Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones, Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands. Visit by night your lady's chamber window Duke. This discipline shows thou hast been in love. To sort some gentlemen well skill'd in music. To give the onset to thy good advice. Duke. About it, gentlemen, Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper, And afterward determine our proceedings. Duke. Even now about it: I will pardon you. Act Fourth, SCENE I.-A FOREST NEAR MILAN. Enter certain Outlaws. [Exeunt. 1 Out. Fellows, stand fast: I see a passenger. 3 Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about you. If not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you. Speed. Sir, we are undone. These are the villains That all the travellers do fear so much. Val. My friends, 1 Out. That's not so, sir: we are your enemies. 2 Out. Peace! we'll hear him. 3 Out. Ay, by my beard, will we: for he is a proper man. Val. Then know, that I have little wealth to lose. A man I am, cross'd with adversity; My riches are these poor habiliments, Of which if you should here disfurnish me, You take the sum and substance that I have. 2 Out. Whither travel you? Val. To Verona. 1 Out. Whence came you? Val. From Milan. 3 Out. Have you long sojourn'd there? Val. Some sixteen months; and longer might have stay'd, If crooked fortune had not thwarted me. 2 Out. What! were you banish'd thence? Val. I was. 2 Out. For what offence? Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse, Without false vantage, or base treachery. 1 Out. Why ne'er repent it, if it were done so. But were you banish'd for so small a fault? Val. I was, and held me glad of such a doom. 1 Out. Have you the tongues?1 Val. My youthful travel therein made me happy, Or else I often had been miserable. 3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar, This fellow were a king for our wild faction. 1 Out. We'll have him. Sir, a word. S. Master, be one of them: it's an honourable kind of thievery. Val. Peace, villain! 2 Out. Tell us this: have you anything to take to! Val. Nothing, but my fortune. 3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentlemen, Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth Thrust from the company of awful men : An heir, and near allied unto the duke. 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman Whom, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart. 1 Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as these. With goodly shape; and by your own report As we do in our quality much want 2 Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you. To make a virtue of necessity, And live, as we do, in this wilderness? 3 Out. What say'st thou wilt thou be of our consort? Say ay, and be the captain of us all. We'll do thee homage, and be rul'd by thee, Love thee as our Commander and our King. 1 Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. 2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd. Val. I take your offer, and will live with you; 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. 2 Worshipful. 1 Languages. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-MILAN. THE COURT OF THE PALACE. Enter Proteus. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; But here comes Thurio. Now must we to her window, Enter Thurio and Musicians. Thu. How now, Sir Proteus! are you crept before us? Will creep in service where it cannot go. Thu. Ay; but I hope, sir, that you love not here. Pro. Ay, Silvia,—for your sake. Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen, Let's tune, and to it lustily a while. Enter, at a distance, Host, with 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 music, 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 music. Host. Hark! hark! Jul. Is he among these? 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 heaven such grace did lend her, That she might admired be. Is she kind, as she is fair, For beauty lives with kindness? [Music plays. Love doth to her ey s repair, Upon the dull earth dwelling: Host. How now! are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? the music likes me not. Jul. You mistake: the musician likes me not. Host. Why, my pretty youth? Jul. He plays false, father. Host. How? out of tune on the strings? Jul. Not so; but yet so false, that he grieves my very heartstrings. 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 music. Jul. Not a whit when it jars so. Host. Hark! what fine change is in the music. 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, told me--he lov'd her out of all nick.1 Jul. Where is Launce? Host. Gone to seek his dog; which, to-morrow, by his master's command, he must carry for a 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 at her window. Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. Who is that, that spake? Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. Pro. That I may compass yours. Sil. You have your wish: my will is even this, That presently you hie you home to bed. Thou subtle, perjur'd, false, disloyal man! 1 Reckoning. That hast deceived so many with thy vows? Jul. "Twere false, if I should speak it; For, I am sure, she is not buried. Sil. Say, that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, I am betroth'd; and art thou not asham'd Pro. I likewise hear that Valentine is dead. Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call her's thence; Or, at the least, in her's 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 selr 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, And make it but a shadow, as I am. Sil. I am very loath to be your idol, sir; But, since your falsehood shall become you well To worship shadows, and adore false shapes, Send to me in the morning, and I'll send it. And so, good rest. Pro. That wait for execution in the morn. [Silvia retires. As wretches have o'er night, [Exit Pro. Jul. Host, will you go? Host. By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Jul. Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus? Host. Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think 'tis almost day. Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night That e'er I watched, and the most heaviest. SCENE III.-THE SAME. Enter Eglamour. Egl. This is the hour that Madam Silvia Entreated me to call, and know her mind. Sil. Who calls? Silvia appears at her window. [Exit. |