University of Virginia Library

Actus Quartus.

Scœna Prima.

Enter Valentine, Speed, and certaine Out-lawes.
1. Out-l.
Fellowes, stand fast: I see a passenger.

2. Out.
If there be ten, shrinke not, but down with'em.

3. Out.
Stand sir, and throw vs that you haue about 'ye.
If not: we'll make you sit, and rifle you.

Sp.
Sir we are vndone; these are the Villaines
That all the Trauailers doe feare so much.

Ual.
My friends.

1. Out.
That's not so, sir: we are your enemies.

2. Out.
Peace: we'll heare him.

3. Out.
I by my beard will we: for he is a proper man.

Val.
Then know that I haue little wealth to loose;
A man I am, cross'd with aduersitie:
My riches, are these poore habiliments,
Of which, if you should here disfurnish me,
You take the sum and substance that I haue.

2. Out.
Whether trauell you?

Val.
To Verona.

1. Out.
Whence came you?

Ual.
From Millaine.

3. Out.
Haue you long soiourn'd there?

Val.
Some sixteene moneths, and longer might haue staid,
If crooked fortune had not thwarted me.

1. Out.
What, were you banish'd thence?

Val.
I was.

2. Out.
For what offence?

Val.
For that which now torments me to rehearse;
I kil'd a man, whose death I much repent,
But yet I slew him manfully, in fight,
Without false vantage, or base treachery.

1. Out.
Why nere repent it, if it were done so;
But were you banisht for so small a fault?

Val.
I was, and held me glad of such a doome.

2. Out.
Haue you the Tongues?

Val.
My youthfull trauaile, therein made me happy,
Or else I often had beene often miserable.

3. Out.
By the bare scalpe of Robin Hoods fat Fryer,
This fellow were a King, for our wilde faction.

1. Out.
We'll haue him: Sirs, a word.

Sp.
Master, be one of them:
It's an honourable kinde of theeuery.

Val.
Peace villaine.

2. Out.
Tell vs this: haue you any thing to take to?

Val.
Nothing but my fortune.

3. Out.
Know then, that some of vs are Gentlemen,
Such as the fury of vngouern'd youth
Thrust from the company of awfull men.
My selfe was from Verona banished,
For practising to steale away a Lady,
And heire and Neece, alide vnto the Duke.

2. Out.
And I from Mantua, for a Gentleman,
Who, in my moode, I stab'd vnto the heart.

1. Out.
And I, for such like petty crimes as these.
But to the purpose: for we cite our faults,
That they may hold excus'd our lawlesse liues;
And partly seeing you are beautifide
With goodly shape; and by your owne report,
A Linguist, and a man of such perfection,
As we doe in our quality much want.

2. Out.
Indeede because you are a banish'd man,
Therefore, aboue the rest, we parley to you:
Are you content to be our Generall?
To make a vertue of necessity,
And liue as we doe in this wildernesse?

3. Out.
What saist thou? wilt thou be of our consort?
Say I, and be the captaine of vs all:
We'll doe thee homage, and be rul'd by thee,
Loue thee, as our Commander, and our King.

1. Out.
But if thou scorne our curtesie, thou dyest.

2. Out.
Thou shalt not liue, to brag what we haue offer'd.

Val.
I take your offer, and will liue with you,
Prouided that you do no outrages
On silly women, or poore passengers.

3. Out.
No, we detest such vile base practises.
Come, goe with vs, we'll bring thee to our Crewes,
And show thee all the Treasure we haue got;
Which, with our selues, all rest at thy dispose.

Exeunt.

Scœna Secunda.

Enter Protheus, Thurio, Iulia, Host, Musitian, Siluia.
Pro.
Already haue I bin false to Valentine,
And now I must be as vniust to Thurio,
Vnder the colour of commending him,
I haue accesse my owne loue to prefer.
But Siluia is too faire, too true, too holy,
To be corrupted with my worthlesse guifts;
When I protest true loyalty to her,
She twits me with my falsehood to my friend;
When to her beauty I commend my vowes,
She bids me thinke how I haue bin forsworne
In breaking faith with Iulia, whom I lou'd;
And notwithstanding all her sodaine quips,
The least whereof would quell a louers hope:
Yet (Spaniel-like) the more she spurnes my loue,
The more it growes, and fawneth on her still;
But here comes Thurio; now must we to her window,
And giue some euening Musique to her eare.

Th.
How now, sir Protheus, are you crept before vs?

Pro.
I gentle Thurio, for you know that loue
Will creepe in seruice, where it cannot goe.

Th.
I, but I hope, Sir, that you loue not here.

Pro.
Sir, but I doe: or else I would be hence.

Th.
Who, Siluia?

Pro.
I, Siluia, for your sake.

Th.
I thanke you for your owne: Now Gentlemen
Let's tune: and too it lustily a while.

Ho.
Now, my yong guest; me thinks your' allycholly;
I pray you why is it?

Iu.

Marry (mine Host) because I cannot be merry.

Ho.

Come, we'll haue you merry: ile bring you where
you shall heare Musique, and see the Gentleman that
you ask'd for.

Iu.

But shall I heare him speake.

Ho.

I that you shall.

Iu.

That will be Musique.

Ho.

Harke, harke.

Iu.

Is he among these?

Ho.

I: but peace, let's heare'm.

Ho.
How now? are you sadder then you were before;
How doe you, man? the Musicke likes you not.

Iu.
You mistake: the Musitian likes me not.

Ho.
Why, my pretty youth?

Iu.
He plaies false (father.)

Ho.
How, out of tune on the strings.

Iu.
Not so: but yet
So false that he grieues my very heart-strings.

Ho.
You haue a quicke eare.

Iu.
I, I would I were deafe: it makes me haue a slow heart.

Ho.
I perceiue you delight not in Musique.

Iu.
Not a whit, when it iars so.

Ho.
Harke, what fine change is in the Musique.

Iu.
I: that change is the spight.

Ho.
You would haue them alwaies play but one thing.

Iu.
I would alwaies haue one play but one thing.
But Host, doth this Sir Protheus, that we talke on,
Often resort vnto this Gentlewoman?

Ho.
I tell you what Launce his man told me,
He lou'd her out of all nicke.

Iu.

Where is Launce?

Ho.

Gone to seeke his dog, which to morrow, by his
Masters command, hee must carry for a present to his
Lady.

Iu.

Peace, stand aside, the company parts.

Pro.
Sir Thurio, feare not you, I will so pleade,
That you shall say, my cunning drift excels.

Th.
Where meete we?

Pro.
At Saint Gregories well.

Th.
Farewell.

Pro.
Madam: good eu'n to your Ladiship.

Sil.
I thanke you for your Musique (Gentlemen)
Who is that that spake?

Pro.
One (Lady) if you knew his pure hearts truth,
You would quickly learne to know him by his voice.

Sil.
Sir Protheus as I take it.

Pro.
Sir Protheus (gentle Lady) and your Seruant.

Sil.
What's your will?

Pro.
That I may compasse yours.

Sil.
You haue your wish: my will is euen this,
That presently you hie you home to bed:
Thou subtile, periur'd, false, disloyall man:
Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitlesse,
To be seduced by thy flattery,
That has't deceiu'd so many with thy vowes?
Returne, returne and make thy loue amends:
For me (by this pale queene of night I sweare)
I am so farre from granting thy request,
That I despise thee, for thy wrongfull suite;
And by and by intend to chide my selfe,
Euen for this time I spend in talking to thee.

Pro.
I grant (sweet loue) that I did loue a Lady,
But she is dead.

Iu.
'Twere false, if I should speake it;
For I am sure she is not buried.

Sil.
Say that she be: yet Valentine thy friend
Suruiues; to whom (thy selfe art witnesse)
I am betroth'd; and art thou not asham'd
To wrong him, with thy importunacy?

Pro.
I likewise heare that Valentine is dead.

Sil.
And so suppose am I; for in her graue
Assure thy selfe, my loue is buried.

Pro.
Sweet Lady, let me rake it from the earth.

Sil.
Goe to thy Ladies graue and call hers thence,
Or at the least, in hers, sepulcher thine.

Iul.
He heard not that.

Pro.
Madam: if your heart be so obdurate:
Vouchsafe me yet your Picture for my loue,
The Picture that is hanging in your chamber:
To that ile speake, to that ile sigh and weepe:
For since the substance of your perfect selfe
Is else deuoted, I am but a shadow;
And to your shadow, will I make true loue.

Iul.
If't were a substance you would sure deceiue it,
And make it but a shadow, as I am.

Sil.
I am very loath to be your Idoll Sir;
But, since your falsehood shall become you well
To worship shadowes, and adore false shapes,
Send to me in the morning, and ile send it:
And so, good rest.

Pro.
As wretches haue ore-night
That wait for execution in the morne.

Iul.
Host, will you goe?

Ho.
By my hallidome, I was fast asleepe.

Iul.
Pray you, where lies Sir Protheus?

Ho.
Marry, at my house:
Trust me, I thinke 'tis almost day.

Iul.
Not so: but it hath bin the longest night
That ere I watch'd, and the most heauiest.

Scœna Tertia.

Enter Eglamore, Siluia.
Eg.
This is the houre that Madam Siluia
Entreated me to call, and know her minde:
Ther's some great matter she'ld employ me in.
Madam, Madam.

Sil.
Who cals?

Eg.
Your seruant, and your friend;
One that attends your Ladiships command.

Sil.
Sir Eglamore, a thousand times good morrow.

Eg.
As many (worthy Lady) to your selfe:
According to your Ladiships impose,
I am thus early come, to know what seruice
It is your pleasure to command me in.

Sil.
Oh Eglamoure, thou art a Gentleman:
Thinke not I flatter (for I sweare I doe not)
Valiant, wise, remorse-full, well accomplish'd.
Thou art not ignorant what deere good will
I beare vnto the banish'd Ualentine:
Nor how my father would enforce me marry
Vaine Thurio (whom my very soule abhor'd.)
Thy selfe hast lou'd, and I haue heard thee say
No griefe did euer come so neere thy heart,
As when thy Lady, and thy true-loue dide,
Vpon whose Graue thou vow'dst pure chastitie:
Sir Eglamoure: I would to Valentine
To Mantua, where I heare, he makes aboad;
And for the waies are dangerous to passe,
I doe desire thy worthy company,
Vpon whose faith and honor, I repose.
Vrge not my fathers anger (Eglamoure)
But thinke vpon my griefe (a Ladies griefe)
And on the iustice of my flying hence,
To keepe me from a most vnholy match,
Which heauen and fortune still rewards with plagues.
I doe desire thee, euen from a heart
As full of sorrowes, as the Sea of sands,
To beare me company, and goe with me:
If not, to hide what I haue said to thee,
That I may venture to depart alone.

Egl.
Madam, I pitty much your grieuances,
Which, since I know they vertuously are plac'd,
I giue consent to goe along with you,
Wreaking as little what betideth me,
As much, I wish all good befortune you.
When will you goe?

Sil.
This euening comming.

Eg.
Where shall I meete you?

Sil.
At Frier Patrickes Cell,
Where I intend holy Confession.

Eg.
I will not faile your Ladiship:
Good morrow (gentle Lady.)

Sil.
Good morrow, kinde Sir Eglamoure.

Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Launce, Protheus, Iulia, Siluia.
Lau.

When a mans seruant shall play the Curre with
him (looke you) it goes hard: one that I brought vp of
a puppy: one that I sau'd from drowning, when three or
foure of his blinde brothers and sisters went to it: I haue
taught him (euen as one would say precisely, thus I
would teach a dog) I was sent to deliuer him, as a present
to Mistris Siluia, from my Master; and I came no
sooner into the dyning-chamber, but he steps me to her
Trencher, and steales her Capons-leg: O, 'tis a foule
thing, when a Cur cannot keepe himselfe in all companies:
I would haue (as one should say) one that takes vpon
him to be a dog indeede, to be, as it were, a dog at all
things. If I had not had more wit then he, to take a fault
vpon me that he did, I thinke verily hee had bin hang'd
for't: sure as I liue he had suffer'd for't: you shall iudge:
Hee thrusts me himselfe into the company of three or
foure gentleman-like-dogs, vnder the Dukes table: hee
had not bin there (blesse the marke) a pissing while, but
all the chamber smelt him: out with the dog (saies one)
what cur is that (saies another) whip him out (saies the
third) hang him vp (saies the Duke.) I hauing bin acquainted
with the smell before, knew it was Crab; and
goes me to the fellow that whips the dogges: friend
(quoth I) you meane to whip the dog: I marry doe I
(quoth he) you doe him the more wrong (quoth I) 'twas
I did the thing you wot of: he makes me no more adoe,
but whips me out of the chamber: how many Masters
would doe this for his Seruant? nay, ile be sworne I haue
sat in the stockes, for puddings he hath stolne, otherwise
he had bin executed: I haue stood on the Pillorie for
Geese he hath kil'd, otherwise he had sufferd for't: thou
think'st not of this now: nay, I remember the tricke you
seru'd me, when I tooke my leaue of Madam Siluia: did

not I bid thee still marke me, and doe as I do; when did'st
thou see me heaue vp my leg, and make water against a
Gentlewomans farthingale? did'st thou euer see me doe
such a tricke?

Pro.
Sebastian is thy name; I like thee-well,
And will imploy thee in some seruice presently.

Iu.
In what you please, ile doe what I can.

Pro.
I hope thou wilt,
How now you whor-son pezant,
Where haue you bin these two dayes loytering?

La.

Marry Sir, I carried Mistris Siluia the dogge you
bad me.

Pro.

And what saies she to my little Iewell?

La.

Marry she saies your dog was a cur, and tels you
currish thanks is good enough for such a present.

Pro.

But she receiu'd my dog?

La.
No indeede did she not:
Here haue I brought him backe againe.

Pro.
What, didst thou offer her this from me?

La.
I Sir, the other Squirrill was stolne from me
By the Hangmans boyes in the market place,
And then I offer'd her mine owne, who is a dog
As big as ten, of yours, & therefore the guift the greater.

Pro.
Goe, get thee hence, and finde my dog againe,
Or nere returne againe into my sight.
Away, I say: stayest thou to vexe me here;
A Slaue, that still an end, turnes me to shame:
Sebastian, I haue entertained thee,
Partly that I haue neede of such a youth,
That can with some discretion doe my businesse:
For 'tis no trusting to yond foolish Lowt;
But chiefely, for thy face, and thy behauiour,
Which (if my Augury deceiue me not)
Witnesse good bringing vp, fortune, and truth:
Therefore know thee, for this I entertaine thee.
Go presently, and take this Ring with thee,
Deliuer it to Madam Siluia;
She lou'd me well, deliuer'd it to me.

Iul.
It seemes you lou'd not her, not leaue her token:
She is dead belike?

Pro.
Not so: I thinke she liues.

Iul.
Alas.

Pro.
Why do'st thou cry alas?

Iul.
I cannot choose but pitty her.

Pro.
Wherefore should'st thou pitty her?

Iul.
Because, me thinkes that she lou'd you as well
As you doe loue your Lady Siluia:
She dreames on him, that has forgot her loue,
You doate on her, that cares not for your loue.
'Tis pitty Loue, should be so contrary:
And thinking on it makes me cry alas.

Pro.
Well: giue her that Ring, and therewithall
This Letter: that's her chamber: Tell my Lady,
I claime the promise for her heauenly Picture:
Your message done, hye home vnto my chamber,
Where thou shalt finde me sad, and solitarie.

Iul.
How many women would doe such a message?
Alas poore Protheus, thou hast entertain'd
A Foxe, to be the Shepheard of thy Lambs;
Alas, poore foole, why doe I pitty him
That with his very heart despiseth me?
Because he loues her, he despiseth me,
Because I loue him, I must pitty him.
This Ring I gaue him, when he parted from me,
To binde him to remember my good will:
And now am I (vnhappy Messenger)
To plead for that, which I would not obtaine;
To carry that, which I would haue refus'd;
To praise his faith, which I would haue disprais'd.
I am my Masters true confirmed Loue,
But cannot be true seruant to my Master,
Vnlesse I proue false traitor to my selfe.
Yet will I woe for him but yet so coldly,
As (heauen it knowes) I would not haue him speed.
Gentlewoman, good day: I pray you be my meane
To bring me where to speake with Madam Siluia.

Sil.
What would you with her, if that I be she?

Iul.
If you be she, I doe intreat your patience
To heare me speake the message I am sent on.

Sil.
From whom?

Iul.
From my Master, Sir Protheus, Madam.

Sil.
Oh: he sends you for a Picture?

Iul.
I, Madam.

Sil.
Vrsula, bring my Picture there,
Goe, giue your Master this: tell him from me,
One Iulia, that his changing thoughts forget
Would better fit his Chamber, then this Shadow.

Iul.
Madam, please you peruse this Letter;
Pardon me (Madam) I haue vnaduis'd
Deliuer'd you a paper that I should not;
This is the Letter to your Ladiship.

Sil.
I pray thee let me looke on that againe.

Iul.
It may not be: good Madam pardon me.

Sil.
There, hold:
I will not looke vpon your Masters lines:
I know they are stuft with protestations,
And full of new-found oathes, which he will breake
As easily as I doe teare his paper.

Iul.
Madam, he sends your Ladiship this Ring.

Sil.
The more shame for him, that he sends it me;
For I haue heard him say a thousand times,
His Iulia gaue it him, at his departure:
Though his false finger haue prophan'd the Ring,
Mine shall not doe his Iulia so much wrong.

Iul.
She thankes you.

Sil.
What sai'st thou?

Iul.
I thanke you Madam, that you tender her:
Poore Gentlewoman, my Master wrongs her much.

Sil.
Do'st thou know her?

Iul.
Almost as well as I doe know my selfe.
To thinke vpon her woes, I doe protest
That I haue wept a hundred seuerall times.

Sil.
Belike she thinks that Protheus hath forsook her?

Iul.
I thinke she doth: and that's her cause of sorrow.

Sil.
Is she not passing faire?

Iul.
She hath bin fairer (Madam) then she is,
When she did thinke my Master lou'd her well;
She, in my iudgement, was as faire as you.
But since she did neglect her looking-glasse,
And threw her Sun-expelling Masque away,
The ayre hath staru'd the roses in her cheekes,
And pinch'd the lilly-tincture of her face,
That now she is become as blacke as I.

Sil.
How tall was she?

Iul.
About my stature: for at Pentecost,
When all our Pageants of delight were plaid,
Our youth got me to play the womans part,
And I was trim'd in Madam Iulias gowne,
Which serued me as fit, by all mens iudgements,
As if the garment had bin made for me:
Therefore I know she is about my height,
And at that time I made her weepe a good,
For I did play a lamentable part.
(Madam) 'twas Ariadne, passioning
For Thesus periury, and vniust flight;
Which I so liuely acted with my teares:
That my poore Mistris moued therewithall,
Wept bitterly: and would I might be dead,
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow.

Sil.
She is beholding to thee (gentle youth)
Alas (poore Lady) desolate, and left;
I weepe my selfe to thinke vpon thy words?
Here youth: there is my purse; I giue thee this
For thy sweet Mistris sake, because thou lou'st her. Farewell.

Iul.
And she shall thanke you for't, if ere you know her
A vertuous gentlewoman, milde, and beautifull.
I hope my Masters suit will be but cold,
Since she respects my Mistris loue so much.
Alas, how loue can trifle with it selfe:
Here is her Picture: let me see, I thinke
If I had such a Tyre, this face of mine
Were full as louely, as is this of hers;
And yet the Painter flatter'd her a little,
Vnlesse I flatter with my selfe too much.
Her haire is Aburne, mine is perfect Yellow;
If that be all the difference in his loue,
Ile get me such a coulour'd Perry wig:
Her eyes are grey as glasse, and so are mine:
I, but her fore-head's low, and mine's as high:
What should it be that he respects in her,
But I can make respectiue in my selfe?
If this fond Loue, were not a blinded god.
Come shadow, come, and take this shadow vp,
For 'tis thy riuall: O thou sencelesse forme,
Thou shalt be worship'd, kiss'd, lou'd, and ador'd;
And were there sence in his Idolatry,
My substance should be statue in thy stead.
Ile vse thee kindly, for thy Mistris sake
That vs'd me so: or else by Ioue, I vow,
I should haue scratch'd out your vnseeing eyes,
To make my Master out of loue with thee.

Exeunt.