SIL. How tall was she?

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 judgments,
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,
For I did play a lamentable part;
Madam, 't was Ariadne, passioning
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 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.

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 air is auburn, mine is perfect yellow31:
If that be all the difference in his love,
I'll get me such a colour'd periwig 32.
Her eyes are gray as glass 33; 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 't is thy rival. O thou senseless form,

[Exit SILVIA.

⚫ Steevens interprets respective as respectful, respectable; but the true meaning of the word, and the context, show that Julia says "What he respects in her has equal relation to myself."

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 stead3.
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,

That used 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!

[Exit.

EGL. The sun begins to gild the western sky:

And now it is about the very hour

That Silvia, at friar 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 off;

If we recover that, we are sure enough.

SCENE II.-The same. A Room 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?

PRO. No; that it is too little.

THU. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder.
PRO. 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.
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.
THU. How likes she my discourse?

[Exeunt.

[Aside

By his possessions, Thurio means his lands; but Proteus, who is bantering him, alludes to his mental endowments, which he says "are out by lease"-are not in his own keeping.

DUKE.

PRO.

Saw you my daughter?

Neither.

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 intond confession

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,

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. 2 OUT. Come, bring her away.

1 OUT. Where is the gentleman that was with her?

3 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.

1 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.

[Exit.

[Exit.

[Exit.

[Exeunt.