The Two Gentlemen of Verona, William Shakespeare [the speed reading book TXT] 📗

If ’twere a substance, you would, sure, deceive it,
And make it but a shadow, as I am. Silvia

I am very loath to be your idol, sir;
But since your falsehood shall become you well
To worship shadows and adore false shapes,
Send to me in the morning and I’ll send it:
And so, good rest.

Proteus

As wretches have o’ernight
That wait for execution in the morn. Exeunt Proteus and Silvia severally.

Julia Host, will you go? Host By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Julia Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus? Host Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think ’tis almost day. Julia

Not so; but it hath been the longest night
That e’er I watch’d and the most heaviest. Exeunt.

Scene III

The same.

Enter Eglamour. Eglamour

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. Silvia Who calls? Eglamour

Your servant and your friend;
One that attends your ladyship’s command.

Silvia Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow. Eglamour

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.

Silvia

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,
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,
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.

Eglamour

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?

Silvia This evening coming. Eglamour Where shall I meet you? Silvia

At Friar Patrick’s cell,
Where I intend holy confession.

Eglamour I will not fail your ladyship. Good morrow, gentle lady. Silvia Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour. 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 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, marry, do I,” quoth he. “You do him the more wrong,” quoth I; “ ’twas I did the thing you wot 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 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. Proteus

Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well
And will employ thee in some service presently.

Julia In what you please: I’ll do what I can. Proteus

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. Proteus 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. Proteus But she received my dog? Launce No, indeed, did she not: here have I brought him back again. Proteus 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: and then I offered her mine own, who is a