fervant shall play the cur with him, look you, it goes hard one that I brought up of a puppy; one that I fav'd from drowning, when three or four of his blind brothers and fifters 45 as ten of yours, and therefore the gift the greater. Pro. What, didst thou offer her this from me? Laun. Ay, fir; the other squirrel was stol'n from me by the hangman's boy in the market-place: and then I offer'd her mine own; who is a dog as big went to it! I have taught him even as one would were, a dog at all things. If I had not had more 55 But, chiefly, for thy face, and thy behaviour; wit than he, to take a fault upon me that he did, I think verily he had been hang'd for 't; fure as I live, he had fuffer'd for 't: you shall judge. He Which (if my augury deceive me not) Remorseful is pitiful. 2 It was common in former ages for widowers and widows to make vows of chaftity in honour of their deceased wives or husbands. 3 Sorrows. 4 To reck is to care for. 5 That is, restrain himself. 6 A proverbial expreffion of those times. 7 This appears to have been part of the office of an usher of the table. 8 That is, in the end, at the conclusion of every business he undertakes. Go I will not look upon your master's lines: As eafily as I do tear this paper. 5 Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. For, I have heard him fay a thousand times, 10 Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong. Jul. Because, methinks, that she lov'd you as well As you do love your lady Silvia; She dreams on him, that has forgot her love: You doat on her, that cares not for your love. And, thinking on it, makes me cry, alas! Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal [Exit Protheus. Sil. What say'st thou ? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: fook her. Sil. Belike, the thinks that Protheus hath for- Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: 25 She, in my judgment, was as fair as you; Jul. How many women would do such a message? Alas, poor Protheus! thou hast entertain'd 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 1 gave him, when he parted from me, 30 That now she is become as black as I. To praise his faith, which I would have difprais'd. 35 And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown; I am my master's true confirmed love; But cannot be true fervant to my master, Unless I prove false traitor to myself. Yet will I woo for him; but yet so coldly, Which ferved me as fit, by all men's judgment, As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed. 40 For I did play a lamentable part: Enter Silvia. Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean To bring me where to speak with madam Silvia. For Theseus' perjury, and unjust flight; Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she? L Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth :- 50 Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you Would better fit his chamber, than this shadow. 55 A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful. Unless I flatter with myself too much. Her eyes are grey as glass: and so are mine; If this fond love were not a blinded god? Come shadow, come, and take this shadow up, 5 My substance should be statue in thy ftead. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Thurio, Protbeus, and Julia. Thu. Sir Protheus, what says Silvia to my suit? And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu. What, that my leg is too long? loaths. Thu. What says she to my face? 20 Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cow ardice. Thu. What says she to my birth? Pro. That you are well deriv'd. [Afide Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Afide. Thu. Confiders she my possessions ? Pro. O, ay; and pities them. Thu. Wherefore? 25 Jul. That such an ass should owe them. [Afide Pro. That they are out by leafe. 30 Jul. Here comes the duke. Enter Duke. Duke. How now, fir Protheus? how now. Thurio? Which of you faw fir Eglamour of late? Thu. Not I. Pro. Nor I. Duke. Saw you my daughter? 35 Pro. Neither. [Valentine Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant And Eglamour is in her company. "Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, 40 Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she 3 At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not 45 Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse, Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. [peace? [Exit Duke Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl, Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and 55 Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. It should be remembered, that false hair was worn These false coverings, however, were call'd periwigs. accounted a feature eminently beautiful. 3 That is, 3 Own them. [Exeunt. by the ladies, long before wigs were in fashion. respectful or respectable., & Sure means safe 2 A high forehead was in Shakspeare's time SCEN Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. 2 Out. Come, bring her away. [her? 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run us; But Moyfes, and Valerius, follow him. Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape. Rather than have false Protheus rescue me. Oh, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine, Whose life's as tender to me as my foul; And full as much (for more there cannot be) 5 I do detest false perjur'd Protheus : Therefore be gone, folicit me no more. Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, For whose dear fake thou didst then rend thy faith 1 Ost. Come, I must bring you to our captain's 15 Defcended into perjury, to love me. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! ) This shadowy defert, unfrequented woods, I better brook than flourishing peopled towns: Enter Protbeus, Silvia and Julia. Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst two, 20 Pro. In love, Who respects friend? Sil. All men but Protheus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form, 25 I'll woo you like a foldier, at arms end; And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force you. Pro. I'll force thee yield to my defire. 30 Thou friend of an ill fashion! Pro. Valentine! [love; Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or 35 Could have perfuaded me: Now I dare not say, I am forry, I must never trust thee more, 40 But count the world a stranger for thy fake. Pre. Madam, this service have I done for you, 45 Be a sufficient ransom for offence, (Though you respect not aught your servant doth) To hazard life, and rescue you from him, And lefs than this, I am fure, you cannot give. I tender it here; I do as truly suffer,. Val. Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest: 50 Who by repentance is not fatisfy'd, Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; Prs. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came: 55 Jul. Oh me unhappy! But, by my coming, I have made you happy. [py. Sil. By thy approach thou mak'ft me most unhap- Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, Pro. Look to the boy. [Faints. [the matter? Val. Why, boy! why wag! how now! what is Look up; fpeak. Jul. O good fir, my master charg'd me 60 To deliver a ring to madam Silvia; • To record anciently fignified to fing. Record is also a term still used by bird-fanciers, to express the first effays of a bird in singing. That is, reward, Pra Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Jul. Here 'tis: this is it. Pro. How! let me fee: Why this is the ring I gave to Julia. [Gives a ring. Jul. Oh, cry your mercy, fir, 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. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, It is the leffer blot, modesty finds, I hold him but a fool, that will endanger Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou, 15 Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her. I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. 20 Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be. Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: oh heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error Fills him with faults; makes him run through all fins: What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye ? Val. Come, come, a hand from either Let me be blest to make this happy close; Val. These banish'd men, that I have kep Are men endu'd with worthy qualities; 25 And let them be recall'd from their exile: Duke. Thou haft prevail'd: I pardon them, and thee; *Twere pity two such friends should long be foes. 30 Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever. Come, let us go; we will include 2 all jars Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. [death; 40 Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That you will wonder, what hath fortuned.- • That is, the reach of my anger. 2 To include is to shut up, to conclude. [Exeunt omnes MERR |