Away, I say! Stayest thou to vex me here? Sebastian, I have entertained thee, She lov'd me well deliver'd it to me. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.— 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. Jul. It seems, you lov'd not her, to leave her For, I have heard him say, a thousand times, As you do love your lady Silvia. She dreams on him, that has forgot her love; Pro. Well, give her that ring; and therewithal Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain'd This ring I gave him when he parted from me, To praise his faith which I would have disprais'd. Gentlewoman, good day. I pray you, be my mean To bring me where to speak with madam Silvia. Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she? Jul. If you be she, I do entreat your patience Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. His Julia gave it him at his departure. Sil. What say'st thou? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her. Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: That I have wept a hundred several times. Sil. Belike, she thinks, that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. I think she doth, and that's her cause of Jul. About my stature; for, at Pentecost, Sil. She is beholding to thee, gentle youth.- I weep myself, to think upon thy words. Were full as lovely as is this of hers; If this fond love were not a blinded god? My substance should be statue in thy stead. I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, 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. Jul. [Aside.] But love will not be spurr'd to what it loaths. Thu. What says she to my face? 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. [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? Thu. But well, when I discourse of love and peace? Jul. [Aside.] But better, indeed, when you hold Jul. [Aside.] She needs not, when she knows it cowardice. Thu. What says she to my birth? Pro. That you are well deriv'd. 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 them. Pro. That they are out by lease. Jul. Here comes the duke. Enter DUKE. Duke. How now, sir Proteus! how now, Thurio! Which of you saw Eglamour of late? Thu. Not I. Pro. Nor I. Duke. Saw you my daughter? Pro. Neither. Duke. Why, then She's fled unto that peasant Valentine, '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, 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 Forest. Enter SILVIA, and Outlaws. 1 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. 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, Sil. O Valentine! this I endure for thee. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Another Part of the Forest. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! 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, That would have forc'd 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. your presence. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo for one calm look. O! 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd, Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love, For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths Descended into perjury to love me. Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two, And that's far worse than none: better have none Than plural faith, which is too much by one. Thou counterfeit to thy true friend! Pro. Who respects friend? In love All men but Proteus. Sil. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form, I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end, And love you 'gainst the nature of love: force you. Sil. O heaven! Pro. Valentine! Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love; (For such is a friend now,) treacherous man! I am sorry I must never trust thee more, curst! O time most ac 'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst! Pro. My shame and guilt confound me.— Forgive me, Valentine. If hearty sorrow Be a sufficient ransom for offence, I tender 't here: I do as truly suffer, As e'er I did commit. Val. Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd. Pro. Look to the boy. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's 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. [Gives a ring. Pro. How! let me see. Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia. Jul. O! cry you mercy, sir: I have mistook: This is the ring you sent to Silvia. [Shows another ring. Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart I gave this unto Julia. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How? Julia! Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain'd them deeply in her heart: How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root! O Proteus! let this habit make thee blush: Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live In a disguise of love. It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds: 'tis true. O heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error the sins: Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins. Let me be blest to make this happy close: 5 Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever. Jul. And I mine. Enter Outlaws, with DUKE and THURIO. Out. A prize! a prize! a prize! Val. Forbear: forbear, I say; it is my lord the duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Duke. I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, And think thee worthy of an empress' love. I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, Duke. I grant it for thine own, whate'er it be. Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal, Are men endued with worthy qualities: Duke. Thou hast prevail'd; I pardon them, and thee: Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. Val. And as we walk along, I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to smile. What think you of this page, my lord? 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? That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; 33 [Exeunt. |