SCENE IV.-THE SAME. Enter Launce and Crab. Launce. 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 Silvia 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 hang'd for't: sure as I live, he had suffer'd for't. 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 kill'd; otherwise he had suffer'd for't: thou think'st not of this now! Enter Proteus and Julia. Pro. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well, And will employ thee in some service presently. Jul. In what you please:-I'll do what I can. Pro. I hope thou wilt.-How, now, you idle peasant! Where have you been these two days loitering? Launce. Marry, sir, I carried Mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. Pro. And what says she to my little jewel? Launce. Marry, she says, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for such a present. Pro. But she receiv'd my dog? Launce. No, indeed, did she not. Here have I brought him back again. Pro. What! didst thou offer her this from me? Launce. Ay, sir: the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman boys in the marketplace; and then I offer'd her mine own, who is a dog as big as ten of yours, and therefore the gift the greater. Pro. Go; get thee hence, and find my dog again, Or ne'er return again into my sight. Away, I say! Stayest thou to vex me here ?A slave that still an end turns me to shame.[Exit Launce. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, Partly, that I have need of such a youth, She lov'd me well deliver'd it to me. Jul. It seems, you lov'd not her, to leave her She's dead belike? [token. Pro. Jul. Alas! Not so; I think she lives. Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas! [well Jul. I cannot choose but pity her. Pro. Wherefore should'st thou pity her? Jul. Because, methinks, that she lov'd you as As you do love your lady Silvia. 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! Pro. Well, give her that ring; and therewithal This letter:-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. [Exit. Jul. How many women would do such a message? Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain'd Enter Silvia, attended. Gentlewoman, good day. I pray you, be my mean To bring me where to speak with Madam Silvia. Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she? Jul. If you be she, I do entreat your patience To hear me speak the message I am sent on. Sil. From whom? Jul. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [A picture brought. Go, give your master this: tell him from me, One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget, Would better fit his chamber, than this shadow. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.Pardon me, madam, I have unadvis'd Deliver'd you a paper that I should not: This is the letter to your ladyship. Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again. Jul. It may not be: good madam, pardon me. If that be all the difference in his love, I will not look upon your master's lines: Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. Sil. What say'st thou? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her. Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: Jul. I think she doth, and that's her cause of sorrow. Sil. Is she not passing fair? Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is. Sil. How tall was she? Jul. About my stature; for, at Pentecost, Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth. - Farewell. [Exit Silvia. Jul. And she shall thank you for 't, if e'er you know her. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. I'll get me such a coloured periwig. Her eyes are grey as glass, and so are mine: SCENE II.-THE SAME. A ROOM IN THE DUKE'S PALACE. Thu. I'll wear a boot to make it somewhat Jul. But love will not be spurr'd to what it [peace? Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies: my face is [ardice. D. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant ValAnd Eglamour is in her company. [entine, 'Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both, As he in penance wander'd through the forest. Him he well knew, and guess'd that it was she; But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it: Besides, she did intend confession At Patrick's cell this even, and there she was not. Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.[Exit. SCENE III.-THE FOREST. Enter Silvia and Outlaws. 1 Out. Come, come; be patient, we must bring you to our Captain. Sil. A thousand more mischances than this one Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently. 2 Out. Come, bring her away. 10. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us; But Moyses and Valerius follow him. Go thou with her to the west end of the wood; There is our Captain. We'll follow him that's fled: The thicket is beset; he cannot 'scape. 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our Captain's cave. Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, Sil. O Valentine! this I endure for thee. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST. Enter Valentine. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! These 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, Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia. Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to Would I not undergo for one calm look! [death, O! 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd, When women cannot love, where they're belov'd. Sil. When Proteus cannot love, where he's beRead over Julia's heart, thy first best love,[lov'd. For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths [faith Descended into perjury to love me. Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou 'dst two; And that's far worse than none: better have none Than plural faith, which is too much by one: Thou counterfeit to thy true friend! Pro. Who respects friend? Sil. In love All men but Proteus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form, I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end, And love you 'gainst the nature of love-force Sil. O Heaven! [you. I'll force thee yield to my desire. Pro. Who should be trusted, when one's right hand I am sorry I must never trust thee more, 'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst! Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.- I tender 't here: I do as truly suffer, Val. Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd. Jul. O me unhappy! Pro. Look to the boy. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the matter? Look up; speak. Jul. O good sir! my master charg'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Jul. O! cry your mercy, sir; I have mistook: Jul. And Julia herself did give it to me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How? Julia! Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain'd 'em deeply in her heart: How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root! O Proteus! let this habit make thee blush: Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live In a disguise of love. It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds: 'tis true. 0 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 Silvia's face, but I may spy More fresh in Julia's, with a constant eye? Val. Come, come, a hand from either. Let me be blest to make this happy close: "Twere pity two such friends should be long foes. Pro. Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever. Jul. And I mine. Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I. Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou, 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. V. These banish'd men, that I have kept Are men endu'd with worthy qualities: [withal, Forgive them what they have committed here, And let them be recall'd from their exile. They are reformed, civil, full of good, And fit for great employment, worthy lord. Duke. Thou hast prevail'd: I pardon them and thee: Dispose of them as thou know'st their descrts. Come; let us go: we will include all jars With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity. Val. And as we walk along, I dare be hold With our discourse to make your Grace to sinile. What think you of this page, my lord? Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him: he blushes. Val. I warrant you, my lord,-more grace than boy. Duke What mean you by that saying? Val. 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. [Exeunt. Act First. SCENE I.-WINDSOR. BEFORE PAGE'S Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sirl Shallow. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-chamber matter of it; if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, Esquire. Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, and coram. Shal. Ay, Cousin Slender, and Cust-alorum.2 Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armigero. Shal. Ay, that we do: and have done any time these three hundred years. Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. Shal. It is an old coat. Eva. The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar beast to man, and signifies-love. Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat. Coz? Slen. I may quarter Eva. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it. Eva. Yes, py'r lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple conjectures: but this is all one: If Sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you. 1 A title formerly applied to the clergy. Shal. The Council shall hear it; it is a riot. Era. It is not meet the Council hear a riot; there is no fear of Got in a riot; the Council, look you, shall desire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments in that. Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it. Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and end it: and there is also another device in my prain, which, peradventure, prings goot discretions with it: There is Anne Page, which is daughter to master George Page, which is pretty virginity. Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman. Eva. It is that fery person for all the 'orld, as just as you will desire: and seven hundred pounds of monies, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire upon his death's bed, give, when she is able to overtake seventeen years old: it were a good motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between master Abraham and Mrs Anne Page. Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound? Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good gifts, Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Falstaff there? Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, as I do despise one that is false; or as I despise one that is not true. The kuight Sir John, is there; and, I beseech you, be ruled by your wellwillers. I will peat the door [knocks] for master Page. What, hoa! pless your house here! Enter Page. Page. Who's there? Eva. Here's your friend, and justice Shallow: and here young master Slender; that peradven D |