Hoft. How now? are you fadder than you were before? how do you, man? the mufic likes you not. Jul. You mistake; the musician 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-strings.

Hoft. You have a quick ear.

ful. Ay, I would I were deaf! it makes me have a flow heart.

Hoft. I perceive you delight not in mufic.

Jul. Not a whit, when it jars fo.

Hoft. Hark, what fine change is in the mufic! ful. Ay; that change is the fpite.

Hoft. You would have them always play but one. thing?

ful. 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 3 out of all nick.

Jul. Where is Launce?

Hoft. Gone to feek his dog, which to-morrow, by his master'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 shall say, my cunning drift excels.

3

Thu. Where meet we?

Pro. At Saint Gregory's well.

Thu. Farewell.

[Exeunt Thurio and mufic.

out of all nick.] Beyond all reckoning or count. Reckonings are kept upon nicked or notched sticks or tallies.

WARBURTON.

Silvia appears above, at her window.

Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. Sil. I thank you for your mufic, 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 Protheus, as I take it.

Pro. Sir Protheus, gentle lady, and your fervant. Sil. What is your will?

Pro. That I may compafs yours,

Sil. 4 You have your wifh; my will is even this,-
That prefently you hie you home to bed.
Thou fubtle, perjur'd, falfe, difloyal man!
Think'it thou I am fo fhallow, fo conceitless,
To be feduced by thy flattery,

That haft deceived fo many with thy vows?
Return, return, and make thy love amends.
For me, by this pale queen of night, I fwear,
I am fo far from granting thy request,
That I defpife thee for thy wrongful fuit;
And, by and by, intend to chide myself,
Even for this time I spend in talking to thee,

Pro, I grant, fweet love, that I did love a lady; But fhe is dead.

Jul, [Afide.] 'Twere falfe, if I should speak it; For, I am fure, fhe is not buried.

Sil. Say, that the be; yet Valentine, thy friend, Survives; to whom, thyfelf art witness,

I am betroth'd; and art thou not asham'd
To wrong him with thy importunacy?

Pro. I likewife hear, that Valentine is dead.
Sil. And fo, fuppofe, am I; for in his grave,

Affure thyself, my love is buried.

4 You have your swish; my will is even this,-] The word will Is here ambiguous. He wishes to gain her will: fhe tells him, if he wants her will he has it. JOHNSON,

Pre

Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth. Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call her thence, Or, at the least, in her fepulchre thine.

Jul. [Afide.] He heard not that.

Pro. Madam, if that your heart be so obdurate, Vouchfafe me yet your picture for my love, The picture that is hanging in your chamber: To that I'll speak, to that I'll figh and weep: For fince the fubftance of your perfect self Is else devoted, I am but a fhadow;

And to your fhadow will I make true love.

Ful. [Afide.] If 'twere a substance, you would, fure, deceive it,

And make it but a fhadow, as I am.

Sil. I am very loath to be your idol, Sir;

5 But, fince your falfhood fhall become you well
To worship fhadows, and adore false shapes,
Send to me in the morning, and I'll fend it:
And fo, good rest.

Pro. As wretches have o'er night,

That wait for execution in the morn.

[Exeunt Protheus and Silvia.

Jul. Hoft, will you go?

Hoft. By my hallidom, I was fast asleep.
Jul. Pray you, where lies Sir Protheus?

Hoft. Marry, at my house: trust me, I think, 'tis almost day.

Jul. Not fo; but it hath been the longest night That e'er I watch'd, and the most heavieft. [Exeunt.

5 But, fince your falfhood shall become you well] This is hardly fenfe. We may read, with very little alteration,

But fince you're false, it shall become you well. JOHNS.

1

SCENE

Egl. This is the hour that madam Silvia Entreated me to call, and know her mind: There's fome great matter fhe'd employ me in. Madam, madam!

Silvia, above at her window.

Sil. Who calls?

Egl. Your fervant, and your friend; *One that attends your ladyship's command.

Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow. Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself: According to your ladyfhip's impofe,

I am thus early come; to know what service
It is your pleasure to command me in.

Sil. O Églamour, thou art a gentleman,
(Think not I flatter, for, I fwear, I do not)
Valiant and wife, remorfeful, 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 foul abhor'd.
Thyfelf haft lov'd; and I have heard thee fay,
No grief did ever come fo near thy heart,
As when thy lady and thy true love dy'd;

I

Upon whofe grave thou vow'dft pure chastity.

Sir

*Upon whofe grave thou vow'dft pure chastity:] It was common in former ages for widowers and widows to make vows of chastity in honour of their deceased wives or husbands. In Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwickshire, page 1013, there is the form of a commiffion by the bishop of the diocese for taking a vow of chastity made by a widow. It feems that, befides obferving the vow, the widow was, for life, to wear a veil and a mourning habit. The fame distinction we may fuppofe to have been made in refpect of male votarifts; and therefore this circumftance might inform the players how Sir Eglamour should

be

Sir Eglamour, I would to Valentine,

To Mantua, where, I hear, he makes abode:
And, for the ways are dangerous to pass,
I do defire thy worthy company;
Upon whofe faith and honour I repofe.
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 moft unholy match,
Which heaven and fortune ftill reward with plagues.
I do defire thee, even from a heart

As full of forrows as the fea of fands,
To bear me company, and go with me:
'If not; to hide what I have faid to thee,
That I may venture to depart alone.

Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances;
Which, fince, I know, they virtuously are plac'd,
I give confent to go along with you;

Recking as little what betideth me,

As much I wish all good befortune you.
When will you go

?

Sil. This evening coming.

Egl. Where fhall I meet you?
Sil. At friar Patrick's cell;

Where I intend holy confeffion.

Egl. I will not fail your ladyship:

Good morrow, gentle lady.

Sil. Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. [Exeunt.

When a man's fervant fhall play the cur with him, look you, it goes hard one that I brought up of a

be dreft; and will account for Silvia's having chofen him as a perfon in whom she could confide without injury to her own character. STEEVENS.

2 - grievances;] Sorrows, forrowful affections. JOHNSON. puppy;