diff --git "a/res/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona.txt" "b/res/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona.txt" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/res/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona.txt" @@ -0,0 +1,3868 @@ +The Two Gentlemen of Verona +by William Shakespeare + + +Characters in the Play +====================== +VALENTINE, a gentleman of Verona +SPEED, his servant +PROTEUS, a gentleman of Verona +LANCE, his servant +ANTONIO, Proteus' father +PANTINO, an attendant to Antonio +JULIA, a lady of Verona +LUCETTA, her waiting-gentlewoman +SYLVIA, a lady of Milan +DUKE (sometimes Emperor), Sylvia's father +THURIO, a gentleman +EGLAMOUR, a gentleman +HOST, proprietor of an inn in Milan +OUTLAWS, living in a forest near Mantua +Servants; Musicians; Crab, a dog + + +ACT 1 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Valentine and Proteus.] + + +VALENTINE +Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus. +Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. +Were 't not affection chains thy tender days +To the sweet glances of thy honored love, +I rather would entreat thy company +To see the wonders of the world abroad +Than, living dully sluggardized at home, +Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. +But since thou lov'st, love still and thrive therein, +Even as I would when I to love begin. + +PROTEUS +Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu. +Think on thy Proteus when thou haply seest +Some rare noteworthy object in thy travel. +Wish me partaker in thy happiness +When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, +If ever danger do environ thee, +Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, +For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine. + +VALENTINE +And on a love-book pray for my success? + +PROTEUS +Upon some book I love I'll pray for thee. + +VALENTINE +That's on some shallow story of deep love, +How young Leander crossed the Hellespont. + +PROTEUS +That's a deep story of a deeper love, +For he was more than over shoes in love. + +VALENTINE +'Tis true, for you are over boots in love, +And yet you never swam the Hellespont. + +PROTEUS +Over the boots? Nay, give me not the boots. + +VALENTINE +No, I will not, for it boots thee not. + +PROTEUS What? + +VALENTINE +To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans, +Coy looks with heart-sore sighs, one fading +moment's mirth +With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights; +If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; +If lost, why then a grievous labor won; +How ever, but a folly bought with wit, +Or else a wit by folly vanquished. + +PROTEUS +So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. + +VALENTINE +So, by your circumstance, I fear you'll prove. + +PROTEUS +'Tis love you cavil at; I am not Love. + +VALENTINE +Love is your master, for he masters you; +And he that is so yoked by a fool +Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. + +PROTEUS +Yet writers say: as in the sweetest bud +The eating canker dwells, so eating love +Inhabits in the finest wits of all. + +VALENTINE +And writers say: as the most forward bud +Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, +Even so by love the young and tender wit +Is turned to folly, blasting in the bud, +Losing his verdure, even in the prime, +And all the fair effects of future hopes. +But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee +That art a votary to fond desire? +Once more adieu. My father at the road +Expects my coming, there to see me shipped. + +PROTEUS +And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. + +VALENTINE +Sweet Proteus, no. Now let us take our leave. +To Milan let me hear from thee by letters +Of thy success in love, and what news else +Betideth here in absence of thy friend. +And I likewise will visit thee with mine. + +PROTEUS +All happiness bechance to thee in Milan. + +VALENTINE +As much to you at home. And so farewell. [He exits.] + +PROTEUS +He after honor hunts, I after love. +He leaves his friends, to dignify them more; +I leave myself, my friends, and all, for love. +Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me, +Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, +War with good counsel, set the world at nought; +Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought. + +[Enter Speed.] + + +SPEED +Sir Proteus, 'save you. Saw you my master? + +PROTEUS +But now he parted hence to embark for Milan. + +SPEED +Twenty to one, then, he is shipped already, +And I have played the sheep in losing him. + +PROTEUS +Indeed a sheep doth very often stray, +An if the shepherd be awhile away. + +SPEED You conclude that my master is a shepherd, +then, and I a sheep? + +PROTEUS I do. + +SPEED Why, then my horns are his horns, whether I +wake or sleep. + +PROTEUS A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. + +SPEED This proves me still a sheep. + +PROTEUS True, and thy master a shepherd. + +SPEED Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. + +PROTEUS It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another. + +SPEED The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the +sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my +master seeks not me. Therefore I am no sheep. + +PROTEUS The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the +shepherd for food follows not the sheep. Thou for +wages followest thy master; thy master for wages +follows not thee. Therefore thou art a sheep. + +SPEED Such another proof will make me cry "baa." + +PROTEUS But dost thou hear? Gav'st thou my letter to +Julia? + +SPEED Ay, sir. I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a +laced mutton, and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a +lost mutton, nothing for my labor. + +PROTEUS Here's too small a pasture for such store of +muttons. + +SPEED If the ground be overcharged, you were best +stick her. + +PROTEUS Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound +you. + +SPEED Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for +carrying your letter. + +PROTEUS You mistake; I mean the pound, a pinfold. + +SPEED +From a pound to a pin? Fold it over and over, +'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your +lover. + +PROTEUS But what said she? + +SPEED, [nodding] Ay. + +PROTEUS Nod--"Ay." Why, that's "noddy." + +SPEED You mistook, sir. I say she did nod, and you ask +me if she did nod, and I say "ay." + +PROTEUS And that set together is "noddy." + +SPEED Now you have taken the pains to set it together, +take it for your pains. + +PROTEUS No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter. + +SPEED Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you. + +PROTEUS Why, sir, how do you bear with me? + +SPEED Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly, having nothing +but the word "noddy" for my pains. + +PROTEUS Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. + +SPEED And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. + +PROTEUS Come, come, open the matter in brief. What +said she? + +SPEED Open your purse, that the money and the matter +may be both at once delivered. + +PROTEUS, [giving money] Well, sir, here is for your +pains. What said she? + +SPEED, [looking at the money] Truly, sir, I think you'll +hardly win her. + +PROTEUS Why? Couldst thou perceive so much from +her? + +SPEED Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her, no, +not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter. +And being so hard to me that brought your mind, I +fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. +Give her no token but stones, for she's as hard as +steel. + +PROTEUS What said she? Nothing? + +SPEED No, not so much as "Take this for thy pains." +To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have +testerned me. In requital whereof, henceforth +carry your letters yourself. And so, sir, I'll commend +you to my master. + +PROTEUS +Go, go, begone, to save your ship from wrack, +Which cannot perish having thee aboard, +Being destined to a drier death on shore. +[Speed exits.] +I must go send some better messenger. +I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, +Receiving them from such a worthless post. +[He exits.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Julia and Lucetta.] + + +JULIA +But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, +Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love? + +LUCETTA +Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully. + +JULIA +Of all the fair resort of gentlemen +That every day with parle encounter me, +In thy opinion which is worthiest love? + +LUCETTA +Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind +According to my shallow simple skill. + +JULIA +What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? + +LUCETTA +As of a knight well-spoken, neat, and fine; +But, were I you, he never should be mine. + +JULIA +What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? + +LUCETTA +Well of his wealth, but of himself so-so. + +JULIA +What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus? + +LUCETTA +Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! + +JULIA +How now? What means this passion at his name? + +LUCETTA +Pardon, dear madam, 'tis a passing shame +That I, unworthy body as I am, +Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. + +JULIA +Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? + +LUCETTA +Then thus: of many good, I think him best. + +JULIA Your reason? + +LUCETTA +I have no other but a woman's reason: +I think him so because I think him so. + +JULIA +And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? + +LUCETTA +Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. + +JULIA +Why, he of all the rest hath never moved me. + +LUCETTA +Yet he of all the rest I think best loves you. + +JULIA +His little speaking shows his love but small. + +LUCETTA +Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. + +JULIA +They do not love that do not show their love. + +LUCETTA +O, they love least that let men know their love. + +JULIA I would I knew his mind. + +LUCETTA, [handing her a paper] Peruse this paper, +madam. + +JULIA [reads] "To Julia."--Say from whom. + +LUCETTA That the contents will show. + +JULIA Say, say who gave it thee. + +LUCETTA +Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from +Proteus. +He would have given it you, but I, being in the way, +Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. + +JULIA +Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! +Dare you presume to harbor wanton lines? +To whisper and conspire against my youth? +Now trust me, 'tis an office of great worth, +And you an officer fit for the place. +There, take the paper; see it be returned, +Or else return no more into my sight. + +LUCETTA, [taking the paper] +To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. + +JULIA +Will you be gone? + +LUCETTA That you may ruminate. [She exits.] + +JULIA +And yet I would I had o'erlooked the letter. +It were a shame to call her back again +And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. +What fool is she that knows I am a maid +And would not force the letter to my view, +Since maids in modesty say "no" to that +Which they would have the profferer construe "ay"! +Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love +That like a testy babe will scratch the nurse +And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod! +How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, +When willingly I would have had her here! +How angerly I taught my brow to frown, +When inward joy enforced my heart to smile! +My penance is to call Lucetta back +And ask remission for my folly past.-- +What ho, Lucetta! + +[Enter Lucetta.] + + +LUCETTA What would your Ladyship? + +JULIA +Is 't near dinner time? + +LUCETTA I would it were, +That you might kill your stomach on your meat +And not upon your maid. +[She drops a paper and then retrieves it.] + +JULIA +What is 't that you took up so gingerly? + +LUCETTA Nothing. + +JULIA Why didst thou stoop, then? + +LUCETTA +To take a paper up that I let fall. + +JULIA And is that paper nothing? + +LUCETTA Nothing concerning me. + +JULIA +Then let it lie for those that it concerns. + +LUCETTA +Madam, it will not lie where it concerns +Unless it have a false interpreter. + +JULIA +Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. + +LUCETTA +That I might sing it, madam, to a tune, +Give me a note. Your Ladyship can set-- + +JULIA +As little by such toys as may be possible. +Best sing it to the tune of "Light o' Love." + +LUCETTA +It is too heavy for so light a tune. + +JULIA +Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? + +LUCETTA +Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it. + +JULIA +And why not you? + +LUCETTA I cannot reach so high. + +JULIA, [taking the paper] +Let's see your song. How now, minion! + +LUCETTA +Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out. +And yet methinks I do not like this tune. + +JULIA You do not? + +LUCETTA No, madam, 'tis too sharp. + +JULIA You, minion, are too saucy. + +LUCETTA Nay, now you are too flat +And mar the concord with too harsh a descant. +There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. + +JULIA +The mean is drowned with your unruly bass. + +LUCETTA +Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. + +JULIA +This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. +Here is a coil with protestation. +[She rips up the paper. Lucetta begins +to pick up the pieces.] +Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. +You would be fing'ring them to anger me. + +LUCETTA +She makes it strange, but she would be best pleased +To be so angered with another letter. [She exits.] + +JULIA +Nay, would I were so angered with the same! +O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! +Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey +And kill the bees that yield it with your stings! +I'll kiss each several paper for amends. +[She picks up some pieces.] +Look, here is writ "kind Julia." Unkind Julia, +As in revenge of thy ingratitude, +I throw thy name against the bruising stones, +Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain. +And here is writ "love-wounded Proteus." +Poor wounded name, my bosom as a bed +Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly healed, +And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. +But twice or thrice was "Proteus" written down. +Be calm, good wind. Blow not a word away +Till I have found each letter in the letter +Except mine own name. That some whirlwind bear +Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock +And throw it thence into the raging sea. +Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ: +"Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus, +To the sweet Julia." That I'll tear away-- +And yet I will not, sith so prettily +He couples it to his complaining names. +Thus will I fold them one upon another. +Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will. + +[Enter Lucetta.] + + +LUCETTA +Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. + +JULIA Well, let us go. + +LUCETTA +What, shall these papers lie like telltales here? + +JULIA +If you respect them, best to take them up. + +LUCETTA +Nay, I was taken up for laying them down. +Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. +[She picks up the rest of the pieces.] + +JULIA +I see you have a month's mind to them. + +LUCETTA +Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; +I see things too, although you judge I wink. + +JULIA Come, come, will 't please you go? +[They exit.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter Antonio and Pantino.] + + +ANTONIO +Tell me, Pantino, what sad talk was that +Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? + +PANTINO +'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son. + +ANTONIO +Why, what of him? + +PANTINO He wondered that your Lordship +Would suffer him to spend his youth at home +While other men, of slender reputation, +Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: +Some to the wars to try their fortune there, +Some to discover islands far away, +Some to the studious universities. +For any or for all these exercises +He said that Proteus your son was meet, +And did request me to importune you +To let him spend his time no more at home, +Which would be great impeachment to his age +In having known no travel in his youth. + +ANTONIO +Nor need'st thou much importune me to that +Whereon this month I have been hammering. +I have considered well his loss of time +And how he cannot be a perfect man, +Not being tried and tutored in the world. +Experience is by industry achieved +And perfected by the swift course of time. +Then tell me whither were I best to send him. + +PANTINO +I think your Lordship is not ignorant +How his companion, youthful Valentine, +Attends the Emperor in his royal court. + +ANTONIO I know it well. + +PANTINO +'Twere good, I think, your Lordship sent him thither. +There shall he practice tilts and tournaments, +Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen, +And be in eye of every exercise +Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. + +ANTONIO +I like thy counsel. Well hast thou advised, +And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it, +The execution of it shall make known. +Even with the speediest expedition +I will dispatch him to the Emperor's court. + +PANTINO +Tomorrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso, +With other gentlemen of good esteem, +Are journeying to salute the Emperor +And to commend their service to his will. + +ANTONIO +Good company. With them shall Proteus go. + +[Enter Proteus reading.] + +And in good time! Now will we break with him. + +PROTEUS, [to himself] +Sweet love, sweet lines, sweet life! +Here is her hand, the agent of her heart; +Here is her oath for love, her honor's pawn. +O, that our fathers would applaud our loves +To seal our happiness with their consents. +O heavenly Julia! + +ANTONIO +How now? What letter are you reading there? + +PROTEUS +May 't please your Lordship, 'tis a word or two +Of commendations sent from Valentine, +Delivered by a friend that came from him. + +ANTONIO +Lend me the letter. Let me see what news. + +PROTEUS +There is no news, my lord, but that he writes +How happily he lives, how well beloved +And daily graced by the Emperor, +Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. + +ANTONIO +And how stand you affected to his wish? + +PROTEUS +As one relying on your Lordship's will, +And not depending on his friendly wish. + +ANTONIO +My will is something sorted with his wish. +Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed, +For what I will, I will, and there an end. +I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time +With Valentinus in the Emperor's court. +What maintenance he from his friends receives, +Like exhibition thou shalt have from me. +Tomorrow be in readiness to go. +Excuse it not, for I am peremptory. + +PROTEUS +My lord, I cannot be so soon provided. +Please you deliberate a day or two. + +ANTONIO +Look what thou want'st shall be sent after thee. +No more of stay. Tomorrow thou must go.-- +Come on, Pantino; you shall be employed +To hasten on his expedition. +[Antonio and Pantino exit.] + +PROTEUS +Thus have I shunned the fire for fear of burning +And drenched me in the sea, where I am drowned. +I feared to show my father Julia's letter +Lest he should take exceptions to my love, +And with the vantage of mine own excuse +Hath he excepted most against my love. +O, how this spring of love resembleth +The uncertain glory of an April day, +Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, +And by and by a cloud takes all away. + +[Enter Pantino.] + + +PANTINO +Sir Proteus, your father calls for you. +He is in haste. Therefore, I pray you, go. + +PROTEUS +Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto. +[Aside.] And yet a thousand times it answers "no." +[They exit.] + + +ACT 2 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Valentine and Speed, carrying a glove.] + + +SPEED +Sir, your glove. + +VALENTINE Not mine. My gloves are on. + +SPEED +Why, then, this may be yours, for this is but one. + +VALENTINE +Ha? Let me see. Ay, give it me, it's mine. +Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine! +Ah, Sylvia, Sylvia! + +SPEED, [calling] Madam Sylvia! Madam Sylvia! + +VALENTINE How now, sirrah? + +SPEED She is not within hearing, sir. + +VALENTINE Why, sir, who bade you call her? + +SPEED Your Worship, sir, or else I mistook. + +VALENTINE Well, you'll still be too forward. + +SPEED And yet I was last chidden for being too slow. + +VALENTINE Go to, sir. Tell me, do you know Madam +Sylvia? + +SPEED She that your Worship loves? + +VALENTINE Why, how know you that I am in love? + +SPEED Marry, by these special marks: first, you have +learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreathe your arms like +a malcontent; to relish a love song like a robin +redbreast; to walk alone like one that had the +pestilence; to sigh like a schoolboy that had lost his +ABC; to weep like a young wench that had buried +her grandam; to fast like one that takes diet; to +watch like one that fears robbing; to speak puling +like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when +you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, +to walk like one of the lions. When you fasted, it was +presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it +was for want of money. And now you are metamorphosed +with a mistress, that when I look on you, I +can hardly think you my master. + +VALENTINE Are all these things perceived in me? + +SPEED They are all perceived without you. + +VALENTINE Without me? They cannot. + +SPEED Without you? Nay, that's certain, for without +you were so simple, none else would. But you are so +without these follies, that these follies are within +you and shine through you like the water in an +urinal, that not an eye that sees you but is a +physician to comment on your malady. + +VALENTINE But tell me, dost thou know my Lady +Sylvia? + +SPEED She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper? + +VALENTINE Hast thou observed that? Even she I mean. + +SPEED Why, sir, I know her not. + +VALENTINE Dost thou know her by my gazing on her +and yet know'st her not? + +SPEED Is she not hard-favored, sir? + +VALENTINE Not so fair, boy, as well-favored. + +SPEED Sir, I know that well enough. + +VALENTINE What dost thou know? + +SPEED That she is not so fair as, of you, well-favored. + +VALENTINE I mean that her beauty is exquisite but her +favor infinite. + +SPEED That's because the one is painted, and the other +out of all count. + +VALENTINE How painted? And how out of count? + +SPEED Marry, sir, so painted to make her fair, that no +man counts of her beauty. + +VALENTINE How esteem'st thou me? I account of her +beauty. + +SPEED You never saw her since she was deformed. + +VALENTINE How long hath she been deformed? + +SPEED Ever since you loved her. + +VALENTINE I have loved her ever since I saw her, and +still I see her beautiful. + +SPEED If you love her, you cannot see her. + +VALENTINE Why? + +SPEED Because love is blind. O, that you had mine eyes, +or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to +have when you chid at Sir Proteus for going +ungartered! + +VALENTINE What should I see then? + +SPEED Your own present folly and her passing deformity; +for he, being in love, could not see to garter his +hose, and you, being in love, cannot see to put on +your hose. + +VALENTINE Belike, boy, then you are in love, for last +morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. + +SPEED True, sir, I was in love with my bed. I thank you, +you swinged me for my love, which makes me the +bolder to chide you for yours. + +VALENTINE In conclusion, I stand affected to her. + +SPEED I would you were set, so your affection would +cease. + +VALENTINE Last night she enjoined me to write some +lines to one she loves. + +SPEED And have you? + +VALENTINE I have. + +SPEED Are they not lamely writ? + +VALENTINE No, boy, but as well as I can do them. +Peace, here she comes. + +[Enter Sylvia.] + + +SPEED, [aside] O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet! +Now will he interpret to her. + +VALENTINE Madam and mistress, a thousand +good-morrows. + +SPEED, [aside] O, give ye good ev'n! Here's a million of +manners. + +SYLVIA Sir Valentine, and servant, to you two +thousand. + +SPEED, [aside] He should give her interest, and she +gives it him. + +VALENTINE +As you enjoined me, I have writ your letter +Unto the secret, nameless friend of yours, +Which I was much unwilling to proceed in +But for my duty to your Ladyship. +[He gives her a paper.] + +SYLVIA +I thank you, gentle servant, 'tis very clerkly done. + +VALENTINE +Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off, +For, being ignorant to whom it goes, +I writ at random, very doubtfully. + +SYLVIA +Perchance you think too much of so much pains? + +VALENTINE +No, madam. So it stead you, I will write, +Please you command, a thousand times as much, +And yet-- + +SYLVIA +A pretty period. Well, I guess the sequel; +And yet I will not name it And yet I care not. +And yet take this again. [She holds out the paper.] +And yet I thank you, +Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more. + +SPEED, [aside] +And yet you will; and yet another "yet." + +VALENTINE +What means your Ladyship? Do you not like it? + +SYLVIA +Yes, yes, the lines are very quaintly writ, +But, since unwillingly, take them again. +Nay, take them. [She again offers him the paper.] + +VALENTINE Madam, they are for you. + +SYLVIA +Ay, ay. You writ them, sir, at my request, +But I will none of them. They are for you. +I would have had them writ more movingly. + +VALENTINE, [taking the paper] +Please you, I'll write your Ladyship another. + +SYLVIA +And when it's writ, for my sake read it over, +And if it please you, so; if not, why, so. + +VALENTINE If it please me, madam? What then? + +SYLVIA +Why, if it please you, take it for your labor. +And so good-morrow, servant. [Sylvia exits.] + +SPEED, [aside] +O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible +As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a +steeple! +My master sues to her, and she hath taught her +suitor, +He being her pupil, to become her tutor. +O excellent device! Was there ever heard a better? +That my master, being scribe, to himself should +write the letter? + +VALENTINE How now, sir? What, are you reasoning +with yourself? + +SPEED Nay, I was rhyming. 'Tis you that have the +reason. + +VALENTINE To do what? + +SPEED To be a spokesman from Madam Sylvia. + +VALENTINE To whom? + +SPEED To yourself. Why, she woos you by a figure. + +VALENTINE What figure? + +SPEED By a letter, I should say. + +VALENTINE Why, she hath not writ to me! + +SPEED What need she when she hath made you write +to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest? + +VALENTINE No, believe me. + +SPEED No believing you indeed, sir. But did you perceive +her earnest? + +VALENTINE She gave me none, except an angry word. + +SPEED Why, she hath given you a letter. + +VALENTINE That's the letter I writ to her friend. + +SPEED And that letter hath she delivered, and there an +end. + +VALENTINE I would it were no worse. + +SPEED I'll warrant you, 'tis as well. +For often have you writ to her, and she, in modesty +Or else for want of idle time, could not again reply, +Or fearing else some messenger that might her +mind discover, +Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto +her lover. +All this I speak in print, for in print I found it. Why +muse you, sir? 'Tis dinnertime. + +VALENTINE I have dined. + +SPEED Ay, but hearken, sir, though the chameleon love +can feed on the air, I am one that am nourished by +my victuals and would fain have meat. O, be not like +your mistress! Be moved, be moved. +[They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Proteus and Julia.] + + +PROTEUS Have patience, gentle Julia. + +JULIA I must where is no remedy. + +PROTEUS +When possibly I can, I will return. + +JULIA +If you turn not, you will return the sooner. +Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake. +[She gives him a ring.] + +PROTEUS, [giving her a ring] +Why, then we'll make exchange. Here, take you this. + +JULIA +And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. + +PROTEUS +Here is my hand for my true constancy. +And when that hour o'erslips me in the day +Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake, +The next ensuing hour some foul mischance +Torment me for my love's forgetfulness. +My father stays my coming. Answer not. +The tide is now--nay, not thy tide of tears; +That tide will stay me longer than I should. +Julia, farewell. [Julia exits.] +What, gone without a word? +Ay, so true love should do. It cannot speak, +For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it. + +[Enter Pantino.] + + +PANTINO Sir Proteus, you are stayed for. + +PROTEUS Go. I come, I come. +[Aside.] Alas, this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. +[They exit.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter Lance, weeping, with his dog, Crab.] + + +LANCE Nay,'twill be this hour ere I have done weeping. +All the kind of the Lances have this very fault. I have +received my proportion like the Prodigious Son and +am going with Sir Proteus to the Imperial's court. I +think Crab my dog be the sourest-natured dog that +lives: my mother weeping, my father wailing, my +sister crying, our maid howling, our cat wringing +her hands, and all our house in a great perplexity, +yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear. He +is a stone, a very pibble stone, and has no more pity +in him than a dog. A Jew would have wept to have +seen our parting. Why, my grandam, having no +eyes, look you, wept herself blind at my parting. +Nay, I'll show you the manner of it. [He takes off his +shoes.] This shoe is my father. No, this left shoe is +my father; no, no, this left shoe is my mother. Nay, +that cannot be so neither. Yes, it is so, it is so; it hath +the worser sole. This shoe with the hole in it is my +mother; and this my father. A vengeance on 't, there +'tis! Now sir, this staff is my sister, for, look you, she +is as white as a lily and as small as a wand. This hat +is Nan, our maid. I am the dog. No, the dog is +himself, and I am the dog. O, the dog is me, and I +am myself. Ay, so, so. Now come I to my father: +"Father, your blessing." Now should not the shoe +speak a word for weeping. Now should I kiss my +father. [He kisses one shoe.] Well, he weeps on. Now +come I to my mother. O, that she could speak now +like a wold woman! Well, I kiss her. [He kisses the +other shoe.] Why, there 'tis; here's my mother's +breath up and down. Now come I to my sister. Mark +the moan she makes! Now the dog all this while +sheds not a tear nor speaks a word. But see how I +lay the dust with my tears. + +[Enter Pantino.] + + +PANTINO Lance, away, away! Aboard. Thy master is +shipped, and thou art to post after with oars. What's +the matter? Why weep'st thou, man? Away, ass. +You'll lose the tide if you tarry any longer. + +LANCE It is no matter if the tied were lost, for it is the +unkindest tied that ever any man tied. + +PANTINO What's the unkindest tide? + +LANCE Why, he that's tied here, Crab my dog. + +PANTINO Tut, man. I mean thou 'lt lose the flood and, in +losing the flood, lose thy voyage and, in losing thy +voyage, lose thy master and, in losing thy master, +lose thy service and, in losing thy service--[Lance +covers Pantino's mouth.] Why dost thou stop my +mouth? + +LANCE For fear thou shouldst lose thy tongue. + +PANTINO Where should I lose my tongue? + +LANCE In thy tale. + +PANTINO In thy tail! + +LANCE Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, +and the service, and the tied. Why, man, if the river +were dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the +wind were down, I could drive the boat with my +sighs. + +PANTINO Come. Come away, man. I was sent to call +thee. + +LANCE Sir, call me what thou dar'st. + +PANTINO Wilt thou go? + +LANCE Well, I will go. +[They exit.] + +Scene 4 +======= +[Enter Valentine, Sylvia, Thurio, and Speed.] + + +SYLVIA Servant! + +VALENTINE Mistress? + +SPEED Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you. + +VALENTINE Ay, boy, it's for love. + +SPEED Not of you. + +VALENTINE Of my mistress, then. + +SPEED 'Twere good you knocked him. + +SYLVIA, [to Valentine] Servant, you are sad. + +VALENTINE Indeed, madam, I seem so. + +THURIO Seem you that you are not? + +VALENTINE Haply I do. + +THURIO So do counterfeits. + +VALENTINE So do you. + +THURIO What seem I that I am not? + +VALENTINE Wise. + +THURIO What instance of the contrary? + +VALENTINE Your folly. + +THURIO And how quote you my folly? + +VALENTINE I quote it in your jerkin. + +THURIO My "jerkin" is a doublet. + +VALENTINE Well, then, I'll double your folly. + +THURIO How! + +SYLVIA What, angry, Sir Thurio? Do you change color? + +VALENTINE Give him leave, madam. He is a kind of +chameleon. + +THURIO That hath more mind to feed on your blood +than live in your air. + +VALENTINE You have said, sir. + +THURIO Ay, sir, and done too for this time. + +VALENTINE I know it well, sir. You always end ere you +begin. + +SYLVIA A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly +shot off. + +VALENTINE 'Tis indeed, madam. We thank the giver. + +SYLVIA Who is that, servant? + +VALENTINE Yourself, sweet lady, for you gave the fire. +Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your Ladyship's +looks and spends what he borrows kindly in your +company. + +THURIO Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall +make your wit bankrupt. + +VALENTINE I know it well, sir. You have an exchequer +of words and, I think, no other treasure to give your +followers, for it appears by their bare liveries that +they live by your bare words. + +SYLVIA +No more, gentlemen, no more. Here comes my +father. + +[Enter Duke.] + + +DUKE +Now, daughter Sylvia, you are hard beset.-- +Sir Valentine, your father is in good health. +What say you to a letter from your friends +Of much good news? + +VALENTINE My lord, I will be thankful +To any happy messenger from thence. + +DUKE +Know you Don Antonio, your countryman? + +VALENTINE +Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman +To be of worth and worthy estimation, +And not without desert so well reputed. + +DUKE Hath he not a son? + +VALENTINE +Ay, my good lord, a son that well deserves +The honor and regard of such a father. + +DUKE You know him well? + +VALENTINE +I knew him as myself, for from our infancy +We have conversed and spent our hours together, +And though myself have been an idle truant, +Omitting the sweet benefit of time +To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection, +Yet hath Sir Proteus--for that's his name-- +Made use and fair advantage of his days: +His years but young, but his experience old; +His head unmellowed, but his judgment ripe; +And in a word--for far behind his worth +Comes all the praises that I now bestow-- +He is complete in feature and in mind, +With all good grace to grace a gentleman. + +DUKE +Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good, +He is as worthy for an empress' love, +As meet to be an emperor's counselor. +Well, sir, this gentleman is come to me +With commendation from great potentates, +And here he means to spend his time awhile. +I think 'tis no unwelcome news to you. + +VALENTINE +Should I have wished a thing, it had been he. + +DUKE +Welcome him then according to his worth. +Sylvia, I speak to you--and you, Sir Thurio. +For Valentine, I need not cite him to it. +I will send him hither to you presently. [Duke exits.] + +VALENTINE +This is the gentleman I told your Ladyship +Had come along with me but that his mistress +Did hold his eyes locked in her crystal looks. + +SYLVIA +Belike that now she hath enfranchised them +Upon some other pawn for fealty. + +VALENTINE +Nay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still. + +SYLVIA +Nay, then, he should be blind, and being blind +How could he see his way to seek out you? + +VALENTINE +Why, lady, love hath twenty pair of eyes. + +THURIO +They say that Love hath not an eye at all. + +VALENTINE +To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself. +Upon a homely object, Love can wink. + +SYLVIA +Have done, have done. Here comes the gentleman. + +[Enter Proteus.] + + +VALENTINE +Welcome, dear Proteus.--Mistress, I beseech you +Confirm his welcome with some special favor. + +SYLVIA +His worth is warrant for his welcome hither, +If this be he you oft have wished to hear from. + +VALENTINE +Mistress, it is. Sweet lady, entertain him +To be my fellow-servant to your Ladyship. + +SYLVIA +Too low a mistress for so high a servant. + +PROTEUS +Not so, sweet lady, but too mean a servant +To have a look of such a worthy mistress. + +VALENTINE +Leave off discourse of disability. +Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant. + +PROTEUS +My duty will I boast of, nothing else. + +SYLVIA +And duty never yet did want his meed. +Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress. + +PROTEUS +I'll die on him that says so but yourself. + +SYLVIA That you are welcome? + +PROTEUS That you are worthless. + +[Enter Servant.] + + +SERVANT +Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. + +SYLVIA +I wait upon his pleasure. [Servant exits.] Come, Sir +Thurio, +Go with me.--Once more, new servant, welcome. +I'll leave you to confer of home affairs. +When you have done, we look to hear from you. + +PROTEUS +We'll both attend upon your Ladyship. +[Sylvia and Thurio exit.] + +VALENTINE +Now tell me, how do all from whence you came? + +PROTEUS +Your friends are well and have them much +commended. + +VALENTINE +And how do yours? + +PROTEUS I left them all in health. + +VALENTINE +How does your lady? And how thrives your love? + +PROTEUS +My tales of love were wont to weary you. +I know you joy not in a love discourse. + +VALENTINE +Ay, Proteus, but that life is altered now. +I have done penance for contemning Love, +Whose high imperious thoughts have punished me +With bitter fasts, with penitential groans, +With nightly tears, and daily heartsore sighs, +For in revenge of my contempt of love, +Love hath chased sleep from my enthralled eyes +And made them watchers of mine own heart's +sorrow. +O gentle Proteus, Love's a mighty lord +And hath so humbled me as I confess +There is no woe to his correction, +Nor, to his service, no such joy on Earth. +Now, no discourse except it be of love. +Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep +Upon the very naked name of Love. + +PROTEUS +Enough; I read your fortune in your eye. +Was this the idol that you worship so? + +VALENTINE +Even she. And is she not a heavenly saint? + +PROTEUS +No, but she is an earthly paragon. + +VALENTINE +Call her divine. + +PROTEUS I will not flatter her. + +VALENTINE +O, flatter me, for love delights in praises. + +PROTEUS +When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills, +And I must minister the like to you. + +VALENTINE +Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, +Yet let her be a principality, +Sovereign to all the creatures on the Earth. + +PROTEUS +Except my mistress. + +VALENTINE Sweet, except not any, +Except thou wilt except against my love. + +PROTEUS +Have I not reason to prefer mine own? + +VALENTINE +And I will help thee to prefer her too: +She shall be dignified with this high honor-- +To bear my lady's train, lest the base earth +Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss +And, of so great a favor growing proud, +Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower +And make rough winter everlastingly. + +PROTEUS +Why, Valentine, what braggartism is this? + +VALENTINE +Pardon me, Proteus, all I can is nothing +To her whose worth makes other worthies +nothing. +She is alone-- + +PROTEUS Then let her alone. + +VALENTINE +Not for the world! Why, man, she is mine own, +And I as rich in having such a jewel +As twenty seas if all their sand were pearl, +The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold. +Forgive me that I do not dream on thee, +Because thou seest me dote upon my love. +My foolish rival, that her father likes +Only for his possessions are so huge, +Is gone with her along, and I must after, +For love, thou know'st, is full of jealousy. + +PROTEUS But she loves you? + +VALENTINE +Ay, and we are betrothed; nay more, our marriage +hour, +With all the cunning manner of our flight +Determined of: how I must climb her window, +The ladder made of cords, and all the means +Plotted and 'greed on for my happiness. +Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber, +In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel. + +PROTEUS +Go on before. I shall inquire you forth. +I must unto the road to disembark +Some necessaries that I needs must use, +And then I'll presently attend you. + +VALENTINE Will you make haste? + +PROTEUS I will. [Valentine and Speed exit.] +Even as one heat another heat expels, +Or as one nail by strength drives out another, +So the remembrance of my former love +Is by a newer object quite forgotten. +Is it mine eye, or Valentine's praise, +Her true perfection, or my false transgression, +That makes me reasonless to reason thus? +She is fair, and so is Julia that I love-- +That I did love, for now my love is thawed, +Which like a waxen image 'gainst a fire +Bears no impression of the thing it was. +Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold, +And that I love him not as I was wont. +O, but I love his lady too too much, +And that's the reason I love him so little. +How shall I dote on her with more advice +That thus without advice begin to love her? +'Tis but her picture I have yet beheld, +And that hath dazzled my reason's light; +But when I look on her perfections, +There is no reason but I shall be blind. +If I can check my erring love, I will; +If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. +[He exits.] + +Scene 5 +======= +[Enter Speed and Lance, with his dog, Crab.] + + +SPEED Lance, by mine honesty, welcome to Padua. + +LANCE Forswear not thyself, sweet youth, for I am not +welcome. I reckon this always: that a man is never +undone till he be hanged, nor never welcome to a +place till some certain shot be paid and the Hostess +say welcome. + +SPEED Come on, you madcap. I'll to the alehouse with +you presently, where, for one shot of five pence, +thou shalt have five thousand welcomes. But, sirrah, +how did thy master part with Madam Julia? + +LANCE Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted +very fairly in jest. + +SPEED But shall she marry him? + +LANCE No. + +SPEED How then? Shall he marry her? + +LANCE No, neither. + +SPEED What, are they broken? + +LANCE No, they are both as whole as a fish. + +SPEED Why then, how stands the matter with them? + +LANCE Marry, thus: when it stands well with him, it +stands well with her. + +SPEED What an ass art thou! I understand thee not. + +LANCE What a block art thou that thou canst not! My +staff understands me. + +SPEED What thou sayst? + +LANCE Ay, and what I do too. Look thee, I'll but lean, +and my staff understands me. + +SPEED It stands under thee indeed. + +LANCE Why, "stand under" and "understand" is all +one. + +SPEED But tell me true, will 't be a match? + +LANCE Ask my dog. If he say "Ay," it will; if he say +"No," it will; if he shake his tail and say nothing, it +will. + +SPEED The conclusion is, then, that it will. + +LANCE Thou shalt never get such a secret from me but +by a parable. + +SPEED 'Tis well that I get it so. But, Lance, how sayst +thou that my master is become a notable lover? + +LANCE I never knew him otherwise. + +SPEED Than how? + +LANCE A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be. + +SPEED Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistak'st me. + +LANCE Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master. + +SPEED I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover. + +LANCE Why, I tell thee, I care not though he burn +himself in love. If thou wilt, go with me to the +alehouse; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not +worth the name of a Christian. + +SPEED Why? + +LANCE Because thou hast not so much charity in thee +as to go to the ale with a Christian. Wilt thou go? + +SPEED At thy service. +[They exit.] + +Scene 6 +======= +[Enter Proteus alone.] + + +PROTEUS +To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn. +To love fair Sylvia, shall I be forsworn. +To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn. +And ev'n that power which gave me first my oath +Provokes me to this threefold perjury. +Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear. +O sweet-suggesting Love, if thou hast sinned, +Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it. +At first I did adore a twinkling star, +But now I worship a celestial sun; +Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken, +And he wants wit that wants resolved will +To learn his wit t' exchange the bad for better. +Fie, fie, unreverend tongue, to call her bad +Whose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferred +With twenty thousand soul-confirming oaths. +I cannot leave to love, and yet I do. +But there I leave to love where I should love. +Julia I lose, and Valentine I lose; +If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; +If I lose them, thus find I by their loss: +For Valentine, myself; for Julia, Sylvia. +I to myself am dearer than a friend, +For love is still most precious in itself, +And Sylvia--witness heaven that made her fair-- +Shows Julia but a swarthy Ethiope. +I will forget that Julia is alive, +Rememb'ring that my love to her is dead; +And Valentine I'll hold an enemy, +Aiming at Sylvia as a sweeter friend. +I cannot now prove constant to myself +Without some treachery used to Valentine. +This night he meaneth with a corded ladder +To climb celestial Sylvia's chamber window, +Myself in counsel his competitor. +Now presently I'll give her father notice +Of their disguising and pretended flight, +Who, all enraged, will banish Valentine, +For Thurio he intends shall wed his daughter. +But Valentine being gone, I'll quickly cross +By some sly trick blunt Thurio's dull proceeding. +Love, lend me wings to make my purpose swift, +As thou hast lent me wit to plot this drift. +[He exits.] + +Scene 7 +======= +[Enter Julia and Lucetta.] + + +JULIA +Counsel, Lucetta. Gentle girl, assist me; +And ev'n in kind love I do conjure thee-- +Who art the table wherein all my thoughts +Are visibly charactered and engraved-- +To lesson me and tell me some good mean +How with my honor I may undertake +A journey to my loving Proteus. + +LUCETTA +Alas, the way is wearisome and long. + +JULIA +A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary +To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; +Much less shall she that hath Love's wings to fly, +And when the flight is made to one so dear, +Of such divine perfection, as Sir Proteus. + +LUCETTA +Better forbear till Proteus make return. + +JULIA +O, know'st thou not his looks are my soul's food? +Pity the dearth that I have pined in +By longing for that food so long a time. +Didst thou but know the inly touch of love, +Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow +As seek to quench the fire of love with words. + +LUCETTA +I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire, +But qualify the fire's extreme rage, +Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason. + +JULIA +The more thou damm'st it up, the more it burns. +The current that with gentle murmur glides, +Thou know'st, being stopped, impatiently doth rage, +But when his fair course is not hindered, +He makes sweet music with th' enameled stones, +Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge +He overtaketh in his pilgrimage; +And so by many winding nooks he strays +With willing sport to the wild ocean. +Then let me go and hinder not my course. +I'll be as patient as a gentle stream +And make a pastime of each weary step +Till the last step have brought me to my love, +And there I'll rest as after much turmoil +A blessed soul doth in Elysium. + +LUCETTA +But in what habit will you go along? + +JULIA +Not like a woman, for I would prevent +The loose encounters of lascivious men. +Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds +As may beseem some well-reputed page. + +LUCETTA +Why, then, your Ladyship must cut your hair. + +JULIA +No, girl, I'll knit it up in silken strings +With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots. +To be fantastic may become a youth +Of greater time than I shall show to be. + +LUCETTA +What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches? + +JULIA +That fits as well as "Tell me, good my lord, +What compass will you wear your farthingale?" +Why, ev'n what fashion thou best likes, Lucetta. + +LUCETTA +You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam. + +JULIA +Out, out, Lucetta. That will be ill-favored. + +LUCETTA +A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin +Unless you have a codpiece to stick pins on. + +JULIA +Lucetta, as thou lov'st me, let me have +What thou think'st meet and is most mannerly. +But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me +For undertaking so unstaid a journey? +I fear me it will make me scandalized. + +LUCETTA +If you think so, then stay at home and go not. + +JULIA Nay, that I will not. + +LUCETTA +Then never dream on infamy, but go. +If Proteus like your journey when you come, +No matter who's displeased when you are gone. +I fear me he will scarce be pleased withal. + +JULIA +That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear. +A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears, +And instances of infinite of love +Warrant me welcome to my Proteus. + +LUCETTA +All these are servants to deceitful men. + +JULIA +Base men that use them to so base effect! +But truer stars did govern Proteus' birth. +His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles, +His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate, +His tears pure messengers sent from his heart, +His heart as far from fraud as heaven from Earth. + +LUCETTA +Pray heav'n he prove so when you come to him. + +JULIA +Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not that wrong +To bear a hard opinion of his truth. +Only deserve my love by loving him. +And presently go with me to my chamber +To take a note of what I stand in need of +To furnish me upon my longing journey. +All that is mine I leave at thy dispose, +My goods, my lands, my reputation. +Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence. +Come, answer not, but to it presently. +I am impatient of my tarriance. +[They exit.] + + +ACT 3 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Duke, Thurio, and Proteus.] + + +DUKE +Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile; +We have some secrets to confer about. [Thurio exits.] +Now tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me? + +PROTEUS +My gracious lord, that which I would discover +The law of friendship bids me to conceal, +But when I call to mind your gracious favors +Done to me, undeserving as I am, +My duty pricks me on to utter that +Which else no worldly good should draw from me. +Know, worthy prince, Sir Valentine my friend +This night intends to steal away your daughter; +Myself am one made privy to the plot. +I know you have determined to bestow her +On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates, +And should she thus be stol'n away from you, +It would be much vexation to your age. +Thus, for my duty's sake, I rather chose +To cross my friend in his intended drift +Than, by concealing it, heap on your head +A pack of sorrows which would press you down, +Being unprevented, to your timeless grave. + +DUKE +Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care, +Which to requite command me while I live. +This love of theirs myself have often seen, +Haply when they have judged me fast asleep, +And oftentimes have purposed to forbid +Sir Valentine her company and my court. +But fearing lest my jealous aim might err +And so, unworthily, disgrace the man-- +A rashness that I ever yet have shunned-- +I gave him gentle looks, thereby to find +That which thyself hast now disclosed to me. +And that thou mayst perceive my fear of this, +Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested, +I nightly lodge her in an upper tower, +The key whereof myself have ever kept, +And thence she cannot be conveyed away. + +PROTEUS +Know, noble lord, they have devised a mean +How he her chamber-window will ascend +And with a corded ladder fetch her down; +For which the youthful lover now is gone, +And this way comes he with it presently, +Where, if it please you, you may intercept him. +But, good my lord, do it so cunningly +That my discovery be not aimed at; +For love of you, not hate unto my friend, +Hath made me publisher of this pretense. + +DUKE +Upon mine honor, he shall never know +That I had any light from thee of this. + +PROTEUS +Adieu, my lord. Sir Valentine is coming. +[Proteus exits.] + +[Enter Valentine.] + + +DUKE +Sir Valentine, whither away so fast? + +VALENTINE +Please it your Grace, there is a messenger +That stays to bear my letters to my friends, +And I am going to deliver them. + +DUKE Be they of much import? + +VALENTINE +The tenor of them doth but signify +My health and happy being at your court. + +DUKE +Nay then, no matter. Stay with me awhile; +I am to break with thee of some affairs +That touch me near, wherein thou must be secret. +'Tis not unknown to thee that I have sought +To match my friend Sir Thurio to my daughter. + +VALENTINE +I know it well, my lord, and sure the match +Were rich and honorable. Besides, the gentleman +Is full of virtue, bounty, worth, and qualities +Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter. +Cannot your Grace win her to fancy him? + +DUKE +No. Trust me, she is peevish, sullen, froward, +Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty, +Neither regarding that she is my child +Nor fearing me as if I were her father; +And may I say to thee, this pride of hers, +Upon advice, hath drawn my love from her, +And where I thought the remnant of mine age +Should have been cherished by her childlike duty, +I now am full resolved to take a wife +And turn her out to who will take her in. +Then let her beauty be her wedding dower, +For me and my possessions she esteems not. + +VALENTINE +What would your Grace have me to do in this? + +DUKE +There is a lady in Verona 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 changed-- +How and which way I may bestow myself +To be regarded in her sun-bright eye. + +VALENTINE +Win her with gifts if she respect not words; +Dumb jewels often in their silent kind +More than quick words do move a woman's mind. + +DUKE +But she did scorn a present that I sent her. + +VALENTINE +A woman sometime 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 frown, 'tis not in hate of you, +But rather to beget more love in you. +If she do chide, 'tis not to have you gone, +Forwhy the fools are mad if left alone. +Take no repulse, whatever she doth say; +For "get you gone" she doth not mean "away." +Flatter and praise, commend, extol their graces; +Though ne'er so black, say they have angels' faces. +That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man +If with his tongue he cannot win a woman. + +DUKE +But she I mean is promised by her friends +Unto a youthful gentleman of worth +And kept severely from resort of men, +That no man hath access by day to her. + +VALENTINE +Why, then, I would resort to her by night. + +DUKE +Ay, but the doors be locked and keys kept safe, +That no man hath recourse to her by night. + +VALENTINE +What lets but one may enter at her window? + +DUKE +Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground, +And built so shelving that one cannot climb it +Without apparent hazard of his life. + +VALENTINE +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. + +VALENTINE +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. + +VALENTINE +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? + +VALENTINE +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? + +VALENTINE +Ay, my good lord. + +DUKE Then let me see thy cloak; +I'll get me one of such another length. + +VALENTINE +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. +[Pulling off the cloak, he reveals +a rope ladder and a paper.] +What letter is this same? What's here? [(Reads.)] To +Sylvia. +And here an engine fit for my proceeding. +I'll be so bold to break the seal for once. +[Reads.] + My thoughts do harbor with my Sylvia nightly, + And slaves they are to me that send them flying. + O, could their master come and go as lightly, + Himself would lodge where, senseless, they are + lying. + My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them, + While I, their king, that thither them importune, + Do curse the grace that with such grace hath blest +them, + Because myself do want my servants' fortune. + I curse myself, for they are sent by me, + That they should harbor where their lord should be. +What's here? +[(Reads.)] Sylvia, this night I will enfranchise thee. +'Tis so. And here's the ladder for the purpose. +Why, Phaeton--for thou art Merops' son-- +Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car +And with thy daring folly burn the world? +Wilt thou reach stars because they shine on thee? +Go, base intruder, overweening slave, +Bestow thy fawning smiles on equal mates +And think my patience, more than thy desert, +Is privilege for thy departure hence. +Thank me for this more than for all the favors +Which all too much I have bestowed on thee. +But if thou linger in my territories +Longer than swiftest expedition +Will give thee time to leave our royal court, +By heaven, my wrath shall far exceed the love +I ever bore my daughter or thyself. +Begone. I will not hear thy vain excuse, +But, as thou lov'st thy life, make speed from hence. +[He exits.] + +VALENTINE +And why not death, rather than living torment? +To die is to be banished from myself, +And Sylvia is myself; banished from her +Is self from self--a deadly banishment. +What light is light if Sylvia be not seen? +What joy is joy if Sylvia be not by-- +Unless it be to think that she is by +And feed upon the shadow of perfection? +Except I be by Sylvia in the night, +There is no music in the nightingale. +Unless I look on Sylvia in the day, +There is no day for me to look upon. +She is my essence, and I leave to be +If I be not by her fair influence +Fostered, illumined, cherished, kept alive. +I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom; +Tarry I here, I but attend on death, +But fly I hence, I fly away from life. + +[Enter Proteus and Lance.] + + +PROTEUS Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out. + +LANCE So-ho, so-ho! + +PROTEUS What seest thou? + +LANCE Him we go to find. There's not a hair on 's head +but 'tis a Valentine. + +PROTEUS Valentine? + +VALENTINE No. + +PROTEUS Who then? His spirit? + +VALENTINE Neither. + +PROTEUS What then? + +VALENTINE Nothing. + +LANCE Can nothing speak? Master, shall I strike? + +PROTEUS Who wouldst thou strike? + +LANCE Nothing. + +PROTEUS Villain, forbear. + +LANCE Why, sir, I'll strike nothing. I pray you-- + +PROTEUS +Sirrah, I say forbear.--Friend Valentine, a word. + +VALENTINE +My ears are stopped and cannot hear good news, +So much of bad already hath possessed them. + +PROTEUS +Then in dumb silence will I bury mine, +For they are harsh, untunable, and bad. + +VALENTINE Is Sylvia dead? + +PROTEUS No, Valentine. + +VALENTINE +No Valentine indeed for sacred Sylvia. +Hath she forsworn me? + +PROTEUS No, Valentine. + +VALENTINE +No Valentine if Sylvia have forsworn me. +What is your news? + +LANCE Sir, there is a proclamation that you are +vanished. + +PROTEUS +That thou art banished--O, that's the news-- +From hence, from Sylvia, and from me thy friend. + +VALENTINE +O, I have fed upon this woe already, +And now excess of it will make me surfeit. +Doth Sylvia know that I am banished? + +PROTEUS +Ay, ay, and she hath offered to the doom-- +Which unreversed stands in effectual force-- +A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears; +Those at her father's churlish feet she tendered, +With them, upon her knees, her humble self, +Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so became +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 chafed him so, +When she for thy repeal was suppliant, +That to close prison he commanded her +With many bitter threats of biding there. + +VALENTINE +No more, unless the next word that thou speak'st +Have some malignant power upon my life. +If so, I pray thee breathe it in mine ear +As ending anthem of my endless dolor. + +PROTEUS +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 delivered +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 Sylvia, though not for thyself, +Regard thy danger, and along with me. + +VALENTINE +I pray thee, Lance, an if thou seest my boy, +Bid him make haste and meet me at the North +Gate. + +PROTEUS +Go, sirrah, find him out.--Come, Valentine. + +VALENTINE +O, my dear Sylvia! Hapless Valentine! +[Valentine and Proteus exit.] + +LANCE 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. [He takes out a piece of +paper.] Here is the catalog of her condition. +[(Reads.)] 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. +[(Reads.)] Item, She can milk. Look you, a sweet +virtue in a maid with clean hands. + +[Enter Speed.] + + +SPEED How now, Signior Lance? What news with your +Mastership? + +LANCE 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? + +LANCE The black'st news that ever thou heard'st. + +SPEED Why, man? How black? + +LANCE Why, as black as ink. + +SPEED Let me read them. + +LANCE Fie on thee, jolt-head, thou canst not read. + +SPEED Thou liest. I can. + +LANCE I will try thee. Tell me this, who begot thee? + +SPEED Marry, the son of my grandfather. + +LANCE 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. + +LANCE, [giving him the paper] There, and Saint Nicholas +be thy speed. + +SPEED [reads] Imprimis, She can milk. + +LANCE Ay, that she can. + +SPEED Item, She brews good ale. + +LANCE And thereof comes the proverb: "Blessing of +your heart, you brew good ale." + +SPEED Item, She can sew. + +LANCE That's as much as to say "Can she so?" + +SPEED Item, She can knit. + +LANCE 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. + +LANCE A special virtue, for then she need not be +washed and scoured. + +SPEED Item, She can spin. + +LANCE Then may I set the world on wheels, when she +can spin for her living. + +SPEED Item, She hath many nameless virtues. + +LANCE 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. + +LANCE Close at the heels of her virtues. + +SPEED Item, She is not to be kissed fasting in respect of +her breath. + +LANCE Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast. +Read on. + +SPEED Item, She hath a sweet mouth. + +LANCE That makes amends for her sour breath. + +SPEED Item, She doth talk in her sleep. + +LANCE It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in her +talk. + +SPEED Item, She is slow in words. + +LANCE 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. + +LANCE Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy and +cannot be ta'en from her. + +SPEED Item, She hath no teeth. + +LANCE I care not for that neither, because I love crusts. + +SPEED Item, She is curst. + +LANCE Well, the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. + +SPEED Item, She will often praise her liquor. + +LANCE 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. + +LANCE 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 +cannot I help. Well, proceed. + +SPEED Item, She hath more hair than wit, and more +faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults. + +LANCE 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. + +LANCE "More hair than wit"? It may be; I'll 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. + +LANCE That's monstrous! O, that that were out! + +SPEED And more wealth than faults. + +LANCE Why, that word makes the faults gracious. Well, +I'll have her, and if it be a match, as nothing is +impossible-- + +SPEED What then? + +LANCE Why, then will I tell thee that thy master stays +for thee at the North Gate. + +SPEED For me? + +LANCE For thee? Ay, who art thou? He hath stayed for a +better man than thee. + +SPEED And must I go to him? + +LANCE Thou must run to him, for thou hast stayed so +long that going will scarce serve the turn. + +SPEED, [handing him the paper] Why didst not tell me +sooner? Pox of your love letters! [He exits.] + +LANCE Now will he be swinged for reading my letter; +an unmannerly slave, that will thrust himself into +secrets. I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction. +[He exits.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Duke and Thurio.] + + +DUKE +Sir Thurio, fear not but that she will love you +Now Valentine is banished from her sight. + +THURIO +Since his exile she hath despised me most, +Forsworn my company and railed at me, +That I am desperate of obtaining her. + +DUKE +This weak impress of love is as a figure +Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat +Dissolves to water and doth lose his form. +A little time will melt her frozen thoughts, +And worthless Valentine shall be forgot. + +[Enter Proteus.] + +How now, Sir Proteus? Is your countryman, +According to our proclamation, gone? + +PROTEUS Gone, my good lord. + +DUKE +My daughter takes his going grievously. + +PROTEUS +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. + +PROTEUS +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? + +PROTEUS I do, my lord. + +DUKE +And also, I think, thou art not ignorant +How she opposes her against my will? + +PROTEUS +She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. + +DUKE +Ay, and perversely she persevers so. +What might we do to make the girl forget +The love of Valentine, and love Sir Thurio? + +PROTEUS +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 in hate. + +PROTEUS +Ay, if his enemy deliver it. +Therefore it must with circumstance be spoken +By one whom she esteemeth as his friend. + +DUKE +Then you must undertake to slander him. + +PROTEUS +And that, my lord, I shall be loath to do. +'Tis an ill office for a gentleman, +Especially against his very friend. + +DUKE +Where your good word cannot advantage him, +Your slander never can endamage him; +Therefore the office is indifferent, +Being entreated to it by your friend. + +PROTEUS +You have prevailed, my lord. If I can do it +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. + +THURIO +Therefore, as you unwind her love from him, +Lest it should ravel and be good to none, +You must provide to bottom it on me, +Which must be done by praising me as much +As you in worth dispraise Sir Valentine. + +DUKE +And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind +Because we know, on Valentine's report, +You are already Love's firm votary +And cannot soon revolt and change your mind. +Upon this warrant shall you have access +Where you with Sylvia may confer at large-- +For she is lumpish, heavy, melancholy, +And, for your friend's sake, will be glad of you-- +Where you may temper her by your persuasion +To hate young Valentine and love my friend. + +PROTEUS +As much as I can do I will effect.-- +But you, Sir Thurio, are not sharp enough. +You must lay lime to tangle her desires +By wailful sonnets, whose composed rhymes +Should be full-fraught with serviceable vows. + +DUKE +Ay, much is the force of heaven-bred poesy. + +PROTEUS +Say that upon the altar of her beauty +You sacrifice your tears, your sighs, your heart. +Write till your ink be dry, and with your tears +Moist it again, and frame some feeling line +That may discover such integrity. +For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews, +Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones, +Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans +Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands. +After your dire-lamenting elegies, +Visit by night your lady's chamber window +With some sweet consort; to their instruments +Tune a deploring dump; the night's dead silence +Will well become such sweet complaining +grievance. +This, or else nothing, will inherit her. + +DUKE +This discipline shows thou hast been in love. + +THURIO, [to Proteus] +And thy advice this night I'll put in practice. +Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver, +Let us into the city presently +To sort some gentlemen well-skilled in music. +I have a sonnet that will serve the turn +To give the onset to thy good advice. + +DUKE About it, gentlemen. + +PROTEUS +We'll wait upon your Grace till after supper +And afterward determine our proceedings. + +DUKE +Even now about it! I will pardon you. +[They exit.] + + +ACT 4 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter certain Outlaws.] + + +FIRST OUTLAW +Fellows, stand fast. I see a passenger. + +SECOND OUTLAW +If there be ten, shrink not, but down with 'em. + +[Enter Valentine and Speed.] + + +THIRD OUTLAW +Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about you. +If not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you. + +SPEED, [to Valentine] +Sir, we are undone; these are the villains +That all the travelers do fear so much. + +VALENTINE My friends-- + +FIRST OUTLAW +That's not so, sir. We are your enemies. + +SECOND OUTLAW Peace. We'll hear him. + +THIRD OUTLAW +Ay, by my beard, will we, for he is a proper man. + +VALENTINE +Then know that I have little wealth to lose. +A man I am crossed 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. + +SECOND OUTLAW Whither travel you? + +VALENTINE To Verona. + +FIRST OUTLAW Whence came you? + +VALENTINE From Milan. + +THIRD OUTLAW Have you long sojourned there? + +VALENTINE +Some sixteen months, and longer might have stayed +If crooked fortune had not thwarted me. + +FIRST OUTLAW What, were you banished thence? + +VALENTINE I was. + +SECOND OUTLAW For what offense? + +VALENTINE +For that which now torments me to rehearse; +I killed a man, whose death I much repent, +But yet I slew him manfully in fight +Without false vantage or base treachery. + +FIRST OUTLAW +Why, ne'er repent it if it were done so; +But were you banished for so small a fault? + +VALENTINE +I was, and held me glad of such a doom. + +SECOND OUTLAW Have you the tongues? + +VALENTINE +My youthful travel therein made me happy, +Or else I often had been miserable. + +THIRD OUTLAW +By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar, +This fellow were a king for our wild faction. + +FIRST OUTLAW We'll have him.--Sirs, a word. +[The Outlaws step aside to talk.] + +SPEED Master, be one of them. It's an honorable kind +of thievery. + +VALENTINE Peace, villain. + +SECOND OUTLAW, [advancing] +Tell us this: have you anything to take to? + +VALENTINE Nothing but my fortune. + +THIRD OUTLAW +Know then that some of us are gentlemen, +Such as the fury of ungoverned youth +Thrust from the company of awful men. +Myself was from Verona banished +For practicing to steal away a lady, +An heir and near allied unto the Duke. + +SECOND OUTLAW +And I from Mantua, for a gentleman +Who, in my mood, I stabbed unto the heart. + +FIRST OUTLAW +And I for such like petty crimes as these. +But to the purpose: for we cite our faults +That they may hold excused our lawless lives, +And partly seeing you are beautified +With goodly shape, and by your own report +A linguist, and a man of such perfection +As we do in our quality much want-- + +SECOND OUTLAW +Indeed because you are a banished man, +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? + +THIRD OUTLAW +What sayst thou? Wilt thou be of our consort? +Say ay, and be the captain of us all; +We'll do thee homage and be ruled by thee, +Love thee as our commander and our king. + +FIRST OUTLAW +But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. + +SECOND OUTLAW +Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offered. + +VALENTINE +I take your offer and will live with you, +Provided that you do no outrages +On silly women or poor passengers. + +THIRD OUTLAW +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. +[They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Proteus.] + + +PROTEUS +Already have I been false to Valentine, +And now I must be as unjust to Thurio. +Under the color of commending him, +I have access my own love to prefer. +But Sylvia 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 loved; +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 +window +And give some evening music to her ear. + +[Enter Thurio and Musicians.] + + +THURIO +How now, Sir Proteus, are you crept before us? + +PROTEUS +Ay, gentle Thurio, for you know that love +Will creep in service where it cannot go. + +THURIO +Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here. + +PROTEUS +Sir, but I do, or else I would be hence. + +THURIO +Who, Sylvia? + +PROTEUS Ay, Sylvia, for your sake. + +THURIO +I thank you for your own.--Now, gentlemen, +Let's tune, and to it lustily awhile. + +[Enter Host of the inn, and Julia, disguised as a +page, Sebastian. They stand at a distance and talk.] + + +HOST Now, my young guest, methinks you're allycholly. +I pray you, why is it? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] 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 +asked for. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] But shall I hear him speak? + +HOST Ay, that you shall. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] That will be music. + +HOST Hark, hark. [Music plays.] + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Is he among these? + +HOST Ay. But peace; let's hear 'em. + +Song. + + +PROTEUS Who is Sylvia? What is she, + That all our swains commend her? + Holy, fair, and wise is she; + The heaven such grace 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 helped, inhabits there. + + Then to Sylvia let us sing, + That Sylvia 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. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] You mistake. The musician likes me +not. + +HOST Why, my pretty youth? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] He plays false, father. + +HOST How, out of tune on the strings? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Not so; but yet so false that he +grieves my very heart-strings. + +HOST You have a quick ear. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes +me have a slow heart. + +HOST I perceive you delight not in music. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Not a whit when it jars so. + +HOST Hark, what fine change is in the music! + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Ay; that change is the spite. + +HOST You would have them always play but one +thing? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +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 Lance his man told me: he loved +her out of all nick. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Where is Lance? + +HOST Gone to seek his dog, which tomorrow, by his +master's command, he must carry for a present to +his lady. [Music ends.] + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Peace. Stand aside. The company +parts. [Host and Julia move away.] + +PROTEUS +Sir Thurio, fear not you. I will so plead +That you shall say my cunning drift excels. + +THURIO +Where meet we? + +PROTEUS At Saint Gregory's well. + +THURIO Farewell. +[Thurio and the Musicians exit.] + +[Enter Sylvia, above.] + + +PROTEUS +Madam, good even to your Ladyship. + +SYLVIA +I thank you for your music, gentlemen. +Who is that that spake? + +PROTEUS +One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, +You would quickly learn to know him by his voice. + +SYLVIA Sir Proteus, as I take it. + +PROTEUS +Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. + +SYLVIA +What's your will? + +PROTEUS That I may compass yours. + +SYLVIA +You have your wish: my will is even this, +That presently you hie you home to bed. +Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man, +Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless, +To be seduced by thy flattery, +That hast deceived 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. + +PROTEUS +I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady, +But she is dead. + +JULIA, [aside] 'Twere false if I should speak it, +For I am sure she is not buried. + +SYLVIA +Say that she be; yet Valentine thy friend +Survives, to whom, thyself art witness, +I am betrothed. And art thou not ashamed +To wrong him with thy importunacy? + +PROTEUS +I likewise hear that Valentine is dead. + +SYLVIA +And so suppose am I, for in his grave, +Assure thyself, my love is buried. + +PROTEUS +Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. + +SYLVIA +Go to thy lady's grave and call hers thence, +Or, at the least, in hers sepulcher thine. + +JULIA, [aside] He heard not that. + +PROTEUS +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 will I make true love. + +JULIA, [aside] +If 'twere a substance you would sure deceive it +And make it but a shadow, as I am. + +SYLVIA +I am very loath 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. [Sylvia exits.] + +PROTEUS As wretches have o'ernight +That wait for execution in the morn. [Proteus exits.] + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Host, will you go? + +HOST By my halidom, I was fast asleep. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus? + +HOST Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think 'tis almost +day. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +Not so; but it hath been the longest night +That e'er I watched, and the most heaviest. +[They exit.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter Eglamour.] + + +EGLAMOUR +This is the hour that Madam Sylvia +Entreated me to call and know her mind; +There's some great matter she'd employ me in. +Madam, madam! + +[Enter Sylvia, above.] + + +SYLVIA Who calls? + +EGLAMOUR Your servant, and your friend, +One that attends your Ladyship's command. + +SYLVIA +Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow. + +EGLAMOUR +As many, worthy lady, to yourself. +According to your Ladyship's impose, +I am thus early come to know what service +It is your pleasure to command me in. + +SYLVIA +O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman-- +Think not I flatter, for I swear I do not-- +Valiant, wise, remorseful, well accomplished. +Thou art not ignorant what dear good will +I bear unto the banished Valentine, +Nor how my father would enforce me marry +Vain Thurio, whom my very soul abhorred. +Thyself hast loved, 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 honor 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 rewards 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. + +EGLAMOUR +Madam, I pity much your grievances, +Which, since I know they virtuously are placed, +I give consent to go along with you, +Recking as little what betideth me +As much I wish all good befortune you. +When will you go? + +SYLVIA This evening coming. + +EGLAMOUR +Where shall I meet you? + +SYLVIA At Friar Patrick's cell, +Where I intend holy confession. + +EGLAMOUR +I will not fail your Ladyship. Good morrow, gentle +lady. + +SYLVIA +Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. +[They exit.] + +Scene 4 +======= +[Enter Lance, with his dog, Crab.] + + +LANCE When a man's servant shall play the cur with +him, 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 +to it. I have taught him even as one would say +precisely "Thus I would teach a dog." I was sent to +deliver him as a present to Mistress Sylvia from my +master; and I came no sooner into the dining +chamber but he steps me to her trencher and steals +her capon's leg. O, 'tis a foul thing when a cur +cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have, +as one should say, one that takes upon him to be a +dog indeed; to be, as it were, a dog at all things. If I +had not had more wit than he, to take a fault upon +me that he did, I think verily he had been hanged +for 't. Sure as I live, he had suffered for 't. You shall +judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of +three or four gentlemanlike dogs under the Duke's +table; he had not been there--bless the mark!--a +pissing while but all the chamber smelt him. "Out +with the dog!" says one. "What cur is that?" says +another. "Whip him out!" says the third. "Hang him +up!" says the Duke. I, having been acquainted with +the smell before, knew it was Crab, and goes me to +the fellow that whips the dogs. "Friend," quoth I, +"You mean to whip the dog?" "Ay, marry, do I," +quoth he. "You do him the more 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 his 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. [To Crab.] Thou think'st +not of this now. Nay, I remember the trick you +served me when I took my leave of Madam Sylvia. +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 me do such a trick? + +[Enter Proteus and Julia disguised as Sebastian.] + + +PROTEUS +Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well +And will employ thee in some service presently. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +In what you please. I'll do what I can. + +PROTEUS +I hope thou wilt. [To Lance.] How now, you +whoreson peasant? +Where have you been these two days loitering? + +LANCE Marry, sir, I carried Mistress Sylvia the dog you +bade me. + +PROTEUS And what says she to my little jewel? + +LANCE Marry, she says your dog was a cur, and tells +you currish thanks is good enough for such a +present. + +PROTEUS But she received my dog? + +LANCE No, indeed, did she not. Here have I brought +him back again. + +PROTEUS What, didst thou offer her this from me? + +LANCE 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. + +PROTEUS +Go, get thee hence, and find my dog again, +Or ne'er return again into my sight. +Away, I say. Stayest thou to vex me here? +[Lance exits with Crab.] +A slave that still an end turns me to shame. +Sebastian, I have entertained thee, +Partly that I have need of such a youth +That can with some discretion do my business-- +For 'tis no trusting to yond foolish lout-- +But chiefly for thy face and thy behavior, +Which, if my augury deceive me not, +Witness good bringing-up, fortune, and truth. +Therefore, know thou, for this I entertain thee. +Go presently, and take this ring with thee; +Deliver it to Madam Sylvia. +She loved me well delivered it to me. +[He gives her a ring.] + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +It seems you loved not her, to leave her token. +She is dead belike? + +PROTEUS Not so; I think she lives. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Alas! + +PROTEUS Why dost thou cry "Alas"? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] I cannot choose but pity her. + +PROTEUS Wherefore shouldst thou pity her? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +Because methinks that she loved you as well +As you do love your lady Sylvia. +She dreams on him that has forgot her love; +You dote on her that cares not for your love. +'Tis pity love should be so contrary, +And thinking on it makes me cry "Alas." + +PROTEUS +Well, give her that ring and therewithal +This letter. [He gives her a paper.] That's her +chamber. Tell my lady +I claim the promise for her heavenly picture. +Your message done, hie home unto my chamber, +Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary. +[Proteus exits.] + +JULIA +How many women would do such a message? +Alas, poor Proteus, thou hast entertained +A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs. +Alas, poor fool, why do I pity him +That with his very heart despiseth me? +Because he loves her, he despiseth me; +Because I love him, I must pity him. +This ring I gave him when he parted from me, +To bind him to remember my good will; +And now am I, unhappy messenger, +To plead for that which I would not obtain, +To carry that which I would have refused, +To praise his faith, which I would have dispraised. +I am my master's true confirmed love, +But cannot be true servant to my master +Unless I prove false traitor to myself. +Yet will I woo for him, but yet so coldly +As--Heaven it knows!--I would not have him +speed. + +[Enter Sylvia.] + +[As Sebastian.] Gentlewoman, good day. I pray you be +my mean +To bring me where to speak with Madam Sylvia. + +SYLVIA +What would you with her, if that I be she? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +If you be she, I do entreat your patience +To hear me speak the message I am sent on. + +SYLVIA From whom? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] From my master, Sir Proteus, +madam. + +SYLVIA O, he sends you for a picture? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Ay, madam. + +SYLVIA, [calling] Ursula, bring my picture there. +[She is brought the picture.] +Go, give your master this. Tell him from me, +One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget, +Would better fit his chamber than this shadow. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Madam, please you peruse this +letter. [She gives Sylvia a paper.] +Pardon me, madam, I have unadvised +Delivered you a paper that I should not. +This is the letter to your Ladyship. +[She takes back the first paper +and hands Sylvia another.] + +SYLVIA +I pray thee let me look on that again. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +It may not be; good madam, pardon me. + +SYLVIA There, hold. +I will not look upon your master's lines; +I know they are stuffed with protestations +And full of new-found oaths, which he will break +As easily as I do tear his paper. +[She tears the second paper.] + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +Madam, he sends your Ladyship this ring. +[She offers Sylvia a ring.] + +SYLVIA +The more shame for him, that he sends it me; +For I have heard him say a thousand times +His Julia gave it him at his departure. +Though his false finger have profaned the ring, +Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] She thanks you. + +SYLVIA What sayst thou? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +I thank you, madam, that you tender her; +Poor gentlewoman, my master wrongs her much. + +SYLVIA Dost thou know her? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +Almost as well as I do know myself. +To think upon her woes, I do protest +That I have wept a hundred several times. + +SYLVIA +Belike she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +I think she doth, and that's her cause of sorrow. + +SYLVIA Is she not passing fair? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +She hath been fairer, madam, than she is; +When she did think my master loved her well, +She, in my judgment, was as fair as you. +But since she did neglect her looking-glass +And threw her sun-expelling mask away, +The air hath starved the roses in her cheeks +And pinched the lily tincture of her face, +That now she is become as black as I. + +SYLVIA How tall was she? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +About my stature; for at Pentecost, +When all our pageants of delight were played, +Our youth got me to play the woman's part, +And I was trimmed 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 agood, +For I did play a lamentable part; +Madam, 'twas 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. + +SYLVIA +She is beholding to thee, gentle youth. +Alas, poor lady, desolate and left! +I weep myself to think upon thy words. +Here, youth, there is my purse. +[She gives Julia a purse.] +I give thee this +For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lov'st her. +Farewell. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +And she shall thank you for 't if e'er you know her. +[Sylvia exits.] +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 flattered 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 colored periwig. +Her eyes are gray 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 worshipped, kissed, loved, and +adored; +And were there sense in his idolatry, +My substance should be statue in thy stead. +I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake, +That used me so, or else, by Jove I vow, +I should have scratched out your unseeing eyes +To make my master out of love with thee. +[She exits.] + + +ACT 5 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Eglamour.] + + +EGLAMOUR +The sun begins to gild the western sky, +And now it is about the very hour +That Sylvia 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 Sylvia.] + +See where she comes.--Lady, a happy evening. + +SYLVIA +Amen, amen. Go on, good Eglamour, +Out at the postern by the abbey wall. +I fear I am attended by some spies. + +EGLAMOUR +Fear not. The forest is not three leagues off; +If we recover that, we are sure enough. +[They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia, disguised as +Sebastian.] + + +THURIO +Sir Proteus, what says Sylvia to my suit? + +PROTEUS +O sir, I find her milder than she was, +And yet she takes exceptions at your person. + +THURIO What? That my leg is too long? + +PROTEUS No, that it is too little. + +THURIO +I'll wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder. + +JULIA, [aside] +But love will not be spurred to what it loathes. + +THURIO What says she to my face? + +PROTEUS She says it is a fair one. + +THURIO +Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. + +PROTEUS +But pearls are fair, and the old saying is, +Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes. + +JULIA, [aside] +'Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies' eyes, +For I had rather wink than look on them. + +THURIO How likes she my discourse? + +PROTEUS Ill, when you talk of war. + +THURIO +But well when I discourse of love and peace. + +JULIA, [aside] +But better, indeed, when you hold your peace. + +THURIO What says she to my valor? + +PROTEUS O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. + +JULIA, [aside] +She needs not when she knows it cowardice. + +THURIO What says she to my birth? + +PROTEUS That you are well derived. + +JULIA, [aside] True, from a gentleman to a fool. + +THURIO Considers she my possessions? + +PROTEUS O, ay, and pities them. + +THURIO Wherefore? + +JULIA, [aside] That such an ass should owe them. + +PROTEUS +That they are out by lease. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Here comes the Duke. + +[Enter Duke.] + + +DUKE +How now, Sir Proteus?--How now, Thurio? +Which of you saw Eglamour of late? + +THURIO +Not I. + +PROTEUS Nor I. + +DUKE Saw you my daughter? + +PROTEUS Neither. + +DUKE +Why, then, she's fled unto that peasant, Valentine, +And Eglamour is in her company. +'Tis true, for Friar Lawrence met them both +As he, in penance, wandered through the forest; +Him he knew well and guessed that it was she, +But, being masked, he was not sure of it. +Besides, she did intend 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, +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. +[He exits.] + +THURIO +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 Sylvia. [He exits.] + +PROTEUS +And I will follow, more for Sylvia's love +Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. +[He exits.] + +JULIA +And I will follow, more to cross that love +Than hate for Sylvia, that is gone for love. +[She exits.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter Sylvia and Outlaws.] + + +FIRST OUTLAW +Come, come, be patient. We must bring you to our +captain. + +SYLVIA +A thousand more mischances than this one +Have learned me how to brook this patiently. + +SECOND OUTLAW Come, bring her away. + +FIRST OUTLAW +Where is the gentleman that was with her? + +THIRD OUTLAW +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. +[Second and Third Outlaws exit.] + +FIRST OUTLAW +Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave. +Fear not; he bears an honorable mind +And will not use a woman lawlessly. + +SYLVIA +O Valentine, this I endure for thee! +[They exit.] + +Scene 4 +======= +[Enter Valentine.] + + +VALENTINE +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, Sylvia; +Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain. +[Shouting and sounds of fighting.] +What hallowing and what stir is this today? +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? +[He steps aside.] + +[Enter Proteus, Sylvia, and Julia, disguised as +Sebastian.] + + +PROTEUS +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 forced your honor 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. + +VALENTINE, [aside] +How like a dream is this I see and hear! +Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile. + +SYLVIA +O miserable, unhappy that I am! + +PROTEUS +Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came, +But by my coming, I have made you happy. + +SYLVIA +By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy. + +JULIA, [aside] +And me, when he approacheth to your presence. + +SYLVIA +Had I been seized by a hungry lion, +I would have been a breakfast to the beast +Rather than have false Proteus rescue me. +O heaven, be judge how I love Valentine, +Whose life's as tender to me as my soul; +And full as much, for more there cannot be, +I do detest false perjured Proteus. +Therefore begone; solicit me no more. + +PROTEUS +What dangerous action, stood it next to death, +Would I not undergo for one calm look! +O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved, +When women cannot love where they're beloved. + +SYLVIA +When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved. +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! + +PROTEUS In love +Who respects friend? + +SYLVIA All men but Proteus. + +PROTEUS +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. +[He seizes her.] + +SYLVIA +O, heaven! + +PROTEUS I'll force thee yield to my desire. + +VALENTINE, [advancing] +Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch, +Thou friend of an ill fashion. + +PROTEUS Valentine! + +VALENTINE +Thou common friend, that's without faith or love, +For such is a friend now. Treacherous man, +Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye +Could have persuaded me. Now I dare not say +I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me. +Who should be trusted when one's right hand +Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus, +I am sorry I must never trust thee more, +But count the world a stranger for thy sake. +The private wound is deepest. O, time most +accursed, +'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst! + +PROTEUS My shame and guilt confounds me. +Forgive me, Valentine. If hearty sorrow +Be a sufficient ransom for offense, +I tender 't here. I do as truly suffer +As e'er I did commit. + +VALENTINE Then I am paid, +And once again I do receive thee honest. +Who by repentance is not satisfied +Is nor of heaven nor Earth, for these are pleased; +By penitence th' Eternal's wrath's appeased. +And that my love may appear plain and free, +All that was mine in Sylvia I give thee. + +JULIA, [aside] +O me unhappy! [She swoons.] + +PROTEUS Look to the boy. + +VALENTINE Why, boy! +Why, wag, how now? What's the matter? Look up. +Speak. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] O, good sir, my master charged +me to deliver a ring to Madam Sylvia, which out of +my neglect was never done. + +PROTEUS Where is that ring, boy? + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] Here 'tis; this is it. +[She rises, and hands him a ring.] + +PROTEUS How, let me see. +Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia. + +JULIA, [as Sebastian] +O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook. +This is the ring you sent to Sylvia. +[She offers another ring.] + +PROTEUS +But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart +I gave this unto Julia. + +JULIA +And Julia herself did give it me, +And Julia herself hath brought it hither. +[She reveals herself.] + +PROTEUS How? Julia! + +JULIA +Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths +And entertained 'em deeply in her heart. +How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root! +O, Proteus, let this habit make thee blush. +Be thou ashamed 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. + +PROTEUS +"Than men their minds"? 'Tis true. O heaven, were +man +But constant, he were perfect; that one error +Fills him with faults, makes him run through all th' +sins; +Inconstancy falls off ere it begins. +What is in Sylvia's face but I may spy +More fresh in Julia's, with a constant eye? + +VALENTINE, [to Julia and Proteus] Come, come, a +hand from either. +Let me be blest to make this happy close. +'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes. +[Valentine joins the hands of Julia and Proteus.] + +PROTEUS +Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish forever. + +JULIA +And I mine. + +[Enter Thurio, Duke, and Outlaws.] + + +OUTLAWS A prize, a prize, a prize! + +VALENTINE +Forbear, forbear, I say. It is my lord the Duke. +[The Outlaws release the Duke and Thurio.] +Your Grace is welcome to a man disgraced, +Banished Valentine. + +DUKE +Sir Valentine? + +THURIO Yonder is Sylvia, and Sylvia's mine. + +VALENTINE +Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death; +Come not within the measure of my wrath. +Do not name Sylvia thine; if once again, +Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands; +Take but possession of her with a touch-- +I dare thee but to breathe upon my love! + +THURIO +Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I. +I hold him but a fool that will endanger +His body for a girl that loves him not. +I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. + +DUKE +The more degenerate and base art thou +To make such means for her as thou hast done, +And leave her on such slight conditions.-- +Now, by the honor of my ancestry, +I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, +And think thee worthy of an empress' love. +Know, then, I here forget all former griefs, +Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again, +Plead a new state in thy unrivaled merit, +To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine, +Thou art a gentleman, and well derived; +Take thou thy Sylvia, for thou hast deserved her. + +VALENTINE +I thank your Grace, the gift hath made me happy. +I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, +To grant one boon that I shall ask of you. + +DUKE +I grant it for thine own, whate'er it be. + +VALENTINE +These banished men, that I have kept withal, +Are men endued with worthy qualities. +Forgive them what they have committed here, +And let them be recalled from their exile; +They are reformed, civil, full of good, +And fit for great employment, worthy lord. + +DUKE +Thou hast prevailed; I pardon them and thee. +Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts. +Come, let us go; we will include all jars +With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity. + +VALENTINE +And as we walk along, I dare be bold +With our discourse to make your Grace to smile. +[Pointing to Julia.] What think you of this page, my +lord? + +DUKE +I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. + +VALENTINE +I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy. + +DUKE What mean you by that saying? + +VALENTINE +Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, +That you will wonder what hath fortuned.-- +Come, Proteus, 'tis your penance but to hear +The story of your loves discovered. +That done, our day of marriage shall be yours, +One feast, one house, one mutual happiness. +[They exit.] \ No newline at end of file