Pro. Wherefore should'st thou pity her?
Jul. Because, methinks, that she loved you as well do love your lady Silvia:
She dreams on him, that has forgot her love; You dote 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 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 PROTEUS. Jul. How many women would do such a message?
Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain'd
A fox, to be the shepherd of thy lambs : Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him That with his very heart despiseth me? Because he loves her, he despiseth me; Because I love him, I must pity him.
This ring I gave him, when he parted from me, To bind him to remember my good will: And now am I (unhappy messenger)
To plead for that, which I would not obtain ;
To carry that which I would have refus'd;
To praise his faith, which I would have disprais'd.
I am my master's true confirmed love;
But cannot be true servant to my master,
Unless I prove false traitor to myself. Yet I will woo for him: but yet so coldly,
As, heaven, it knows, I would not have him speed.
Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean To bring me where to speak with madam Silvia. Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she? Jul. If you be she, I do entreat your patience To hear me speak the message I am sent on. Sil. From whom?
Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, madam. Sil. O!-he sends you for a picture? Jul. Ay, madam.
Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there.
Go, give your master this: tell him from me, One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget, Would better fit his chamber than this shadow. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.— Pardon me, madam; I have unadvis'd Delivered you a paper that I should not; This is the letter to your ladyship.
Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again. Jul. It may not be; good madam, pardon me. Sil. There, hold.
I will not look upon your master's lines : I know, they are stuff'd with protestations, And full of new-found oaths; which he will break As easily as I do tear his paper.
Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. Sil. The more shame for him that he sends it me; For, I have heard him say a thousand times, His Julia gave it him at his departure: Though his false finger hath profan'd the ring, Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.
Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much. Sil. Dost thou know her?
Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: To think upon her woes, I do protest, That I have wept an hundred several times.
Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her. Jul. I think she doth, and that's her cause of
Sil. Is she not passing fair?
Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: When she did think my master lov'd her well, She, in my judgment, was as fair as you; But since she did neglect her looking-glass, And threw her sun-expelling mask away, The air hath starv'd the roses in her cheeks, And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face, That now she is become as black as I.
Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost,4 When all our pageants of delight were play'd, Our youth got me to play the woman's part, And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown; Which served me as fit, by all men's judgment, As if the garment had been made for me; Therefore, I know she is about my height. And, at that time, I made her weep a-good, For I did play a lamentable part: Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning
For Theseus' perjury, and unjust flight; Which I so lively acted with my tears, That my poor mistress, moved therewithal, Wept bitterly; and, would I might be dead, If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!
Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!- Alas, poor lady! desolate and left!-
I weep myself, to think upon thy words. Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lov'st her. Farewell. [Exit. SILVIA Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you
A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. I hope my master's suit will be but cold, Since she respects my mistress' love so much. Alas, how love can trifle with itself! Here is her picture: Let me see; I think, If I had such a tire," this face of mine Were full as lovely as is this of hers: And yet the painter flatter'd her a little, Unless I flatter with myself too much. Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow : If that be all the difference in his love, I'll get me such a colour'd periwig. Her eyes are grey as glass; and so are mine? Ay, but her forehead's low, and mine's as high. What should it be, that he respects in her, But I can make respective 7 in myself, If this fond love were not a blinded god? Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up, 7 Refpectable.
For 'tis thy rival. O thou senseless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and ador'd; And, were there sense in his idolatry,
My substance should be statue in thy stead. I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake, That us'd me so; or else, by Jove I vow,
I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, To make my master out of love with thee.
Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky; And now, it is about the very hour
That Silvia, at Patrick's cell, should meet me. She will not fail; for lovers break not hours, Unless it be to come before their time; So much they spur their expedition.
See, where she comes: Lady, a happy evening! Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour!
Out at the postern by the abbey wall;
I fear, I am attended by some spies.
Egl. Fear not the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure enough.
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