FIRST OUTLAW. We'll have him. Sirs, a word.

SPEED. Master, be one of them; it's an honourable kind of thievery.

VALENTINE. Peace, villain!

SECOND OUTLAW. Tell us this: have you anything to take to?

VALENTINE. Nothing but my fortune.

THIRD OUTLAW. Know, then, that some of us are gentlemen, Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth Thrust from the company of awful men; Myself was from Verona banished For practising to steal away a lady, An heir, and near allied unto the Duke.

SECOND OUTLAW. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman Who, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart.

FIRST OUTLAW. And I for such-like petty crimes as these.

But to the purpose- for we cite our faults That they may hold excus'd our lawless lives; And, partly, seeing you are beautified With goodly shape, and by your own report A linguist, and a man of such perfection As we do in our quality much want- SECOND OUTLAW. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you.

Are you content to be our general- To make a virtue of necessity, And live as we do in this wilderness?

THIRD OUTLAW. What say'st thou? Wilt thou be of our consort?

Say 'ay' and be the captain of us all.

We'll do thee homage, and be rul'd by thee, Love thee as our commander and our king.

FIRST OUTLAW. But if thou scorn our courtesy thou diest.

SECOND OUTLAW. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd.

VALENTINE. I take your offer, and will live with you, Provided that you do no outrages On silly women or poor pa.s.sengers.

THIRD OUTLAW. No, we detest such vile base practices.

Come, go with us; we'll bring thee to our crews, And show thee all the treasure we have got; Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose. Exeunt

SCENE II.

Milan. Outside the DUKE'S palace, under SILVIA'S window

Enter PROTEUS

PROTEUS. Already have I been false to Valentine, And now I must be as unjust to Thurio.

Under the colour of commending him I have access my own love to prefer; But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy, To be corrupted with my worthless gifts.

When I protest true loyalty to her, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; When to her beauty I commend my vows, She bids me think how I have been forsworn In breaking faith with Julia whom I lov'd; And notwithstanding all her sudden quips, The least whereof would quell a lover's hope, Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love The more it grows and fawneth on her still.

Enter THURIO and MUSICIANS

But here comes Thurio. Now must we to her window, And give some evening music to her ear.

THURIO. How now, Sir Proteus, are you crept before us?

PROTEUS. Ay, gentle Thurio; for you know that love Will creep in service where it cannot go.

THURIO. Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here.

PROTEUS. Sir, but I do; or else I would be hence.

THURIO. Who? Silvia?

PROTEUS. Ay, Silvia- for your sake.

THURIO. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen, Let's tune, and to it l.u.s.tily awhile.

Enter at a distance, HOST, and JULIA in boy's clothes

HOST. Now, my young guest, methinks you're allycholly; I pray you, why is it?

JULIA. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry.

HOST. Come, we'll have you merry; I'll bring you where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for.

JULIA. But shall I hear him speak?

HOST. Ay, that you shall. [Music plays]

JULIA. That will be music.

HOST. Hark, hark!

JULIA. Is he among these?

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 heaven such grace did lend her, That she might admired be.

Is she kind as she is fair?

For beauty lives with kindness.

Love doth to her eyes repair, To help him of his blindness; And, being help'd, inhabits there.

Then to Silvia let us sing That Silvia is excelling; She excels each mortal thing Upon the dull earth dwelling.

'To her let us garlands bring.

HOST. How now, are you sadder than you were before?

How do you, man? The music likes you not.

JULIA. You mistake; the musician likes me not.

HOST. Why, my pretty youth?

JULIA. He plays false, father.

HOST. How, out of tune on the strings?

JULIA. Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my very heart-strings.

HOST. You have a quick ear.

JULIA. Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes me have a slow heart.

HOST. I perceive you delight not in music.

JULIA. Not a whit, when it jars so.

HOST. Hark, what fine change is in the music!

JULIA. Ay, that change is the spite.

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

JULIA. 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 lov'd her out of all nick.

JULIA. Where is Launce?

HOST. Gone to seek his dog, which to-morrow, by his master's command, he must carry for a present to his lady.

JULIA. Peace, stand aside; the company parts.

PROTEUS. Sir Thurio, fear not you; I will so plead That you shall say my cunning drift excels.

THURIO. Where meet we?

PROTEUS. At Saint Gregory's well.

THURIO. Farewell. Exeunt THURIO and MUSICIANS

Enter SILVIA above, at her window

PROTEUS. Madam, good ev'n to your ladys.h.i.+p.

SILVIA. I thank you for your music, gentlemen.

Who is that that spake?

PROTEUS. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, You would quickly learn to know him by his voice.

SILVIA. Sir Proteus, as I take it.

PROTEUS. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.

SILVIA. What's your will?

PROTEUS. That I may compa.s.s yours.

SILVIA. You have your wish; my will is even this, That presently you hie you home to bed.