Upon whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity. I do desire thee, even from a heart As full of sorrows as the sea of sands, Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances, Sil. This evening coming. Egl. Where shall I meet you? sil. At friar Patrick's cell, Where I intend holy confession. Sil. Good-morrow, kind sir Eglamour. [Exeunt. 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? [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, didst thou offer her this from me? Laun. Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman's boys in the marketplace: 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 unto my sight. Away, I say: Stay'st thou to vex me here? SCENE IV.-The same. Enter Launce, with A slave, that, still an end, turns me to shame. his dog. [Exit Launce. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, When a man's servant shall play the cur with Partly, that I have need of such a youth, him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up For 'tis no trusting to yon foolish lowt: That can with some discretion do my business, of a puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when But chiefly, for thy face, and thy behaviour; three or four of his blind brothers and sisters went Which (if my augury deceive me not) to it! I have taught him-even as one would say Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth: precisely, Thus I would teach a dog. I was sent Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee. to deliver him, as a present to mistress Silvia, from Go presently, and take this ring with thee, my master; and I came no sooner into the dining Deliver it to madam Silvia: chamber, but he steps me to her trencher, and She loved me well, delivered it to me. steals her capon's leg. O'tis a foul thing, when Jul. It seems you loved her not, to leave her Pro. token: Jul. Alas! Not so; I think, she lives. Pro. Why dost thy cry, alas! a cur cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have, as one should say, one that takes upon She's dead, belike. 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 hanged for't; sure as I live, he had suffered for't you shall judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentlemenlike dogs, under the duke's table: he had not been there (bless the mark) a pissing while; but all the As you do love your lady Silvia: chamber smelt him. Out with the dog, says one; She dreams on him, that has forgot her love; What cur is that? says another; Whip him out, You dote on her, that cares not for your love. says the third; Hang him up, says the duke. I,Tis pity, love should be so contrary; having been acquainted with the smell before, And thinking on it makes me cry, alas! knew it was Crab; and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs: Friend, quoth I, you mean to This letter;-that's her chamber.-Tell my lady, Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal nhip the dog? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he.. You I claim the promise for her heavenly picture. do him the more wrong, quoth I; 'twas I did the Your message done, hie home unto my chamber, thing you wot of. He makes me no more ado, Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary. but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for their servant? Nay, I'll be sworn, I have sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been executed: have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed, otherwise he had suffered for't: thou think'st not of this now!-Nay, I remember the trick you (1) Caring. (2) Restrain. (3) In the end. [Exit Proteus. This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, To praise his faith, which I would have dísprais'd. Enter Silvia, attended. Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, 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. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.Pardon me, madam; I have unadvis'd Delivered you a paper that I should not; This is the letter to your ladyship. 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? Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. I think she doth, and that's her cause of As if the garment had been made for me: I Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!-Alas, poor lady! desolate and left!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 should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was; Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what 't loaths. Thu. What says she to my face? Pro. She says, it is a fair one. Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is, Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes. Jul. 'Tis true; such pearls as put out ladies' eyes; For I had rather wink than look on them. [Aside. Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and peace? Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your peace. [Aside. Thu. What says she to my valour? Thu. What says she to my birth? Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. Thu. Wherefore? Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with 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, 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave: Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Another part of the Forest. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man Jul. That such an ass should owe1 them. [Aside. What halloing, and what stir, is this to-day? Valentine; And Eglamour is in her company. 'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: [Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, SCENE III-Frontiers of Mantua. [Exit. 1) Own. (2) Foolish. (3) Careless. The These are my mates, that make their wills their Have some unhappy passenger in chace: Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia. (Though you respect not aught your servant doth,) Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look; And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give. Val. How like a dream is this I see and hear? Pro. Unhappy, were you, madam, ere I came ; happy. Jul. And me, when he approacheth to you [Aside. presence. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine, Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next t Would I not undergo for one calm look? 0, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd,' When women cannot love where they're belov'd. Pro. How! Julia! Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's And entertain'd them deeply in her heart: belov'd. Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love, How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!❜ For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst two, Who respects friend? Sil. In love, All men but Proteus. Could have persuaded me: Now I dare not say I am sorry, I must never trust thee more, As e'er I did commit. Val. 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 is the matter? Look up; speak. 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 you mercy, sir, I have mistook; Such an immodest raiment; if shame live It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, 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 Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins: Val. Come, come, a hand from either: Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. Come not within the measure of my wrath: I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be. withal, [Gives a ring. This is the ring you sent to Silvia. Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? at depart, gave this unto Julia. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. (1) Felt, experienced. (2) Direction. (3) An allusion to cleaving the pin in archery. Are men endued with worthy qualities; And fit for great employment, worthy lord. thee; Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. (4) Length of my sword. (5) Interest. With triumphs,' mirth, and rare solemnity. Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he 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 hath fortun'd.Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear The story of your loves discovered: That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; One feast, one house, one mutual happiness. [Exeunt. In this play there is a strange mixture of know ledge and ignorance, of care and negligence. The versification is often excellent, the allusions are learned and just; but the author conveys his heroes by sea from one inland town to another in the same country: he places the emperor at Milan, and sends his young men to attend him, but never mentions him more; he makes Proteus, after a interview with Silvia, say he has only seen her picture: and, if we may credit the old copies, he has, by mistaking places, left his scenery inextricable. The reason of all this confusion seems to be, that he took his story from a novel which he sometimes followed and sometimes forsook; sometimes remembered, and sometimes forgot. That this play is rightly attributed to Shakspeare, I have little doubt. If it be taken from him, to whom shall it be given? This question may be asked of all the disputed plays, except Titus Andronicus; and it will be found more credible, that Shakspeare might sometimes sink below his highest flights, than that any other should rise up to his lowest. JOHNSON |