How shall I best convey the ladder thither?
Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may

bear it

Under a cloak that is of any length.

Val. Neither.

Pro. What then?
Val. Nothing.

Duke. A cloak as long as thine will serve the strike?

turn?

Val. Ay, my good lord.
Duke.

Then let me see thy cloak;
I'll get me one of such another length.
Val. Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my

lord.

Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a
cloak ?-

I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.-
What letter is this same? What's here ?-To
Silvia !

And here an engine fit for my proceeding?
I'll be so bold to break the seal for once. [reads.
My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly:
And slaves they are to me that send them lying:
O, could their master come and go as lightly,
Himself would lodge where senseless they are
lying.

My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest
them;

While 1, their king, that hither them importune, Do curse the grace that with such grace hath bless'd them,

Because myself do want my servants' fortune:
I curse myself, for they are sent by me,
That they should harbour where their lord
should be.

What's here?

Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee!

Laun. Can nothing speak? master, shall
Pro. Whom wouldst thou strike?
Laun. Nothing.

Pro. Villain, forbear.

Laun. Why,sir, I'll strike nothing: I pray you-
Pro. Sirrah, I say, forbear: Friend Valentine,

a word.

Val. My ears are stopp'd, and cannot hear
good news,

So much of bad already hath possess'd them.
Pro. Then in dumb silence will I bury mine,
For they are harsh, untunable, and bad.
Val. Is Silvia dead?
Pro. No, Valentine.

Val. No Valentine, indeed, for sacred Silvia !
Hath she forsworn me?
Pro. No, Valentine.

Val. No Valentine, if Silvia have forsworn
me!-

What is your news?

Laun. Sir, there's a proclamation that you are vanish'd.

Pro. That thou art banished, O, that's the news: From hence, from Silvia, and from me, thy friend.

And now excess of it will make me surfeit.
Val. O, I have fed upon this wo already,
Doth Silvia know that I am banish'd?

Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the doom,
(Which, unrevers'd, stands in effectual force,)

Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose.-A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears;

Why, Phaeton (for thou art Merop's son,)
Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car,
And with thy daring folly burn the world?
Wilt thou reach stars because they shine on thee?,
Go, base intruder! over-weening slave!
Bestow thy fawning smiles on equal mates:
And think, my patience, more than thy desert,
Is privilege for thy departure hence:
Thank me for this, more than for all the favours
Which, all too much, I have bestow'd on thee.
But if thou linger in my territories
Longer than swiftest expedition

Will give thee time to leave our royal court,
By heaven, my wrath shall far exceed the love
I ever bore my daughter, or thyself.
Begone, I will not hear thy vain excuse,
But, as thou lov'st thy life, make speed from
[Exit Duke.
Val. And why not death, rather than living
torment?

hence.

To die, is to be banish'd from myself;
And Silvia is myself; banish'd from her,
Is self from self; a deadly banishment!"
What light is light, if Silvia be not seen?
What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by ?
Unless it be to think that she is by,
And feed upon the shadow of perfection,
Except I be by Silvia in the night,
There is no music in the nightingale ;
Unless I look on Silvia in the day,
There is no day for me to look upon;
She is my essence; and I leave to be,
If I be not by her fair influence

Foster'd, illumin'd, cherish'd, kept alive.
I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom;
Tarry I here, I but attend on death:
But, fly I hence, I fly away from life.

Enter Protens and Launce.

Pro. Run, boy, run, run, and seek him out.
Laun. So-ho! so-ho!

Pro. What seest thou?

Those at her father's churlish feet she tender'd;
With them, upon her knees, her humble self;
Wringing her hands, whose whiteness so became
them,

As if but now they waxed pale for wo:
But neither bended knees, pure hands held up,
Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears,
Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire;
But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die.
Besides, her intercession chaf'd him so
When she for thy repeal was suppliant,
That to close prison he commanded her,
With many bitter threats of 'biding there.
Val. No more; unless the next word that thou
speak'st,

Have some malignant pow'r upon my life;
If so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear,
As ending anthem of my endless dolour."
Pro. Cease to lament for that thou canst not
help,

And study help for that which thou lament'st.
Time is the nurse and breeder of all good.
Here if thou stay, thou canst not see thy love;
Besides, thy staying will abridge thy life.
Hope is a lover's staff; walk hence with that,
And manage it against despairing thoughts.
Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence;
Which, being writ to me, shall be deliver'd
Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love.
The time now serves not to expostulate :
Come, I'll convey thee through the city gate;
And, e'er I part with thee, confer at large
Of all that may concern thy love affairs:
As thou lov'st Silvia, though not for thyself,
Regard thy danger, and along with me.

Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my

boy,

Bid him make haste, and meet me at the north
gate.

Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Valentine.
Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine!
[Exeunt Valentine and Proteus

Laun. Him we go to find; there's not a hair Laun. 1 am but a fool, look you; and yet I

on's head, but 'tis a Valentine.

Pro. Valentine ?

Val. No.

Pro. Who then? his spirit?

have the wit to think, my master is a kind of a knave but that's all one, if he be but one knave. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not

pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but what woman, I will not tell myself and yet 'tis a milk-maid: yet 'tis not a maid, for she hath had gossips: yet 'tis a maid, for she is her master's inaid, and serves for wages. She hath more qualities than a waterspaniel,-which is much in a bare Christian. Here is the cate-log [Pulling out a paper] of her condition. Imprimis, She can fetch and carry. Why, a horse can do no more; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore is she better than a jade. Item, She can milk; look you, a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands.

Enter Speed.

Speed. How now, signior Launce? what news with your mastership?

Laun. With my master's ship? why it is at sea. Speed. Well, your old vice still, mistake the word:

What news then in your paper?

Laun. The blackest news that ever thou

heard'st.

Speed. Why, man, how black?

Laun. Why, as black as ink.
Speed. Let me read them.

Speed. Item, She will often praise her liquor. Laun. If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will not, I will; for good things should be praised. Speed. Item, She is too liberal. Laun. Of her tongue, she cannot; for that's writ down she is slow of: of her purse she shall not; for that I'll keep shut; now of another thing she may; and that cannot I help. Well, proceed. Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit, and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults. Laun. Stop there; I'll have her; she was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that last article: Rehearse that once more.

Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit.-Laun. More hair than wit,-it may be; l'il prove it: The cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more than the salt; the hair that covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater hides the less. What's next? Speed. And more faults than hairs.Laun. That's monstrous: O, that that were out!

Speed. And more wealth than faults.

Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious: Well, I'll have her: and if it be a match,

Laun. Fie on thee, jolt-head; thou canst not as nothing is impossible,read.

Speed. Thou liest, I can.

Laun. I will try thee: Tell me this: Who begot thee?

Speed. Marry, the son of my grandfather. Laun. O illiterate loiterer! it was the son of thy grandmother: this proves that thou canst not read.

Speed. Come, fool, come: try me in thy paper.
Laun. There and saint Nicholas be thy speed!
Speed. Imprimis, She can milk.
Laun. Ay, that she can.

Speed What then

Laun. Why, then will I tell thee, that thy master stays for thee at the north-gate. Speed. For me?

Laun. For thee! ay; who art thou? he hath staid for a better man than thee. Speed. And must I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staid so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? 'pox of your love-letters! Erit.

Laun. Now will he be swinged for reading my letter: An unmannerly slave, that will thrust proverb,-himself into secrets! I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction.

Speed. Item, She brews good ale.
Laun. And therefore comes the
Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale.
Speed. Item, She can sew.

Laun. That's as much as to say, can she so?
Speed. Item, She can knit.

Laun. What need a man care for a stock with
a wench, when she can knit him a stock.
Speed. Item, She can wash and scour.

SCENE II.

[Exit.

The same. A Room in the Duke's Palace. Enter Duke and Thurio; Proteus behind. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that she will love you,

Laun. A special virtue; for then she need not Now Valentine is banished from her sight. be washed and scoured.

Speed. Item, She can spin.

Thu. Since his exile she hath despised me most, Forsworn my company, and rail'd at me,

Laun. Then may I set the world on wheels,That I am desperate of obtaining her. when she can spin for her living.

Speed. Item, She hath many nameless virtues. Laun. That's as much as to say,bastard virtues; that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no names.

Speed. Here follow her vices.

Laun. Close at the heels of her virtues. Speed. Item, She is not to be kissed fasting, in respect of her breath.

Laun. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast: Read on.

Speed. Item, She hath a sweet mouth.
Laun. That makes amends for her sour breath.
Speed. Item, She doth talk in her sleep.
Laun. It's no matter for that, so she sleep not
in her talk.

Speed. Item, She is slow in words.

Laun. O villain, that set this down among her vices! To be slow in words, is a woman's only virtue I pray thee, out with't; and place it for her chief virtue.

Speed. Item, She is proud.

Laun. Out with that too, it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta'en from her.

Speed. Item, She hath no teeth.

Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figura
Trench'd in ice; which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,
And worthless Valentine shall be forgot.-
How now, Sir Proteus? Is your countryman,
According to our proclamation, gone?
Pro. Gone, my good lord.

Duke. My daughter takes his going grievous'y
Pro. A little time, my lord, will kill that grief.
Duke. So I believe; but Thurio thinks not so.-
Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee,
(For thou hast shown some sign of good desert
Makes me the better to confer with thee.
Pro. Longer than 1 prove loyal to your grace,
Let me not live to look upon your grace.
Duke. Thou know'st, how willingly I would
effect

The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter.
Pro. I do, my lord.

Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant
How she opposes her against my will.

Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here.

Duke. Ay, and perversely she perseveres so.

Laun. I care not for that neither, because I What might we do, to make the girl forget love crusts.

Speed. Item, She is curst.

The love of Valentine, and love Sir Thurio ?
Pro. The best way is to slander Valentine

Laun. Well, the best is, she hath no teeth to With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent; bile

Three things that women highly hold in hate.

Duke. Ay, but she'll think that it is spoke in 2 Out. If there be ten, shrink not, but down bate. with 'em.

Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth Thrust from the company of awful men: Myself was from Verona banish'd, For practising to steal away a lady, An heir, and near allied unto the duke. 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, Duke. This discipline sh ws, thou hast been in Whom, in my mood, I stabbed unto the heart. love.

1 Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as these.

Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put in prac-But to the purpose,-(for we cite our faults, tice.

Val. I take your offer, and will live with you; Host. How? out of tune on the strings?
Provided that you do no outrages
On silly women, or poor passengers.

3 Out. No, we detest such vile, base practices.
Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our crews,
And show thee all the treasure we have got;
Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose.

[Exeunt. SCENE II. Milan. Court of the Palace. Enter Proteus.

Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine,
And now I must be as unjust to Thurio.
Under the colour of commending him,
I have access my own love to prefer;
But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy,
To be corrupted with my worthless gifts.
When I protest true loyalty to her,

She twits me with my falsehood to my friend;
When to her beauty I commend my vows,
She bids me think, how I have been forsworn,
In breaking faith with Julia whom I lov'd:
And, notwithstanding all her sudden quips,
The least whereof would quell a lover's hope,
Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love,
The more it grows and fawneth on her still.
But here comes Thurio; now must we to her
window,

And give some evening musick to her ear.

Enter Thurio, and Musicians.

Thu. How now, Sir Proteus? are you crept before us?

Pro. Ay,gentle Thurio; for, you know that love
Will creep in service where it cannot go.

Thu. Ay, but, I hope, sir, that you love not here.
Pro. Sir, but I do; or else I would be hence.
Thu. Who? Silvia?

Pro. Ay, Silvia,-for your sake.

Jul. Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my very heart-strings.

Host. You have a quick ear.

Jul. Ay, I would, I were deaf! it makes me have a slow heart.

Host. I perceive, you delight not in musick.
Jul. Not a whit, when it jars so.

Host. Hark, what fine change is in the musick!
Jul. Ay! that change is the spite.

Host. You would have them always play but one thing?

Jul. I would always have one play but one thing. But, host, doth this Sir Proteus, that we talk on, often resort unto this gentlewoman? Host. I tell you what Launce, his man, tol me, he loved her out of all nick.

Jul. Where is Launce?

Host. Gone to seek his dog; which, to-morrow by his master's command, he must carry for present to his lady.

Jul. Peace! stand aside! the company parts.
Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you! I will so plead,
That you shall say, my cunning drift excels.
Thu. Where meet we?

Pro. At Saint Gregory's well.
Thu. Farewell. [Exeunt Thu. and Musicians.

Silvia appears above, at her window.
Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship.
Sil. I thank you for your musick, gentlemen:
Who is that, that spake ?

Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's
truth,

You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice.
Sil. Sir Proteus, as I take it.

Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.
Sil. What is your will?

Pro. That I may compass yours.

Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentle- Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this,

men,

Let's tune, and to it lustily a while.

Enter Host, at a distance; and Julia, in boy's

clothes.

Host. Now, my young guest! methinks, you're allycholly; I pray you, why is it ?

Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be

merry.

Host. Come, we'll have you merry: I'll bring you where you shall hear musick, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for.

Jul. But shall I hear him speak?
Host. Ay, that you shall.
Jul. That will be musick.

Host. Hark! hark!

Jul. Is he among these?

That presently you hie you home to bed,
Thou subtle, perjur'd, false, disloyal man!
To be seduced by thy flattery,
Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless,

That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows?
Return, return, and make thy love amends.
For me, by this pale queen of night I swear,
I am so far from granting thy request,
That I despise thee for thy wrongful suit;
And by and by intend to chide myself,
Even for this time I spend in talking to thee.
Pro. I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady;
But she is dead.

Jul. 'Twere false, if I should speak it;
[Musick plays. For, I am sure, she is not buried.

Host. Ay but peace, let's hear 'em.

Song.

Who is Silvia? What is she,

That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair, and wise, is she;

The heavens such grace did lend her, That she might admired be.

Is she kind as she is fair?

For beauty lives with kindness: Love doth to her eyes repair,

To help him of his blindness: And, being help'd, inhabits there. Then to Silvia let us sing,

That Silvia is excelling; She excels each mortal thing,

Upon the dull earth dwelling: To her let us garlands bring.

Host. How now? are you sadder than you were
before?

How do you, man? the musick likes you not.
Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not.
Host. Why, my pretty youth?
Jul. He plays false, father.

[Aside.
Sil. Say, that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend,
Survives; to whom, thyself art witness,
I am betroth'd: And art thou not asham'd
To wrong him with thy importunacy?
Pro. I likewise hear, that Valentine is dead.
Sil. And so suppose am 1; for in his grave,
Assure thyself, my love is buried.

Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.
Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call hers

thence;

[Aside

Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine.
Jul. He heard not that.
Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdurate,
Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love,
The picture that is hanging in your chamber;
To that I'll speak, to that I'll sigh and weep:
For, since the substance of your perfect self
Is else devoted, I am but a shadow;
And to your shadow will I make true love.
Jul. If 'twere a substance, you would, sure
deceive it,

Pro.

As wretches have o'ernight, That wait for execution in the morn.

[Exeunt Proteus: and Silvia from above. Jul. Host, will you go?

Host. By my hallidom, I was fast asleep.
Jul. 'Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus ?
Host. Marry, at my house: Trust rae, I think,
'tis almost day.

Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night
That e'er 1 watch'd, and the most heaviest.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same.
Enter Eglamour.

Egl. This is the hour that Madam Silvia
Entreated me to call and know her mind:
There's some great matter she'd employ me
Madam, madam!

Silvia appears above, at her window. Sil. Who calls?

to her trencher, and steals her capon's leg. 0, 'tis a foul thing, when a cur cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have, as one should say, one that takes upon him to be a dog indeed, to be, as it were, a dog at all things. If I had not had more wit than he, to take a fault upon me that he did, I think verily he had been hanged for't: sure as I live, he had suffer'd for't; you shall judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentleman-like dogs, under the duke's table; he had not been there (bless the mark) a pissing while; but all the chamber smelt him. Out with the dog, says one; What cur is that? says another; Whip him out, says the third; Hang him up, says the duke. I, having been acquainted with the smell before, in.-knew it was Crab; and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs: Friend, quoth I, you mean to whip the dog? Ay, marry, do I, quoth he. You do him the more wrong, quoth I; 'twas I did the thing you wot of. He makes me no more ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for their servants? Nay, I'll be sworn, I have sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been executed: I have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed, otherwise he had suffered for't; thou think not of this now!-Nay, I remember the trick you served me, when I took my leave of madam Silvia: did not I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? When didst thou see me heave up my leg, and make water against a gentlewoman's farthingale? didst thou ever see me do such a trick?

Egl. Your servant, and your friend;
One that attends your ladyship's command.
Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good mor-

row.

Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself.
According to your ladyship's impose,
I am thus early come, to know what service
It is your pleasure to command ine in.

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

Nor how my father would enforce me marry
Vain Thurio, whom my very soul abhorr'd.
Thyself hast lov'd; and I have heard thee say,
No grief did ever come so near thy heart,
As when thy lady and thy truelove died,"
Upon whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity.
Sir Eglamour, I would to Valentine,
To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode;
And, for the ways are dangerous to pass,
I do desire thy worthy company,
Upon whose faith and honour I repose.
Urge not my father's anger, Eglamour,
But think upon my grief, a lady's grief;
And on the justice of my flying hence,
To keep me from a most unholy match,

Enter Proteus and Julia.

Pro. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well, And will employ thee in some service presently Jul. In what you please :-I will do what I

can.

Pro. I hope thou wilt.-How now, you whoreson peasant! [To Launce. Where have you been these two days loitering? Laun. Marry sir, I carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me.

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

Which heaven and fortune still reward with Pro. But she received my dog?

plagues.

1 do desire thee, even from a heart
As full of sorrows as the sea of sands,
To bear me company, and go with me:
If not, to hide what I have said to thee,
That I may venture to depart alone.

Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances;
Which since I know they virtuously are placed,
I give consent to go along with you;
Recking as little what betideth me,

As much I wish all good befortune you.
When will you go?

Sil. This evening coming.

Egl. Where shall I meet you?

Si. At friar Patrick's cell,

Good-morrow, gentle lady.

Sul. Good-morrow, kind Sir Eglamour.

SCENE IV. The same.
Enter Launce, with his dog.

[Exeunt.

When a man's servant shall play the cur with him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up of a puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when three or four of his blind brothers and sisters went to it! I have taught him-even as one would say precisely, Thus I would teach a dog. I was sent to deliver him, as a present to mistress Silvia, from my master; and I came no Booner into the dining-chamber, but he steps me

Laun. No, indeed, did she not: here have 1 brought him back again.

Pro. What, didst thou offer her this from me? Laun. Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman's boys in the marketplace: and then 1 offered her mine own; who is a dog as big as ten of yours, and therefore the gift the greater.

Pro. Go, get thee hence, and find my dog again,
Or ne'er return again into my sight.

Away, I say; Stay'st thou to vex me here?
A slave, that, still an end turns me to shame.
[Exit Launce.

Sebastian, I have entertained thee,
Partly, that I have need of such a youth,
That can with some discretion do my business,
For 'tis no trusting to yon foolish lowt;
But chiefly for thy face and thy behaviour:
Which (if my augury deceive me not)
Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth:
Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.
Go presently and take this ring with thee,
Deliver it to madam Silvia :
She loved me well deliver'd it to me.
Jul. It seems you loved her not, to leave her
token:
She's dead, belike.

Pro. Not so; I think, she lives.
Jul. Alas!

Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas?
Jul. I cannot choose but pity her.
Pro. Wherefore should'st thou pity her?