The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

the thing you wot of. He makes me no more | A fox, to be shepherd of thy lambs; ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him many masters would do this for their servant? That with his very heart despiseth me? Nay, I'll be sworn, I have sat in the stocks for Because he loves her, he despiseth me; puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been Because I love him, I must pity him. executed I have stood on the pillory for geese This ring I gave him, when he parted from he bath killed, otherwise he had suffered for't; me, thou think'st not of this now!-Nay, I remem- To bind him to remember my good will: ber the trick you served me, when I took my And now am I (unhappy messenger) leave of madam Silvia; did not I bid thee still To plead for that, which I would not obtain; mark me, and do as I do? When didst thou see To carry that which I would have refus'd me heave up my leg, and make water against To praise his faith, which I would bave disa gentlewoman's fartingale? didst thou ever see prais'd. 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? [TO LAUNCE. Where have you been these two days loitering? Laun. Marry, Sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me.

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, she did not: here have I brought him back again.

Pro. What, did'st 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 your's, and therefore the gift the greater.

[again,

Pro. Go, get thee hence, and find my dog
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.
[Exit LAUNCE.
Sebastian, I have entertained thee,
Partly, that I have need of such a youth,
That can with some discretion do my business,
For 'tis no trusting to yon foolish lowt;
But, chiefly, for thy face and thy behaviour:
Which (if my augury deceive me not)
Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth:
Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.
Go presently, and take this ring with thee,
Deliver it to madam Silvia:

She loved me well, deliver'd it to me.

I am my master's true confirmed love;
But cannot be true servant to my master,
Unless I prove false traitor to myself,
Yet I will woo for him but yet so coldly,
As heaven, it knows, I would not have hin
speed.

Enter SILVIA, attended.
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. If you be she, I do entreat your pa

tience

To hear me speak the message I am sent on.
Sil. From whom?

Jul. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam.
Sil. O-he sends you for a picture!
Jul. Ay, 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.

Pardon me, madam; I have unadvis'd
Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.-
Deliver'd you a paper that I should not;
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.
Sil. There hold.

I will not look upon your master's lines:
I know, they are stuff'd 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.

Sil. The more shame for him that he sends it me;

For, I have heard him say a thousand times,

Jul. It seems, you loved her not, to leave her His Julia gave it him at his departure:

token:

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

As you do love your lady Silvia :

She dreams on him, that tras forgot her love;
You dote on her, that cares not for your love.
'Tis pity, love should be so contrary;
And thinking on it makes me cry, alas !

Pro. Well, give her that ring, and there.
withal

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.
Jul. How many women would do such a
message?

Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain'd]

In the end.

Though his false finger hath profan'd the ring
Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.
Jul. She thanks you.

Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost, ⚫ When all our pageants of delight were play'd, Our youth got me to play the woman's part, And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown; Which served me as fit, by all men's judgment, As if the garment had been made for me; Therefore, I know she is about my height. And, at that time, I made her weep a-good, t For I did play a lamentable part: Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning For Theseus' perjury, and unjust flight; Which I so lively acted with my tears, That my poor mistress, moved there withal, Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead, If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!

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 For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lov'st her.

Farewell.

[Exit SILVIA.

Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you
know her.-

A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful.
I hope my master's suit will be but cold,
Since she respects my mistress' love so much.
Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture: Let me see; I think,
If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of hers:
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,
Unless I flatter with myself too much.
Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow :
If that be all the difference in his love,
I'll get me such a colour'd periwig.
Her eyes are grey as glass; and so are mine :
Ay, but her forehead's low, and mine's as high.
What should it be, that he respects in her,
But I can make respective § in myself,
If this fond love were not a blinded god?
Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
For 'tis thy rival. O thou senseless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and
ador'd ;

And, were there sense in his idolatry,
My substance should be statue in thy stead.
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
That us'd me so; or else by Jove I vow,

I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes,
To make my master out of love with thee.

ACT V.

[Exit.

SCENE 1.-The same.-An Abbey.
Enter EGLAMOUR.

Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky;
And now, it is about the very hour
Tha. Silvia, at Patrick's cell, should meet me.
She will not fail; for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time;
So much they spur their expedition.

Enter SILVIA.

See, where she comes: Lady, a happy evening!
Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour !
Out at the postern by the abbey wall;
I fear I am attended by some spies.
Egl. Fear not the forest is not three leagues
If we recover that, we are sure enough. [off;
[Exeunt.

SCENE 11.-The same.-An Apartment 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?

Whitsontide.

* Head-dress.

Pro. Neither.

Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant And Eglamour is in her company. [Valentine; 'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, As he in penance wauder'd through the forest: Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she; But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it: Besides, she did intend confession

[not: At Patrick's cell this even: and there she was These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence. Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse, But mount you presently; and meet with me Upon the rising of the mountain foot [filed: That leads towards Mantua, whither they are Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

[Exit.

Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish + girl. That flies her fortune when it follows her: I'll after; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour, Than for the love of reckless; Silvia. [Erit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Erit.

Jul. And I will follow more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.

{Erit. SCENE III.-Frontiers of Mantua.-The Forest.

Enter SILVIA and OUTLAWs.
Out. Come, come,

Be patient, we must bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thousand more mischances than this

In good earnest Respectable.

3 Out. Being nimble footed, he bath outrun | And that's far worse than none; better have ns,

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

fed;

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,

I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I sit alone unseen of any,
And, to the nightingale's complaining notes,
Tune my distresses, and record my woes.
O thou, that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless;
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was!
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!
What balloing, and what stir, is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their
law,

Have some unhappy passenger in chase:
They love me well; yet I have much to do,
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes
here?
[Steps aside.

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 un-
happy.

presence.

Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your
[Aside.
Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
O heaven be judge, how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soul;
And full as much (for more there cannot be,)
I do detest false perjur'd Proteus :
Therefore be gone, solicit me no more.

Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to
death,

Would I not undergo for one calm look ?
Oh! 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd. ‡
When women cannot love where they're belov'd.
Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's be-
lov'd.

Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,

none

'Than plural faith, which is too much by one: Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

Pro. In love,

Who respects friend!

Sil. All men but Proteus.

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

I have one friend alive; thou would'st disprove Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand

Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private wound is deepest: O time, most

curst!

'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 tender 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 :-
Who by repentance is not satisfied,

Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are
pleas'd;

By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd :-
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia, I give thee.
Jul. O me, unhappy!
Pro. Look to the boy.

[Faints.

Val. Why boy! why wag! how now? what is the matter? Look up; speak.

[Gives a ring.

Jul. O good Sir, my master charg'd me
To deliver a ring to madam Silvia :
Which, out of my neglect was never done.
Pro. Where is that ring, boy?
Jul. Here 'tis: this is it.
Pro. How let me see :
Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.
Jul. O cry your mercy, Sir, I have mistook;
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

[Shows another ring. Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? at my depart,

I gave this unto Julia.

Jul. Aud 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 babit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment; if shame live
In a disguise of love:

For whose dear sake thou did'st then rend thy It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,

faith

Women to change their shapes, than men their minds.

Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis true: 0 heaven! were man

But constant, he were perfect that one error

Fills him with faults; makes him run through Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again.

Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine.
Val. Thurio give back, or else embrace thy
death;

Come not within the measure of my wrath ;
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 empresss' love.
Khow then, I here forget all former griefs,
↑ lutarost.

• Length of my sword

Plead a new sate in thy unrivall'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe,-Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her.
Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made
me happy.

I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.
Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.
Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept
withal,

Are men endued with worthy qualities:
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile :
They are reformed, civil, fuil of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
Duke. Thon hast prevail'd: I pardon them,
and thee;

Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts.
Come, let us go; we will include all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.

Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to smile: What think you of this page, my lord?

Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; be blushes.

Val. I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.

Duke. What mean you by that saying ↑

Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That you will wonder what bath fortuned.Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear The story of your loves discovered: That done, our day of mariage shall be your's; One feast, one house, one riutual happiness.

* Conclude.

[Exeunt,

✦ Masks, revels.

TIT NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR LENOX

TILDEN FOUNDA

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: With Glossarial Notes, a Sketch of ...