where you fhall hear mufic, and fee the Gentleman that you afk'd for, Jul. But fhall I hear him speak? Jul. Is he among these? Hoft. Ay; but peace, let's hear 'em. SONG. Who is Silvia? what is fhe, That all our fwains commend her ?. The heav'n fuch grace did lend her, Is the kind, as fhe is fair? Then Silvia let us fing, That Silvia is excelling; Upon the dull earth dwelling: To her let us garlands bring. Hoft. How now are you fadder than you were before? how do you, man? the mufic likes you not. Jul. You mistake; the mufician likes me not. Hoft. Why, my pretty youth? Jul. He plays falfe, father. Hoft. How, out of tune on the ftrings? Jul. Not fo; but yet fo falfe, that he grieves my very heart-ftrings. Hoft. You have a quick car. Ful. Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes me have a dow heart. Hoft. I perceive, you delight not in music.. Jul. Not a whit, when it jars fo.. Hoft Heft, Hark, what fine change is in the mufic. Hoft. You would have them always play but one thing? Jul. I would always have one play but one thing. But, hoft, doth this Sir Protheus, that we talk on, Often refort unto this Gentlewoman? Hoft. I tell you what Launce, his man, told me, he lov'd her out of all nick. Jul. Where is Launce? Heft. Gone to feek his dog, which to-morrow, by his mafter's command, he muft carry for a prefent to his Lady. Jul. Peace, ftand afide, the Company parts. Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you; I will fo plead, That you fhall fay, my cunning drift excels. Thu. Where meet we? Pro. At St. Gregory's well. 1 bu. Farewel. [Exe. Thu. and Mufic. Silvia, above, at her Window. Pro. Madam, good even to your Ladyhip. Sil. I thank you for your mufic, Gentlemen: Who is that, that fpake? Pro. One, Lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice. Sil. Sir Protheus, as I take it. Pro. Sir Protheus, gentle Lady, and your fervant. Pro. That I may compafs yours. Sil. You have your wifh; my will is even this, That prefently you hie you home to bed. That haft deceiv'd fo many with thy vows? And And, by and by, intend to chide myfelf, Jul. [Afide.] 'Twere falfe, if I fhould speak it; Sil. Say, that the be; yet Valentine, thy friend, I am betroath'd; and art thou not asham'd Pro. Sweet Lady, let me rake it from the earth. Pro. Madam, if your heart be fo obdurate, And to your fhadow will I make true love. Jul. [Afide.] If 'twere a fubftance, you would, fure, deceive it, And make it but a fhadow, as I am. Sil. I'm very Pro. As wretches have o'er night, That wait for execution in the morn. Jul. Hoft, will you go? [Exe. Pro. and Sil. Hoft. By my hallidom, I was fast aff ep. Hoft. Marry, at my houfe: truft me, I think, 'tis almoft day. Jul. Not fo; but it hath been the longest night That e'er I watch'd, and the most heavieft. Enter Eglamour. El. This is the hour that madam Silvia Silvia above, at her Window. Sil. Who calls? Egl. Your fervant, and your friend; [Exeunt Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thoufand times good morrow.. Egl. As many, worthy Lady, to yourself: According to your Ladyship's impofe, am thus early come, to know what fervice It is your pleasure to command me in. Sil. Oh Eglamour, thou art a Gentleman, Nor how my father would enforce me marry To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode: As. As full of forrows as the fea of fands, Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances; As much I wish all good befortune you. Sil. This evening coming. Egl. Where fhall I meet you? Good morrow, gentle Lady. Sil. Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. Enter Launce with his dog. [Exeunti When a man's fervant fhall play the cur with him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up of a puppy, one that I fav'd from drowning, when three or four of his blind brothers and fifters went to it! I have taught him, even as one would fay precifely, thus I would teach a dog. (15) I went to deliver him, as a prefent to miftrefs Silvia from my mafter; and I came no fooner into the dining-chamber, but he, fteps me to her trencher, and steals her capon's leg. O, 'tis a foul thing, when a cur cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have, as one should fay, one that takes, upon him to be a dog indeed, to be, as it were, a dog at all things. If I had no more wit than he, to take a fault upon me that he did, I think verily, he had been (15) I was fent to deliver bim as a prefent.-] Honest Launce is here all along characterizing his dog Crab; but that he was not fent to deliver as a prefent to Silvia. The Poet therefore could not be fo forgetful to make this blunder. Launce had loft his Master's dog, and was gone in queft of him, as we have heard from the best: and i we find Launce himself presently confeffing, that it was ftollen by the hangman's boy. So having loft the intended prefent, he went to tender his own dog inftead of the other. hang'd! |