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It is your pleasure to command me in.

Sií. O Églamour, thou art a gentleman,
(Think not I flatter, for, I swear, I do not)
Valiant, wise, remorseful', well accomplish'd.
Thou art not ignorant, what dear good will
I bear unto the banish'd Valentine;

Nor how my father would enforce me marry
Vain Thurio, whom my very soul abhors.
Thyself hast lov'd; and I have heard thee say,
No grief did ever come so near thy heart,
As when thy lady and thy true-love dy'd,
2 Upon whose grave.thou vow'dst pure chastity.
Sir Eglamour, I would to Valentine,
To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode;
And, for the ways are dangerous to pass,
I do desire thy worthy company,
Upon whose faith and honour I repose.
Urge not my father's anger, Eglamour,
But think upon my grief, a lady's grief;
And on the justice of my flying hence,
To keep me from a most unholy match, [plagues.
Which heaven, and fortune, still reward with
I do desire thee, even from a heart
As full of sorrows, as the sea of sands,
To bear me company, and go with me:
If not, to hide what I have said to thee,
That I may venture to depart alone.

Egl. Madam, I pity much your 'grievances:

Which since I know they virtuously are plac'd,

I give consent to go along with you;
Recking as little what betideth me,

As much I wish all good befortune you.

When will you go?

Sil. This evening coming.

Egl. Where shall I meet you?

Sil. At friar Patrick's cell,

Where I intend holy confession.

Egl. I will not fail your ladyship: Good-morrow, gentle lady.

thrusts me himself into the company of three or our gentlemen-like dogs under the duke's table: he had not been there (bless the mark) a pissing while, but all the chamber smelt him. Outwith 5 the dog, says one; What cur is that? says another; Whip him out, says the third; Hanghim 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 10 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 no more ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for their servant? nay, I'll be 15 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 kill'd, otherwise he had suffer'd for 't: thou think'st not of this now!-Nay, I remember the trick you serv'd 20me, when I took my leave of madam Silvia; did not I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? When did'st thou see me heave up my leg, and make water against a gentlewoman's farthingale? didst thou ever see me do such a trick?

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Sil. Good-morrow, kind sir Eglamour. [Exeunt. 40
Enter Launce with his dog.

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 sav'd from drowning,
when three or four of his blind brothers and sisters 45
went to it! I have taught him-even as one would
say precily, 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, 50
and steals her capon's leg. O, 'tis a foul thing,
when a cur cannot keep himself in all compa-{
nies! 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 55
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; you shall judge. He

Enter Protheus 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, sir,what I can, Pro. I hope, thou wilt.-How now, you whoreson peasant, [To Launce. Where have you been these two days loitering? Laun. Marry, sir, I carry'd mistress Silvia the dog you bade me.

Pro. And what says she to my little jewel? Laun. Marry, she says, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for such a present.

Pro. But she received my dog?

Laun. No, indeed, she did not: here I have brought him back again.

Pro. What, didst thou offer her this from me? Laun. Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stoln from me by the hangman's boy in the market-place: 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: Stay'st 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, That can with some discretion do my business, For 'tis no trusting to you foolish lowt; But, chiefly, for thy face, and thy behaviour; Which, if my augury deceive me not, Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth: Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.

1 Remorseful is pitiful. ? It was common in former ages for widowers and widows to make vows of chastity in honour of their deceased wives or husbands. 'Sorrows. 4 To reck is to care for. That is, restrain himself. A proverbial expression of those times. This appears to have

been part of the office of an usher of the table, That is, in the end, at the conclusion of every business he undertakes.

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I will not look upon your master's lines:

I know, they are stuff'd with protestations,
And full of new-found oaths; which he will break,
As easily as I do tear this paper.

Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring.
Sil. The more shame for him, that he sends it
For, I have heard him say a thousand times, [me;
His Julia gave it him at his departure:
Though his false finger hath profan'd the ring,
10 Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.
Jul. She thanks you.

15

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, 20
Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary.

[Exit Protheus.

Jul. How many women would do such a message:
Alas, poor
Protheus! thou hast entertain'd
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 Fam (unhappy messenger)

To plead for that, which I would not obtain;

To carry that which I would have refus'd;

Sil. What say'st thou?

Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her:
Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much.
Sil. Dost thou know her?

Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself:
To think upon her woes, I do protest,
That I have wept an hundred several times.
Sil. Belike, she thinks that Protheus hath for-
sook her.

[sorrow. Jul. I think she doth; and that's her cause of Sil. Is she not passing fair?

Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is;
When she did think my master lov'd her well,
23 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 starv'd the roses in her cheeks,
And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face,
30 That now she is become as black as I.
Sil. How tall was she?

Jul. About my stature: for at Pentecost,
When all our pageants of delight were play'd,
Our youth got me to play the woman's part,

To praise his faith, which I would have disprais'd. 35 And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown;

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 Silvia.

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 scnt on.
Sil. From whom?

Jul. From my master, sir Protheus, madam.
Sil. Oh! he sends you for a picture?
Ju!. Ay, madam.

Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there.

[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.
Sif. There, hold.

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Which served me as fit, by all men's judgment,
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 a-good',
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!

Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth:-
Alas, poor lady! desolate and left !—

I

weep myself, to think upon thy words.

50Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this
Forthy sweet mistress' sake,because thou lov'st her.
Farewell.
[Exit Silvia.
Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you.
know her.-

55A 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,
60 If I had such attire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of her's:
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,

That is, in good carnest.

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An apartment in the Duke's palace.
Enter Thurio, Protheus, and Julia.
Thu. Sir Protheus, what says Silvia to my
suit?
Pro. Oh, sir, I find her milder than she was;
And yet she takes exceptions at your person.
Thu. What, that my leg is too long?
Pro. No; that it is too little. [rounder.
Thu. P'il wear a boot to make it somewhat
Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it
loaths.

Thu. What says she to my face?
Pro. She says, it is a fair one.

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Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cow

ardice.

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well deriv'd.

[Aside.

Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Aside.
Thu. Considers she my possessions?

Pro. O, ay; and pities them.

Thu. Wherefore?

Jul. That such an ass should owe them. [Aside.
Pro. That they are out by lease.

Jul. Here comes the duke.

Enter Duke.

Duke. How now, sir Protheus? how now,

Thurio?

Which of you saw sir Eglamour of late?

Thu. Not I.

Pro. Nor I.

Duke. Saw you my daughter?

Pro. Neither.

[Valentine;

Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant
And Eglamour is in her company.

Tis true; for friar Laurence inet them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the forest:
40 Him he knew we'l, 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 :
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
45 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 towards Mantua, whither they are fled:
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black.
Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes."50)
Jul. 'Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies' eyes:
For I had rather wink, than look on them. [Aside.
Thu. How likes she my discourse?

Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. [peace
Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and 55
Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your
peace.
[Aside.

Thu. What says she to my valour?
Pro. Oh, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

[Exit Duke.

Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That flies her fortune when it follows her:
I'll after; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour,
Than for the love of reckless Silvia.

Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love,
Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her.
Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love,
Than bate for Silvia, that is gone for love.

2

[Exeunt.

A high forehead was in Shakspeare's time

It should be remembered, that false hair was worn by the ladies, long before wigs were in fashion. These false coverings, however, were call'd periwigs. accounted a feature eminently beautiful. That is, respectful, or respectable. Sure means safe. 5 Own them,

4

SCENE

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Rather than have false Protheus rescue me, Oh, 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) 5 do detest false perjur'd Protheus: Therefore begone, solicit me no more.

1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us; 10 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:

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Val. 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, Silvia; Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!What hallooing, and what stir is this to-day? These are my mates, that make their wills their Have some unhappy passenger in chace: [law, They love me well; yet I have much to do, To keep them from uncivil outrages. Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes [Val. steps aside.

Enter Protheus, Silvia, and Julia.

[here:

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[death,

Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to Would I not undergo for one calm look? Oh, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd, When women cannot love, where they're belov'd. Sil. When Protheus cannot love, where he'sbelov'd. Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love, For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths [two, Descended into perjury, to love me.

Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst
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. In love

Who respects friend?

Sil. All men but Protheus.

Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form,

25 I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end; And love you'gainst the nature of love, force you. Sil. O heaven!

Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire. Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch; 30 Thou friend of an ill fashion! Pro. Valentine!

[or love; Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith (For such is a friend now) treacherous man! Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye 35 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 own right hand Is perjur'd to the bosom? Protheus,

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I am sorry, I must never trust thee more,
But count the worlda stranger for thy sake. [curst!
The private wound is deepest: Oh time, most
Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!
Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.→→→
Forgive me, Valentine! if hearty sorrow

I tender it here; I do as truly suffer,
As e'er I did commit.

Val. Then I am paid;

Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you, 45 Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
Though you respect not aught your servant doth)
To hazard life, and rescue you from him,
That wou'd have forc'd your honour and your love.
Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Val. How like a dream is this, I see, and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Aside.
Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am!

And once again I do receive thee honest:
50 Who by repentance is not satisfy'd,

Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came: 55
But, by my coming, I have made you happy. [py.
Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhap-
Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your
[Aside.
Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
Į would have been a breakfast to the beast,

presence.

To record anciently signified to sing. press the first essays of a bird in singing.

Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd;
By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd:-
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All, that was mine in Silvia, I give thee.
Jul. Oh me unhappy!
Pro. Look to the boy.

[Faints, [the matter? Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is Look up; speak.

Jul. O good sir, my master charged me 60 To deliver a ring to madam Silvia;

Which, out of my neglect, was never done.

Record is also a term still used by bird-fanciers, to ex-
That is, reward.

Pro.

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Jul. Oh, cry your mercy, sir, I have mistook: 5
This is the ring you sent toSilvia.[Shewsanotherring
Pro. But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my
I gave this unto Julia.

Jul. And Julia herself did give it me;
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
Pro. How! Julia?

[depart,

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain'd them deeply in her heart:
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root?
Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest rayment; if shame live
In a disguise of love:

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 honour of mine ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,

And think thee worthy of an empress' love.
10 Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again.
Plead a new state in thy unrival'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe,-Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;
15 Take thou thy Sylvia, for thou hast deserv'd her.
Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made
me happy.

It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, [minds.
Women to change their shapes, than men their|20|
Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: oh hea-
ven! were man

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Pro. Bear witness, heaven,

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.
Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept
withal,

Are men endu'd with worthy qualities;
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 thein and
thee;

"Twere pity two such friends should long be foes. 30 Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts.

I have my wish for ever.

Jul. And I mine.

Enter Outlaws, with Duke and Thurio. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!

[duke. 35

Val. Forbear, forbear, I say; it is my lord the Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Banished Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine!

Thu. Yonderis Silvia; and Silvia's mine. [death; 40
Val. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy
Come not within the measure' of my wrath:
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands,
Take but possession of her with a touch;—
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.—
Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;

Come, let us go; we will include all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity,
Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your grace to smile,
What think you of this page, my lord?

Duke.. I think the boy hath grace in him; he

blushes.
[boy.
Val. I warrant you, my lord; more grace than
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, Protheus: 'tis your penance, but to hear
The story of your loves discovered:

That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;
45 One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.
[Exeunt omnes,

1 That is, the reach of my anger. To include is to shut up, to conclude.

MERRY

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