Should have been cherish'd by her child-like duty, Wilt thou reach stars because they shine on thee? Val. What would your grace have me to do in this? Duke. There is a lady, sir, in Milan, here, Whom I affect; but she is nice and coy, And nought esteems my aged eloquence: Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor, (For long agone I have forgot to court: Besides, the fashion of the time is chang'd;) How, and which way, I may bestow myself, To be regarded in her sun-bright eye. Val. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words; Dumb jewels often, in their silent kind, More than quick words, do move mind. a woman's Duke. But she did scorn a present that I sent her. Fal. A woman sometimes scorns what best contents her: Send her another; never give her o'er; For scorn at first makes after-love the more. If she do chide, tis not to have you gone; Val. Why then I would resort to her by night. Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept safe, That no man hath recourse to her by night. Fal. What lets, but one may enter at her window? Luke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground; And built so shelving, that one cannot climb it Without apparent hazard of his life. Val. Why then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords, To cast up with a pair of anchoring hooks, Would serve to scale another Hero's tower, So bold Leander would adventure it. Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood, Advise me where I may have such a ladder. Val. When would you use it? pray, sir, tell me that. Duke. This very night; for love is like a child, That longs for everything that he can come by. Tal By seven o'clock I'll get you such a ladder. Duke. But, hark thee; I will go to her alone; How shall I best convey the ladder thither? Fal. It will be light, my lord, that you may bear it Under a cloak, that is of any length. Duke. A cloak as long as thine will serve the turn? Va. Ay, my good lord. To Silvia. Duke. Then let me see thy cloak; I'll get me one of such another length. Val Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my lord. Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a cloak! I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.-. What letter is this same? What's here? And here an engine fit for my proceeding! I'll be so bold to break the seal for once. My thoughts do harbor with my Silvia nightly; And slaves they are to me, that send them flying: 0,muld their master come and go as lightly, Himself would lodge where senseless they are lying. [Reads. My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them; White I, their king, that thither them importune, Do curse the grace that with such grace hath blessed them, Because myself do want my servant's fortune: curse myself, for they are sent by me, That they should harbor where their lord should be. What's here! Siria, this night I will enfranchise thee: Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose.- Go, base intruder! over-weening slave! - Will give thee time to leave our royal court, To die, is to be banish'd from myself; Enter PROTEUS and LAUNCE. Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out. Pro. What seest thou? Val. No Valentine, if Silvia have forsworn me! What is your news? Laun. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are banish'd. Pro. That thou art banished. O, that's the news; From hence, from Silvia, and from me thy friend. Val. O, I have fed upon this woe already, And now excess of it will make me surfeit. Doth Silvia know that I am banished? them, Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offered to the doom, (Which, unrevers'd, stands in effectual force.) Those at her father's churlish feet she tender'd⚫ A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears: With them, upon her knees, her humble self; Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so became As if but now they waxed pale for woe: But neither bended knees, pure hands held up Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears, Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire; But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die. Besides, her intercession chaf d him so, When she for thy repeal was suppliant, That to close prison he commanded her, With many bitter threats of 'biding there Vul. No more; unless the next word that thou speak st Have some malignant power upon my life: Pro. Cease to lament for that thou canst not help, Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my boy, Bid him make haste, and meet me at the north gate. Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Valentine. Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine! [Exeunt VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the wit to think my master is a kind of a knave: but that's all one, if he be but one knave. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but what woman, I will not tell myself; and yet 'tis a milk-maid: yet 'tis not a maid, for she hath had gossips: yet 'tis a maid, for she is her master's maid, and serves for wages. She hath more qualities than a water spaniel,-which is much in a bare Christian. Here is the cat-log [pulling out a paper] of her conditions. Imprimis, She can fetch and carry. Why, a horse can do no more; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore, is she better than a jade. Item, She can milk; look you, a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands. Enter SPEED. Speed. How, now, signior Launce? what news with your mastership? Laun. With my master's ship? why, it is at sea. Speed. Well, your old vice still; mistake the word: What news then in your paper! Laun. The blackest news, that ever thou heard'st. Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou canst not read. Laun. I will try thee; tell me this: who begot thee? Speed. Marry, the son of my grandfather. Laun. O illiterate loiterer! it was the son of thy grandmother: this proves, that thou canst not read. Speed. Come, fool, come; try me in thy paper. Speed. Item, She brews good ale. Laun. And thereof comes the proverb,-Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale. Speed. Item, She can sew. Laun. That's as much as to say, Can she so? Speed. Item, She can knit. Laun. What need a man care for a stock with a wench, when she can knit him a stock? Speed. Item. She can wash and scour. Laun. A special virtue; for then she need not be washed and scoured. Speed. Item, She can spin. Laun. Then may I set the world on wheels when she can spin for her living. Speed. Item, She hath many nameless virtues. Laun. That's as much as to say, bastard virtues: that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no names. Speed. Here follow her vices. a St. Nicholas presided over young scholars. Speed. Item, She is not to be kissed fasting, in respect of her breath. Laun. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast: read on. Speed. Item, She hath a sweet mouth. Laun. That makes amends for her sour breath. Speed. Item, She doth talk in her sleep. Laun. It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in her talk. Speed. Item, She is slow in words. Laun. O villain, that set this down among he vices! To be slow in words, is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with 't; and place it for hei chief virtue. Speed. Item, She is proud. Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta en from her. Speed. Item, She hath no teeth. Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love crusts. Speed. Item, She is curst. Laun. Well; the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. Speed. Item, She will often pruise her liquor, Laun. If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will not, I will; for good things should be praiset. Speed. Item, She is too liberal. Laun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ down she is slow of; of her purse she shall not; for that I'll keep shut: now, of another thing she may, and that I cannot help. Well, proceed. Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit, ana more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults. Luun. Stop there; I'll have her she was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that last article: rehearse that once more. Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit, — Laun. More hair than wit,-it may be; I'l prove it: the cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more than the salt; the hair that covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater hides the less. Whats next? Speed. And more faults than hairs,— Laun. That's monstrous : 0, that that were out! Speed. And more wealth than faults. Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gr cious: Well, I'll have her; and if it be a match, as nothing is impossible, Speed. What then? Luun. Why, then I will tell thee,master stays for thee at the north gate. Speed. For me? -that thy Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath staid for a better man than thee. Speed. And must I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staid so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? pox of your love-letters! [Exit. Laun. Now will he be swinged for reading my letter: An unmannerly slave, that will thrust him self into secrets! I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's [Ex. correction. SCENE II.-The same. A room in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE and TRURIO; PROTEUS behind. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that she will love you, Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight. Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure Pro. Gone, my good lord. Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously Pro. A little time, my lord, will kill that grief. Duke. So I believe; but Thurio thinks not so. Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee (For thou hast shown some sign of good desert) Makes me the better to confer with thee. Licentious in lar gunge. Froward. & Cat. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace, Let me not live to look upon your grace. Duke. Thou know'st how willingly I would effect The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter. Pro. I do, my lord. Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant dow she opposes her against my will. Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. Duke. Then you must undertake to slander Pro. And that, my lord, I shall be loth to do: 'Tis an ill office for a gentleman; Especially, against his very friend. Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage Your slander never can endamage him: Being entreated to it by your friend. And cannot soon revolt and change your mind. Visit by night your lady's chamber-window ance. Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it, This, or else nothing, will inherit her. By aught that I can speak in his dispraise, She shall not long continue love to him. But, say this weed her love from Valentine, It follows not that she will love sir Thurio. Duke. This disciplines hows thou hast been in love. Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put in practice. Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver, Thy. Therefore, as you unwind her love from him, Let us into the city presently Lest it should ravel, and be good to none, Which must be done, by praising me as much Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this Because we know, on Valentine's report, To sort some gentlemen well skill'd in music: To give the onset to thy good advice. Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper: SCENE I.-A Forest near Mantua. Enter certain Out-laws. ACT IV. 1 Out. Fellows, stand fast; I see a passenger. Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. 3 Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about you; If not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you. Speel Sir, we are undone! these are the villains That all the travelers do fear so much. Val. My friends 1 Out. That's not so, sir; we are your enemies. 2 Out. Peace; we'll hear him. 3 Out. Ay, by my beard, will we; For he's a propers man. But yet I slew him manfully in fight, 1 Out. Why, ne'er repent it, if it were done so: Val. My youthful travel therein made me happy; Or else I often had been miserable. 3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar, It is an honorable kind of thievery. 2 Out. Tell us this: have you anything to take Val. Nothing, but my fortune. 3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentlemen, Val. Then know that I have little wealth to lose; Such as the fury of ungoverned youth A man I am, cross'd with adversity: My riches are these poor habiliments, Of which if you should here disfurnish me, You take the sum and substance that I have. 2 Out. Whither travel you? Vai. To Verona. 1 Out. Whence came you? Val. From Milan. 3 Out. Have you long sojourn'd there? Thrust from the company of awful men: 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, Fal. Some sixteen months; and longer might And, partly, seeing you are beautified have staid, f crooked fortune had not thwarted me. 1 Out. What, were you banish'd thence? Val. I was. 2 Out. For what offense? Fal. For that which now torments me to rehearse: 'kill'd a man, whose death I much repent; • Well-looking. With goodly shape; and by your own report Birdlime. • Mournful elegy. Choose out. 1 Languages. 2 Lawful. Anger, resentment To makatue of necessity, And live, as we do, in this wilderness? 3 Out. What say'st thou wilt thou be of our consort! Say, ay, and be the captain of us all: 1 Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. 2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd. Val. I take your offer, and will live with you; Provided that you do no outrages On silly women, or poor passengers. 3 Out. No, we detest such vile base practices. Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our crews, And show thee all the treasure we have got; Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Milan. Court of the Palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, I have access my own love to prefer: Y She twits me with my falsehood to my friend: Enter THURIO and Musicians. Thu. How now, sir Proteus, are you crept before us? Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for you know, that love Will creep in service where it cannot go. Thu. Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here. Pro. Sir, but I do; or else I would be hence. Thu. Whom? Silvia? Pro. Ay, Silvia, for your sake. Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not. Host. Why, my pretty youth! Jul. He plays false, father. Host. How out of tune on the strings? Jul. Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my very heart-strings. Host. You have a quick ear. Jul. Ay, I would I were deaf! it makes me have a slow heart. Host. I perceive you delight not in music. Host. Hark, what fine change is in the music! Host. You would have them always play but one thing? Jul. I would always have one play but one thing. But, host, doth this sir Proteus, that we talk on, often resort unto this gentlewoman? Host. I tell you what Launce, his man, told me, he loved her out of all nick. Jul. Where is Launce? Host. Gone to seek his dog; which, to-morrow, by his master's command, he must carry for a present to his lady. Jul. Peace! stand aside! the company parts. Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you! I will so plead That you shall say, my cunning drift excels. Thu. Where meet we? Pro. At saint Gregory's well. [Exeunt THURIO and Musiciars SILVIA appears above, at her window. 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, Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. That I may compass yours. That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen, Return, return, and make thy love amends. Let's tune, and to it lustily a while. Enter Host, at a distance; and JULIA in boy's clothes. Host. Now, my young guest! methinks you're allycholly; I pray you, why is it? Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry. Host. Come, we'll have you merry: I'll bring you where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak? Host. Hark! hark! Jul. Is he among these? Host. Ay, but peace, let's hear 'em. SONG. Who is Silvia? What is she? For me, by this pale queen of night I swear, [Music plays. To wrong him with thy importúnacy? That all our swains commend her? The heavens such grace did lend her, Is she kind, as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; Host. How now? are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? the music likes you not. Passionate reproaches. 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 her's thence, Or, at the least, in her's sepulchre thine. Jul. He heard not that. [Aside Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdúrate, 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, I will make true love. Jul. If twere a substance, you would, sure, de ceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am. [Aside Sil. I am very loth to be your idol, sir; 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. Pro. As wretches have o'er night, That wait for execution in the morn. [Exeunt PROTEUS, and SILVIA from above. Beyond all reckoning. Jul. Host, will you go? Hust. By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Host. Marry, at my house: Trust me, I think 'tis almost day. Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night SCENE III.-The same. Exl. This is the hour that madam Silvia -- Your servant, and your friend; row. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. I am thus early come, to know what service Si Eglamour, thou art a gentleman, Nor how my father would enforce me marry роп whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity. I do desire thy worthy company, Upon whose faith and honor I repose. But think upon my grief, a lady's grief; dogs, under the duke's table: he nad not been the re (bless the mark!) a pissing while; but all the chan ber smelt him. Out with the dog, says one; Whut cur is that? says another; Whip him out, says tha third; Hang him up, says the duke. 1, having been acquainted with the smell before, knew it was Crab; and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs: Friend, quoth 1, you mean to whip the dog? Ay, marry, do 1, quoth he. You do him the mor wrong, quoth I; twas I did the thing you wot of He makes me no more ado, 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: I 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 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 ma 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 market-place: and then I offered 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, Which heaven and fortune still reward with plagues. Or ne'er return again into my sight. 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. El Madam, I pity much your grievances: Which since I know they virtuously are plac'd, Recking as little what betideth me, As much I wish all good befortune you. This evening coming. Eg!. Where shall I meet you? Away, I say: stay st thou to vex me here? Sebastian, I have entertained thee, At friar Patrick's cell, Deliver it to madam Silvia: Where I intend holy confession. She loved me well, deliver'd it to me. Sil. Good-morrow, kind sir Eglamour. [Exeunt. She's dead, belike. SCENE IV. The same. Enter LAUNCE, with his dog. When a man's servant shall play the cur with Em, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up of a puppy; one that I saved from drowning when three or four of his blind brothers and sisters went t! I have taught him-even as one would say precisely, Thus I would teach a dog. I was sent deliver him, as a present to mistress Silvia, from my master; and I came no sooner into the diningchamber, but he steps me to her trencher, and steals her capon's leg. 0, 'tis a foul thing when a cur cannot keeps himself in all companies! I would tave, as one should say, one that takes upon him to be a dog indeed, to be, as it were, a dog at all tings. If I had not had more wit than he, to take fault upon me that he did, I think verily he had been hanized for 't: sure as I live, he had suffered fort, you shall judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentleman-like Holy dame, blessed lady. 7 Injunction, command. Compassionate. Caring. Restrain. Pro. Not so; I think, she lives. Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas? Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal [Exit PROTEUS 2 In the end. |