THE TW O

GEN TLEM EN
OF VERONA
BY
W I LLI A M
SH A KESPEA RE
A n Electronic C lassics S eries Publication
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TH E TW O G EN TLEM EN O F VER O N A
D RA M ATIS PERS O N A E
D U KE O F M ILA N : Father to S ilvia. (D U KE:)
VA LEN TIN E:
PR O TEU S :
A N TO N IO : Father to Proteus.
TH U R IO : a foolish rival to Valentine.
EG LA M O U R : A gent for S ilvia in her escape.
H O S T: w here Julia lodges. (H ost:)
O U TLAW S : w ith Valentine.
(First O utlaw :)
(S econd O utlaw :)
(Third O utlaw :)
S PEED : a clow nish servant to Valentine.
LAU N C E: the like to Proteus.
PA N TH IN O : S ervant to A ntonio.
JU LIA : beloved of Proteus.
S ILVIA : beloved of Valentine.
LU C ETTA : w aiting-w om an to Julia.
S ervants, M usicians.
S C EN E: Verona; M ilan; the frontiers of M antua.
}
the tw o G entlem en.
TH E TW O G EN TLEM EN O F VER O N A
A C T I A C T I A C T I A C T I A C T I
S C EN E I: Verona. A n open place.
[Enter VA LEN TIN E and PRO TEU S.]
VA LEN TIN E: C ease to persuade, m y loving Proteus:
H om e-keeping youth have ever hom ely w its.
W eret not affection chains thy tender days
To the sw eet glances of thy honord love,
I rather w ould entreat thy com pany
To see the w onders of the w orld abroad,
Than, living dully sluggardized at hom e,
W ear out thy youth w ith shapeless idleness.
But since thou lovest, love still and thrive therein,
Even as I w ould w hen I to love begin.
PR O TEU S : W ilt thou be gone? S w eet Valentine, adieu!
Think on thy Proteus, w hen thou haply seest
S om e rare note-w orthy object in thy travel:
W ish m e partaker in thy happiness
W hen thou dost m eet good hap; and in thy danger,
If ever danger do environ thee,
C om m end thy grievance to m y holy prayers,
For I w ill be thy beadsm an, Valentine.
VA LEN TIN E: A nd on a love-book pray for m y success?
PR O TEU S : U pon som e book I love Ill pray for thee.
VA LEN TIN E: Thats on som e shallow story of deep love:
H ow young Leander crossd the H ellespont.
PR O TEU S : Thats a deep story of a deeper love:
For he w as m ore than over shoes in love.
VA LEN TIN E: Tis true; for you are over boots in love,
A nd yet you never sw um the H ellespont.
PR O TEU S : O ver the boots? nay, give m e not the boots.
4
VA LEN TIN E: N o, I w ill not, for it boots thee not.
PR O TEU S : W hat?
VA LEN TIN E: To be in love, w here scorn is bought w ith groans;
C oy looks w ith heart-sore sighs; one fading m om ents m irth
W ith tw enty w atchful, w eary, tedious nights:
If haply w on, perhaps a hapless gain;
If lost, w hy then a grievous labor w on;
H ow ever, but a folly bought w ith w it,
O r else a w it by folly vanquished.
PR O TEU S : S o, by your circum stance, you call m e fool.
VA LEN TIN E: S o, by your circum stance, I fear youll prove.
PR O TEU S : Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love.
VA LEN TIN E: Love is your m aster, for he m asters you:
A nd he that is so yoked by a fool,
M ethinks, should not be chronicled for w ise.
PR O TEU S : Yet w riters say, as in the sw eetest bud
The eating canker dw ells, so eating love
Inhabits in the finest w its of all.
VA LEN TIN E: A nd w riters say, as the m ost forw ard bud
Is eaten by the canker ere it blow ,
Even so by love the young and tender w it
Is turnd to folly, blasting in the bud,
Losing his verdure even in the prim e
A nd all the fair effects of future hopes.
But w herefore w aste I tim e to counsel thee,
That art a votary to fond desire?
O nce m ore adieu! m y father at the road
Expects m y com ing, there to see m e shippd.
PR O TEU S : A nd thither w ill I bring thee, Valentine.
VA LEN TIN E: S w eet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave.
To M ilan let m e hear from thee by letters
O f thy success in love, and w hat new s else
Betideth here in absence of thy friend;
A nd likew ise w ill visit thee w ith m ine.
PR O TEU S : A ll happiness bechance to thee in M ilan!
Act I, scene i
5
VA LEN TIN E: A s m uch to you at hom e! and so, farew ell.
[Exit.]
PR O TEU S : H e after honor hunts, I after love:
H e leaves his friends to dignify them m ore,
I leave m yself, m y friends and all, for love.
Thou, Julia, thou hast m etam orphosed m e,
M ade m e neglect m y studies, lose m y tim e,
W ar w ith good counsel, set the w orld at nought;
M ade w it w ith m using w eak, heart sick w ith thought.
[Enter S PEED .]
S PEED : S ir Proteus, save you! S aw you m y m aster?
PR O TEU S : But now he parted hence, to em bark for M ilan.
S PEED : Tw enty to one then he is shippd already,
A nd I have playd the sheep in losing him .
PR O TEU S : Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray,
A n if the shepherd be a w hile aw ay.
S PEED : You conclude that m y m aster is a shepherd, then, and I a sheep?
PR O TEU S : I do.
S PEED : W hy then, m y horns are his horns, w hether I w ake or sleep.
PR O TEU S : A silly answ er and fitting w ell a sheep.
S PEED : This proves m e still a sheep.
PR O TEU S : True; and thy m aster a shepherd.
S PEED : N ay, that I can deny by a circum stance.
PR O TEU S : It shall go hard but Ill prove it by another.
S PEED : The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek m y
m aster, and m y m aster seeks not m e: therefore I am no sheep.
PR O TEU S : The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the shepherd for food follow s not
the sheep: thou for w ages follow est thy m aster; thy m aster for w ages follow s not thee:
therefore thou art a sheep.
Act I, scene i
6
S PEED : S uch another proof w ill m ake m e cry baa.
PR O TEU S : But, dost thou hear? gavest thou m y letter to Julia?
S PEED : Ay sir: I, a lost m utton, gave your letter to her, a laced m utton, and she, a laced
m utton, gave m e, a lost m utton, nothing for m y labor.
PR O TEU S : H eres too sm all a pasture for such store of m uttons.
S PEED : If the ground be overcharged, you w ere best stick her.
PR O TEU S : N ay: in that you are astray, tw ere best pound you.
S PEED : N ay, sir, less than a pound shall serve m e for carrying your letter.
PR O TEU S : You m istake; I m ean the pound,a pinfold.
S PEED : From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, Tis threefold too little for carrying a
letter to your lover.
PR O TEU S : But w hat said she?
S PEED : [First nodding] Ay.
PR O TEU S : N odAyw hy, thats noddy.
S PEED : You m istook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask m e if she did nod; and I say,
Ay.
PR O TEU S : A nd that set together is noddy.
S PEED : N ow you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.
PR O TEU S : N o, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter.
S PEED : W ell, I perceive I m ust be fain to bear w ith you.
PR O TEU S : W hy sir, how do you bear w ith m e?
S PEED : M arry, sir, the letter, very orderly; having nothing but the w ord noddyfor m y
pains.
PR O TEU S : Beshrew m e, but you have a quick w it.
S PEED : A nd yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.
PR O TEU S : C om e com e, open the m atter in brief: w hat said she?
Act I, scene i
7
S PEED : O pen your purse, that the m oney and the m atter m ay be both at once delivered.
PR O TEU S : W ell, sir, here is for your pains. W hat said she?
S PEED : Truly, sir, I think youll hardly w in her.
PR O TEU S : W hy, couldst thou perceive so m uch from her?
S PEED : S ir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so m uch as a ducat for deliv-
ering your letter: and being so hard to m e that brought your m ind, I fear shell prove as
hard to you in telling your m ind. G ive her no token but stones; for shes as hard as steel.
PR O TEU S : W hat said she? nothing?
S PEED : N o, not so m uch as Take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you,
you have testerned m e; in requital w hereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so,
sir, Ill com m end you to m y m aster.
PR O TEU S : G o, go, be gone, to save your ship from w reck,
W hich cannot perish having thee aboard,
Being destined to a drier death on shore.
[Exit S PEED .]
I m ust go send som e better m essenger:
I fear m y Julia w ould not deign m y lines,
R eceiving them from such a w orthless post.
[Exit.]
S C EN E II: The sam e. G arden of JU LIAs house.
[Enter JU LlA and LU C ETTA .]
JU LIA : But say, Lucetta, now w e are alone,
W ouldst thou then counsel m e to fall in love?
LU C ETTA : Ay, m adam , so you stum ble not unheedfully.
JU LIA : O f all the fair resort of gentlem en
That every day w ith parle encounter m e,
In thy opinion w hich is w orthiest love?
LU C ETTA : Please you repeat their nam es, Ill show m y m ind
A ccording to m y shallow sim ple skill.
Act I, scene ii
8
JU LIA : W hat thinkst thou of the fair S ir Eglam our?
LU C ETTA : A s of a knight w ell-spoken, neat and fine;
But, w ere I you, he never should be m ine.
JU LIA : W hat thinkst thou of the rich M ercatio?
LU C ETTA : W ell of his w ealth; but of him self, so so.
JU LIA : W hat thinkst thou of the gentle Proteus?
LU C ETTA : Lord, Lord! to see w hat folly reigns in us!
JU LIA : H ow now ! w hat m eans this passion at his nam e?
LU C ETTA : Pardon, dear m adam : tis a passing sham e
That I, unw orthy body as I am ,
S hould censure thus on lovely gentlem en.
JU LIA : W hy not on Proteus, as of all the rest?
LU C ETTA : Then thus: of m any good I think him best.
JU LIA : Your reason?
LU C ETTA : I have no other, but a w om ans reason;
I think him so because I think him so.
JU LIA : A nd w ouldst thou have m e cast m y love on him ?
LU C ETTA : Ay, if you thought your love not cast aw ay.
JU LIA : W hy he, of all the rest, hath never m oved m e.
LU C ETTA : Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.
JU LIA : H is little speaking show s his love but sm all.
LU C ETTA : Fire thats closest kept burns m ost of all.
JU LIA : They do not love that do not show their love.
LU C ETTA : O , they love least that let m en know their love.
JU LIA : I w ould I knew his m ind.
LU C ETTA : Peruse this paper, m adam .
Act I, scene ii
9
JU LIA : To Julia. S ay, from w hom ?
LU C ETTA : That the contents w ill show .
JU LIA : S ay, say, w ho gave it thee?
LU C ETTA : Valentines page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
H e w ould have given it you; but I, being in the w ay,
D id in your nam e receive it: pardon the fault I pray.
JU LIA : N ow , by m y m odesty, a goodly broker!
D are you presum e to harbor w anton lines?
To w hisper and conspire against m y youth?
N ow , trust m e, tis an office of great w orth
A nd you an officer fit for the place.
O r else return no m ore into m y sight.
LU C ETTA : To plead for love deserves m ore fee than hate.
JU LIA : W ill ye be gone?
LU C ETTA : That you m ay rum inate.
[Exit.]
JU LIA : A nd yet I w ould I had oerlooked the letter:
It w ere a sham e to call her back again
A nd pray her to a fault for w hich I chid her.
W hat a fool is she, that know s I am a m aid,
A nd w ould not force the letter to m y view !
S ince m aids, in m odesty, say noto that
W hich they w ould have the profferer construe ay.
Fie, fie, how w ayw ard is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, w ill scratch the nurse
A nd presently all hum bled kiss the rod!
H ow churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
W hen w illingly I w ould have had her here!
H ow angerly I taught m y brow to frow n,
W hen inw ard joy enforced m y heart to sm ile!
M y penance is to call Lucetta back
A nd ask rem ission for m y folly past.
W hat ho! Lucetta!
[R e-enter LU C ETTA .]
LU C ETTA : W hat w ould your ladyship?
Act I, scene ii
10
JU LIA : Ist near dinner-tim e?
LU C ETTA : I w ould it w ere,
That you m ight kill your stom ach on your m eat
A nd not upon your m aid.
JU LIA : W hat ist that you took up so gingerly?
LU C ETTA : N othing.
JU LIA : W hy didst thou stoop, then?
LU C ETTA : To take a paper up that I let fall.
JU LIA : A nd is that paper nothing?
LU C ETTA : N othing concerning m e.
JU LIA : Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LU C ETTA : M adam , it w ill not lie w here it concerns
U nless it have a false interpeter.
JU LIA : S om e love of yours hath w rit to you in rhym e.
LU C ETTA : That I m ight sing it, m adam , to a tune.
G ive m e a note: your ladyship can set.
JU LIA : A s little by such toys as m ay be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of Light olove.
LU C ETTA : It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JU LIA : H eavy! belike it hath som e burden then?
LU C ETTA : Ay, and m elodious w ere it, w ould you sing it.
JU LIA : A nd w hy not you?
LU C ETTA : I cannot reach so high.
JU LIA : Lets see your song. H ow now , m inion!
LU C ETTA : Keep tune there still, so you w ill sing it out:
A nd yet m ethinks I do not like this tune.
JU LIA : You do not?
Act I, scene ii
11
LU C ETTA : N o, m adam ; it is too sharp.
JU LIA : You, m inion, are too saucy.
LU C ETTA : N ay, now you are too flat
A nd m ar the concord w ith too harsh a descant:
There w anteth but a m ean to fill your song.
JU LIA : The m ean is drow nd w ith your unruly bass.
LU C ETTA : Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JU LIA : This babble shall not henceforth trouble m e.
H ere is a coil w ith protestation!
[Tears the letter.]
G o get you gone, and let the papers lie:
You w ould be fingering them , to anger m e.
LU C ETTA : S he m akes it strange; but she w ould be best pleased
To be so angerd w ith another letter.
[Exit.]
JU LIA : N ay, w ould I w ere so angerd w ith the sam e!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving w ords!
Injurious w asps, to feed on such sw eet honey
A nd kill the bees that yield it w ith your stings!
Ill kiss each several paper for am ends.
Look, here is w rit kind Julia. U nkind Julia!
A s in revenge of thy ingratitude,
I throw thy nam e against the bruising stones,
Tram pling contem ptuously on thy disdain.
A nd here is w rit love-w ounded Proteus.
Poor w ounded nam e! m y bosom as a bed
S hall lodge thee till thy w ound be thoroughly heald;
A nd thus I search it w ith a sovereign kiss.
But tw ice or thrice w as Proteusw ritten dow n.
Be calm , good w ind, blow not a w ord aw ay
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except m ine ow n nam e: that som e w hirlw ind bear
U nto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
A nd throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his nam e tw ice w rit,
Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sw eet Julia:that Ill tear aw ay.
Act I, scene ii
12
A nd yet I w ill not, sith so prettily
H e couples it to his com plaining nam es.
Thus w ill I fold them one on another:
N ow kiss, em brace, contend, do w hat you w ill.
[R e-enter LU C ETTA .]
LU C ETTA : M adam ,
D inner is ready, and your father stays.
JU LIA : W ell, let us go.
LU C ETTA : W hat, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JU LIA : If you respect them , best to take them up.
LU C ETTA : N ay, I w as taken up for laying them dow n:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
JU LIA : I see you have a m onths m ind to them .
LU C ETTA : Ay, m adam , you m ay say w hat sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I w ink.
JU LIA : C om e, com e; w illt please you go?
[Exeunt.]
S C EN E III: The sam e. A N TO N IO s house.
[Enter A N TO N IO and PA N TH IN O .]
A N TO N IO : Tell m e, Panthino, w hat sad talk w as that
W herew ith m y brother held you in the cloister?
PA N TH IN O : Tw as of his nephew Proteus, your son.
A N TO N IO : W hy, w hat of him ?
PA N TH IN O : H e w onderd that your lordship
W ould suffer him to spend his youth at hom e,
W hile other m en, of slender reputation,
Put forth their sons to seek preferm ent out:
S om e to the w ars, to try their fortune there;
Act I, scene iii
13
S om e to discover islands far aw ay;
S om e to the studious universities.
For any or for all these exercises,
H e said that Proteus your son w as m eet,
A nd did request m e to im portune you
To let him spend his tim e no m ore at hom e,
W hich w ould be great im peachm ent to his age,
In having know n no travel in his youth.
A N TO N IO : N or needst thou m uch im portune m e to that
W hereon this m onth I have been ham m ering.
I have considerd w ell his loss of tim e
A nd how he cannot be a perfect m an,
N ot being tried and tutord in the w orld:
Experience is by industry achieved
A nd perfected by the sw ift course of tim e.
Then tell m e, w hither w ere I best to send him ?
PA N TH IN O : I think your lordship is not ignorant
H ow his com panion, youthful Valentine,
A ttends the em peror in his royal court.
A N TO N IO : I know it w ell.
PA N TH IN O : Tw ere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither:
There shall he practise tilts and tournam ents,
H ear sw eet discourse, converse w ith noblem en.
A nd be in eye of every exercise
W orthy his youth and nobleness of birth.
A N TO N IO : I like thy counsel; w ell hast thou advised:
A nd that thou m ayst perceive how w ell I like it,
The execution of it shall m ake know n.
Even w ith the speediest expedition
I w ill dispatch him to the em perors court.
PA N TH IN O : To-m orrow , m ay it please you, D on A lphonso,
W ith other gentlem en of good esteem ,
A re journeying to salute the em peror
A nd to com m end their service to his w ill.
A N TO N IO : G ood com pany; w ith them shall Proteus go:
A nd, in good tim e! now w ill w e break w ith him .
[Enter PR O TEU S .]
PR O TEU S : S w eet love! sw eet lines! sw eet life!
14
Act I, scene iii
H ere is her hand, the agent of her heart;
H ere is her oath for love, her honors paw n.
O , that our fathers w ould applaud our loves,
To seal our happiness w ith their consents!
O heavenly Julia!
A N TO N IO : H ow now ! w hat letter are you reading there?
PR O TEU S : M ayt please your lordship, tis a w ord or tw o
O f com m endations sent from Valentine,
D eliverd by a friend that cam e from him .
A N TO N IO : Lend m e the letter; let m e see w hat new s.
PR O TEU S : There is no new s, m y lord, but that he w rites
H ow happily he lives, how w ell beloved
A nd daily graced by the em peror;
W ishing m e w ith him , partner of his fortune.
A N TO N IO : A nd how stand you affected to his w ish?
PR O TEU S : A s one relying on your lordships w ill
A nd not depending on his friendly w ish.
A N TO N IO : M y w ill is som ething sorted w ith his w ish.
M use not that I thus suddenly proceed;
For w hat I w ill, I w ill, and there an end.
I am resolved that thou shalt spend som e tim e
W ith Valentinus in the em perors court:
W hat m aintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from m e.
To-m orrow be in readiness to go:
Excuse it not, for I am perem ptory.
PR O TEU S : M y lord, I cannot be so soon provided:
Please you, deliberate a day or tw o.
A N TO N IO : Look, w hat thou w antst shall be sent after thee:
N o m ore of stay! to-m orrow thou m ust go.
C om e on, Panthino: you shall be em ployd
To hasten on his expedition.
[Exeunt A N TO N IO and PA N TH IN O .]
PR O TEU S : Thus have I shunnd the fire for fear of burning,
A nd drenchd m e in the sea, w here I am drow nd.
I feard to show m y father Julias letter,
15
Act I, scene iii
Lest he should take exceptions to m y love;
A nd w ith the vantage of m ine ow n excuse
H ath he excepted m ost against m y love.
O , how this spring of love resem bleth
The uncertain glory of an A pril day,
W hich now show s all the beauty of the sun,
A nd by and by a cloud takes all aw ay!
[R e-enter PA N TH IN O .]
PA N TH IN O : S ir Proteus, your father calls for you:
H e is in haste; therefore, I pray you to go.
PR O TEU S : W hy, this it is: m y heart accords thereto,
A nd yet a thousand tim es it answ ers no.
[Exeunt.]
A C T II A C T II A C T II A C T II A C T II
S C EN E I: M ilan. The D U KEs palace.
[Enter VA LEN TIN E and S PEED .]
S PEED : S ir, your glove.
VA LEN TIN E: N ot m ine; m y gloves are on.
S PEED : W hy, then, this m ay be yours, for this is but one.
VA LEN TIN E: H a! let m e see: ay, give it m e, its m ine:
S w eet ornam ent that decks a thing divine!
A h, S ilvia, S ilvia!
S PEED : M adam S ilvia! M adam S ilvia!
VA LEN TIN E: H ow now , sirrah?
S PEED : S he is not w ithin hearing, sir.
VA LEN TIN E: W hy, sir, w ho bade you call her?
S PEED : Your w orship, sir; or else I m istook.
VA LEN TIN E: W ell, youll still be too forw ard.
Act II, scen i
16
S PEED : A nd yet I w as last chidden for being too slow .
VA LEN TIN E: G o to, sir: tell m e, do you know M adam S ilvia?
S PEED : S he that your w orship loves?
VA LEN TIN E: W hy, how know you that I am in love?
S PEED : M arry, by these special m arks: first, you have learned, like S ir Proteus, to
w reathe your arm s, like a m alecontent; to relish a love-song, like a robin-redbreast; to
w alk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy that had lost his
A B C ; to w eep, like a young w ench that had buried her grandam ; to fast, like one that
takes diet; to w atch like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at
H allow m as. You w ere w ont, w hen you laughed, to crow like a cock; w hen you w alked, to
w alk like one of the lions; w hen you fasted, it w as presently after dinner; w hen you looked
sadly, it w as for w ant of m oney: and now you are m etam orphosed w ith a m istress, that,
w hen I look on you, I can hardly think you m y m aster.
VA LEN TIN E: A re all these things perceived in m e?
S PEED : They are all perceived w ithout ye.
VA LEN TIN E: W ithout m e? they cannot.
S PEED : W ithout you? nay, thats certain, for, w ithout you w ere so sim ple, none else w ould:
but you are so w ithout these follies, that these follies are w ithin you and shine through you
like the w ater in an urinal, that not an eye that sees you but is a physician to com m ent on
your m alady.
VA LEN TIN E: But tell m e, dost thou know m y lady S ilvia?
S PEED : S he that you gaze on so as she sits at supper?
VA LEN TIN E: H ast thou observed that? even she, I m ean.
S PEED : W hy, sir, I know her not.
VA LEN TIN E: D ost thou know her by m y gazing on her, and yet know est her not?
S PEED : Is she not hard-favored, sir?
VA LEN TIN E: N ot so fair, boy, as w ell-favored.
S PEED : S ir, I know that w ell enough.
VA LEN TIN E: W hat dost thou know ?
Act II, scene i
17
S PEED : That she is not so fair as, of you, w ell-favored.
VA LEN TIN E: I m ean that her beauty is exquisite, but her favor infinite.
S PEED : Thats because the one is painted and the other out of all count.
VA LEN TIN E: H ow painted? and how out of count?
S PEED : M arry, sir, so painted, to m ake her fair, that no m an counts of her beauty.
VA LEN TIN E: H ow esteem est thou m e? I account of her beauty.
S PEED : You never saw her since she w as deform ed.
VA LEN TIN E: H ow long hath she been deform ed?
S PEED : Ever since you loved her.
VA LEN TIN E: I have loved her ever since I saw her; and still I see her beautiful.
S PEED : If you love her, you cannot see her.
VA LEN TIN E: W hy?
S PEED : Because Love is blind. O , that you had m ine eyes; or your ow n eyes had the
lights they w ere w ont to have w hen you chid at S ir Proteus for going ungartered!
VA LEN TIN E: W hat should I see then?
S PEED : Your ow n present folly and her passing deform ity: for he, being in love, could not
see to garter his hose, and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hose.
VA LEN TIN E: Belike, boy, then, you are in love; for last m orning you could not see to w ipe
m y shoes.
S PEED : True, sir; I w as in love w ith m y bed: I thank you, you sw inged m e for m y love,
w hich m akes m e the bolder to chide you for yours.
VA LEN TIN E: In conclusion, I stand affected to her.
S PEED : I w ould you w ere set, so your affection w ould cease.
VA LEN TIN E: Last night she enjoined m e to w rite som e lines to one she loves.
S PEED : A nd have you?
VA LEN TIN E: I have.
18
Act II, scene i
S PEED : A re they not lam ely w rit?
VA LEN TIN E: N o, boy, but as w ell as I can do them . Peace! here she com es.
S PEED : [A side.] O excellent m otion! O exceeding puppet! N ow w ill he interpret to her.
[Enter S ILVIA .]
VA LEN TIN E: M adam and m istress, a thousand good-m orrow s.
S PEED : [A side.] O , give ye good even! heres a m illion of m anners.
S ILVIA : S ir Valentine and servant, to you tw o thousand.
S PEED : [A side.] H e should give her interest and she gives it him .
VA LEN TIN E: A s you enjoind m e, I have w rit your letter
U nto the secret nam eless friend of yours;
W hich I w as m uch unw illing to proceed in
But for m y duty to your ladyship.
S ILVIA : I thank you gentle servant: tis very clerkly done.
VA LEN TIN E: N ow trust m e, m adam , it cam e hardly off;
For being ignorant to w hom it goes
I w rit at random , very doubtfully.
S ILVIA : Perchance you think too m uch of so m uch pains?
VA LEN TIN E: N o, m adam ; so it stead you, I w ill w rite
Please you com m and, a thousand tim es as m uch;
A nd yet
S ILVIA : A pretty period! W ell, I guess the sequel;
A nd yet I w ill not nam e it; and yet I care not;
A nd yet take this again; and yet I thank you,
M eaning henceforth to trouble you no m ore.
S PEED : [A side.] A nd yet you w ill; and yet another yet.
VA LEN TIN E: W hat m eans your ladyship? do you not like it?
S ILVIA : Yes, yes; the lines are very quaintly w rit;
But since unw illingly, take them again.
N ay, take them .
VA LEN TIN E: M adam , they are for you.
Act II, scene i
19
S ILVIA : Ay, ay: you w rit them , sir, at m y request;
But I w ill none of them ; they are for you;
I w ould have had them w rit m ore m ovingly.
VA LEN TIN E: Please you, Ill w rite your ladyship another.
S ILVIA : A nd w hen its w rit, for m y sake read it over,
A nd if it please you, so; if not, w hy, so.
VA LEN TIN E: If it please m e, m adam , w hat then?
S ILVIA : W hy, if it please you, take it for your labor:
A nd so, good m orrow , servant.
[Exit.]
S PEED : O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible,
A s a nose on a m ans face, or a w eathercock on a steeple!
M y m aster sues to her, and she hath taught her suitor,
H e being her pupil, to becom e her tutor.
O excellent device! w as there ever heard a better,
That m y m aster, being scribe, to him self should w rite the letter?
VA LEN TIN E: H ow now , sir? w hat are you reasoning w ith yourself?
S PEED : N ay, I w as rhym ing: tis you that have the reason.
VA LEN TIN E: To do w hat?
S PEED : To be a spokesm an for M adam S ilvia.
VA LEN TIN E: To w hom ?
S PEED : To yourself: w hy, she w ooes you by a figure.
VA LEN TIN E: W hat figure?
S PEED : By a letter, I should say.
VA LEN TIN E: W hy, she hath not w rit to m e?
S PEED : W hat need she, w hen she hath m ade you w rite to yourself? W hy, do you not
perceive the jest?
VA LEN TIN E: N o, believe m e.
S PEED : N o believing you, indeed, sir. But did you perceive her earnest?
Act II, scene i
20
VA LEN TIN E: S he gave m e none, except an angry w ord.
S PEED : W hy, she hath given you a letter.
VA LEN TIN E: Thats the letter I w rit to her friend.
S PEED : A nd that letter hath she delivered, and there an end.
VA LEN TIN E: I w ould it w ere no w orse.
S PEED : Ill w arrant you, tis as w ell:
For often have you w rit to her, and she, in m odesty,
O r else for w ant of idle tim e, could not again reply;
O r fearing else som e m essenger that m ight her m ind discover,
H erself hath taught her love him self to w rite unto her lover.
A ll this I speak in print, for in print I found it.
W hy m use you, sir? tis dinner-tim e.
VA LEN TIN E: I have dined.
S PEED : Ay, but hearken, sir; though the cham eleon Love can feed on the air, I am one that
am nourished by m y victuals, and w ould fain have m eat. O , be not like your m istress; be
m oved, be m oved.
[Exeunt.]
S C EN E II: Verona. JU LIAS house.
[Enter PR O TEU S and JU LIA .]
PR O TEU S : H ave patience, gentle Julia.
JU LIA : I m ust, w here is no rem edy.
PR O TEU S : W hen possibly I can, I w ill return.
JU LIA : If you turn not, you w ill return the sooner.
Keep this rem em brance for thy Julias sake.
[G iving a ring.]
PR O TEU S : W hy then, w ell m ake exchange; here, take you this.
JU LIA : A nd seal the bargain w ith a holy kiss.
21
Act II, scene ii
PR O TEU S : H ere is m y hand for m y true constancy;
A nd w hen that hour oerslips m e in the day
W herein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake,
The next ensuing hour som e foul m ischance
Torm ent m e for m y loves forgetfulness!
M y father stays m y com ing; answ er not;
The tide is now : nay, not thy tide of tears;
That tide w ill stay m e longer than I should.
Julia, farew ell!
[Exit JU LIA .]
W hat, gone w ithout a w ord?
Ay, so true love should do: it cannot speak;
For truth hath better deeds than w ords to grace it.
[Enter PA N TH IN O .]
PA N TH IN O : S ir Proteus, you are stayd for.
PR O TEU S : G o; I com e, I com e.
A las! this parting strikes poor lovers dum b.
[Exeunt.]
S C EN E III: The sam e. A street.
[Enter LAU N C E, leading a dog.]
LAU N C E: N ay, tw ill be this hour ere I have done w eeping; all the kind of the Launces have
this very fault. I have received m y proportion, like the prodigious son, and am going w ith S ir
Proteus to the Im perials court. I think C rab, m y dog, be the sourest-natured dog that lives:
m y m other w eeping, m y father w ailing, m y sister crying, our m aid how ling, our cat w ringing
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 pebble stone, and has no m ore pity in him than a dog: a Jew
w ould have w ept to have seen our parting; w hy, m y grandam , having no eyes, look you,
w ept herself blind at m y parting. N ay, Ill show you the m anner of it. This shoe is m y father:
no, this left shoe is m y father: no, no, this left shoe is m y m other: nay, that cannot be so
neither: yes, it is so, it is so, it hath the w orser sole. This shoe, w ith the hole in it, is m y m other,
and this m y father; a vengeance ont! there tis: now , sit, this staff is m y sister, for, look you,
she is as w hite as a lily and as sm all as a w and: this hat is N an, our m aid: I am the dog: no,
the dog is him self, and I am the dogO h! the dog is m e, and I am m yself; ay, so, so. N ow
com e I to m y father; Father, our blessing: now should not the shoe speak a w ord for w eep-
ing: now should I kiss m y father; w ell, he w eeps on. N ow com e I to m y m other: O , that she
could speak now like a w ood w om an! W ell, I kiss her; w hy, there tis; heres m y m others
breath up and dow n. N ow com e I to m y sister; m ark the m oan she m akes. N ow the dog all
Act II, scene iii
22
this w hile sheds not a tear nor speaks a w ord; but see how I lay the dust w ith m y tears.
[Enter PA N TH IN O .]
PA N TH IN O : Launce, aw ay, aw ay, aboard! Thy m aster is shipped, and thou art to post after
w ith oars. W hats the m atter? w hy w eepest thou, m an? Aw ay, ass! Youll lose the tide, if you
tarry any longer.
LAU N C E: It is no m atter if the tied w ere lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any m an tied.
PA N TH IN O : W hats the unkindest tide?
LAU N C E: W hy, he thats tied here, C rab, m y dog.
PA N TH IN O : Tut, m an, I m ean thoult lose the flood, and, in losing the flood, lose thy voyage,
and, in losing thy voyage, lose thy m aster, and, in losing thy m aster, lose thy service, and, in
losing thy service,W hy dost thou stop m y m outh?
LAU N C E: For fear thou shouldst lose thy tongue.
PA N TH IN O : W here should I lose m y tongue?
LAU N C E: In thy tale.
PA N TH IN O : In thy tail!
LAU N C E: Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the m aster, and the service, and the tied! W hy,
m an, if the river w ere dry, I am able to fill it w ith m y tears; if the w ind w ere dow n, I could drive
the boat w ith m y sighs.
PA N TH IN O : C om e, com e aw ay, m an; I w as sent to call thee.
LAU N C E: S ir, call m e w hat thou darest.
PA N TH IN O : W ilt thou go?
LAU N C E: W ell, I w ill go.
[Exeunt.]
S C EN E IV: M ilan. The D U KEs palace.
[Enter S ILVIA , VA LEN TIN E, TH U R IO , and S PEED .]
S ILVIA : S ervant!
VA LEN TIN E: M istress?
23
Act II, scene iv
S PEED : M aster, S ir Thurio frow ns on you.
VA LEN TIN E: Ay, boy, its for love.
S PEED : N ot of you.
VA LEN TIN E: O f m y m istress, then.
S PEED : Tw ere good you knocked him .
[Exit.]
S ILVIA : S ervant, you are sad.
VA LEN TIN E: Indeed, m adam , I seem so.
TH U R IO : S eem you that you are not?
VA LEN TIN E: H aply I do.
TH U R IO : S o do counterfeits.
VA LEN TIN E: S o do you.
TH U R IO : W hat seem I that I am not?
VA LEN TIN E: W ise.
TH U R IO : W hat instance of the contrary?
VA LEN TIN E: Your folly.
TH U R IO : A nd how quote you m y folly?
VA LEN TIN E: I quote it in your jerkin.
TH U R IO : M y jerkin is a doublet.
VA LEN TIN E: W ell, then, Ill double your folly.
TH U R IO : H ow ?
S ILVIA : W hat, angry, S ir Thurio! do you change color?
VA LEN TIN E: G ive him leave, m adam ; he is a kind of cham eleon.
TH U R IO : That hath m ore m ind to feed on your blood than live in your air.
Act II, scene iv
24
VA LEN TIN E: You have said, sir.
TH U R IO : Ay, sir, and done too, for this tim e.
VA LEN TIN E: I know it w ell, sir; you alw ays end ere you begin.
S ILVIA : A fine volley of w ords, gentlem en, and quickly shot off.
VA LEN TIN E: Tis indeed, m adam ; w e thank the giver.
S ILVIA : W ho is that, servant?
VA LEN TIN E: Yourself, sw eet lady; for you gave the fire. S ir Thurio borrow s his w it from your
ladyships looks, and spends w hat he borrow s kindly in your com pany.
TH U R IO : S ir, if you spend w ord for w ord w ith m e, I shall m ake your w it bankrupt.
VA LEN TIN E: I know it w ell, sir; you have an exchequer of w ords, and, I think, no other trea-
sure to give your follow ers, for it appears by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare
w ords.
S ILVIA : N o m ore, gentlem en, no m ore:here com es m y father.
[Enter D U KE.]
D U KE: N ow , daughter S ilvia, you are hard beset.
S ir Valentine, your fathers in good health:
W hat say you to a letter from your friends
O f m uch good new s?
VA LEN TIN E: M y lord, I w ill be thankful.
To any happy m essenger from thence.
D U KE: Know ye D on A ntonio, your countrym an?
VA LEN TIN E: Ay, m y good lord, I know the gentlem an
To be of w orth and w orthy estim ation
A nd not w ithout desert so w ell reputed.
D U KE: H ath he not a son?
VA LEN TIN E: Ay, m y good lord; a son that w ell deserves
The honor and regard of such a father.
D U KE: You know him w ell?
VA LEN TIN E: I know him as m yself; for from our infancy
25
Act II, scene iv
W e have conversed and spent our hours together:
A nd though m yself have been an idle truant,
O m itting the sw eet benefit of tim e
To clothe m ine age w ith angel-like perfection,
Yet hath S ir Proteus, for thats his nam e,
M ade use and fair advantage of his days;
H is years but young, but his experience old;
H is head unm ellow d, but his judgm ent ripe;
A nd, in a w ord, for far behind his w orth
C om es all the praises that I now bestow ,
H e is com plete in feature and in m ind
W ith all good grace to grace a gentlem an.
D U KE: Beshrew m e, sir, but if he m ake this good,
H e is as w orthy for an em presslove
A s m eet to be an em perors counsellor.
W ell, sir, this gentlem an is com e to m e,
W ith com m endation from great potentates;
A nd here he m eans to spend his tim e aw hile:
I think tis no unw elcom e new s to you.
VA LEN TIN E: S hould I have w ishd a thing, it had been he.
D U KE: W elcom e him then according to his w orth.
S ilvia, I speak to you, and you, S ir Thurio;
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it:
I w ill send him hither to you presently.
[Exit.]
VA LEN TIN E: This is the gentlem an I told your ladyship
H ad com e along w ith m e, but that his m istress
D id hold his eyes lockd in her crystal looks.
S ILVIA : Belike that now she hath enfranchised them
U pon som e other paw n for fealty.
VA LEN TIN E: N ay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.
S ILVIA : N ay, then he should be blind; and, being blind
H ow could he see his w ay to seek out you?
VA LEN TIN E: W hy, lady, Love hath tw enty pair of eyes.
TH U R IO : They say that Love hath not an eye at all.
VA LEN TIN E: To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself:
Act II, scene iv
26
U pon a hom ely object Love can w ink.
S ILVIA : H ave done, have done; here com es the gentlem an.
[Exit TH U R IO .]
[Enter PR O TEU S .]
VA LEN TIN E: W elcom e, dear Proteus! M istress, I beseech you,
C onfirm his w elcom e w ith som e special favor.
S ILVIA : H is w orth is w arrant for his w elcom e hither,
If this be he you oft have w ishd to hear from .
VA LEN TIN E: M istress, it is: sw eet lady, entertain him
To be m y fellow -servant to your ladyship.
S ILVIA : Too low a m istress for so high a servant.
PR O TEU S : N ot so, sw eet lady: but too m ean a servant
To have a look of such a w orthy m istress.
VA LEN TIN E: Leave off discourse of disability:
S w eet lady, entertain him for your servant.
PR O TEU S : M y duty w ill I boast of; nothing else.
S ILVIA : A nd duty never yet did w ant his m eed:
S ervant, you are w elcom e to a w orthless m istress.
PR O TEU S : Ill die on him that says so but yourself.
S ILVIA : That you are w elcom e?
PR O TEU S : That you are w orthless.
[R e-enter TH U R IO .]
TH U R IO : M adam , m y lord your father w ould speak w ith you.
S ILVIA : I w ait upon his pleasure. C om e, S ir Thurio,
G o w ith m e. O nce m ore, new servant, w elcom e:
Ill leave you to confer of hom e affairs;
W hen you have done, w e look to hear from you.
PR O TEU S : W ell both attend upon your ladyship.
Act II, scene iv
[Exeunt S ILVIA and TH U R IO .]
VA LEN TIN E: N ow , tell m e, how do all from w hence you cam e?
PR O TEU S : Your friends are w ell and have them m uch com m ended.
VA LEN TIN E: A nd how do yours?
PR O TEU S : I left them all in health.
VA LEN TIN E: H ow does your lady? and how thrives your love?
PR O TEU S : M y tales of love w ere w ont to w eary you;
I know you joy not in a love discourse.
VA LEN TIN E: Ay, Proteus, but that life is alterd now :
I have done penance for contem ning Love,
W hose high im perious thoughts have punishd m e
W ith bitter fasts, w ith penitential groans,
W ith nightly tears and daily heart-sore sighs;
For in revenge of m y contem pt of love,
Love hath chased sleep from m y enthralled eyes
A nd m ade them w atchers of m ine ow n hearts sorrow .
O gentle Proteus, Loves a m ighty lord,
A nd hath so hum bled m e, as, I confess,
There is no w oe to his correction,
N or to his service no such joy on earth.
N ow no discourse, except it be of love;
N ow can I break m y fast, dine, sup and sleep,
U pon the very naked nam e of love.
PR O TEU S : Enough; I read your fortune in your eye.
W as this the idol that you w orship so?
VA LEN TIN E: Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint?
PR O TEU S : N o; but she is an earthly paragon.
VA LEN TIN E: C all her divine.
PR O TEU S : I w ill not flatter her.
VA LEN TIN E: O , flatter m e; for love delights in praises.
PR O TEU S : W hen I w as sick, you gave m e bitter pills,
A nd I m ust m inister the like to you.
Act II, scene iv
28
VA LEN TIN E: Then speak the truth by her; if not divine,
Yet let her be a principality,
S overeign to all the creatures on the earth.
PR O TEU S : Except m y m istress.
VA LEN TIN E: S w eet, except not any;
Except thou w ilt except against m y love.
PR O TEU S : H ave I not reason to prefer m ine ow n?
VA LEN TIN E: A nd I w ill help thee to prefer her too:
S he shall be dignified w ith this high honor
To bear m y ladys train, lest the base earth
S hould from her vesture chance to steal a kiss
A nd, of so great a favor grow ing proud,
D isdain to root the sum m er-sw elling flow er
A nd m ake rough w inter everlastingly.
PR O TEU S : W hy, Valentine, w hat braggardism is this?
VA LEN TIN E: Pardon m e, Proteus: all I can is nothing
To her w hose w orth m akes other w orthies nothing;
S he is alone.
PR O TEU S : Then let her alone.
VA LEN TIN E: N ot for the w orld: w hy, m an, she is m ine ow n,
A nd I as rich in having such a jew el
A s tw enty seas, if all their sand w ere pearl,
The w ater nectar and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive m e that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou seest m e dote upon m y love.
M y foolish rival, that her father likes
O nly for his possessions are so huge,
Is gone w ith her along, and I m ust after,
For love, thou know st, is full of jealousy.
PR O TEU S : But she loves you?
VA LEN TIN E: Ay, and w e are betrothd: nay, m ore, our, m arriage-hour,
W ith all the cunning m anner of our flight,
D eterm ined of; how I m ust clim b her w indow ,
The ladder m ade of cords, and all the m eans
Plotted and greed on for m y happiness.
G ood Proteus, go w ith m e to m y cham ber,
In these affairs to aid m e w ith thy counsel.
29
Act II, scene iv
PR O TEU S : G o on before; I shall inquire you forth:
I m ust unto the road, to disem bark
S om e necessaries that I needs m ust use,
A nd then Ill presently attend you.
VA LEN TIN E: W ill you m ake haste?
PR O TEU S : I w ill.
[Exit VA LEN TIN E.]
Even as one heat another heat expels,
O r as one nail by strength drives out another,
S o the rem em brance of m y form er love
Is by a new er object quite forgotten.
Is it m ine, or Valentines praise,
H er true perfection, or m y false transgression,
That m akes m e reasonless to reason thus?
S he is fair; and so is Julia that I love
That I did love, for now m y love is thaw d;
W hich, like a w axen im age, gainst a fire,
Bears no im pression of the thing it w as.
M ethinks m y zeal to Valentine is cold,
A nd that I love him not as I w as w ont.
O , but I love his lady too too m uch,
A nd thats the reason I love him so little.
H ow shall I dote on her w ith m ore advice,
That thus w ithout advice begin to love her!
Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,
A nd that hath dazzled m y reasons light;
But w hen I look on her perfections,
There is no reason but I shall be blind.
If I can check m y erring love, I w ill;
If not, to com pass her Ill use m y skill.
[Exit.]
S C EN E V: The sam e. A street.
[Enter S PEED and LAU N C E severally.]
S PEED : Launce! by m ine honesty, w elcom e to M ilan!
LAU N C E: Forsw ear not thyself, sw eet youth, for I am not w elcom e. I reckon this alw ays, that
a m an is never undone till he be hanged, nor never w elcom e to a place till som e certain
shot be paid and the hostess say W elcom e!
Act II, scene iv
30
S PEED : C om e on, you m adcap, Ill to the alehouse w ith you presently; w here, for one shot of
five pence, thou shalt have five thousand w elcom es. But, sirrah, how did thy m aster part
w ith M adam Julia?
LAU N C E: M arry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest.
S PEED : But shall she m arry him ?
LAU N C E: N o.
S PEED : H ow then? shall he m arry her?
LAU N C E: N o, neither.
S PEED : W hat, are they broken?
LAU N C E: N o, they are both as w hole as a fish.
S PEED : W hy, then, how stands the m atter w ith them ?
LAU N C E: M arry, thus: w hen it stands w ell w ith him , it stands w ell w ith her.
S PEED : W hat an ass art thou! I understand thee not.
LAU N C E: W hat a block art thou, that thou canst not! M y staff understands m e.
S PEED : W hat thou sayest?
LAU N C E: Ay, and w hat I do too: look thee, Ill but lean, and m y staff understands m e.
S PEED : It stands under thee, indeed.
LAU N C E: W hy, stand-under and under-stand is all one.
S PEED : But tell m e true, w illt be a m atch?
LAU N C E: A sk m y dog: if he say ay, it w ill! if he say no, it w ill; if he shake his tail and say
nothing, it w ill.
S PE E D : The conclusion is then tha t it w ill.
LA U N C E : Thou sha lt never g et such a secret from m e b ut b y a p a ra b le.
S PEED : Tis w ell that I get it so. But, Launce, how sayest thou, that m y m aster is becom e a
notable lover?
LAU N C E: I never knew him otherw ise.
Act II, scene v
31
S PEED : Than how ?
LA U N C E : A nota b le lub b er, a s thou rep ortest him to b e.
S PE E D : W hy, thou w horeson a ss, thou m ista kest m e.
LA U N C E : W hy, fool, I m ea nt not thee; I m ea nt thy m a ster.
S PE E D : I tell thee, m y m a ster is b ecom e a hot lover.
LAU N C E: W hy, I tell thee, I care not though he burn him selfin love. If thou w ilt, go w ith m e to
the alehouse; if not, thou art an H ebrew , a Jew , and not w orth the nam e of a C hristian.
S PEED : W hy?
LAU N C E: Because thou hast not so m uch charity in thee as to go to the ale w ith a C hristian.
W ilt thou go?
S PE E D : A t thy service.
[E xeunt.]
S C EN E V I: The sam e. The D U K ES p alace.
[E nter PR O TE U S .]
PR O TEU S : To leave m y Julia, shall I be forsw orn;
To love fair S ilvia, shall I be forsw orn;
To w rong m y friend, I shall be m uch forsw orn;
A nd even tha t p ow er w hich g a ve m e first m y oa th
Provokes m e to this threefold perjury;
Love bade m e sw ear and Love bids m e forsw ear.
O sw eet-suggesting Love, if thou hast sinned,
Teach m e, thy tem pted subject, to excuse it!
A t first I did adore a tw inkling star,
But now I w orship a celestial sun.
U nheedful vow s m ay heedfully be broken,
A nd he w ants w it that w ants resolved w ill
To learn his w it to exchange the bad for better.
Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad,
W hose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferrd
W ith tw enty thousand soul-confirm ing oaths.
I cannot leave to love, and yet I do;
But there I leave to love w here I should love.
Julia I lose and Valentine I lose:
If I keep them , I needs m ust lose m yself;
Act II, scene vi
32
If I lose them , thus find I by their loss
For Valentine m yself, for Julia S ilvia.
I to m yself am dearer than a friend,
For love is still m ost precious in itself;
A nd S ilvia w itness H eaven, that m ade her fair!
S how s Julia b ut a sw a rthy E thiop e.
I w ill forget that Julia is alive,
R em em bering that m y love to her is dead;
A nd Valentine Ill hold an enem y,
A im ing at S ilvia as a sw eeter friend.
I cannot now prove constant to m yself,
W idhout som e treachery used to Valentine.
This night he m eaneth w ith a corded ladder
To clim b celestial S ilvias cham ber-w indow ,
M yself in counsel, his com petitor.
N ow presently Ill give her father notice
O f their disguising and pretended flight;
W ho, all enraged, w ill banish Valentine;
For Thurio, he intends, shall w ed his daughter;
But, Valentine being gone, Ill quickly cross
By som e sly trick blunt Thurios dull proceeding.
Love, lend m e w ings to m ake m y purpose sw ift,
A s thou hast lent m e w it to plot this drift!
[E xit.]
S C E N E V II: V erona . JU LIA S house.
[E nter JU LIA a nd LU C E TTA .]
JU LIA : C ounsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist m e;
A nd even in kind love I do conjure thee,
W ho art the table w herein all m y thoughts
A re visibly characterd and engraved,
To lesson m e and tell m e som e good m ean
H ow , w ith m y honor, I m ay undertake
A journey to m y loving Proteus.
LU C E TTA : A la s, the w a y is w ea risom e a nd long !
JU LIA : A true-devoted pilgrim is not w eary
To m easure kingdom s w ith his feeble steps;
M uch less shall she that hath Loves w ings to fly,
A nd w hen the flight is m ade to one so dear,
O f such divine perfection, as S ir Proteus.
Act II, scene vii
33
LU C ETTA : Better forbear till Proteus m ake return.
JU LIA : O , know st thou not his looks are m y souls food?
Pity the dearth that I have pined in,
By longing for that food so long a tim e.
D idst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou w ouldst as soon go kindle fire w ith snow
A s seek to quench the fire of love w ith w ords.
LU C ETTA : I do not seek to quench your loves hot fire,
But qualify the fires extrem e rage,
Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.
JU LIA : The m ore thou dam m st it up, the m ore it burns.
The current that w ith gentle m urm ur glides,
Thou know st, being stoppd, im patiently doth rage;
But w hen his fair course is not hindered,
H e m akes sw eet m usic w ith the enam elled stones,
G iving a gentle kiss to every sedge
H e overtaketh in his pilgrim age,
A nd so by m any w inding nooks he strays
W ith w illing sport to the w ild ocean.
Then let m e go and hinder not m y course
Ill be as patient as a gentle stream
A nd m ake a pastim e of each w eary step,
Till the last step have brought m e to m y love;
A nd there Ill rest, as after m uch turm oil
A blessed soul doth in Elysium .
LU C ETTA : But in w hat habit w ill you go along?
JU LIA : N ot like a w om an; for I w ould prevent
The loose encounters of lascivious m en:
G entle Lucetta, fit m e w ith such w eeds
A s m ay beseem som e w ell-reputed page.
LU C ETTA : W hy, then, your ladyship m ust cut your hair.
JU LIA : N o, girl, Ill knit it up in silken strings
W ith tw enty odd-conceited true-love knots.
To be fantastic m ay becom e a youth
O f greater tim e than I shall show to be.
LU C ETTA : W hat fashion, m adam shall I m ake your breeches?
JU LIA : That fits as w ell as Tell m e, good m y lord,
W hat com pass w ill you w ear your farthingale?
Act II, scene vii
34
W hy even w hat fashion thou best likest, Lucetta.
LU C ETTA : You m ust needs have them w ith a codpiece, m adam .
JU LIA : O ut, out, Lucetta! that w ould be ill-favord.
LU C ETTA : A round hose, m adam , now s not w orth a pin,
U nless you have a codpiece to stick pins on.
JU LIA : Lucetta, as thou lovest m e, let m e have
W hat thou thinkest m eet and is m ost m annerly.
But tell m e, w ench, how w ill the w orld repute m e
For undertaking so unstaid a journey?
I fear m e, it w ill m ake m e scandalized.
LU C ETTA : If you think so, then stay at hom e and go not.
JU LIA : N ay, that I w ill not.
LU C ETTA : Then never dream on infam y, but go.
If Proteus like your journey w hen you com e,
N o m atter w hos displeased w hen you are gone:
I fear m e, he w ill scarce be pleased w ithal.
JU LIA : That is the least, Lucetta, of m y fear:
A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears
A nd instances of infinite of love
W arrant m e w elcom e to m y Proteus.
LU C ETTA : A ll these are servants to deceitful m en.
JU LIA : Base m en, that use them to so base effect!
But truer stars did govern Proteusbirth
H is w ords are bonds, his oaths are oracles,
H is love sincere, his thoughts im m aculate,
H is tears pure m essengers sent from his heart,
H is heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth.
LU C ETTA : Pray heaven he prove so, w hen you com e to him !
JU LIA : N ow , as thou lovest m e, do him not that w rong
To bear a hard opinion of his truth:
O nly deserve m y love by loving him ;
A nd presently go w ith m e to m y cham ber,
To take a note of w hat I stand in need of,
To furnish m e upon m y longing journey.
A ll that is m ine I leave at thy dispose,
Act II, scene vii
35
M y goods, m y lands, m y reputation;
O nly, in lieu thereof, dispatch m e hence.
C om e, answ er not, but to it presently!
I am im patient of m y tarriance.
[Exeunt.]
A C T III A C T III A C T III A C T III A C T III
S C EN E I: M ilan. The D U KEs palace.
[Enter D U KE, TH U R IO , and PR O TEU S .]
D U KE: S ir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, aw hile;
W e have som e secrets to confer about.
[Exit TH U R IO .]
N ow , tell m e, Proteus, w hats your w ill w ith m e?
PR O TEU S : M y gracious lord, that w hich I w ould discover
The law of friendship bids m e to conceal;
But w hen I call to m ind your gracious favors
D one to m e, undeserving as I am ,
M y duty pricks m e on to utter that
W hich else no w orldly good should draw from m e.
Know , w orthy prince, S ir Valentine, m y friend,
This night intends to steal aw ay your daughter:
M yself am one m ade privy to the plot.
I know you have determ ined to bestow her
O n Thurio, w hom your gentle daughter hates;
A nd should she thus be stoln aw ay from you,
It w ould be m uch vexation to your age.
Thus, for m y dutys sake, I rather chose
To cross m y friend in his intended drift
Than, by concealing it, heap on your head
A pack of sorrow s w hich w ould press you dow n,
Being unprevented, to your tim eless grave.
D U KE: Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care;
W hich to requite, com m and m e w hile I live.
This love of theirs m yself have often seen,
H aply w hen they have judged m e fast asleep,
A nd oftentim es have purposed to forbid
S ir Valentine her com pany and m y court:
But fearing lest m y jealous aim m ight err
Act III, scene i
36
A nd so unw orthily disgrace the m an,
A rashness that I ever yet have shunnd,
I gave him gentle looks, thereby to find
That w hich thyself hast now disclosed to m e.
A nd, that thou m ayst perceive m y fear of this,
Know ing that tender youth is soon suggested,
I nightly lodge her in an upper tow er,
The key w hereof m yself have ever kept;
A nd thence she cannot be conveyd aw ay.
PR O TEU S : Know , noble lord, they have devised a m ean
H ow he her cham ber-w indow w ill ascend
A nd w ith a corded ladder fetch her dow n;
For w hich the youthful lover now is gone
A nd this w ay com es he w ith it presently;
W here, if it please you, you m ay intercept him .
But, good m y Lord, do it so cunningly
That m y discovery be not aim ed at;
For love of you, not hate unto m y friend,
H ath m ade m e publisher of this pretence.
D U KE: U pon m ine honor, he shall never know
That I had any light from thee of this.
PR O TEU S : A dieu, m y Lord; S ir Valentine is com ing.
[Exit.]
[Enter VA LEN TIN E.]
D U KE: S ir Valentine, w hither aw ay so fast?
VA LEN TIN E: Please it your grace, there is a m essenger
That stays to bear m y letters to m y friends,
A nd I am going to deliver them .
D U KE: Be they of m uch im port?
VA LEN TIN E: The tenor of them doth but signify
M y health and happy being at your court.
D U KE: N ay then, no m atter; stay w ith m e aw hile;
I am to break w ith thee of som e affairs
That touch m e near, w herein thou m ust be secret.
Tis not unknow n to thee that I have sought
To m atch m y friend S ir Thurio to m y daughter.
Act III, scene i
37
VA LEN TIN E: I know it w ell, m y Lord; and, sure, the m atch
W ere rich and honorable; besides, the gentlem an
Is full of virtue, bounty, w orth and qualities
Beseem ing such a w ife as your fair daughter:
C annot your G race w in her to fancy him ?
D U KE: N o, trust m e; she is peevish, sullen, frow ard,
Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty,
N either regarding that she is m y child
N or fearing m e as if I w ere her father;
A nd, m ay I say to thee, this pride of hers,
U pon advice, hath draw n m y love from her;
A nd, w here I thought the rem nant of m ine age
S hould have been cherishd by her child-like duty,
I now am full resolved to take a w ife
A nd turn her out to w ho w ill take her in:
Then let her beauty be her w edding-dow er;
For m e and m y possessions she esteem s not.
VA LEN TIN E: W hat w ould your G race have m e to do in this?
D U KE: There is a lady in Verona here
W hom I affect; but she is nice and coy
A nd nought esteem s m y aged eloquence:
N ow therefore w ould I have thee to m y tutor
For long agone I have forgot to court;
Besides, the fashion of the tim e is changed
H ow and w hich w ay I m ay bestow m yself
To be regarded in her sun-bright eye.
VA LEN TIN E: W in her w ith gifts, if she respect not w ords:
D um b jew els often in their silent kind
M ore than quick w ords do m ove a w om ans m ind.
D U KE: But she did scorn a present that I sent her.
VA LEN TIN E: A w om an som etim es scorns w hat best contents her.
S end her another; never give her oer;
For scorn at first m akes after-love the m ore.
If she do frow n, tis not in hate of you,
But rather to beget m ore love in you:
If she do chide, tis not to have you gone;
For w hy, the fools are m ad, if left alone.
Take no repulse, w hatever she doth say;
For get you gone,she doth not m ean aw ay!
Flatter and praise, com m end, extol their graces;
Though neer so black, say they have angelsfaces.
Act III, scene i
38
That m an that hath a tongue, I say, is no m an,
If w ith his tongue he cannot w in a w om an.
D U KE: But she I m ean is prom ised by her friends
U nto a youthful gentlem an of w orth,
A nd kept severely from resort of m en,
That no m an hath access by day to her.
VA LEN TIN E: W hy, then, I w ould resort to her by night.
D U KE: Ay, but the doors be lockd and keys kept safe,
That no m an hath recourse to her by night.
VA LEN TIN E: W hat lets but one m ay enter at her w indow ?
D U KE: H er cham ber is aloft, far from the ground,
A nd built so shelving that one cannot clim b it
W ithout apparent hazard of his life.
VA LEN TIN E: W hy then, a ladder quaintly m ade of cords,
To cast up, w ith a pair of anchoring hooks,
W ould serve to scale another H eros tow er,
S o bold Leander w ould adventure it.
D U KE: N ow , as thou art a gentlem an of blood,
A dvise m e w here I m ay have such a ladder.
VA LEN TIN E: W hen w ould you use it? pray, sir, tell m e that.
D U KE: This very night; for Love is like a child,
That longs for every thing that he can com e by.
VA LEN TIN E: By seven oclock Ill get you such a ladder.
D U KE: But, hark thee; I w ill go to her alone:
H ow shall I best convey the ladder thither?
VA LEN TIN E: It w ill be light, m y lord, that you m ay bear it
U nder a cloak that is of any length.
D U KE: A cloak as long as thine w ill serve the turn?
VA LEN TIN E: Ay, m y good lord.
D U KE: Then let m e see thy cloak:
Ill get m e one of such another length.
39
Act III, scene i
VA LEN TIN E: W hy, any cloak w ill serve the turn, m y lord.
D U KE: H ow shall I fashion m e to w ear a cloak?
I pray thee, let m e feel thy cloak upon m e.
W hat letter is this sam e? W hats here? To S ilvia!
A nd here an engine fit for m y proceeding.
Ill be so bold to break the seal for once.
[R eads.]
M y thoughts do harbor w ith m y S ilvia nightly,
A nd slaves they are to m e that send them flying:
O , could their m aster com e and go as lightly,
H im self w ould lodge w here senseless they are lying!
M y herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them :
W hile I, their king, that hither them im portune,
D o curse the grace that w ith such grace hath blessd them ,
Because m yself do w ant m y servantsfortune:
I curse m yself, for they are sent by m e,
That they should harbor w here their lord w ould be.
W hats here?
S ilvia, this night I w ill enfranchise thee.
Tis so; and heres the ladder for the purpose.
W hy, Phaeton,for thou art M eropsson,
W ilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car
A nd w ith thy daring folly burn the w orld?
W ilt thou reach stars, because they shine on thee?
G o, base intruder! overw eening slave!
Bestow thy faw ning sm iles on equal m ates,
A nd think m y patience, m ore than thy desert,
Is privilege for thy departure hence:
Thank m e for this m ore than for all the favors
W hich all too m uch I have bestow d on thee.
But if thou linger in m y territories
Longer than sw iftest expedition
W ill give thee tim e to leave our royal court,
By heaven! m y w rath shall far exceed the love
I ever bore m y daughter or thyself.
Be gone! I w ill not hear thy vain excuse;
But, as thou lovest thy life, m ake speed from hence.
[Exit.]
VA LEN TIN E: A nd w hy not death rather than living torm ent?
To die is to be banishd from m yself;
A nd S ilvia is m yself: banishd from her
Is self from self: a deadly banishm ent!
Act III, scene i
40
W hat light is light, if S ilvia be not seen?
W hat joy is joy, if S ilvia be not by?
U nless it be to think that she is by
A nd feed upon the shadow of perfection
Except I be by S ilvia in the night,
There is no m usic in the nightingale;
U nless I look on S ilvia in the day,
There is no day for m e to look upon;
S he is m y essence, and I leave to be,
If I be not by her fair influence
Fosterd, illum ined, cherishd, 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 aw ay from life.
[Enter PR O TEU S and LAU N C E.]
PR O TEU S : Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out.
LAU N C E: S oho, soho!
PR O TEU S : W hat seest thou?
LAU N C E: H im w e go to find: theres not a hair ons head but tis a Valentine.
PR O TEU S : Valentine?
VA LEN TIN E: N o.
PR O TEU S : W ho then? his spirit?
VA LEN TIN E: N either.
PR O TEU S : W hat then?
VA LEN TIN E: N othing.
LAU N C E: C an nothing speak? M aster, shall I strike?
PR O TEU S : W ho w ouldst thou strike?
LAU N C E: N othing.
PR O TEU S : Villain, forbear.
LAU N C E: W hy, sir, Ill strike nothing: I pray you,
41
Act III, scene i
PR O TEU S : S irrah, I say, forbear. Friend Valentine, a w ord.
VA LEN TIN E: M y ears are stopt and cannot hear good new s,
S o m uch of bad already hath possessd them .
PR O TEU S : Then in dum b silence w ill I bury m ine,
For they are harsh, untuneable and bad.
VA LEN TIN E: Is S ilvia dead?
PR O TEU S : N o, Valentine.
VA LEN TIN E: N o Valentine, indeed, for sacred S ilvia.
H ath she forsw orn m e?
PR O TEU S : N o, Valentine.
VA LEN TIN E: N o Valentine, if S ilvia have forsw orn m e.
W hat is your new s?
LAU N C E: S ir, there is a proclam ation that you are vanished.
PR O TEU S : That thou art banishedO , thats the new s!
From hence, from S ilvia and from m e thy friend.
VA LEN TIN E: O , I have fed upon this w oe already,
A nd now excess of it w ill m ake m e surfeit.
D oth S ilvia know that I am banished?
PR O TEU S : Ay, ay; and she hath offerd to the doom
W hich, unreversed, stands in effectual force
A sea of m elting pearl, w hich som e call tears:
Those at her fathers churlish feet she tenderd;
W ith them , upon her knees, her hum ble self;
W ringing her hands, w hose w hiteness so becam e them
A s if but now they w axed pale for w oe:
But neither bended knees, pure hands held up,
S ad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears,
C ould penetrate her uncom passionate sire;
But Valentine, if he be taen, m ust die.
Besides, her intercession chafed him so,
W hen she for thy repeal w as suppliant,
That to close prison he com m anded her,
W ith m any bitter threats of biding there.
VA LEN TIN E: N o m ore; unless the next w ord that thou speakst
H ave som e m alignant pow er upon m y life:
Act III, scene i
42
If so, I pray thee, breathe it in m ine ear,
A s ending anthem of m y endless dolor.
PR O TEU S : C ease to lam ent for that thou canst not help,
A nd study help for that w hich thou lam entst.
Tim e is the nurse and breeder of all good.
H ere if thou stay, thou canst not see thy love;
Besides, thy staying w ill abridge thy life.
H ope is a lovers staff; w alk hence w ith that
A nd m anage it against despairing thoughts.
Thy letters m ay be here, though thou art hence;
W hich, being w rit to m e, shall be deliverd
Even in the m ilk-w hite bosom of thy love.
The tim e now serves not to expostulate:
C om e, Ill convey thee through the city-gate;
A nd, ere I part w ith thee, confer at large
O f all that m ay concern thy love-affairs.
A s thou lovest S ilvia, though not for thyself,
R egard thy danger, and along w ith m e!
VA LEN TIN E: I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest m y boy,
Bid him m ake haste and m eet m e at the N orth-gate.
PR O TEU S : G o, sirrah, find him out. C om e, Valentine.
VA LEN TIN E: O m y dear S ilvia! H apless Valentine!
[Exeunt VA LEN TIN E and PR O TEU S .]
LAU N C E: I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the w it to think m y m aster is a kind of a
knave: but thats all one, if he be but one knave. H e lives not now that know s m e to be in love;
yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not pluck that from m e; nor w ho tis I love; and yet
tis a w om an; but w hat w om an, I w ill not tell m yself; and yet tis a m ilkm aid; yet tis not a
m aid, for she hath had gossips; yet tis a m aid, for she is her m asters m aid, and serves for
w ages. S he hath m ore qualities than a w ater-spaniel; w hich is m uch in a bare C hristian.
[Pulling out a paper]
H ere is the cate-log of her condition. Im prim is: S he can fetch and carry. W hy,
a horse can do no m ore: nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore is she better
than a jade. Item : S he can m ilk;look you, a sw eet virtue in a m aid w ith clean hands.
[Enter S PEED .]
S PEED : H ow now , S ignior Launce! w hat new s w ith your m astership?
LAU N C E: W ith m y m asters ship? w hy, it is at sea.
43
Act III, scene i
S PEED : W ell, your old vice still; m istake the w ord. W hat new s, then, in your paper?
LAU N C E: The blackest new s that ever thou heardest.
S PEED : W hy, m an, how black?
LAU N C E: W hy, as black as ink.
S PEED : Let m e read them .
LAU N C E: Fie on thee, jolt-head! thou canst not read.
S PEED : Thou liest; I can.
LAU N C E: I w ill try thee. Tell m e this: w ho begot thee?
S PEED : M arry, the son of m y grandfather.
LAU N C E: O illiterate loiterer! it w as the son of thy grandm other: this proves that thou canst
not read.
S PEED : C om e, fool, com e; try m e in thy paper.
LAU N C E: There; and S t. N icholas be thy speed!
S PEED : [R eads.] Im prim is: S he can m ilk.
LAU N C E: Ay, that she can.
S PEED : Item : S he brew s good ale.
LAU N C E: A nd thereof com es the proverb: Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale.
S PEED : Item : S he can sew .
LAU N C E: Thats as m uch as to say, C an she so?
S PEED : Item : S he can knit.
LAU N C E: W hat need a m an care for a stock w ith a w ench, w hen she can knit him a stock?
S PEED : Item : S he can w ash and scour.
LAU N C E: A special virtue: for then she need not be w ashed and scoured.
S PEED : Item : S he can spin.
44
Act III, scene i
LAU N C E: Then m ay I set the w orld on w heels, w hen she can spin for her living.
S PEED : Item : S he hath m any nam eless virtues.
LAU N C E: Thats as m uch as to say, bastard virtues; that, indeed, know not their fathers and
therefore have no nam es.
S PEED : H ere follow her vices.
LAU N C E: C lose at the heels of her virtues.
S PEED : Item : S he is not to be kissed fasting in respect of her breath.
LAU N C E: W ell, that fault m ay be m ended w ith a breakfast. R ead on.
S PEED : Item : S he hath a sw eet m outh.
LAU N C E: That m akes am ends for her sour breath.
S PEED : Item : S he doth talk in her sleep.
LAU N C E: Its no m atter for that, so she sleep not in her talk.
S PEED : Item : S he is slow in w ords.
LAU N C E: O villain, that set this dow n am ong her vices! To be slow in w ords is a w om ans
only virtue: I pray thee, out w itht, and place it for her chief virtue.
S PEED : Item : S he is proud.
LAU N C E: O ut w ith that too; it w as Eves legacy, and cannot be taen from her.
S PEED : Item : S he hath no teeth.
LAU N C E: I care not for that neither, because I love crusts.
S PEED : Item : S he is curst.
LAU N C E: W ell, the best is, she hath no teeth to bite.
S PEED : Item : S he w ill often praise her liquor.
LAU N C E: If her liquor be good, she shall: if she w ill not, I w ill; for good things should be
praised.
S PEED : Item : S he is too liberal.
Act III, scene i
45
LAU N C E: O f her tongue she cannot, for thats w rit dow n she is slow of; of her purse she shall
not, for that Ill keep shut: now , of another thing she m ay, and that cannot I help. W ell,
proceed.
S PEED : Item : S he hath m ore hair than w it, and m ore faults than hairs, and m ore w ealth
than faults.
LAU N C E: S top there; Ill have her: she w as m ine, and not m ine, tw ice or thrice in that last
article. R ehearse that once m ore.
S PEED : Item : S he hath m ore hair than w it,
LAU N C E: M ore hair than w it? It m ay be; Ill prove it. The cover of the salt hides the salt, and
therefore it is m ore than the salt; the hair that covers the w it is m ore than the w it, for the
greater hides the less. W hats next?
S PEED : A nd m ore faults than hairs,
LAU N C E: Thats m onstrous: O , that that w ere out!
S PEED : A nd m ore w ealth than faults.
LAU N C E: W hy, that w ord m akes the faults gracious. W ell, Ill have her; and if it be a m atch,
as nothing is im possible,
S PEED : W hat then?
LAU N C E: W hy, then w ill I tell theethat thy m aster stays for thee at the N orth-gate.
S PEED : For m e?
LAU N C E: For thee! ay, w ho art thou? he hath stayed for a better m an than thee.
S PEED : A nd m ust I go to him ?
LAU N C E: Thou m ust run to him , for thou hast stayed so long that going w ill scarce serve the
turn.
S PEED : W hy didst not tell m e sooner? pox of your love letters!
[Exit.]
LAU N C E: N ow w ill he be sw inged for reading m y letter; an unm annerly slave, that w ill thrust
him self into secrets! Ill after, to rejoice in the boys correction.
[Exit.]
Act III, scene i
46
S C EN E II: The sam e. The D U KEs palace.
[Enter D U KE and TH U R IO .]
D U KE: S ir Thurio, fear not but that she w ill love you,
N ow Valentine is banishd from her sight.
TH U R IO : S ince his exile she hath despised m e m ost,
Forsw orn m y com pany and raild at m e,
That I am desperate of obtaining her.
D U KE: This w eak im press of love is as a figure
Trenched in ice, w hich w ith an hours heat
D issolves to w ater and doth lose his form .
A little tim e w ill m elt her frozen thoughts
A nd w orthless Valentine shall be forgot.
[Enter PR O TEU S .]
H ow now , S ir Proteus! Is your countrym an
A ccording to our proclam ation gone?
PR O TEU S : G one, m y good lord.
D U KE: M y daughter takes his going grievously.
PR O TEU S : A little tim e, m y lord, w ill kill that grief.
D U KE: S o I believe; but Thurio thinks not so.
Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee
For thou hast show n som e sign of good desert
M akes m e the better to confer w ith thee.
PR O TEU S : Longer than I prove loyal to your grace
Let m e not live to look upon your grace.
D U KE: Thou know st how w illingly I w ould effect
The m atch betw een S ir Thurio and m y daughter.
PR O TEU S : I do, m y lord.
D U KE: A nd also, I think, thou art not ignorant
H ow she opposes her against m y w ill
PR O TEU S : S he did, m y lord, w hen Valentine w as here.
D U KE: Ay, and perversely she persevers so.
47
Act III, scene ii
W hat m ight w e do to m ake the girl forget
The love of Valentine and love S ir Thurio?
PR O TEU S : The best w ay is to slander Valentine
W ith falsehood, cow ardice and poor descent,
Three things that w om en highly hold in hate.
D U KE: Ay, but shell think that it is spoke in hate.
PR O TEU S : Ay, if his enem y deliver it:
Therefore it m ust w ith circum stance be spoken
By one w hom she esteem eth as his friend.
D U KE: Then you m ust undertake to slander him .
PR O TEU S : A nd that, m y lord, I shall be loath to do:
Tis an ill office for a gentlem an,
Especially against his very friend.
D U KE: W here your good w ord cannot advantage him ,
Your slander never can endam age him ;
Therefore the office is indifferent,
Being entreated to it by your friend.
PR O TEU S : You have prevaild, m y lord; if I can do it
By ought that I can speak in his dispraise,
S he shall not long continue love to him .
But say this w eed her love from Valentine,
It follow s not that she w ill love S ir Thurio.
TH U R IO : Therefore, as you unw ind her love from him ,
Lest it should ravel and be good to none,
You m ust provide to bottom it on m e;
W hich m ust be done by praising m e as m uch
A s you in w orth dispraise S ir Valentine.
D U KE: A nd, Proteus, w e dare trust you in this kind,
Because w e know , on Valentines report,
You are already Loves firm votary
A nd cannot soon revolt and change your m ind.
U pon this w arrant shall you have access
W here you w ith S ilvia m ay confer at large;
For she is lum pish, heavy, m elancholy,
A nd, for your friends sake, w ill be glad of you;
W here you m ay tem per her by your persuasion
To hate young Valentine and love m y friend.
48
Act III, scene ii
PR O TEU S : A s m uch as I can do, I w ill effect:
But you, S ir Thurio, are not sharp enough;
You m ust lay lim e to tangle her desires
By w ailful sonnets, w hose com posed rhym es
S hould be full-fraught w ith serviceable vow s.
D U KE: Ay,
M uch is the force of heaven-bred poesy.
PR O TEU S : S ay that upon the altar of her beauty
You sacrifice your tears, your sighs, your heart:
W rite till your ink be dry, and w ith your tears
M oist it again, and fram e som e feeling line
That m ay discover such integrity:
For O rpheuslute w as strung w ith poetssinew s,
W hose golden touch could soften steel and stones,
M ake tigers tam e and huge leviathans
Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands.
A fter your dire-lam enting elegies,
Visit by night your ladys cham ber-w indow
W ith som e sw eet concert; to their instrum ents
Tune a deploring dum p: the nights dead silence
W ill w ell becom e such sw eet-com plaining grievance.
This, or else nothing, w ill inherit her.
D U KE: This discipline show s thou hast been in love.
TH U R IO : A nd thy advice this night Ill put in practice.
Therefore, sw eet Proteus, m y direction-giver,
Let us into the city presently
To sort som e gentlem en w ell skilld in m usic.
I have a sonnet that w ill serve the turn
To give the onset to thy good advice.
D U KE: A bout it, gentlem en!
PR O TEU S : W ell w ait upon your grace till after supper,
A nd afterw ard determ ine our proceedings.
D U KE: Even now about it! I w ill pardon you.
[Exeunt.]
49
Act III, scene ii
A C T IV
S C EN E I: The frontiers of M antua. A forest.
[Enter certain O utlaw s.]
First O utlaw : Fellow s, stand fast; I see a passenger.
S econd O utlaw : If there be ten, shrink not, but dow n w ith em .
[Enter VA LEN TIN E and S PEED .]
Third O utlaw : S tand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye:
If not: w ell m ake you sit and rifle you.
S PEED : S ir, w e are undone; these are the villains
That all the travelers do fear so m uch.
VA LEN TIN E: M y friends,
First O utlaw : Thats not so, sir: w e are your enem ies.
S econd O utlaw : Peace! w ell hear him .
Third O utlaw : Ay, by m y beard, w ill w e, for hes a proper m an.
VA LEN TIN E: Then know that I have little w ealth to lose:
A m an I am crossd w ith adversity;
M y riches are these poor habilim ents,
O f w hich if you should here disfurnish m e,
You take the sum and substance that I have.
S econd O utlaw : W hither travel you?
VA LEN TIN E: To Verona.
First O utlaw : W hence cam e you?
VA LEN TIN E: From M ilan.
Third O utlaw : H ave you long sojourned there?
VA LEN TIN E: S om e sixteen m onths, and longer m ight have stayd,
If crooked fortune had not thw arted m e.
First O utlaw : W hat, w ere you banishd thence?
Act IV, scene i
50
VA LEN TIN E: I w as.
S econd O utlaw : For w hat offence?
VA LEN TIN E: For that w hich now torm ents m e to rehearse:
I killd a m an, w hose death I m uch repent;
But yet I slew him m anfully in fight,
W ithout false vantage or base treachery.
First O utlaw : W hy, neer repent it, if it w ere done so.
But w ere you banishd for so sm all a fault?
VA LEN TIN E: I w as, and held m e glad of such a doom .
S econd O utlaw : H ave you the tongues?
VA LEN TIN E: M y youthful travel therein m ade m e happy,
O r else I often had been m iserable.
Third O utlaw : By the bare scalp of R obin H oods fat friar,
This fellow w ere a king for our w ild faction!
First O utlaw : W ell have him . S irs, a w ord.
S PEED : M aster, be one of them ; its an honorable kind of thievery.
VA LEN TIN E: Peace, villain!
S econd O utlaw : Tell us this: have you any thing to take to?
VA LEN TIN E: N othing but m y fortune.
Third O utlaw : Know , then, that som e of us are gentlem en,
S uch as the fury of ungovernd youth
Thrust from the com pany of aw ful m en:
M yself w as from Verona banished
For practising to steal aw ay a lady,
A n heir, and near allied unto the duke.
S econd O utlaw : A nd I from M antua, for a gentlem an,
W ho, in m y m ood, I stabbd unto the heart.
First O utlaw : A nd I for such like petty crim es as these,
But to the purposefor w e cite our faults,
That they m ay hold excusd our law less lives;
A nd partly, seeing you are beautified
W ith goodly shape and by your ow n report
51
Act IV, scene i
A linguist and a m an of such perfection
A s w e do in our quality m uch w ant
S econd O utlaw : Indeed, because you are a banishd m an,
Therefore, above the rest, w e parley to you:
A re you content to be our general?
To m ake a virtue of necessity
A nd live, as w e do, in this w ilderness?
Third O utlaw : W hat sayst thou? w ilt thou be of our consort?
S ay ay, and be the captain of us all:
W ell do thee hom age and be ruled by thee,
Love thee as our com m ander and our king.
First O utlaw : But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest.
S econd O utlaw : Thou shalt not live to brag w hat w e have offerd.
VA LEN TIN E: I take your offer and w ill live w ith you,
Provided that you do no outrages
O n silly w om en or poor passengers.
Third O utlaw : N o, w e detest such vile base practices.
C om e, go w ith us, w ell bring thee to our crew s,
A nd show thee all the treasure w e have got,
W hich, w ith ourselves, all rest at thy dispose.
[Exeunt.]
S C EN E II: M ilan. O utside the D U KEs palace, under S ILVIAs cham ber.
[Enter PR O TEU S .]
PR O TEU S : A lready have I been false to Valentine
A nd now I m ust be as unjust to Thurio.
U nder the color of com m ending him ,
I have access m y ow n love to prefer:
But S ilvia is too fair, too true, too holy,
To be corrupted w ith m y w orthless gifts.
W hen I protest true loyalty to her,
S he tw its m e w ith m y falsehood to m y friend;
W hen to her beauty I com m end m y vow s,
S he bids m e think how I have been forsw orn
In breaking faith w ith Julia w hom I loved:
A nd notw ithstanding all her sudden quips,
The least w hereof w ould quell a lovers hope,
Yet, spaniel-like, the m ore she spurns m y love,
The m ore it grow s and faw neth on her still.
52
Act IV, scene i
But here com es Thurio: now m ust w e to her w indow ,
A nd give som e evening m usic to her ear.
[Enter TH U R IO and M usicians.]
TH U R IO : H ow now , S ir Proteus, are you crept before us?
PR O TEU S : Ay, gentle Thurio: for you know that love
W ill creep in service w here it cannot go.
TH U R IO : Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here.
PR O TEU S : S ir, but I do; or else I w ould be hence.
TH U R IO : W ho? S ilvia?
PR O TEU S : Ay, S ilvia; for your sake.
TH U R IO : I thank you for your ow n. N ow , gentlem en,
Lets tune, and to it lustily aw hile.
[Enter, at a distance, H ost, and JU LIA in boys clothes.]
H ost: N ow , m y young guest, m ethinks youre allycholly: I pray you, w hy is it?
JU LIA : M arry, m ine host, because I cannot be m erry.
H ost: C om e, w ell have you m erry: Ill bring you w here you shall hear m usic and see the
gentlem an that you asked for.
JU LIA : But shall I hear him speak?
H ost: Ay, that you shall.
JU LIA : That w ill be m usic.
[M usic plays.]
H ost: H ark, hark!
JU LIA : Is he am ong these?
H ost: Ay: but, peace! lets hear em .
S O N G .
W ho is S ilvia? w hat is she,
Act IV, scene ii
53
That all our sw ains com m end her?
H oly, fair and w ise is she;
The heaven such grace did lend her,
That she m ight adm ired be.
Is she kind as she is fair?
For beauty lives w ith kindness.
Love doth to her eyes repair,
To help him of his blindness,
A nd, being helpd, inhabits there.
Then to S ilvia let us sing,
That S ilvia is excelling;
S he excels each m ortal thing
U pon the dull earth dw elling:
To her let us garlands bring.
H ost: H ow now ! are you sadder than you w ere before? H ow do you, m an? the m usic likes
you not.
JU LIA : You m istake; the m usician likes m e not.
H ost: W hy, m y pretty youth?
JU LIA : H e plays false, father.
H ost: H ow ? out of tune on the strings?
JU LIA : N ot so; but yet so false that he grieves m y very heart-strings.
H ost: You have a quick ear.
JU LIA : Ay, I w ould I w ere deaf; it m akes m e have a slow heart.
H ost: I perceive you delight not in m usic.
JU LIA : N ot a w hit, w hen it jars so.
H ost: H ark, w hat fine change is in the m usic!
JU LIA : Ay, that change is the spite.
H ost: You w ould have them alw ays play but one thing?
JU LIA : I w ould alw ays have one play but one thing.
But, host, doth this S ir Proteus that w e talk on
O ften resort unto this gentlew om an?
Act IV, scene ii
54
H ost: I tell you w hat Launce, his m an, told m e: he loved her out of all nick.
JU LIA : W here is Launce?
H ost: G one to seek his dog; w hich tom orrow , by his m asters com m and, he m ust carry for
a present to his lady.
JU LIA : Peace! stand aside: the com pany parts.
PR O TEU S : S ir Thurio, fear not you: I w ill so plead
That you shall say m y cunning drift excels.
TH U R IO : W here m eet w e?
PR O TEU S : A t S aint G regorys w ell.
TH U R IO : Farew ell.
[Exeunt TH U R IO and M usicians.]
[Enter S ILVIA above.]
PR O TEU S : M adam , good even to your ladyship.
S ILVIA : I thank you for your m usic, gentlem en.
W ho is that that spake?
PR O TEU S : O ne, lady, if you knew his pure hearts truth,
You w ould quickly learn to know him by his voice.
S ILVIA : S ir Proteus, as I take it.
PR O TEU S : S ir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.
S ILVIA : W hats your w ill?
PR O TEU S : That I m ay com pass yours.
S ILVIA : You have your w ish; m y w ill is even this:
That presently you hie you hom e to bed.
Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal m an!
Thinkst thou I am so shallow , so conceitless,
To be seduced by thy flattery,
That hast deceived so m any w ith thy vow s?
R eturn, return, and m ake thy love am ends.
For m e, by this pale queen of night I sw ear,
I am so far from granting thy request
55
Act IV, scene ii
That I despise thee for thy w rongful suit,
A nd by and by intend to chide m yself
Even for this tim e I spend in talking to thee.
PR O TEU S : I grant, sw eet love, that I did love a lady;
But she is dead.
JU LIA : [A side] Tw ere false, if I should speak it;
For I am sure she is not buried.
S ILVIA : S ay that she be; yet Valentine thy friend
S urvives; to w hom , thyself art w itness,
I am betrothd: and art thou not asham ed
To w rong him w ith thy im portunacy?
PR O TEU S : I likew ise hear that Valentine is dead.
S ILVIA : A nd so suppose am I; for in his grave
A ssure thyself m y love is buried.
PR O TEU S : S w eet lady, let m e rake it from the earth.
S ILVIA : G o to thy ladys grave and call hers thence,
O r, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine.
JU LIA : [A side] H e heard not that.
PR O TEU S : M adam , if your heart be so obdurate,
Vouchsafe m e yet your picture for m y love,
The picture that is hanging in your cham ber;
To that Ill speak, to that Ill sigh and w eep:
For since the substance of your perfect self
Is else devoted, I am but a shadow ;
A nd to your shadow w ill I m ake true love.
JU LIA : [A side] If tw ere a substance, you w ould, sure, deceive it,
A nd m ake it but a shadow , as I am .
S ILVIA : I am very loath to be your idol, sir;
But since your falsehood shall becom e you w ell
To w orship shadow s and adore false shapes,
S end to m e in the m orning and Ill send it:
A nd so, good rest.
PR O TEU S : A s w retches have oernight
That w ait for execution in the m orn.
Act IV, scene ii
56
[Exeunt PR O TEU S and S ILVIA severally.]
JU LIA : H ost, w ill you go?
H ost: By m y halidom , I w as fast asleep.
JU LIA : Pray you, w here lies S ir Proteus?
H ost: M arry, at m y house. Trust m e, I think tis alm ost day.
JU LIA : N ot so; but it hath been the longest night
That eer I w atchd and the m ost heaviest.
[Exeunt.]
S C EN E III: The sam e.
[Enter EG LA M O U R .]
EG LA M O U R : This is the hour that M adam S ilvia
Entreated m e to call and know her m ind:
Theres som e great m atter sheld em ploy m e in.
M adam , m adam !
[Enter S ILVIA above.]
S ILVIA : W ho calls?
EG LA M O U R : Your servant and your friend;
O ne that attends your ladyships com m and.
S ILVIA : S ir Eglam our, a thousand tim es good m orrow .
EG LA M O U R : A s m any, w orthy lady, to yourself:
A ccording to your ladyships im pose,
I am thus early com e to know w hat service
It is your pleasure to com m and m e in.
S ILVIA : O Eglam our, thou art a gentlem an
Think not I flatter, for I sw ear I do not
Valiant, w ise, rem orseful, w ell accom plishd:
Thou art not ignorant w hat dear good w ill
I bear unto the banishd Valentine,
N or how m y father w ould enforce m e m arry
Vain Thurio, w hom m y very soul abhors.
Thyself hast loved; and I have heard thee say
57
Act IV, scene iii
N o grief did ever com e so near thy heart
A s w hen thy lady and thy true love died,
U pon w hose grave thou vow dst pure chastity.
S ir Eglam our, I w ould to Valentine,
To M antua, w here I hear he m akes abode;
A nd, for the w ays are dangerous to pass,
I do desire thy w orthy com pany,
U pon w hose faith and honor I repose.
U rge not m y fathers anger, Eglam our,
But think upon m y grief, a ladys grief,
A nd on the justice of m y flying hence,
To keep m e from a m ost unholy m atch,
W hich heaven and fortune still rew ards w ith plagues.
I do desire thee, even from a heart
A s full of sorrow s as the sea of sands,
To bear m e com pany and go w ith m e:
If not, to hide w hat I have said to thee,
That I m ay venture to depart alone.
EG LA M O U R : M adam , I pity m uch your grievances;
W hich since I know they virtuously are placed,
I give consent to go along w ith you,
R ecking as little w hat betideth m e
A s m uch I w ish all good befortune you.
W hen w ill you go?
S ILVIA : This evening com ing.
EG LA M O U R : W here shall I m eet you?
S ILVIA : A t Friar Patricks cell,
W here I intend holy confession.
EG LA M O U R : I w ill not fail your ladyship. G ood m orrow , gentle lady.
S ILVIA : G ood m orrow , kind S ir Eglam our.
[Exeunt severally.]
S C EN E IV: The sam e.
[Enter LAU N C E, w ith his his D og.]
LAU N C E: W hen a m ans servant shall play the cur w ith him , look you, it goes hard: one that
I brought up of a puppy; one that I saved from drow ning, w hen three or four of his blind
brothers and sisters w ent to it. I have taught him , even as one w ould say precisely,
Act IV, scene iv
58
thus I w ould teach a dog. I w as sent to deliver him as a present to M istress S ilvia from m y
m aster; and I cam e no sooner into the dining-cham ber but he steps m e to her trencher and
steals her capons leg: O , tis a foul thing w hen a cur cannot keep him self in all com panies!
I w ould have, as one should say, one that takes upon him to be a dog indeed, to be, as it
w ere, a dog at all things. If I had not had m ore w it than he, to take a fault upon m e that he
did, I think verily he had been hanged fort; sure as I live, he had suffered fort; you shall
judge. H e thrusts m e him self into the com pany of three or four gentlem anlike dogs under
the dukes table: he had not been therebless the m ark!a pissing w hile, but all the cham -
ber sm elt him . O ut w ith the dog! says one: W hat cur is that? says another: W hip him
outsays the third: H ang him upsays the duke. I, having been acquainted w ith the sm ell
before, knew it w as C rab, and goes m e to the fellow that w hips the dogs: Friend,quoth I,
you m ean to w hip the dog? Ay, m arry, do I,quoth he. You do him the m ore w rong,quoth
I; tw as I did the thing you w ot of.H e m akes m e no m ore ado, but w hips m e out of the
cham ber. H ow m any m asters w ould do this for his servant? N ay, Ill be sw orn, I have sat in
the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, otherw ise he had been executed; I have stood on the
pillory for geese he hath killed, otherw ise he had suffered fort. Thou thinkest not of this now .
N ay, I rem em ber the trick you served m e w hen I took m y leave of M adam S ilvia: did not I
bid thee still m ark m e and do as I do? w hen didst thou see m e heave up m y leg and m ake
w ater against a gentlew om ans farthingale? didst thou ever see m e do such a trick?
[Enter PR O TEU S and JU LIA .]
PR O TEU S : S ebastian is thy nam e? I like thee w ell
A nd w ill em ploy thee in som e service presently.
JU LIA : In w hat you please: Ill do w hat I can.
PR O TEU S : I hope thou w ilt.
[To LAU N C E.]
H ow now , you w horeson peasant!
W here have you been these tw o days loitering?
LAU N C E: M arry, sir, I carried M istress S ilvia the dog you bade m e.
PR O TEU S : A nd w hat says she to m y little jew el?
LAU N C E: M arry, she says your dog w as a cur, and tells you currish thanks is good enough
for such a present.
PR O TEU S : But she received m y dog?
LAU N C E: N o, indeed, did she not: here have I brought him back again.
PR O TEU S : W hat, didst thou offer her this from m e?
Act IV, scene iv
59
LAU N C E: Ay, sir: the other squirrel w as stolen from m e by the hangm an boys in the m arket-
place: and then I offered her m ine ow n, w ho is a dog as big as ten of yours, and therefore
the gift the greater.
PR O TEU S : G o get thee hence, and find m y dog again,
O r neer return again into m y sight.
Aw ay, I say! stayst thou to vex m e here?
[Exit LAU N C E.]
A slave, that still an end turns m e to sham e!
S ebastian, I have entertained thee,
Partly that I have need of such a youth
That can w ith som e discretion do m y business,
For tis no trusting to yond foolish lout,
But chiefly for thy face and thy behavior,
W hich, if m y augury deceive m e not,
W itness good bringing up, fortune and truth:
Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.
G o presently and take this ring w ith thee,
D eliver it to M adam S ilvia:
S he loved m e w ell deliverd it to m e.
JU LIA : It seem s you loved not her, to leave her token.
S he is dead, belike?
PR O TEU S : N ot so; I think she lives.
JU LIA : A las!
PR O TEU S : W hy dost thou cry alas?
JU LIA : I cannot choose
But pity her.
PR O TEU S : W herefore shouldst thou pity her?
JU LIA : Because m ethinks that she loved you as w ell
A s you do love your lady S ilvia:
S he dream s of him that has forgot her love;
You dote on her that cares not for your love.
Tis pity love should be so contrary;
A nd thinking of it m akes m e cry alas!
PR O TEU S : W ell, give her that ring and therew ithal
This letter. Thats her cham ber. Tell m y lady
I claim the prom ise for her heavenly picture.
Act IV, scene iv
60
Your m essage done, hie hom e unto m y cham ber,
W here thou shalt find m e, sad and solitary.
[Exit.]
JU LIA : H ow m any w om en w ould do such a m essage?
A las, poor Proteus! thou hast entertaind
A fox to be the shepherd of thy lam bs.
A las, poor fool! w hy do I pity him
That w ith his very heart despiseth m e?
Because he loves her, he despiseth m e;
Because I love him I m ust pity him .
This ring I gave him w hen he parted from m e,
To bind him to rem em ber m y good w ill;
A nd now am I, unhappy m essenger,
To plead for that w hich I w ould not obtain,
To carry that w hich I w ould have refused,
To praise his faith w hich I w ould have dispraised.
I am m y m asters true-confirm ed love;
But cannot be true servant to m y m aster,
U nless I prove false traitor to m yself.
Yet w ill I w oo for him , but yet so coldly
A s, heaven it know s, I w ould not have him speed.
[Enter S ILVIA , attended.]
G entlew om an, good day! I pray you, be m y m ean
To bring m e w here to speak w ith M adam S ilvia.
S ILVIA : W hat w ould you w ith her, if that I be she?
JU LIA : If you be she, I do entreat your patience
To hear m e speak the m essage I am sent on.
S ILVIA : From w hom ?
JU LIA : From m y m aster, S ir Proteus, m adam .
S ILVIA : O , he sends you for a picture.
JU LIA : Ay, m adam .
S ILVIA : U rsula, bring m y picture here.
G o give your m aster this: tell him from m e,
O ne Julia, that his changing thoughts forget,
W ould better fit his cham ber than this shadow .
61
Act IV, scene iv
JU LIA : M adam , please you peruse this letter.
Pardon m e, m adam ; I have unadvised
D eliverd you a paper that I should not:
This is the letter to your ladyship.
S ILVIA : I pray thee, let m e look on that again.
JU LIA : It m ay not be; good m adam , pardon m e.
S ILVIA : There, hold!
I w ill not look upon your m asters lines:
I know they are stuffd w ith protestations
A nd full of new -found oaths; w hich he w ill break
A s easily as I do tear his paper.
JU LIA : M adam , he sends your ladyship this ring.
S ILVIA : The m ore sham e for him that he sends it m e;
For I have heard him say a thousand tim es
H is Julia gave it him at his departure.
Though his false finger have profaned the ring,
M ine shall not do his Julia so m uch w rong.
JU LIA : S he thanks you.
S ILVIA : W hat sayst thou?
JU LIA : I thank you, m adam , that you tender her.
Poor gentlew om an! m y m aster w rongs her m uch.
S ILVIA : D ost thou know her?
JU LIA : A lm ost as w ell as I do know m yself:
To think upon her w oes I do protest
That I have w ept a hundred several tim es.
S ILVIA : Belike she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her.
JU LIA : I think she doth; and thats her cause of sorrow .
S ILVIA : Is she not passing fair?
JU LIA : S he hath been fairer, m adam , than she is:
W hen she did think m y m aster loved her w ell,
S he, in m y judgm ent, w as as fair as you:
But since she did neglect her looking-glass
A nd threw her sun-expelling m ask aw ay,
62
Act IV, scene iv
The air hath starved the roses in her cheeks
A nd pinchd the lily-tincture of her face,
That now she is becom e as black as I.
S ILVIA : H ow tall w as she?
JU LIA : A bout m y stature; for at Pentecost,
W hen all our pageants of delight w ere playd,
O ur youth got m e to play the w om ans part,
A nd I w as trim m d in M adam Julias gow n,
W hich served m e as fit, by all m ens judgm ents,
A s if the garm ent had been m ade for m e:
Therefore I know she is about m y height.
A nd at that tim e I m ade her w eep agood,
For I did play a lam entable part:
M adam , tw as A riadne passioning
For Theseusperjury and unjust flight;
W hich I so lively acted w ith m y tears
That m y poor m istress, m oved therew ithal,
W ept bitterly; and w ould I m ight be dead
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow !
S ILVIA : S he is beholding to thee, gentle youth.
A las, poor lady, desolate and left!
I w eep m yself to think upon thy w ords.
H ere, youth, there is m y purse; I give thee this
For thy sw eet m istresssake, because thou lovest her.
Farew ell.
[Exit S ILVIA , w ith attendants.]
JU LIA : A nd she shall thank you fort, if eer you know her.
A virtuous gentlew om an, m ild and beautiful
I hope m y m asters suit w ill be but cold,
S ince she respects m y m istresslove so m uch.
A las, how love can trifle w ith itself!
H ere is her picture: let m e see; I think,
If I had such a tire, this face of m ine
W ere full as lovely as is this of hers:
A nd yet the painter flatterd her a little,
U nless I flatter w ith m yself too m uch.
H er hair is auburn, m ine is perfect yellow :
If that be all the difference in his love,
Ill get m e such a colord periw ig.
H er eyes are grey as glass, and so are m ine:
Ay, but her foreheads low , and m ines as high.
W hat should it be that he respects in her
63
Act IV, scene iv
But I can m ake respective in m yself,
If this fond Love w ere not a blinded god?
C om e, shadow , com e and take this shadow up,
For tis thy rival. O thou senseless form ,
Thou shalt be w orshippd, kissd, loved and adored!
A nd, w ere there sense in his idolatry,
M y substance should be statue in thy stead.
Ill use thee kindly for thy m istresssake,
That used m e so; or else, by Jove I vow ,
I should have scratchd out your unseeing eyes
To m ake m y m aster out of love w ith thee!
[Exit.]
A C T V
S C EN E I: M ilan. A n abbey.
[Enter EG LA M O U R .]
EG LA M O U R : The sun begins to gild the w estern sky;
A nd now it is about the very hour
That S ilvia, at Friar Patricks cell, should m eet m e.
S he w ill not fail, for lovers break not hours,
U nless it be to com e before their tim e;
S o m uch they spur their expedition.
S ee w here she com es.
[Enter S ILVIA .]
Lady, a happy evening!
S ILVIA : A m en, am en! G o on, good Eglam our,
O ut at the postern by the abbey-w all:
I fear I am attended by som e spies.
EG LA M O U R : Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off;
If w e recover that, w e are sure enough.
[Exeunt.]
Act V, scene i
64
S C EN E II: The sam e. The D U KEs palace.
[Enter TH U R IO , PR O TEU S , and JU LIA .]
TH U R IO : S ir Proteus, w hat says S ilvia to m y suit?
PR O TEU S : O , sir, I find her m ilder than she w as;
A nd yet she takes exceptions at your person.
TH U R IO : W hat, that m y leg is too long?
PR O TEU S : N o; that it is too little.
TH U R IO : Ill w ear a boot, to m ake it som ew hat rounder.
JU LIA : [A side.] But love w ill not be spurrd to w hat it loathes.
TH U R IO : W hat says she to m y face?
PR O TEU S : S he says it is a fair one.
TH U R IO : N ay then, the w anton lies; m y face is black.
PR O TEU S : But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,
Black m en are pearls in beauteous ladieseyes.
JU LIA : [A side.] Tis true; such pearls as put out ladieseyes;
For I had rather w ink than look on them .
TH U R IO : H ow likes she m y discourse?
PR O TEU S : Ill, w hen you talk of w ar.
TH U R IO : But w ell, w hen I discourse of love and peace?
JU LIA : [A side] But better, indeed, w hen you hold your peace.
TH U R IO : W hat says she to m y valor?
PR O TEU S : O , sir, she m akes no doubt of that.
JU LIA : [A side] S he needs not, w hen she know s it cow ardice.
TH U R IO : W hat says she to m y birth?
PR O TEU S : That you are w ell derived.
65
Act V, scene ii
JU LIA : [A side] True; from a gentlem an to a fool.
TH U R IO : C onsiders she m y possessions?
PR O TEU S : O , ay; and pities them .
TH U R IO : W herefore?
JU LIA : [A side] That such an ass should ow e them .
PR O TEU S : That they are out by lease.
JU LIA : H ere com es the duke.
[Enter D U KE.]
D U KE: H ow now , S ir Proteus! how now , Thurio!
W hich of you saw S ir Eglam our of late?
TH U R IO : N ot I.
PR O TEU S : N or I.
D U KE: S aw you m y daughter?
PRO TEU S : N either.
D U KE: W hy then,
S hes fled unto that peasant Valentine;
A nd Eglam our is in her com pany.
Tis true; for Friar Laurence m et them both,
A s he in penance w anderd through the forest;
H im he knew w ell, and guessd that it w as she,
But, being m askd, he w as not sure of it;
Besides, she did intend confession
A t Patricks cell this even; and there she w as not;
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But m ount you presently and m eet w ith m e
U pon the rising of the m ountain-foot
That leads tow ards M antua, w hither they are fled:
D ispatch, sw eet gentlem en, and follow m e.
[Exit.]
TH U R IO : W hy, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That flies her fortune w hen it follow s her.
66
Act V, scene ii
Ill after, m ore to be revenged on Eglam our
Than for the love of reckless S ilvia.
[Exit.]
PR O TEU S : A nd I w ill follow , m ore for S ilvias love
Than hate of Eglam our that goes w ith her.
[Exit.]
JU LIA : A nd I w ill follow , m ore to cross that love
Than hate for S ilvia that is gone for love.
[Exit.]
S C EN E III: The frontiers of M antua. The forest.
[Enter O utlaw s w ith S ILVIA .]
First O utlaw : C om e, com e,
Be patient; w e m ust bring you to our captain.
S ILVIA : A thousand m ore m ischances than this one
H ave learnd m e how to brook this patiently.
S econd O utlaw : C om e, bring her aw ay.
First O utlaw : W here is the gentlem an that w as w ith her?
Third O utlaw : Being nim ble-footed, he hath outrun us,
But M oyses and Valerius follow him .
G o thou w ith her to the w est end of the w ood;
There is our captain: w ell follow him thats fled;
The thicket is beset; he cannot scape.
First O utlaw : C om e, I m ust bring you to our captains cave:
Fear not; he bears an honorable m ind,
A nd w ill not use a w om an law lessly.
S ILVIA : O Valentine, this I endure for thee!
[Exeunt.]
Act V, scene iii
67
S C EN E IV: A nother part of the forest.
[Enter VA LEN TIN E.]
VA LEN TIN E: H ow use doth breed a habit in a m an!
This shadow y desert, unfrequented w oods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled tow ns:
H ere can I sit alone, unseen of any,
A nd to the nightingales com plaining notes
Tune m y distresses and record m y w oes.
O thou that dost inhabit in m y breast,
Leave not the m ansion so long tenantless,
Lest, grow ing ruinous, the building fall
A nd leave no m em ory of w hat it w as!
R epair m e w ith thy presence, S ilvia;
Thou gentle nym ph, cherish thy forlorn sw ain!
W hat halloing and w hat stir is this to-day?
These are m y m ates, that m ake their w ills their law ,
H ave som e unhappy passenger in chase.
They love m e w ell; yet I have m uch to do
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
W ithdraw thee, Valentine: w hos this com es here?
[Enter PR O TEU S , S ILVIA , and JU LIA .]
PR O TEU S : M adam , this service I have done for you,
Though you respect not aught your servant doth,
To hazard life and rescue you from him
That w ould have forced your honor and your love;
Vouchsafe m e, for m y m eed, but one fair look;
A sm aller boon than this I cannot beg
A nd less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
VA LEN TIN E: [A side] H ow like a dream is this I see and hear!
Love, lend m e patience to forbear aw hile.
S ILVIA : O m iserable, unhappy that I am !
PR O TEU S : U nhappy w ere you, m adam , ere I cam e;
But by m y com ing I have m ade you happy.
S ILVIA : By thy approach thou m akest m e m ost unhappy.
JU LIA : [A side] A nd m e, w hen he approacheth to your presence.
S ILVIA : H ad I been seized by a hungry lion,
I w ould have been a breakfast to the beast,
Act V, scene iv
68
R ather than have false Proteus rescue m e.
O , H eaven be judge how I love Valentine,
W hose lifes as tender to m e as m y soul!
A nd full as m uch for m ore there cannot be
I do detest false perjured Proteus.
Therefore be gone; solicit m e no m ore.
PR O TEU S : W hat dangerous action, stood it next to death,
W ould I not undergo for one calm look!
O , tis the curse in love, and still approved,
W hen w om en cannot love w here theyre beloved!
S ILVIA : W hen Proteus cannot love w here hes beloved.
R ead over Julias heart, thy first best love,
For w hose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
D escended into perjury, to love m e.
Thou hast no faith left now , unless thoudst tw o;
A nd thats far w orse than none; better have none
Than plural faith w hich is too m uch by one:
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!
PR O TEU S : In love
W ho respects friend?
S ILVIA : A ll m en but Proteus.
PR O TEU S : N ay, if the gentle spirit of m oving w ords
C an no w ay change you to a m ilder form ,
Ill w oo you like a soldier, at arm send,
A nd love you gainst the nature of love,force ye.
S ILVIA : O heaven!
PR O TEU S : Ill force thee yield to m y desire.
VA LEN TIN E: Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,
Thou friend of an ill fashion!
PR O TEU S : Valentine!
VA LEN TIN E: Thou com m on friend, thats w ithout faith or love,
For such is a friend now ; treacherous m an!
Thou hast beguiled m y hopes; nought but m ine eye
C ould have persuaded m e: now I dare not say
I have one friend alive; thou w ouldst disprove m e.
W ho should be trusted, w hen ones ow n right hand
69
Act V, scene iv
Is perjured to the bosom ? Proteus,
I am sorry I m ust never trust thee m ore,
But count the w orld a stranger for thy sake.
The private w ound is deepest: O tim e m ost accurst,
M ongst all foes that a friend should be the w orst!
PR O TEU S : M y sham e and guilt confounds m e.
Forgive m e, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender t here; I do as truly suffer
A s eer I did com m it.
VA LEN TIN E: Then I am paid;
A nd once again I do receive thee honest.
W ho by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased.
By penitence the Eternals w raths appeased:
A nd, that m y love m ay appear plain and free,
A ll that w as m ine in S ilvia I give thee.
JU LIA : O m e unhappy!
[S w oons.]
PR O TEU S : Look to the boy.
VA LEN TIN E: W hy, boy! w hy, w ag! how now ! w hats the m atter?
Look up; speak.
JU LIA : O good sir, m y m aster charged m e to deliver a ring to M adam S ilvia, w hich, out of
m y neglect, w as never done.
PR O TEU S : W here is that ring, boy?
JU LIA : H ere tis; this is it.
PR O TEU S : H ow ! let m e see:
W hy, this is the ring I gave to Julia.
JU LIA : O , cry you m ercy, sir, I have m istook:
This is the ring you sent to S ilvia.
PR O TEU S : But how cam est thou by this ring? A t m y depart
I gave this unto Julia.
JU LIA : A nd Julia herself did give it m e;
A nd Julia herself hath brought it hither.
Act V, scene iv
70
PR O TEU S : H ow ! Julia!
JU LIA : Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
A nd entertaind em deeply in her heart.
H ow oft hast thou w ith perjury cleft the root!
O Proteus, let this habit m ake thee blush!
Be thou asham ed that I have took upon m e
S uch an im m odest raim ent, if sham e live
In a disguise of love:
It is the lesser blot, m odesty finds,
W om en to change their shapes than m en their m inds.
PR O TEU S : Than m en their m inds! tis true.
O heaven! w ere m an
But constant, he w ere perfect. That one error
Fills him w ith faults; m akes him run through all the sins:
Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.
W hat is in S ilvias face, but I m ay spy
M ore fresh in Julias w ith a constant eye?
VA LEN TIN E: C om e, com e, a hand from either:
Let m e be blest to m ake this happy close;
Tw ere pity tw o such friends should be long foes.
PR O TEU S : Bear w itness, H eaven, I have m y w ish for ever.
JU LIA : A nd I m ine.
[Enter O utlaw s, w ith D U KE and TH U R IO .]
O utlaw s: A prize, a prize, a prize!
VA LEN TIN E: Forbear, forbear, I say! it is m y lord the duke.
Your grace is w elcom e to a m an disgraced,
Banished Valentine.
D U KE: S ir Valentine!
TH U R IO : Yonder is S ilvia; and S ilvias m ine.
VA LEN TIN E: Thurio, give back, or else em brace thy death;
C om e not w ithin the m easure of m y w rath;
D o not nam e S ilvia thine; if once again,
Verona shall not hold thee. H ere she stands;
Take but possession of her w ith a touch:
I dare thee but to breathe upon m y love.
TH U R IO : S ir Valentine, I care not for her, I;
Act V, scene iv
71
I hold him but a fool that w ill endanger
H is body for a girl that loves him not:
I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.
D U KE: The m ore degenerate and base art thou,
To m ake such m eans for her as thou hast done
A nd leave her on such slight conditions.
N ow , by the honor of m y ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
A nd think thee w orthy of an em presslove:
Know then, I here forget all form er griefs,
C ancel all grudge, repeal thee hom e again,
Plead a new state in thy unrivald m erit,
To w hich I thus subscribe: S ir Valentine,
Thou art a gentlem an and w ell derived;
Take thou thy S ilvia, for thou hast deserved her.
VA LEN TIN E: I thank your grace; the gift hath m ade m e happy.
I now beseech you, for your daughters sake,
To grant one boom that I shall ask of you.
D U KE: I grant it, for thine ow n, w hateer it be.
VA LEN TIN E: These banishd m en that I have kept w ithal
A re m en endued w ith w orthy qualities:
Forgive them w hat they have com m itted here
A nd let them be recalld from their exile:
They are reform ed, civil, full of good
A nd fit for great em ploym ent, w orthy lord.
D U KE: Thou hast prevaild; I pardon them and thee:
D ispose of them as thou know st their deserts.
C om e, let us go: w e w ill include all jars
W ith trium phs, m irth and rare solem nity.
VA LEN TIN E: A nd, as w e w alk along, I dare be bold
W ith our discourse to m ake your grace to sm ile.
W hat think you of this page, m y lord?
D U KE: I think the boy hath grace in him ; he blushes.
VA LEN TIN E: I w arrant you, m y lord, m ore grace than boy.
D U KE: W hat m ean you by that saying?
VA LEN TIN E: Please you, Ill tell you as w e pass along,
That you w ill w onder w hat hath fortuned.
Act V, scene iv
72
C om e, Proteus; tis your penance but to hear
The story of your loves discovered:
That done, our day of m arriage shall be yours;
O ne feast, one house, one m utual happiness.
[Exeunt.]
Finis
Act V, scene iv
73