• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Survives, to whom, thyself art witness,

I am betroth'd; and art thou not asham'd

To wrong him with thy importunacy?

PROTEUS.

I likewise hear that Valentine is dead.

SILVIA.

And so suppose am I; for in his grave

Assure thyself my love is buried.

PROTEUS.

Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.

SILVIA.

Go to thy lady's grave, and call hers thence;

Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine.

JULIA.

[Aside] He heard not that.

PROTEUS.

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.

JULIA.

[Aside] If 'twere a substance, you would, sure,

deceive it

And make it but a shadow, as I am.

SILVIA.

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.

PROTEUS.

As wretches have o'ernight

That wait for execution in the morn.

Exeunt PROTEUS and SILVIA

JULIA.

Host, will you go?

HOST.

By my halidom, I was fast asleep.

JULIA.

Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus?

HOST.

Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think 'tis almost day.

JULIA.

Not so; but it hath been the longest night

That e'er I watch'd, and the most heaviest. Exeunt

SCENE 3. Under SILVIA'S window

Enter EGLAMOUR

EGLAMOUR.

This is the hour that Madam Silvia

Entreated me to call and know her mind;

There's some great matter she'd employ me in.

Madam, madam!

Enter SILVIA above, at her window

SILVIA.

Who calls?

EGLAMOUR.

Your servant and your friend;

One that attends your ladyship's command.

SILVIA.

Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow!

EGLAMOUR.

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 me in.

SILVIA.

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 abhors.

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 true love 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,

Which heaven and fortune still rewards with plagues.

I 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.

EGLAMOUR.

Madam, I pity much your grievances;

Which since I know they virtuously are plac'd,

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?

SILVIA.

This evening coming.

EGLAMOUR.

Where shall I meet you?

SILVIA.

At Friar Patrick's cell,

Where I intend holy confession.

EGLAMOUR.

I will not fail your ladyship. Good morrow, gentle lady.

SILVIA.

Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. Exeunt

SCENE 4. Under SILVIA'S Window

Enter LAUNCE with his dog

LAUNCE.

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

sav'd

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

sooner into the dining-chamber,