170

*Plenteously.

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 agood,*
For I did play a lamentable part:
Madam, 'twas Ariadne passíoning
For Theseus' perjury and unjust flight;
Which I so lively acted with my tears
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!
Sil. She is beholding to thee, gentle youth.
Alas, poor lady, desolate and left!

180

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 lovest

her.

Farewell.

[Exit Silvia, with attendants. 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.

190

*Head-dress.

200

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, loved and adored!
And, were there sense in his idolatry, Corresponding
My substance should be statuet in thy stead.
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
That used me so; or, else, by Jove I vow,

*Image.

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

ACT V.

SCENE I. Milan. An Abbey.

Enter EGLAMOUR.

Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky; And now it is about the very hour

That Silvia, at Friar Patrick's

meet me.

cell, should

She will not fail, for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time;

So much they spur their expedition.

See where she comes.

Enter SILVIA.

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.

ΙΟ

Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off;

If we recover that, we are sure enough. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. The DUKE's palace.

suit?

Enter THURIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA.
Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my
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?
Pro. No; that it is too little.

Thu.

I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder.

Jul. [Aside] But love will not be spurr'd to what it loathes.

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.

ΙΟ

Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,

Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.

Jul. [Aside] 'Tis true; such pearls as put out ladies' eyes;

For I had rather wink than look on them.

Thu.

How likes she my discourse?

Pro. Ill, when you talk of war.

Thu. But well, when I discourse of love and peace?

Jul. [Aside] But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.

Thu. What says she to my valour?

Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

20

Jul. [Aside] She needs not, when she knows

it cowardice.

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well derived.

Jul. [Aside] True; from a gentleman to a fool.

Thu. Considers she my possessions?

Pro. O, ay; and pities them.

Thu. Wherefore?

Jul. [Aside] That such an ass should owe*

Duke. How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio!

Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late?

Thu. Not I.

Duke. Why then,

She's fled unto that peasant Valentine;

And Eglamour is in her company.

'Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'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

40

At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not;

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

That leads toward Mantua, whither they are fled:
Dispatch, 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 revenged on Eglamour
Than for the love of reckless Silvia.

50

[Exit.

Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exit. Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love Than hate for Silvia that is gone for love. [Exit.

SCENE III. The frontiers of Mantua.
The forest.

Enter Outlaws with SILVIA.

First Out. Come, come,

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

one

Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.
Sec. Out. Come, bring her away.

First Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her?

Third Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us,

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 fled;

The thicket is beset; he cannot 'scape.

IC

First Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave:

Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,

And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee!

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Another part of the forest.
Enter VALENTINE.

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;

*Sing.

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain! What halloing and what stir is this to-day?

ΙΟ

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?

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

21

That would have forced 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. [Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear!

Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am! Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came; But by my coming I have made you happy. 30 Sil. By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy.

Jul. [Aside] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.

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.