Pro. No, Valentine.

Luun. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are vanish'd. [news; Pro. That thou art banished, O that's the 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?

Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the doom,

(Which, unrevers'd, stands in effectual force,) A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears: Those at her father's churlish feet she tender'd; With them, upon her knees, her humble self; Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so be came them,

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.
Val. No more; unless the next word that
thou speak'st

If

Have some malignant power upon my life: so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear, As ending anthem of my endless dolour. Pro, Cease to lament for that thou canst not help,

And study help for that which thou lament'st. Time is the nurse and breeder of all good. Here if thou stay, thou canst not see thy love; Besides, thy staying will abridge thy life. Hope is a lover's staff; walk hence with that, And manage it against despairing thoughts. Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence; Which, being writ to me, shall be deliver'd, Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love." The time now serves not to expostulate: Come, I'll convey thee through the city gate; And, ere I part with thee, confer at large Of all that may concern thy love-affairs: As thou lov'st Silvia, though not for thyself, Regard thy danger, and along with me. Val. I pray thee, Launce, an' if thou seest my boy, north-gate. Bid him make haste, and meet me at the 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

• Grief.

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, signor 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.

Speed. Why, man, how black? {
Laun. Why, as black as ink..
Speed. Let me read them.

366

Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou can'st not read.

Laun. There; and saint Nicholas + be thy speed!

Speed. Imprimis, She can milk.
Laun. Ay, that she can.

1

Speed. Item, She brews good ale. (11.446 Luun. And therefore 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, Sne can wash and scour. Laun. A special virtue; for then she need not be washed and scoured.

Speed. Item, She can spin.

1

Laun. Then may I set the world on wheels, r 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., y

Speed. Here follow her vices. Laun, Close at the heels of her virtues. Speed. Item, She is not to be kissed fasting, in respect of her breath.

Y

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 her vices! To be slow in words, is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with't; and place it for her chief virtue.

Speed. Item, She is proud.

Speed. Item, She is curst. Laung Well; the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. 974

Speed. Item, She will often praise her liquor.

Laun. If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will not, I will; for good things should be praised.

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, and more faults than hairs, and more: wealth than faults.

Laun. 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. What's next?

Speed. And more faults than hairs,—“ Laun. That's monstrous: O that that were out !

Speeds And more wealth than faults. Laun. Why, that word makes the faults. gracioust: Well, I'll have her: and if it be a match, as nothing is impossible,Speed. What then?

་་་

Laun. Why, then I will tell thee, that thy master stays for thee at the north gate. Speed. For me?

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

Duke. This weak impress of love is as a

figure

[so.

Duke. So I believe; but Thurio thinks not 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.

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

19

The match between sir Thurio and my daughter. Pro. I do, my lord.

Duke. And also, I think,thou art not ignorant How she opposes her against my will Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was

here.

Duke. Ay, and perversely she persévers so. What might we do, to make the girl forget The love of Valentine, and love sir Thurio?

Pro. The best way is to slander Valentine With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent; Three things that women highly hold in hate.

Duke. Ay, but she'll think that it is spoke Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it: [in hate. Therefore it must, with circumstance,be spoken By one whom she esteemeth as his friend.

Duke. Then you must undertake to slander

him.. [do: Pro. And that, my lord, I shall be loth to 'Tis an ill office for a gentleman; Especially against bis very friend.

Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him,'

Your stander never can endamage him;
Therefore the office is indifferent,
Being entreated to it by your friend.
Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can
do it,
By aught that I can speak in his dispraise,
Cut.

+ Graceful.

Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you:
Are you content to be our general?
To make a virtue of necessity,

And live, as we do, in this wilderness?

3 Out. What say'st thou wilt thou be of our consórt?

Say, ay, and be the captain of us all: We'll do thee homage, and be rul'd by thee, Love thee as our commander, and our king. 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, And now I must be as unjust to Thurio. Under the colour of commending him, I have access my own love to prefer ; But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy, To be corrupted with my worthless gifts. When I protest true loyalty to her, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; When to her beauty I commend my vows, She bids me think, how I have been forsworn In breaking faith with Julia whom I lov'd: And, notwithstanding all her sudden quips *, The least whereof would quell a lover's hope, Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love, The more it grows and fawneth on her still. But here comes Thurio: now must we to her

Pro. Sir, but I do; or else I would be hence, Thu. Whom? Silvia?

Pro. Ay, Silvia, for your sake.

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'l bring you where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak?

[Music plays.

Host. Ay, that you shall.
Jul. That will be music.
Host. Hark! hark!
Jul. Is he among these?
Host. Ay: but peace, let's hear 'em,
SONG.

Who is Silvia? What is she,

That all our swains commend her?. Holy, fair, and wise is she;

The heavens suchgrace did lend her,
That she might admired be.

Is she kind, as she is fair?
For beauty lives with kindness :
Love doth to her eyes repair,

To help him of his blindness;
And, being help'd, inhabits there.
Then to Silvia let us sing,

That Silvia is excelling;
She excels each mortal thing,

Upon the dull earth dwelling:
To her let us garlands bring.

Host. How now? are you sadder than you were before?

How do you, man? the music likes you not.
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. Jul. Not a whit, when it jars so. Host. Hark,what fine change is in the music! Jul. Ay; that change is the spite. Host. You would have them always play but one thing?

Jul. Peace! stand aside! the company parts. Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you ! I will so plead,

Let's tupe, and to it lustily a while.

Thu. Where meet we?

Pro. At Saint Gregory's well.

R

Passionate reproaches.

Beyond all reckoning.14

Thu. Farewell.

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? [truth, Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice. Sil. Sir Proteus, as I take it. Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your serSit. What is your will? [vant.

Pro.

That I may compass yours. Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this,

That presently you hie you home to bed.
Thon subtle, perjur'd, false, disloyal man!
Think'st thou, I am so shallow, so conceitless,
To be seduced by thy flattery,

That hast deceiv'd 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.
Pro. I grant, sweet love, that I did love a
But she is dead.
[lady;
Jul. 'Twere false, if I should speak it,
For, I am sure, she is not buried. Aside.
Sil. Say that she be; yet Valentine, thy
Survives; to whom, thyself art witness, [friend,
I am betroth'd: And art thou not asham'd
To wrong him with thy importúnacy?

སྒྲོནRམ

Pro. Ilikewise hear, that Valentine is dead. Sil. And so, suppose, am I; for in his grave Assure thyself, my love is buried.

earth.

Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the
[thence;
Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call her's
Or, at the least, in her's sepulchre thine.
Jul. He heard not that.
[Aside.
Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdurate,
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,
deceive 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'ernight,
That wait for execution in the morn.
[Exeunt PROTEUS; and SILVIA from
above.

Jul. Host, will you go?

Host. By my hallidom*, I was fast asleep. Jul. Pray you, where lies sir Proteus? Host. Marry, at my house: Trust me, I think, 'tis almost day.

SCENE III. The same.

Enter EGLAMOUR.

[Exeunt.

Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself. According to your ladyship's imposet, I am thus early come, to know what service" It is your pleasure to command me in.

Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman,
(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, who my very soul abhorr'd.
Thyself hast lov'd; 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 honour 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,
Which heaven and fortune still reward 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 plac'd,
I give consent to go along with you;
Reckings as little what betideth me,
As much I wish all good befortune you.
When will you go?

Sil.

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 morrow, gentle lady.

Sil. Good-morrow, kind sir Eglamour.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The same.
Enter LAUNCE, with his dog.

Laun. When a man's servant shall play the

+ Pitiful. § Caring.