Enter LAUNCE, with his Dog. Laun. 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, but he steps 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 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 hang'd 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 gentlemen-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, 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 no more ado, but whips me out out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for their servant? 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 kill'd, otherwise he had suffer'd for't: thou think'st not of this now!-Nay, I remember the trick you serv'd 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? Enter PROTHEUS, and JULIA. 312 Pro. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well, And will employ thee in some service presently. Jul. In what you please;—I'll do, sir, 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 carry'd mistress Silvia the dog you bade me. Pro. And what says she to my little jewel? 320 Laun. Marry, she says, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for such a present. Pro. But she receiv'd my dog? Laun. No, indeed, she did not here I have brought him back again. Pro. What, didst thou offer her this from me? Laun. Laun. Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stol'n from me by the hangman's boy in the, market-place: and then I offer'd her mine own; who is a dog as big as ten of your's, and therefore the gift the greater. 331 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 ?. Sebastian, I have entertained thee, [Exit LAUNCE. 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; 340 Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth: Deliver it to madam Silvia : She lov'd me well, deliver'd it to me. Jul. It seems, you lov'd not her, to leave her token: She's dead, belike. Pro. Not so; I think, she lives. Jul. Alas! 350 Pro. Why do'st thou cry, alas ? Jul. I cannot choose but pity her, Pro. Wherefore should'st thou pity her? Jul. Because, methinks, that she lov'd you as well As As you do love your lady Silvia: She dreams on him, that has forgot her love; You doat on her, that cares not for your love. 'Tis pity love should be so contrary, And, thinking on it, makes me cry, alas! Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal 360 This letter;—that's her chamber.-Tell my lady, I claim the promise for her heavenly picture. Your message done, hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary. [Exit PROTHEUS. Jul. How many women would do such a message? Alas, poor Protheus! thou hast entertain'd A fox, to be the shepherd of thy lambs: That with his very heart despiseth me? This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, To plead for that, which I would not obtain ; 370 To praise his faith, which I would have disprais'd. I am my master's true confirmed love i 380 But cannot be true servant to my master, Enter |