SCENE II. Milan. Court of the Palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, She twits me with my falshood to my friend: Enter THURIO and Musicians. Thu. How now, sir Proteus? are you crept before us? Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for, you know, that love Will creep in service where it cannot go.3 7- sudden quips,] That is, hasty passionate reproaches and scoffs. 8 you know, that love Will creep in service where it cannot go.] Kindness will creep where it cannot gang, is a Scottish proverb. VOL. I. Thu. Ay, but, I hope, sir, that you love not here. Pro. Sir, but I do; or else I would be hence. Thu. Whom? Silvia? 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 Host, at a distance; and 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 musick, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak? Jul. That will be musick. Host. Hark! hark! Jul. Is he among these? [Musick plays. 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 heavens such grace did lend her, Is she kind, as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness : Then to Silvia let us sing, Host. How now? are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? the musick likes you 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 heart-strings. 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 musick. Host. Hark, what fine change is in the musick! 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 loved her out of all nick." Jul. Where is Launce? Host. Gone to seck 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. 9 out of all nick.] Beyond all reckoning or count. Reckonings are kept upon nicked or notched sticks or tallies. 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 THURIO and Musicians. SILVIA appears above, at her window. Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. Sil. I thank you for your musick, gentlemen: Who is that, that spake? Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice. Sil. Sir Proteus, as I take it. Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. Sil. What is your will? Pro. That I may compass yours. Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this,— That presently you hie you home to bed. That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows? Pro. I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady ; But she is dead. Jul. 'Twere false, if I should speak it; For, I am sure, she is not buried. [Aside. Sil. Say, that she be; yet Valentine, thy friend, Survives; to whom, thyself art witness, I am betroth'd: And art thou not asham'd To wrong him with thy importúnacy. Pro. I likewise hear, that Valentine is dead. Sil. And so, suppose, am I; for in his grave Assure thyself, my love is buried. 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. [Aside. Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdúrate, 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 I will make true love. Jul. If 'twere a substance, you would, sure, deceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am. [Aside. Sil. I am very loth to be your idol, sir; Pro. As wretches have o'er-night, That wait for execution in the morn.. [Exeunt PROTEUS; and SILVIA, from above. But, since your falshood shall become you well-] This is hardly sense. We may read, with very little alteration: "But since you're false, it shall become you well." JOHNSON. I believe the text is right, and that our author means, however licentious the expression,-But, since your falshood well becomes, or is well suited to, the worshipping of shadows, and the adoring of false shapes, send to me in the morning for my picture, &c. Or, in other words, But, since the worshipping of shadows and the adoring of false shapes shall well become you, false as you are, send, &c. To worship shadows, &c. I consider as the objective case, as well as you. Since is, I think, here an adv.rb, not a preposition. MALONE. |