Scene III.

The same.

Enter Eglamour.

Egl. This is the hour that Madam Silvia

Entreated me to call and know her mind:

There's some great matter she 'ld employ me in.
Madam, madam!

Enter Silvia above.

Sil.

Egl.

Who calls?

Your servant 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 ladyship's impose,

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

ΙΟ

20

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,

30

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.
Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances;

Which since I know they virtuously are placed,
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?

This evening coming.

Sil.
Egl. Where shall I meet you

Sil.

?

At Friar Patrick's cell,

Where I intend holy confession.

Egl. I will not fail your ladyship. Good morrow,

gentle lady.

Sil. Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour.

40

[Exeunt severally.

Scene IV.

The same.

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 saved 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. 10 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 hanged for 't; sure as I live, he had suffered for 't: you shall judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentlemanlike 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,

20

'You do him the more

marry, do I,' quoth he.
wrong,' quoth I; "'twas I did the thing you wot 30
of.' He makes me no more ado, but whips me
out of the chamber. How many masters would
do this for his 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 killed, otherwise he
had suffered for 't. Thou thinkest not of this
now. Nay, I remember the trick you served me
when I took my leave of Madam Silvia: did not
I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? when 40
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 Proteus and Julia.

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 what I can.

Pro. I hope thou wilt. [To Launce] How now, you whoreson peasant!

Where have you been these two days loitering? Launce. Marry, sir, I carried Mistress Silvia the dog

you bade me.

Pro. And what says she to my little jewel?

Launce. Marry, she says your dog was a cur, and tells you currish thanks is good enough for such a present.

Pro. But she received my dog?

Launce. No, indeed, did she not: here have I brought him back again.

50

Pro. What, didst thou offer her this from me?
Launce. Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stolen from

me by the hangman boys in the market-place: 60
and then I offered her mine own, who is a dog

as big as ten of yours, and therefore the gift the
greater.

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?

[Exit Launce.

A slave, that still an end turns me to shame!
Sebastian, I have entertained thee,
Partly that I have need of such a youth,
That can with some discretion do my business,
For 'tis no trusting to yond foolish lout;
But chiefly for thy face and thy behaviour,
Which, if my augury deceive me not,

Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth:
Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.
Go presently, and take this ring with thee,
Deliver it to Madam Silvia :

She loved me well deliver'd it to me.

Jul. It seems you loved not her, to leave her token.
She is dead, belike?

70

Jul. Because methinks that she loved you as well

As you do love your lady Silvia :