Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship.
Sil. I thank you for your music, gentlemen.
Who is that that spake?

Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth,
You would quickly learn to know him by his

voice.

Sil. Sir Proteus, as I take it.

Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. Sil. What's your will?

Pro.

That I may compass yours. Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this: That presently you hie you home to bed. Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man! Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless, To be seduced by thy flattery,

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101

That has deceived so many with thy vows?
Return, return, and make thy love amends.
For me, by this pale queen of night I swear,
I am so far from granting thy request,
That I despise thee for thy wrongful suit;
And by and by intend to chide myself
Even for this time I spend in talking to thee.

84. This was probably one of the "holy wells" to which popular belief attributed supernatural virtues, and which were visited something as our fashionable watering-places are, but with how different feelings! The place of St. Winifred's well in Flintshire is called Holywell; but of course the ancient virtue has all been enlightened out of its waters.-H. N. H.

Pro. I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady;
But she is dead.

Jul. [Aside] 'Twere false, if I should speak it;
For I am sure she is not buried.

Sil. Say that she be; yet Valentine thy friend
Survives; to whom, thyself art witness,

I am betroth'd: and art thou not ashamed
To wrong him with thy importunacy;
Pro. I likewise hear that Valentine is dead.
Sil. And so suppose am I; for in his grave
Assure thyself my love is buried.

Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.
Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call hers thence;
Or, at the least, in hers sepulcher thine.
Jul. [Aside] He heard not that.
Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdurate,

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120

Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love,
The picture that is hanging in your chamber;
To that I'll speak, to that I'll sigh and weep:
For since the substance of your perfect self
Is else devoted, I am but a shadow;

And to your shadow will I make true love. Jul. [Aside] If 'twere a substance, you would, sure, deceive it,

And make it but a shadow, as I am.

Sil. I am very loath to be your idol, sir;

Pro

But since your falsehood shall become you
well

To worship shadows and adore false shapes
Send to me in the morning, and I'll send it:
And so, good rest.

As wretches have o'ernight

130

That wait for execution in the morn.

[Exeunt Pro. and Sil. severally.

Jul. Host, will you go?

Host. By my halidom, I was fast asleep.

Jul. Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus?

Host. Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think 'tis almost day.

Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night 140 That e'er I watch'd, and the most heaviest.

SCENE III

[Exeunt.

The same.

Enter Eglamour.

Egl. This is the hour that Madam Silvia Entreated me to call and know her mind. There's some great matter she 'ld employ me

in.

Madam, madam!

Sil.
Egl.

Enter Silvia above.

Who calls?

Your servant and your friend; One that attends your ladyship's command.

136. "Halidom." Several interpretations have been given of this word; but the one offered by Nares seems the most probable. He says it is composed of holy and dom, like kingdom; thus meaning the same as faith. Another interpretation makes it refer to the Holy Dame, that is, the Virgin Mother. A third derives it from the Saxon halig, sacred, and done, a house.-H. N. H.

141. The double superlative was often used in Shakespeare's time. It occurs frequently in the Liturgy of the "Reformed Catholic Church."-H. N. H.

Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good mor

row.

Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself:
According to your ladyship's impose,
I am thus early come to know what service
It is your pleasure to command me in.
Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman,—

10

Think not I flatter, for I swear I do not,-
Valiant, wise, remorseful, well accomplish'd:
Thou art not ignorant what dear good will
I bear unto the banish'd Valentine;
Nor how my father would enforce me marry
Vain Thurio, whom my very soul abhors.
Thyself hast loved; and I have heard thee say
No grief did ever come so near thy heart
As when thy lady and thy true love died,
Upon whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity.
Sir Eglamour, I would to Valentine,

To Mantua, where I hear he makes abode;
And, for the ways are dangerous to pass,
I do desire thy worthy company,
Upon whose faith and honor I repose.
Urge not my father's anger, Eglamour,
But think upon my grief, a lady's grief,
And on the justice of my flying hence,
To keep me from a most unholy match,

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30

8. Impose is injunction, command; a task set at college in consequence of a fault is still an imposition.-H. N. H.

21. It was common in former ages for widowers and widows to make vows of chastity in honor of their deceased wives or husbands. This will account for Silvia's having chosen Sir Eglamour as a person in whom she could confide without injury to her character.H. N. H.

Which heaven and fortune still rewards with plagues

I do desire thee, even from a heart As full of sorrows as the sea of sands, To bear me company, and go with me: If not, to hide what I have said to thee, That I may venture to depart alone. Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances; Which since I know they virtuously are placed, I give consent to go along with you; Recking as little what betideth me

Sil.

As much I wish all good befortune you.
When will you go?

This evening coming.

Egl. Where shall I meet you?

Sil.

At Friar Patrick's cell,

Where I intend holy confession.

Egl. I will not fail your ladyship. Good mor

row, gentle lady.

Sil. Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour.

40

[Exeunt severally.

SCENE IV

The same.

Enter Launce, with his Dog.

Launce. When a man's servant shall play the cur with him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up of a puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when three or four of