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 hang'd for't: sure as I live, he had suffer'd 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 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 kill'd, otherwise he had suffer'd for't thou think'st not of this now.-Nay, I 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 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? Launce. Marry, she says, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for such a present. Pro. But she receiv'd my dog? Launce. No, indeed, did she not. Here have I brought him back again. Pro. What! didst thou offer her this from me? Launce. Ay, sir: the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman's boys in the market-place; and then I offer'd 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! Stayest 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, 4 - still an end,] Monck Mason truly states that "still an end,” and "most an end," are vulgar expressions, and mean commonly, generally. Go presently, and take this ring with thee: She lov'd me well deliver'd it to me. Jul. It seems, you lov'd not her, to leave her token3. 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 her? 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; Pro. Well, give her that ring; and therewithal [Exit. Jul. How many women would do such a message? Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain'd This ring I gave him when he parted from me, To plead for that which I would not obtain; To carry that which I would have refus'd; To praise his faith which I would have disprais'd. I am my master's true confirmed love, 5 To leave her token.] "Not leave her token," folio, 1623. The error is corrected in the folio, 1632. But cannot be true servant to my master, Enter SILVIA, attended. Gentlewoman, good day. I pray you, be my mean Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Jul. Ay, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [A Picture brought. Go, give your master this: tell him from me, Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.- This is the letter to your ladyship. Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again. Jul. It may not be: good madam, pardon me. I will not look upon your master's lines: I know, they are stuff'd with protestations, Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. Sil. 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. 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. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is. Sil. How tall was she? Jul. About my stature; for, at pentecost, 7 6 at pentecost,-] "Pageants" were represented at Whitsuntide. by all men's JUDGMENTS,] Modern editions read judgment in the singu lar, but there can be no reason for departing from the authentic copy of 1623. 8 -weep A-GOOD,] i. e. in good earnest. The expression is very common in old writers. |