Yet will I woo for him, but yet so coldly As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed.

Enter SILVIA, attended

Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you be my mean To bring me where to speak with Madam Silvia.

SILVIA. What would you with her, if that I be she?

JULIA. If you be she, I do entreat your patience To hear me speak the message I am sent on.

SILVIA. From whom?

JULIA. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam.

SILVIA. O, he sends you for a picture?

JULIA. Ay, madam.

SILVIA. 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.

JULIA. Madam, please you peruse this letter.

Pardon me, madam; I have unadvis'd Deliver'd you a paper that I should not.

This is the letter to your ladys.h.i.+p.

SILVIA. I pray thee let me look on that again.

JULIA. It may not be; good madam, pardon me.

SILVIA. 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 wul break As easily as I do tear his paper.

JULIA. Madam, he sends your ladys.h.i.+p this ring.

SILVIA. 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 have profan'd the ring, Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.

JULIA. She thanks you.

SILVIA. What say'st thou?

JULIA. I thank you, madam, that you tender her.

Poor gentlewoman, my master wrongs her much.

SILVIA. Dost thou know her?

JULIA. Almost as well as I do know myself.

To think upon her woes, I do protest That I have wept a hundred several times.

SILVIA. Belike she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her.

JULIA. I think she doth, and that's her cause of sorrow.

SILVIA. Is she not pa.s.sing fair?

JULIA. 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-gla.s.s 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.

SILVIA. How tall was she?

JULIA. About my stature; for at Pentecost, 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 judgments, 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 pa.s.sioning 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.

SILVIA. She is beholding 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 with ATTENDANTS JULIA. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her.

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 gla.s.s, 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 in myself, If this fond Love were not a blinded G.o.d?

Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up, For 'tis thy rival. O thou senseless form, Thou shalt be wors.h.i.+pp'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. Exit

>

ACT V. SCENE I.

Milan. An abbey

Enter EGLAMOUR

EGLAMOUR. The sun begins to gild the western sky, And now it is about the very hour That Silvia at Friar 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.

Enter SILVIA

See where she comes. Lady, a happy evening!

SILVIA. Amen, amen! Go on, good Eglamour, Out at the postern by the abbey wall; I fear I am attended by some spies.

EGLAMOUR. Fear not. The forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure enough. Exeunt

SCENE II.

Milan. The DUKE'S palace

Enter THURIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA as SEBASTIAN

THURIO. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit?

PROTEUS. O, sir, I find her milder than she was; And yet she takes exceptions at your person.

THURIO. What, that my leg is too long?

PROTEUS. No; that it is too little.

THURIO. I'll wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder.

JULIA. [Aside] But love will not be spurr'd to what it loathes.

THURIO. What says she to my face?

PROTEUS. She says it is a fair one.

THURIO. Nay, then, the wanton lies; my face is black.

PROTEUS. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is: Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.

JULIA. [Aside] 'Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies' eyes; For I had rather wink than look on them.

THURIO. How likes she my discourse?

PROTEUS. Ill, when you talk of war.

THURIO. But well when I discourse of love and peace?

JULIA. [Aside] But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.